What a Ride!

More often than not, deputation feels like a roller coaster. It’s fun, exciting, and scary all at the same time. Combine that with the ups and downs of everyday life, and well, let’s just say it makes for an interesting ride. Let’s start with the “ups” of the past couple of weeks.

During the week of the 19th, we were at a Missions Conference in Dickson, TN, with the precious people of Hillview Baptist Church. I can honestly say it was one of the most pleasant meetings we’ve been at since beginning deputation. They took such great care of us and welcomed us like we were family. We had such a joyous time worshiping with them and getting to know them better. The preaching each night was phenomenal, and we were convicted by the messages we heard. And as strange as it sounds, some nights we laughed so hard it hurt. By the time we left, we felt energized and renewed, both physically and spiritually. As an added blessing, the church decided to take us on for monthly support. What a thrill! All in all, it was a remarkable week.

On the 26th, we dropped in on a small local church for the Sunday School hour and morning service. Once again, we were greeted warmly, and we enjoyed a great time of fellowship. This church, too, took good care of us financially and agreed to set up a meeting with us at a later time.

That evening, we had a scheduled meeting at Glassy Mountain Baptist Church in Pickens, SC. We dropped in on this sweet church a few weeks ago, and they kindly asked us to return and share our ministry. They also invited me to sing and Jason to preach. Afterward, we were able to join the pastor, his family, and some other church folks for dinner at a nearby Mexican restaurant. The church was a real blessing to us in many ways, and we cannot thank them enough for their generosity.

Now, on to the “downs” of the current week. First off, we’re still struggling to find the right home for Barnabas, but we have plans to speak with a family in Pennsylvania this evening about possibly taking him in. They have expressed interest in him, so we want to talk with them a bit more to make sure it’s a good fit. If it is, we’re looking at a long trip in the near future. Please help us pray for God’s guidance in this matter. And if we do have to make the trip, we would appreciate your prayers that God would supply us a place to stay while we’re away as well as meetings in the area in which we’ll be staying during the transition. And, please pray for Barnabas. I know he’s a dog, but this change is going to be very difficult on him, and he will need a lot of help.

The second “twist and turn” we received this week was the news that Jason’s replacement at his job quit without notice, leaving the owner in quite a predicament. Jason has offered to pick up the existing work for the time being, but we don’t know how long it will be before another worker can be hired and trained. This, of course, is not the way we hoped things would turn out, but we are choosing to trust that God is still working all things for our good and His glory. Please continue to pray about this job situation.

Friends, we cannot thank you enough for your love, prayers, and financial support. They mean more to us than you’ll ever know. We are currently entertaining the idea of selling our home and purchasing a small RV for traveling, but we haven’t made any decisions as of yet. At this time, we are waiting for God’s guidance, but we would appreciate your prayers concerning these decisions as well.

I feel this update may have come across a bit negative, and if so, I do apologize. Let me end by saying, God is good. I believe that will all my heart. Circumstances may not always be good, but God is ever faithful. He can be trusted, and we’re living our lives with full assurance in Him.