Tuesday: August 18, 2009
Dear Praying Friends,
This is an exciting week as the quiet summer days give way to the buzz of 160 students. We praise the Lord that half are new, an answer to prayer for enrollment to grow. Please pray for those who are counting on finding jobs in the area; as you are probably aware, Michigan’s economy is one of the worst in the country right now. Also, some of the student families have houses that they are renting out since they could not sell in the current real estate market.
This year’s theme is from Romans 10:14 — “HOW WILL THEY HEAR WITHOUT A PREACHER? BE THE VOICE!” The signs are posted around the campus, reminding us that there are still people around the world who have no one to tell the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection to free them from the penalty of sin. 70% of our missionaries come out of the two Bible Institutes.
The grounds look beautiful. Ken has worked hard and been reading up a lot on lawn care this season. He was sick last week and could not get out to oversee the watering during a heat wave. But the Lord sent several soaking rains just before the students returned. Ken really enjoys being able to welcome the students in this way, and it has been stretching his management skills too.
Ken continues to teach at the prison and write lessons on the book of James for an adult Bible Hour class. We are all being challenged to make our faith practical—to live it out in our actions and words. He is on the schedule to share a chapel message this semester.
I will be in Toddlers this year—there are ten 2-year-olds; the new age will be a bit of a stretch for me. Please pray that my coworkers and I would be a good team, that we could provide a cheerful and consistent environment for these little ones, and would really rely on the Holy Spirit’s leading as we deal with each of these families. Baby Samuel has settled into fairly predictable routines, making it easy to have him in the nursery as I work with the older ones.
Please pray that I would know what responsibilities to take on and what will just be a distraction for the care I need to give at home. I have been asked to consider two areas of involvement at church; since having the baby I have filled in only on a substitute basis. Ken and I would also like to improve our communication with those supporters who do not get email, but I struggle with finding the large chunks of time to think and write.
Please pray for good health for the children this semester. Sick days can add up quickly when germs pass from child to child. I try to emphasize the importance of hand-washing, but it is easy to not notice when they forget. September and October are usually the months when things circulate here.
Thanks so much for your love and prayer and encouragement in so many ways. The Lord uses you in many ways in our lives and thus in the lives of these young people and families who are preparing to leave all to follow Christ “to the uttermost parts of the earth.”
In our Savior’s love, Andrea for the Jacks