In our previous episode…
We were close to wrapping up summer and anticipating a busy fall with school resuming and ministry starting back up for Bethany. The boys had some big needs when it came to health and jobs that we asked you to pray for AND we all looked to the Lord to provide for some pressing financial needs.
Since Then
Well, you know that verse that goes something like “Man makes a plan that seems right to him but it’s the Lord who directs his steps…” Yeah, we saw alot of that! That is part of why we missed sending at least two updates to you. Here’s our best efforts at catching you up!
Frenzied pace: Life grabbed us by the collar and dragged us along as school resumed for Kate in early August just as Joel turned 47 years old. We had a number of visits, mini-trips, and conferences that chopped up the weeks in September and a good ol’ normal 5 day work week seemed like ancient history. This pace continues as we balance full and part-time ministry loads, an unending amount of shuttling kids places, and many opportunities to develop our relationships with our co-worker and local church community.
New Role for Bethany: We were excited for Bethany to finally resume ministry with the mobilization team after needing to take much of the spring and summer months off due to her diminished health. Very quickly as she worked to get back up to speed with her team and her next project, as she was learning the processes involved she couldn’t help but see the Lord leading her to ask some questions and make suggestions that lead to an incredible opportunity to use the gifting the Lord’s taken decades to build in her. Long story short, Bethany is actually now a member of the Ethnos360 IT Division and working with the team to enhance the efficiency of various applications and processes that affect our mobilization and short-term trips teams. To sum it up: new team, same goals, better tools and position to make that happen! We didn’t see this coming and the learning curve is steep, but her experience with this new team has been empowering and given her hope that her gifts are still relevant to the overall work we’ve given our lives for.
Kids Updates: Awesome things to report here!
Jack completed a three month intensive mental health therapy program and did so with a great attitude. It was hard and slow-going at times but we’re all able to look back and see growth. And, God was SO good to provide a job-lead, interview, and full-time offer just a few days after he completed the program! So he’s back to work in what we think could be just the right type of job and environment after the upheaval he experienced early this year.
Owen continued through the summer to work very part-time hours and as we asked the Lord to provide the health and opportunity to work more, God answered! Owen’s now getting over 30 hours a week and recently got a $1 an hour raise and more than that is seeing his supervisor express trust in his performance. He loves the environment he works in and enjoys the team of young people he works with. We’re in the process of identifying an immune-deficiency in his body which provides a great deal of insight into why he’s experienced so much more sickness over the past few years.
Kate started her 10th grade year and is deeply invested in our church community. It’s been sweet to see her take on the role of a mentor to a group of middle-school girls, exploring the tech-side of Youth Group and Sunday morning worship, and continuing to serve in our kids ministry, “Basecamp”. It’s probably too much 😀 but we’re loving seeing her serve. On the other side of all this is another few falls resulting in a “loose body” lodged in her surgically repaired knee. She’s going to need another minor surgery to remove that later this month.
We need an increase in our monthly financial support: This past summer, we saw the Lord provide so sweetly through His body and it enabled us to stay above water for a few months and we also saw some new and increased monthly support. BUT, we’re still in a place where we need to see some more of that increase as our monthly roster of supporters just isn’t enough to meet our budget every month. Please keep this in your prayers for us. If you would like to be a part of this team, you can start here.
Coming up…
Travel is the theme: We’re about to head back to Wisconsin for a Bible College visit for Owen and Kate and then a week-long ministry event with the students at Ethnos360 Bible Institute. Pray for us to stay “healthy’ish” and to have the stamina for the 10 day trip. In late December, Bethany and Joel are heading out to Phoenix AZ to help represent Ethnos360 at URBANA, one of the biggest college missions gatherings in the country. And next year… it’s looking epic!
Bethany’s Health: It’s been a full year since Bethany’s pneumonia and hospitalization and in that time she’s rarely felt close to well. Between frequent colds and pulmonary issues and a general lack of energy and easy fatigue, it’s been very easy to grow discouraged. She’s also being evaluated for a possible immune-deficiency like Owen (and like Jack has had) Pray for us to find peace, contentment, and some direction with her health.
Planning and Prep for 2026 and 2027: From a ministry standpoint, Joel’s team is making plans and preparing to travel internationally to record in several countries as Bible Translations are dedicated in Africa and the Asia Pacific region and they’re attempting to make many videos as the year goes by. Pray for Joel and his team to have wisdom and creativity and the help needed.
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