We're off [by Amanda]

“This is going to be the best semester of my life!” David exclaimed on the first day of YMI (YouthFront Mission Institute). Most of you would imagine that this statement took place after Jonathan gave the details of our trip to Central Asia or after he announced that every Wednesday night would be movie night, but it was spoken after Jonathan informed the students of YMI that they were going to be part of our family, and that included helping feed Abi during our meals together throughout the semester.

After just 12 days of YMI, I think David has already fed Abi 3 or 4 times. Not only are the students feeding her, but they, play, change diapers, and carry her. Several of them even carried her in our Baby Bjorn while we were serving at Rock the Light (an area Christian festival that YouthFront helps sponsor). Today, some of the students had a dance party with Abi while I packed all of her things for Mexcio.

It has been so much fun for to see the “family” that has developed through the last few days. One of the main goals of YMI is to create a community where people can discover what their role is in God’s plan for the universe. We believe that creating a welcoming, honest, and committed family atmosphere will help them discover what that is.

Tomorrow, we leave for Mexico. Pray that our YMI family will continue to grow closer to one-another and closer to Christ as we serve in a different culture.

Building blocks and God's plan [by Amanda]

“Can I see Abi’s room?” Sophie, an eight year old staff kid, asked me this week. “Abi would love to show you her room,” I replied. This was the start of one of the many spiritual conversations I have been able to have this summer.

After we showed Sophie all of Abi’s toys, Sophie spent some time playing with Abi’s alphabet blocks. As Sophie was playing, we talked about who decided what letters should be in the alphabet and where languages came from. We talked about the tower of Babel and how God chose to mix up the languages of all the people on the earth.

Then, Sophie told me that she had been wondering how God could always exist. I replied that I still can’t comprehend how God always was and always will be, but I am comforted by the fact that God is much bigger than I am. Sometimes I just have to trust what He says. I can leave a lot of the details up to Him. We also talked about how awesome it is going to be in heaven when we will exist forever with God. As we ended our conversation, I was filled with excitement.

I was excited for the plan the Lord has for me this summer and the rest of my life. Originally, I was planning on spending my summer getting ready for YMI. I thought my priority for the next several months would be to the girls in YMI, but the Lord had different plans. He has me spending my summer caring for Abi and being available to have conversations with whomever He sends.

I am grateful for how the Lord directed my time with Sophie. I am sure the conversation would not have occurred if Abi and her building blocks were not around. But, I am even more excited to have a similar conversation with Abi someday. The Lord is continuing to grow a desire in my heart to love and care for my family as my priority. I am confident that as I put my family first, He will provide ways in which I can reach out to others.

Grateful for change,

Its a girl!!!

For the last five months or so, I’ve had to keep a secret. At an early sonogram, I really wanted to know the gender of our baby, but Amanda did not. So we compromised and I found out while she did not. However, this knowledge came with a stipulation. I had to promise that I would tell no one until the day our baby was born.

On April 14th, at 11:10pm, I had the privilege of telling my secret to the whole world. “It’s a girl!!” A beautiful, precious, wonderful, baby girl! Her name is Abigail Joy and I can’t wait for you to meet her.

Fore! [by Amanda]

The Lord works so mysteriously! Over the last few years, I have seen Him use golf balls on several different occasions. This Sunday, I saw Him work again through another random golf ball during our Club 121 game night.

We had just put pizza on our plates and were looking for a place to sit, when we spotted the open couch. As we sat down the girl I was sitting next to spotted a random golf ball on the floor. Since she had heard that Jonathan had proposed to me using a golf ball, she started asking me questions about our relationship.

For the next several minutes, I had the pleasure of sharing about God’s providence in drawing Jonathan and me together. As she asked questions, I talked about God’s ongoing work and how our marriage has been a refining process in my life. I enjoyed telling her how our faithful God uses those moments of trial to mold us more into Christ’s likeness. At the end of the evening, she came up to me and thanked me for our conversation. She even asked if we could talk again sometime later.

I went home so encouraged! In many ways, it has been a real struggle to connect to the students at Louisburg, but the Lord is faithful. He continues to reinvigorate us and fill us with hope when we need it. I have no idea why there was a golf ball on the floor that night, but I do know that the Lord used it to open a door that had not been opened before.

Happy St. Patrick's Day,

March prayer requests

· YMI — (YouthFront Mission Institute) Continue to pray for wisdom as we plan. We are in contact with several different missionaries to possibly partner with. Pray for clear direction as to where the Lord desires us to serve. Also, pray that the Lord would be directing the students that He wants to come in the fall. Finally, we still need another female staff person.

· Club 121 — Praise the Lord for relationships that we are building! Continue to pray for the students who are attending the weekly Bible study. Pray that God’s light would shine through them on campus and in their homes. Finally, pray for wisdom to know how to challenge them.

· Camp — We are still in the process of recruiting and hiring cabin leaders and a cabin leader supervisor assistant. Pray for wisdom as we interview applicants. Also, the curriculum for camp is changing a little this summer, and it will affect cabin leaders in several different ways. Pray that we would be able to fully prepare the cabin leaders for this transition.

· Family — We just had a sonogram yesterday, and found out that the baby is currently over 5lbs and seems to be healthy. We have just over 5 weeks before it is due! Continue to pray that this new chapter in our lives would draw us into a deeper relationship with Christ. As our baby will depend so heavily on us in the first months, pray that our eyes would be opened to our total dependence on Christ.

Beginning the Third Trimester!

I thought you might like to see a picture of my wife's belly! We're do April 11th. This month we found out about yet another couple who is pregnant with us. The total is now 9 couples who will be embarking on the journey of parenthood in the next 7 months.

Breakfast

by Amanda

It’s 7:15 on a Wednesday morning. Carly is a freshman at Louisburg High School. As she sits next to me, she says, “Do you know what the special is for today? I sure hope it is biscuits and gravy!”

For the past several months, 8-12 students from Louisburg High School have been meeting each Wednesday morning at a local restaurant to fellowship with one another and study God’s Word. The owner has graciously offered the daily special FREE of charge for all those who come.

Jonathan and I have been leading the group through a study on the Character of God. It has been encouraging to see the students grow in their understanding of who God is. Last week, we talked about what characteristics of God are the most comforting to us. Several of the students mentioned the different characteristics found in Psalm 33. This Psalm reveals that God not only sees all the things we do, but God understands and knows our motives.

It is amazing how God is using this study to teach Jonathan and me. We have been reading a book in preparation for parenting (it is never to early to start). In this book, the author constantly reminds us that our heavenly Father doesn’t just care about what we do, He cares about our heart’s motive. As we parent, we need to reflect this concern with motive as we train our child(ren). It is an exciting challenge to help our child(ren) understand that all actions should flow out of a heart of obedience to a God who knows our motives.

Merry Christmas,

Jonathan and Amanda