Our first two months have flown by at the Missionary Training Center! Nick has spent a lot of time on equipment upkeep and repair, from mowers, to bulldozers, to a CAT loader. The Grounds and Maintenance team has been praying for new staff over the last year, and thankfully Nick and some other men have filled important roles here. Now that classes have started, groups of students will work with the Grounds team in the afternoons to learn valuable skills that they will take to the mission field.
Kathy also stayed busy last month setting up her classroom and getting lessons ready for the toddler class. A day with 12 toddlers definitely flies by, with many sweet giggles, funny stories, and plenty of noise. It is such a blessing to partner with the families here and allow parents to take classes together, since they will do ministry together on the mission field.
Speaking of doing ministry together, Nick and I have enjoyed serving alongside each other as we play roles in training new missionaries. For me (Kathy), having a ministry outside of the home has been a change from being a stay-at-home mom over the last year. The girls enjoy their time in childcare while I teach, which is a huge praise, but we are still figuring out the balance in our family. Naomi has also been missing family and friends in Pennsylvania, so she is taking more time to adjust and feel comfortable making friends here. We’d love your prayers!
This week, while teaching toddlers how to walk in a line, God brought this verse to mind:
Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me.
Psalm 43:3
In my classroom, we have a rope with circular handholds (we call them “donuts”) where the students hold on if we go on a walk. They have to keep their eyes fixed on the leader, and they have to cling to that donut to stay with the group.
It made me reflect on what leads me. Daily, I have to cling to Jesus and ask God to remind me of His truth. It sounds silly, but I started a busy morning of teaching by praying, “God, keep me holding on to the donut of your truth so that I don’t stray from it!” My first and foremost prayer for the toddlers in my class is that they learn about God and His truth. But I can’t lead them if I’m not clinging to that truth! So, if you feel a little “lost” lately, remember what leads you and return to that. Hold on to the donut!
We’d love prayer for:
- Adjusting to our new routines as a family
- Health and safety here on campus (students are wearing masks or socially distancing in class, and the check-in and cleaning procedures in childcare are a bit lengthy. Worth it, but time consuming!)
- To keep our eyes fixed on God’s light and truth as we serve the missionaries in training here
