"Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him'" (Lamentations 3:22-24).
The last couple of weeks have been busy and emotion-filled. Back in May/June, as Heather and I prayerfully plotted our road-map for transitioning to life in Cebu, we determined to keep our kids' summer routines the same. We felt this would allow them to spend time with, and properly say good-bye to, all of their friends. Things seemed to be going well; that is, until the proper good-byes began.
On July 18th-21st, Tessi and Dietrich participated in their last production with AGLOW Theater, a "Minnetonka-area home-school community aspiring to produce Biblically-sound plays that reveal God and His truths in unusual, delightful, profound, and creative ways." For the past couple of years I'd also been involved, helping to run lights and sound. By God's grace, we've forged close relationships with the great folks at AGLOW, and when it was curtains down on their last show, it was hard to hold back the tears.
Then came Bastiaan and Juana's final soccer games with Minneapolis Parks & Rec last Wednesday and Thursday. This was followed by my last sermon as the pastor of FACC, and our kids' final journey to Big Sandy Camp (the start of their last week of Bible Camp in Minnesota)! That same day was also Heather's final concert with the Northern Winds Concert Band, and to top it all off, we even ate the last eggs from our chickens!!! (a neighbor kindly gave our chickens a new home)
However, in all of this, we are so absolutely thankful to God for His goodness and His grace. Heather, the kids, and I are so excited to begin serving the Lord at CSC. As a wise brother-in-Christ once told me, "something would be wrong if there weren't any sadness." There certainly are a mix of joy and sadness, excitement and apprehension; a strange tapestry of emotions. But we continue following God, knowing that "the steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness" (Lamentations 3:22-23). We wait and look with eager (and slightly tear-filled) eyes for our first morning in Cebu.
PRAYER REQUESTS
• By God's grace, and with the help of countless friends (whom we can't thank enough!), our home is all fixed up and ready to go on the market this week! Please pray that the Lord sends the appropriate buyer who will be able to close on the house at the appropriate time!
• As we near the end of our time in America, please pray that we are able to passionately convey our mission, and the mission of CSC, so that we can find the supporters, prayer warriors, and partners who will join us in reaching our fundraising goals.
• Please pray for my classes; that I will be able to finish strong as I enter the last semester of my MDiv program at the University of Northwestern, St. Paul. I will be starting the semester in America but ending it online in the Philippines. Pray for the Lord's strength and provision.
• Pray for God's comfort and peace to be with the kids, and our entire family, as we finish our time in Minnesota; that we would finish well and have the strength, intentionality, and God-centered-ness to start well in Cebu.
<3 Thank you for your update! Glad the chickens won't be roaming freely through Richfield! :D
Thank you for your prayers; they are absolutely being felt as God carries us through this time. God bless!
Praying for you all!