Rally around us...Community in Nehemiah

I voice deep gratitude for the teachings of Romans 15:4 and the truth that "for everything that was written in the past was written to teach us so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." The Lord has shown me this endurance and encouragement thru the example of Nehemiah. I find strength that the same God who led Nehemiah with a particular burden, who led him to action, and who provided the means to accomplish his purpose is the same God who has called my heart to follow the same. I do not want to see his example as just merely an encouraging story from the past but as a visual for the present in how God is working in my life to burden with the same intensity to help others rebuild their broken walls. 

I saw such specific, courageous, intentional community being played out in these verses. Here is a cup bearer to a King who connected to the plights of others because he cared about rebuilding their walls- walls that he burdened would keep them from safety if not rebuilt. Walls that propelled him to include himself in their struggle and embraced the willingness to suffer within their trenches of war and opposition. 

As I witnessed his advocacy, his compassion, I thought: 

What motivates my compassion to care about the plights of others? 

Like Nehemiah, how do we burden for walking with others, who are not flourishing, who's walls have been destroyed and need help rebuilding? 

As I was reading this powerful book of Nehemiah, I saw a group of people, in the present, who were stranded amidst ruins of walls destroyed in their life. Because of life's difficulties, it has been impossible for them to rebuild without the help of someone who burdens for them- to have someone who comes alongside their story- speaking hope and endurance into their lives and then building the walls with them so that they can harbor a safe place in their life. What would have happened to the people if Nehemiah said, not my problem. I have vividly witnessed the limitless power of God showing His work through the obedient compassion of his people. Nehemiah entered the pain of others because He had a holy discontent for something that was broken. He didn't avoid the people's problems because his empathy came from the adoration of who God is and he aligned himself to burden for what came from God's heart. 

some scriptures that I saw the images so clearly. 

2:17

nehemiah is saying- "Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer 'suffer derision'. 

I saw this image of someone coming alongside a story broken by life and needing to be shown how to flourish. 

How are we as believers praying for the ways a heart of indifference is keeping us from aligning to show God's heart to those around us? Are we in any way looking at others brokenness and saying not my problem? 

3:10- 

"The strength of those who bear the burdens is failing. There is too much rubble. By ourselves we will not be able to rebuild the wall." 

Again, i saw the community of discipleship being played out in their lives. Such a beautiful image to think about the community that would be rallied around rebuilding for the sake of Christ - He stationed the people so that in times when their strength of burden would falter, there would be a band of brothers and sisters there who care about the struggles and would uphold them. 

How are we showing vulnerability in our life to station faith filled believers around us to help bear the burden of our strength when it is failing? We need to display the need thru admitting our broken places to entrusted ones who will be willing to fight with us to rebuild those broken places in our lives. And we need to be willing to be stationed to fight for others in the way defense. 

3:14- "Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes." 

So much to this one: The power of advocacy being played out thru Nehemiah. I love seeing how God used this man to rebuild. 

I see how God is speaking thru him for us to remember- to remember the ample ways God has shown us when He has asked us to advocate for others- to burden for their livelihood and to be a part in giving them the ability to do something about it. To give up any indifferences we have built and just remember who God is and to respond to the call to fight for those who have not been able to flourish because there walls are down. 

Matt chandler spoke on God's flourishing and that he asks us to steward blessings to show that we live for the eternal. To look at others who are in less positions than we are and have empathy for how we can use our resources to show them Christ. 

How is God asking us to steward ourselves- be it thru our time and our investment or thru finances to help others flourish for what is eternal? 

3:17

"those who carried burdens were loaded in such a way that each labored on the work with one hand and held his weapon with the other." 

3:19 "The work is great and widely spread, and we are separated on the wall, far from one another. Rally to us there. Our God will fight for us." 

Community, oh the deep biblical view of community in these verses. 

Nehemiah saw the disconnect of the people as they were building and he wanted to protect their strength. He saw their distance and he brought them closer together so that they would be stronger in stance.  He stationed them to armor up as they were rebuilding so that they would not falter and be destroyed from their oppressors.  He displayed a visual of setting ourselves up for the best level of connection within the fight. Armed and Together. That there is a great response to be connected to the burden and that physical proximity allows for the best arm of defense against whatever attack assails. That as work is in place, there is a responsibility to stay armed- thru the Word, and i saw thru the power of a christian community who will spur us on to stay the course.  

Where the burden lies, you should be there also. and to set yourself up with a troop. 

How are you feeling oppressed in your life? DO you have a support that is laboring with you to fight in the Word to help you rebuild? How has a lack of intentionality to invest in community kept you separated from rebuilding the broken walls in your life? 

Oh Nehemiah 9 is rich- soo rich of God's power at work amidst His people- despite their shortcomings- and His intent for their good even when they choose the wrong way. Def suggest you reading chapter 9 at some point. But for me in reading today, it spoke into who God is and to lay down a sense of control and to trust that God is always present and to choose to see that He's guiding the way. 

