(P) Hello friends! it seems like a lot has happened for Alex and I in the last few months. It would be difficult to share everything that we are learning through recent events in one post. So I will have to simply give you an update and leave it to you to realize how much learning and processing comes along with it.
First, over the past two years we have been a part of a small group in our young church. This group consisted mostly of young recently-married couples who were also our friends. When Alex and I first began attending this group after we were married, it seemed plain to us that the group as a whole was struggling with the backlash of growing up in church communities with much legalism and little love. Their response was a staunch opposition against having to work to receive grace for salvation. Unfortunately this outlook spilled into their view of relationship with Christ as well. So, over the course of two years we spent a lot of time enjoying each other's friendship, people came and moved away, we got new jobs and progressed in schooling, and all the while there was no praying; there was no opening scripture to hear God's word. Alex and I saw all of this at first, but apathy is infectious. We were more influenced by this do-nothing attitude than we realized. Eventually the group, for lack of direction or older leadership, dwindled as people moved away, eventually existing only on life support. Finally, about two months ago, a mutual decision was made to cut the cord. Of corse we did not realize the war that was happening for our hearts and affections at the time. But we are able to look back now and see the casualties. One couple who moved away last year had been interning here to go back and church plant in their home state. The husband has now decided that church leadership was not what he wanted to be doing and, last I heard, is struggling deeply with his faith in Christ. Another couple after having put their commitment to Christ on a back burner, divorced just recently. And yet another couple is holding on by a thread. There are also a few, including Alex and I, who are using this as an opportunity to find fellowship and encouragement from older and wiser families in the church. Nevertheless, the destruction is heartbreaking. As I said earlier, there is so much we are taking from all of this. However, there is no good way to put it all in one blog post. (Anyone reading this who was a part of this journey, please don't feel injured by this post, most of the people reading this don't know you or your situation. I am just calling it as I see it, and we have been a part of this process as well.) Suffice it to say, we are so grateful for God's faithfulness to His broken and faithless bride. I believe He will use this experience to give Alex and I wisdom in many situations in the future. In the mean time, we are reeling a little, and taking it to Him a lot! Ok, deep breath... my other news is much lighter. I am very excited to say that I am finally starting a volunteer position here. I will be volunteering in the human resources department of the Union Gospel Mission. UGM has a food program, crisis shelters for men and women, long term recovery programs to rehabilitate individuals from living on the street, as well as several other ministries. It is a large and well oiled machine that runs on the generosity of local individuals and businesses rather that government grants in order to preach the gospel without restriction. I am very excited to spend time every week helping out an organization like this and learning a little about how it all works! Next, due to some health issues I have been experiencing, I had some blood work done last month. The tests just came back. It turns out my body is extremely intolerant of eggs and dairy, and doesn't like gluten much either. This is going to be a major challenge as I am not the best cook in the world. Additionally, egg and milk products seem to be in everything! that means a lot of making things from scratch, and taking great care when we eat out. Also, poor Alex has to deal with this along with me. A tough blow for a man whose favorite food is pizza. Finally, Alex is approaching the end of his semester. He comes back today from a two week trip down the coast. I think this has been a great semester for him. He has spent a lot of time on things that will be very practical for ministry such as mountain flying, landing on remote and difficult air strips, and making flight calculations for things like having passengers and luggage on board. (Now I get to embarrass him!) Additionally, last month representatives from various organizations came to Moody to for mission consultations. Alex met with the Mission Aviation Fellowship representative who had nothing but good things to say about him and how he is progressing in his flight and maintenance skills. The last time we talked about how his flying in general was going, he sounded incredibly confident about the whole thing. Of corse my knowledge of what he is doing up there is still fairly limited, but I am so proud of how far he has come in the past (almost) year and a half and how hard he has worked to get there! In light of everything that has and will come at us in our journey, we are so grateful to have you all supporting and encouraging us. It means so much to know we have such a great community. Those we haven't seen much recently, we miss you tons! Thanks to all of you for your prayer support, and the occasional words of wisdom and encouragement. We wouldn't be where we are without the support of the church. Thank you so much!
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AuthorsWe are just a couple of kids from Iowa learning to trust Christ daily and aiming to serve Him though mission aviation. Archives
August 2023
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