“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.”
2 Corinthians 9:8
A big highlight of last month was the team that came out from Maryland. The brother of our director’s wife and several members of his church came and taught Resolving Everyday Conflict to our staff and students. Everyone I talked to said it was one of the most practical and helpful seminars they had ever attended. It was a treat, too, to watch the team interact with the 180 widows in our widows program during the conference they hosted at Calvary Chapel Gulu. Some of these women have been my personal friends for years, and it was precious to see them blessed by another member of the body of Christ. It is proof of Christ’s love when people come from thousands of miles away to simply wash the feet of someone they have never met, give them gifts, or encourage them with a good meal and a special message. It always fills my heart! I pray that God allows more and more people to come and see what He is doing here and what their partnership with us is doing in His name.
As we prepare to return to the US from Dec-Jan 15th, it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed in the planning process. I think of the calendar from our last visit and remember that every day was full of doctor’s appointments and travel arrangements, lunch dates and dinner plans, names, phone numbers, and reminders for everything. In the midst of it all, it didn’t feel too busy because God gave enough strength for each moment as it came. Those plans seemed to come about on their own somehow. But now, as I sit, with three weeks before our flight, there are mostly empty days on the calendar. There are so many people whose names I want to write on those empty days.
If we haven’t arranged a time to see you when we are in Colorado during December or Nebraska in early January, would you let us know some dates that would work for you? We would love to meet up for coffee or a meal to catch up, just Matt or I if that works best, or even with the kids in tow. We don’t want to miss a chance to see you face to face, to hear how you are, to encourage you and be encouraged. In these troubling times, we need each other.
Please pray with us that:
-The final class of the year would go well, and each student would have a peaceful break over Christmas.
-Our travel to the USA would go smoothly.
-Luke and Hannah’s wedding plans would come together as they work it out from here, and the day’s events would go smoothly.
-We would be able to visit with our families and each of our supporters.
In Christ,
Matt & Noelle & Family
