Fall in full swing

Dear friends and family,

The Lord has done it this very day;
  let us rejoice today and be glad.

Psalm 118:24

Fall has arrived in full swing! The leaves are changing and cold has also arrived. As always with a new season comes new mercies and opportunities; daily we can see God’s provision and blessings on us. We are definitely in a season of change right now, but we believe that change promotes growth. We are excited to see how God is going to grow us in this next season.  

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

 Isaiah 55:8

This past month we have been battling annoying illnesses quite a bit; both kids have had bronchitis, tonsillitis and the flu. This is the season for sickness normally in Slovakia, however, we also discovered another one of the possible reasons for the illnesses. While we were sitting in our living room one night three rows of tiles fell from our bathroom walls and shattered, we decided to do a little DYI and take down all the tiles. As we were taking down the tiles we discovered four walls were infested with black mold. So our little three day DIY project turned into a two week remodel complete with ripping out walls and replacing everything. Chello stayed home to work with the contractors but the kids and I stayed in Lučenec with my brother Noah for that time. The kids loved getting to play with their cousin Matus, Uncle Noah and Aunt Lucy every day. And now, praise God ,we have a beautiful, shiny, new, mold -free bathroom. 

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

1 Peter 5:6-7

              

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27:14

Our personal ministries are going well. Chello has started to teach English again and he even has a couple of new students from the summer ministries. Chello doesn’t charge for his lessons because he wants to serve VK in this way, but it also gives him opportunities share his faith to the students as well as their parents. He still has his group of boys that he plays soccer with twice a week and hangs out with after the matches.

My ministry with the young women is going very well, especially with Erika. More and more she is opening up to me and we have so many good conversations about salvation. She is searching hard for answers and I just constantly pray that God will use me to help provide some for her. Right now she is reading “Blue Like Jazz” by Donald Miller, because I suggested it to her. I am excited to talk about it with her when she is finished.

Right now there seems to be a lack of focus and drive in our church in VK. Church attendance is extremely low and there seems to be an air of complacency. No one is really stepping up or even trying to own the ministry in VK and it is starting to show. This is a BIG prayer request for us right now. That God would light the fire in His church in VK. And we would be receptive and obedient to his leading. 

But Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Luke 18:16

Zoe’s operation got postponed because she has tonsillitis. They won’t admit her into the hospital until she is well and they can’t perform the operation until she has been off antibiotics for over a week.

Even though she feels fine now she is still on antibiotics and we won’t know when she will get admitted now until we visit our doctor here. She is growing up fast and I am always surprised at how clever she is. She is obsessed with all the Disney Princess and says she wants to be a princess when she grows up, she is our little princess for sure. 

Rocky is all BOY! He is probably the loudest, most energetic and rough and tumble little man I have ever met.  He is not scared of anything, tries everything and loves everyone. He does not have a shy bone in his body and every time we leave the house he makes ten new friends. He is also Mr. Independent, he wants to do everything by himself, even if he can’t. He is so much fun we are happy to have him in our family.

I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.

Psalm 89:2

Prayer requests

That the Lord will lead our steps and we will let Him

For guidance and drive for our church in VK

For Zoe’s health. That she will stay healthy until we can get her admitted in to the hospital and also for wisdom for the doctors that will be performing her upcoming operation. 

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

Jeremiah 31:3

Thank you all again for your partnership in our ministry. We are blessed to know that we have so many praying for us and supporting us as we serve in VK. We could not do what we do without you. God bless you all!