School Begins and Opportunities Abound

It is going to be a great year as school has just started on Thursday and already we have over 100 signed up to join Harvesters, the mission organization on the campus of Central Christian College! We are preparing for our first planning retreat at the West Central Christian Service Camp where my brother Tom works as the camp manger in two weeks. We will plan out the annual Missions Emphasis Week and how to encourage our goal of over 200 students to attend the National Missionary Convention this year. Every year, interest in missions has been increasing.

Dr. Ron Oakes was inaugurated as Central's 6th president on Thursday evening and he mentioned in his address that Central has around 40 graduates out in 9 different countries. Looking at who and where they are, almost half, 18, are in Taiwan or China! Fourteen of those have gone within the last 3 years. We often get a little discouraged being here and away from the Chinese Harvest but the Lord has been able to use us to help send more laborers into those same fields. We can be content in his grace and in his grip. Thank you for being partners with us, in your support and prayers.

Ode to Hunny

Tonite, our Bishon Poodle, Hunny, passed away. Two months ago she was hit by a truck out front and broke her pelvic bone in two places and dislocated her back right leg. The doctor thought her diaphram was also ruptured and her breathing became heavier and heavier over the weekend. The boys are all distraught and cried themselves to sleep. She was 3 years old and we got her just after we returned from Taiwan for Colan's birthday. Of course, he is the most upset. Pictured here is Devin with Hunny and as they say, owners kind of look like their pets.

It takes time to adjust!

It has been awhile... time has flown by since our new addition, not that there hasn't been anything to write about. I will try and update more thoroughly over the weekend. For now...

Raena is doing really well and has adjusted to a new family very quickly. She has been testing her boundaries lately and it is definitely different having a little girl in the house. Suffice it to say we have been a bit exhausted and not much extra time to write. We had forgotten what it was like to have a toddler again!

We have two weeks before school starts and much has changed at Central this summer. A new addition to the main building, new coffee house and I have another new office. It all looks great and we are excited about the added classroom space and expanded cafeteria.
 
Two of our students have left for their first term in China. They will be studying the language for the next 2-3 years. Please keep then in your prayers as they adjust with two small children in a foreign land.

We will be leaving tomorrow for the Mississippi Valley Christian Service Camp for a weekend retreat. I will be holding two sessions on cell groups. The leaders are Ben & Jennifer Suchman, two former students at CCCB. There will be about 50 adults who are currently involved in small groups and want help with outreach among their members.

Our small group that meets in our home on Tuesdays has been going well and two old friends from High School have been coming, Mark Copenhaver and Stephanie Crutcher. It has been really good to renew our past friendship after 20 years!

We will try and post more regularly as our lives adjust to a new schedule. Thank you so much for keeping Raena in your prayers. We can certainly see the evidence of it!