Spelling errors and mistakes Vol. 1

So, every month when I write our newsletter, Amanda and I, plus one other person (usually my mom) read the letter for suggestions in change of content, and to catch spelling errors and other mistakes. I think it would be kind of fun to include a section each month on this blog of all the mistakes we find AFTER the letter has already been printed and sent. Feel free to contribute your own in the comments section if you want. Don't worry, you won't offend me. As long as you don't take me too seriously I'll try not to take myself too seriously. Mistakes just magnify God's perfections and mercy anyway.

This month we only noticed one. Not bad. Here it is.

"Two days ago, we had Peter, another of our students, and his girlfriend over for desert."

Do you notice what is wrong? Apparently, according to this post, Peter, his girlfriend, Amanda, and I went to a place where you find a lot of dirt, cactus, snakes, and creatures that can survive months on a few drops of water. I was intending to say that Peter and his girlfriend came over for Apple pie. Dessert (Ice cream, apple pie, etc.) is spelled with two of the letter S.

Re-Orientation

If you were to list the top ten impacting events or experiences in your life, what would they be?

Have you ever tried to explain one of those experiences to someone who had not been through the same thing?

It was probably very difficult. Not simply because they didn’t understand, but because it created all kinds of strange emotions within you. When no one really gets what you’re talking about, you begin to doubt the validity of your experience. You can even begin to feel very lonely. Nevertheless you know that you are different. In time, (depending on the amount of emotional support you received) the experience was tempered and absorbed into your personality and worldview.

When we were shaping YMI, we were concerned what would happen when our students attempted to re-engage in their local context. We wanted them to become more engaged, not less engaged. We decided that it was important to be intentional about helping students assimilate and apply their experiences into their lives at home.

There are multiple ways we have aimed to solve this potential problem. First, while we were overseas, each of the YMI students discussed their plans with us for the following semester. They discussed plans for spiritual involvement, cultural engagement, and any other application to which God had called them. We prayed, listened, and sought God together.

The second way we have aimed to help with the transition is by maintaining our relationships with them so that they can continue to verbally process the strange thoughts and emotions. We wanted to be at least a little of the support they needed to positively assimilate their experiences at YMI.

This month, Amanda, Abi, and I have really enjoyed visiting with some of our former YMI students. We took a trip to visit some of our former summer staff and Yale, one of our students at Southwest Baptist University in Boliver, MO. Two days ago, we had Peter, another of our students, and his girlfriend over for desert.

Though it has not been easy, our former YMI students seem to be doing well. They are participating in ministry, walking in the spiritual disciplines, and trying to be part of a local community of believers. Please pray as we continue to assist and encourage them. Pray they would not forget what God has done.

Thanks again for all your prayers and support which make this type of ministry possible.

March Prayer Requests

Family. I don’t think I realized how busy this semester would be for us, once we completed YMI in December. Please pray for good time management, patience, and energy. Pray also that our house will sell quickly for a good price, and that we will find a good house to settle in. Pray we will be godly parents to our daughter.

Support. As you probably remember from last month’s prayer guide, we are 20% behind where our regular financial giving should be. Unfortunately, we have had very little time since returning from YMI to work on support. On-going YMI responsibilities and house preparation have consumed our time. Pray for us. Pray that God will supernaturally infuse what we need.

Youthfront Mission Institute. We still need staff people. We are still looking for 2-4 people who would be willing to live on sight at Youthfront South, discipling students, facilitating discussions, and leading the overseas experiences. Also, pray for all our former students as they engage with the world around them, that they would be more engaged, not less engaged. Ask that their hearts would be deeply satisfied in Jesus. Finally, continue to pray for our student recruiting.

St. Patrick's Day

Abi's playhouse

Abi has loved playing in this large box left over from a bathroom remodel.

Licorice

Abi went with Mommy on a road trip to see family in Ames. On the way down they stopped by to see Abi's great grandpa Harold. While she was there he gave her a little gift to enjoy in the car (yes, that is a piece of licorice).