FALL UPDATE 2023
FAMILY -
We now have a kindergartener in the house! Isabella started her school year a couple of weeks ago and is having the best time! She loves being at school with friends and learning everything she can. We are very thankful for her school and that we have a great place to send her where she can learn and grow in a positive environment.
August was my (Steve’s) 40th birthday and we also welcomed my Mom and Dad for a visit! It was so great to have them here to show them more of our lives and to be able to spend some quality time with them. We are so thankful for them and love all the time with them that we can get.
MINISTRY -
Debbie has been hosting a monthly parenting seminar at church for the past 3 months and has received some really great feedback and interaction so far and received an offer to speak on the subject to another larger church in another city. Debbie will also begin hosting a group from Isa’s school of parents that want to learn and grow to become better parents.
We continue to pour into our church leaders and members of our small group and just finished up a series over the summer called “people helping people,” diving into how we can really help those we lead who are in need of growth. It begins with helping people identify their problems and then walk through a process of growth and connection, not punishment. And with us as leaders to know how to do that well, address needed issues in ourselves first. We had really great feedback from our group and are seeing them implement in each of their different areas of leadership.
We also continue to preach in the rotation for Sunday mornings at church, which I (Steve) am really enjoying growing in and better my craft. I also was able to help preside over baptism for our church community earlier this month, baptizing 14 people! Debbie I then prayed over each one as they came up out of the water. It was a great honor and I really enjoyed being able to do it.
PRAYER REQUEST -
Fall is almost always a stretching time for us financially. While our monthly donors are very faithful (Thank you!), we typically receive more of our one-time gifts at the end or towards the beginning of the year. We have also had a few unexpected expenses this past month with our move into our new house, the start of school and a medical procedure that Debbie had. We trust in our Father to provide all of our needs for what he has called us to so please join with us in believing that we will have all that we need for the rest of this year and more!
With a 5 year old and a 2 year old we seem to be fighting a sickness pretty regularly so please pray that we all stay healthy!
Ecuador is in the middle of presidential elections with a run-off between the top two candidates scheduled to take place next month. Just before the first round of votes took place last month, one candidate was assassinated at a political rally literally two blocks away from where we were at the time. So there is a lot of fear and contention currently between people in Ecuador due to the rise in crime and what is taking place during these elections. Please pray for peace for our nation and for our next president, that he or she will be the right person for Ecuador.
Thank you every one of you and all that you do to help support us and for all of your prayers!
