Thank you all for your support in 2007, we've had a great start to 2008 and look forward to continuing our progress in New Hampshire...alright, while I have no intention of throwing my name into the ring for November or even making a public endorsement of any candidate I would like to thank you all again so much for a great 2007. Here are some things we're thanking God for in the past year, happenings of the last month and what is ahead in 2008.The biggest praise for us in 2007 has been seeing God sovereignly orchestrate student's lives so that they would run into us and hear the Gospel. It has been fantastic to see how He genuinely loves us so much that He will use uncommon links to get people in the places they need to be in to hear His message of salvation. I'm thinking specifically of my friend here at Wartburg who is a son of a neighbor of a coworker of someone in our family 110 miles away (yes, that's right). God laid his name on the heart of his neighbor back home to mention him to my mother-in-law who passed this stranger's name on to us. God chose him to be in his family and paved the way for him months in advance and through a half dozen people's lives to hear the Gospel and ultimately accept Jesus in December before winter break. Would you pray for us as we continue meeting and learning what it means to be a believer in Jesus? It boggles my mind to think of, "How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1) There are many more stories to share and we're trusting Him for more to come!
The above has been a clear highlight of December but in addition to that we have been blessed by the response to our year-end funding push. We began the month needing $6000+ and are now in need of $2800 to fulfill in entirety this year's budget of $54,467. Lord willing, this money will come in in January above and beyond our current monthly support. Then by his grace we will be able to focus 100% on students when they return to campus here next week & in Cedar Falls on the 14th.
Does anyone else feel like they are living in the future? It is 20-08 right? Where are the flying cars? We too feel like this is the future-- we are "veteran" parents now you know. And as "responsible" adults we have some major questions to be answered for our family here in this new year. The foremost of which is whether or not we will continue with The Navigators past June 1st. Our 2 year term with the EDGE corps is up at that date and while we have options available to us with them, we want to make a God-exalting wisdom fueled decision whatever location or new vocation that may lead us into. We would greatly appreciate your prayers in this matter. Any advice, stories of how God has led you through similar times or even opportunities available that you may know of would be GREATLY valued. Please feel free to leave comments on the blog or reply via e-mail.
Giving thanks to Him for His Son and you,
Ben
