Reflections on the Year
When we last checked in with you all, we were just crawling out of a hospital stay, a pneumonia recovery, and a totaled car…yeah, that’s what October brought. But as we reflect on the year, there were so many opportunities to see God breaking through. We hope you can see that too as we share this end of the year update with you!
This year has brought its share of challenges and triumphs, teaching us the value of resilience and gratitude. We’ve cherished every moment spent with loved ones, & we’re grateful for the memories we’ve created together.
The kids/young adults
Jack began his first semester of Bible College in January, & has a part-time job at a local gourmet marshmallow and ice cream shop in downtown. He will finish his first year of school, for which he received a full scholarship, in December and then will be working full-time for the spring and summer to continue on in his studies next fall. He is actively involved in a University fellowship & his small group often can be found playing games or watching movies in our living room. Overall, he is easing into adulthood well and we are super proud of him. He will be turning 20 in February.
Owen continues homeschooling & finished up his junior year in May. He had a part-time summer job, working at our mission’s retirement center just down the street from our home and really enjoyed learning new things about landscaping & outdoor maintenance. He did NOT enjoy working in the Florida heat though! He is finishing up the first half of his senior year as he continues to homeschool. He loves playing the drums and guitar and is playing often in the youth worship team at church for the youth group. He hopes to begin a part-time job soon to earn money for his own car insurance and whatever comes next for him after graduating this coming May. He is showing interest in possibly attending Ethnos Bible Institute in Waukesha, Wisconsin & we hope to take a trip up there soon so that he can do a campus visit. He will be 18 in April.
Kate started High school this fall at a small public school. She is a social butterfly and is loving being back in a crowd again! She loves her youth group, serving in children’s ministry and any chance she gets to be with people. She and Owen have also been performing in our church’s children’s ministry theatre group and they are a smashing success! She hopes to get a job soon, but has been doing a bit of babysitting to earn her own money. She will be 15 in January.
The Parents
Joel enjoyed building a media studio in the Ethnos360 Home Office (HO) which will serve all of our Global Partners across the world. He did a lot of filming & editing this year, honing his skills in media which will come in handy as we join our new ministry team at the HO; Mobilization (the team who works to Effectively communicate the vision, purpose & values of Ethnos360 & mobilize people to serve with Ethnos360). More about that soon.
Joel has been working with this new to us team for several weeks now and is really enjoying it. His new ministry title is Marketing Strategist (for our Communications Team) as well as Mobilization & Media Specialist.
Bethany spent much of the year cleaning houses to pay of the debt we incurred while caring for her mom, who died last November. It was tiring but rewarding to know she was contributing to our finances.
She has been doing a lot of self-care as she navigates the emotions that have come as a result of the many losses we have experienced in the last 18 months and she is doing better than she has in many years.
She will be transitioning into her new role on the Mobilization team in early January assisting in the planning and implementation of our Short Term Trips Program. She is thankful to be able to use her gifts in Administration again and she and Joel are both very excited about the traveling they will get to do as they serve on this team.
Losses and gains
As you likely well-know, life is rarely steady. We often deceive ourselves by thinking that we are doing well only when we are on an even keel, but we are learning that this simply is not how God sees it. This life we are living is full of ups and downs, twists and turns, losses and gains. We may be masters at navigating those ebbs and flows but that is not what tells us that we are “doing well”.
We are doing well when we are fully dependent upon Jesus, His Spirit through-it-all. Whether we have reached a distance running goal or are experiencing the loss of someone precious; whether we are fighting pneumonia or being blessed by incredible provision; whether we see clearly the path ahead or are fighting doubt because the answers to our questions are hidden; in each and every circumstance, God calls us to exchange our strength or weakness for His unmatched power.
So, as we enter this new year, a new season, a new ministry, our resolution is to walk forward believing these three simple truths:
God is good
He is trustworthy
He simply wants us to be
FAITHFUL
A few things to pray with us about as we end one year and begin another:
- Bethany’s Health: as she continues to feel the long lingering effects of her pneumonia and would love to fully be past it. Pray for her full recovery and for her as she has a minor surgical procedure this coming Monday, the 23rd.
- Kate’s Knee: was dislocated a second time and requires surgery. She’ll have surgery to repair and strengthen her left knee on, get this, December 31st. We’re glad to see this step taken but know she’s in for a long recovery that will extend well into 2025.
- For the final push to pay off the debt we made much progress towards paying down over the course of 2024. Bethany’s hospital stay added to it but we’re staying afloat and hope to continue to serve without having to work outside of our ministry.
There’s much more to get into but we’ll save it for the new year! Our Christmas Greetings to you as we celebrate Jesus’ coming to be with us, to save us, to preserve our relationship with Him, forever!
