Here are some of the things God has done for us recently…
- Boys School – The school situation has been working out so far for Ethan. The first week he has 1 to 2 hours of homework a night, but he did it without complaint and has really been doing well so far. Praise God!
These crazy boys starting the equivalent of 4th and 6th grade in French schools - Transport – The boys now take public bus in the morning to school and it is working! It will get more challenging as schools here start this week so the buses will be more crowded, but we are praising God for a good start.
My host mom’s reaction to them taking the bus, “what the 2 little white boys on the bus!” - Two Days Together – My return from Liberia was delayed, but then Joel’s departure to Guinea ended up delayed, our first major delays and they happened on two back to back trips. This allowed us to have 2 days together as a family and it was a huge blessing.
Since we travel a lot we cherish our moments together - Helicopter – The family in Liberia that was trapped by the bridges is still waiting on those bridges to get fixed, but Samaritans purse came to their rescue and helicoptered them out as they were out of everything including money. They have had a few weeks in town to refresh and will head back this week with supplies and renewed strength.
We praised God when we heard that they were able to get out! - Providing for us – We have had a decrease in support and we shared this with someone who was asking us about it. She passed this one to one of our churches who then of their own accord reached out to their people to raise more support for us. God is amazing and the family of God is also amazing!
God continues to be so good to us - Sometimes it is the Small things – One bag was lost on a recent flight and it had all the boys clothes in it. I was most sad about the boys swimsuits as those are trickier to find here. I wrote my mom and she was able to still find swimsuits on sale!
- A few lighter weeks – We have had a few lighter weeks without travel and it has been so good to catch our breath and relax a little.
- A trip together – working on our plans for our next trip and it ended up working out to bring out boys a long to visit some of their friends in Burkina Faso.
- Reading Matthew – We started the school year challenging the boys to read a chapter of Matthew a day and so far we have all kept up on it and had some great discussion about it together as a family.
Loving all the discoveries the boys are making in Scriptures - Cheese and Cereal – Our new grocery store in town has things about to expire that they mark down we have actually found some great deals and got to enjoy a few extra treats including cereal and cheese!
Looking at the path ahead
There have been hard things as well as we process and consider the rising security concerns around us and the impact it has on families we know. But as we struggle with those it is good to look back and see the little and big ways that God cares for us in our daily life. Our next trip in a little over a week. Pray for us as we travel together as a family. Pray for us as the family we are visiting has been through a lot of turmoil with the rising security concerns.
i praise You GOD and Father of us all. My heart rejoices in the work ofJoel and Andi to see Your marvelous work in them seeing them go through all these turmoils walking IN THE SPIRIT waiting on You through nail-biting difficulties in the midst of hostility, encouraging those who are called to be in these places and by Faith in You doing it with grace and trusting You completely to see them through!!! My heart nearly exxplodes with fear when I think of the danger in this world that they face every day with grace and love for the lost!!! We are facing great danger here too, with the Church not recognizing what is happening and willsoon overtake them if they don’t wake up.
Grace more abundantly be upon you. I love to see your boys in the midst of all this still able to smile and trust not only in GOD, but in you their parents too.
Praying for you!!
Father we want to thank You for providing for Joel and Andi and their beautiful family as they serve you. Protect them and give them strength and peace through every trial remembering that You are working all things together for their good and Your Glory! We are blessed by Your Mercy, Grace, and Faithfulness that we experience again and again in our lives! We are blessed by this ministry. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Thanks for sharing – the blessings and some of the struggles. Lifting you up in prayer!
Thank you for sharing these updates with us.
I’m praying for you today: Father, I praise you for your provision and the tender way you care for the details of their lives.
Strengthen their marriage and give them grace and energy and wisdom for parenting and sharing the gospel with those around them. Help them to know that they are not alone… that you are with them and that the prayers of many hold them up.