| Sanford News, August 2018 This summer has flown by so fast! It’s hard to believe we are getting ready to start our final semester of training. In December we graduate from Emanate (missionary training) and start the process of raising support. Then we’ll head overseas as soon as God provides and directs! |
| What about Jungle Camp? Well, it was really hard; except for when it was easy… The first two weeks of June were devoted to building our house, which turned out to be an incredibly challenging time for us. Tyler is not a builder and struggled mightily through this process, asking lots of questions and picking people’s brains along the way. We learned a lot from those weeks about how God gives grace in our weaknesses and how much we need the Body of Christ. |
| Jungle Camp Move-up – Weeks 1 & 2 During building weeks we were still based out of our apartment, but come June 15th we had to move into our Jungle Camp house whether it was ready or not. Ours wasn’t quite ready so we didn’t have a table, chairs, or running water hooked up, but the rest was livable. We couldn’t use anything with wheels to move our stuff up so we made trips with a hiking backpack and totes. (Each load took about 20 minutes round trip.) Our first week consisted of finishing up our house, cutting firewood, and learning to cook on our wood stove. We also had a chicken butchering class and an open house for home-schooled children and Ethnos staff to come see our state-of-the-art abodes! The second week we continued to adjust to jungle life but also spent 30 hours in Bible Study. The purpose was to simulate what it might be like to spend 40 hours a week devoted to language learning while also adjusting to a totally new lifestyle when we get overseas. We capped the week off by celebrating Canada Day all together. Living the Jungle Camp High Life – Weeks 3 & 4 Life slowed down dramatically in our third week. We took advantage of our free time by laying in hammocks, playing volleyball, board games, and just spending time with our classmates. That weekend was the public open house where 450 people came through to see the campus and our houses. Tyler’s parents came up to visit us as well which was a great time. Our final week was also low-key except for Allegra going on the 2 day ladies’ hike which left all of us men to fend for ourselves with 22 kids. Our month flew by and soon it was Friday the 13th—move down day!! |
| Since then we have visited friends, family, and supporters in Maine for two weeks. That was a sweet time for us filled with lots of opportunities to share what God has been doing in our lives, what He is doing in the World, and how we can all be a part of it. Next we went to Pennsylvania for a couple weeks for some rest and time with lots of special people again. We were blessed with a wonderful summer break and are ready to get back to training in Canada! |
| Prayer Points: For God’s work in our lives, marriage, and hearts through this final semester to prepare us for future ministry For us to learn to choose joy in all circumstances For continued guidance in future direction and decisions Praise: The people and relationships that we have been blessed with here For God’s provision in training |