| Dear Friends and Family, |
| We’ve been in Durham for 3 months now and are thankful to be settled in! Canadian culture has its differences, but we are adjusting to the changes. We have a new church and community to plug-in to, new friends and teachers, and a new schedule. Classes take place each day from 8:00 to 12:00. We’ve been looking at the challenges we’ll face as missionaries, studying the best methods to learn language and analyzing the way people think in order to effectively teach them God’s word in an understandable manner. Three days a week we have Afternoon Work Program where we get to work alongside our classmates and the maintenance staff. It looks different each day and we’ve done everything from digging ditches to learning electrical wiring. On the other afternoons we have meetings with our mentors, do homework, and other daily-life tasks. |
| It has been a challenge but also is such a privilege to be here and have this rare opportunity to soak in wisdom from other veteran missionaries. We have been learning so much through the classes, staff, and just life here. The lessons gleaned from classes are extremely practical for us in our day-to-day lives but will also be so useful in ministry further down the road. There have been many things that we want to tuck away for later when we know they will be needed. Much of what God is teaching us seems to be aimed at humbling us and showing that we cannot do this task on our own. This lesson is true in every area of life, as it says in 2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “Each time He said, ‘My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.’ So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” Those verses are a window into our thoughts lately. It starts most days by feeling like we shouldn’t be here because we just aren’t cut-out for this. It’s too much, too hard. But then we are reminded that God is more than enough and we can trust Him to use us: ordinary and average people, to do extraordinary things. We are learning to boast in our weaknesses because then He is strong—so sweet. The job of reaching the lost is an impossible one if we try in our own strength. We keep seeing the immensity of this task and how many snags and lies Satan has set-up along the way in an attempt to keep people under his power and in his grip. But, together with you and by God’s grace and power—we can do this! |
| Enjoying a special, relaxing weekend in Michigan with family and close friends! |
Probably the biggest event of the semester thus far has been the passing of our classmate’s daughter. The Romero family’s 16 month old baby girl died of respiratory complications and it was a very difficult time for everyone. It has also been a unique opportunity for all of us to come together to encourage and comfort the Romero’s. Death is hard to cope with, but we are so thankful to have hope even in the midst of it.
| Praise: – The Privilege of being here to be equipped for ministry. – Several individuals and one church have joined our team of supporters recently. Prayer: – The Romero family and everyone here still mourning their loss. – That we would learn and grow here, taking advantage of this opportunity. – Grace in our marriage, health, and friendships here. |