9:17, 19-20

" ...But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them. You in your great mercies did not forsake them in the wilderness. The pillar of cloud to lead them in the way did not depart from them by day nor the pillar of fire by night to light for them the way by which they should go. You gave your good Spirit to instruct them and did not withhold your manna from their mouth and gave them water for their thirst."

My prayer thru Nehemiah is that I would take counsel as he did (v. 5:7) for himself to burden for others with a holy discontent from the Lord. I pray that I would burden for how community is extended within the lives of believers and how the disconnect affects the way the gospel is displayed to the unbelieving people around them. I take endurance in Nehemiah's belief that God will take care of us- He will provide the means to advocate for others, as He is the motivator for compassion. I pray to burden for those who need help rebuilding broken walls in their life and pray for the community to rally the troops with me. 

OUR GOD WILL FIGHT FOR US! 

I choose...

It has been 4 years since this blog has voiced teachings God is giving us in our life. Over the season from Kenya to our present, God has spoken deeply into us toward the importance of intentionality, living out the pulls of life and recognizing the vital necessity of making quiet moments before the Lord  be part of our everyday.  He has spoken into us the beauty of biblical community living out the iron sharpening iron truth, the deepening of discipleship being part of our lifestyle, and the strength of choosing where our investments lie. This blog comes from the impact of 4 years of being tried, tested, stretched, and refined. This time has revealed to us that if we don't choose to live in freedom in Christ that the enemy will find his way to enslave our hearts and that always changes perspective. So, I choose, to proclaim who God is and who i am in Him. 

I choose...

"ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name..." ps 29:2 

Listened to a sermon by John Piper that spoke about the description of Cs Lewis as possessing "omnivorous attentiveness"- defined by "taking in or using whatever is available." What an incredible prayer to become: someone who takes in and uses whatever is available in their season. He continued to voice that the opposite of this is the callous inability to enjoy God's gifts. This led me to sit before the Lord today and reflect on these past years in our Fayetteville season and to recognize the teachings that thru the various trials and stretchings that I yearn to choose to become- that this season is being held by Him and that it is intended for the display of His good...

Here is my prayer for how I yearn to choose to let this season refine in me for whatever the future holds and to be present within the everyday of this season as God purposes me to be. 

Do I believe that there is purpose and provision in my season?  

In the ways that I have met my failures in this season with guilt and shame, I pray to use them to bring me closer to the beauty of the Cross and to let the days to come display a daughter of Christ trusting in her Father, no matter the cost. 

Grayson, sage and griffin need a mother that will teach them the grace of the Cross as I embrace freedom from forgiving others wrongs. They need me fixated on seeing the Spirit moving in our day together and that the joy of His strength would be my song amidst any trial. They need me to take advantage of the thanksgivings in our day and to focus on the heart of the matters and not others opinions of their behaviors. 

My husband needs to see me laugh without fear for what God holds for our future. He needs forgiveness in the unmet desires and grace for shortcomings. He needs Christ to be my first love and thru that depth I will be able to more consistently outpour that to him. 

Eternal perspective needs to order my steps for thru that view every step has its purpose. 

My emotions do not rule for God's word needs that authority in my heart.

 

Every season is seen by God, known by God, and purposed by God. His plan can never be thwarted and my faith needs that view to keep me steady in His care. 

I may feel like i am merely surviving and I yearn to feel thriving in utilizing my gifts, but I must believe that if all gifts are from Him then I am thriving in all the purposed ways from Him. 

When the world presses in, my view needs to be that God is bigger than any fear. 

I must choose to hope in what God offers in his Word. 

Like Mary in a mary/martha world, I choose to sit at Jesus feet instead of being distracted by other things. That time in the Word and those moments in prayer need to be the first priority of my everyday. Anything should be laid down if it takes over those moments. 

I have value not thru others acceptance but thru Christ's love- for his love is unconditional, unwavering and pure.

 

I am cared for not bc others show up when I want them to but bc God, My Rock, clefts me in to His care. 

I am loved thru the unmerited grace of my salvation. 

I choose to love others by bearing all things and enduring all things. 

I choose to show up in others sufferings bc God has given me direction in His Word and thru Jesus example and not only when others show up in mine. 

I am responsible for how I respond to my circumstances and how they control me or deepen my faith. I choose to take my thoughts captive and to rest under the authority of Christ. 

The brevity of life is omnipresent and i choose to grieve with hope that no matter what I am asked to release in this life that the best gift is awaiting me in glory with Him. 

I choose to believe that no matter how my weaknesses attempt to surface that God's strength is no comparison. I will believe that He died knowing my wrestlings and arose so that they would never keep me dead in sin. I am alive in Christ, awakened in passion thru His grace and met with His steadfastness thru any circumstance. 

I choose to believe that God offers rest in my weariness and that His Spirit is at work in me to help in any time of weakness. 

"Rock of ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee." Augustus. I choose to hide myself in the Lord and not to be defeated when I do not feel him. I will trust that His presence is always there. 

I choose to follow teachings of David and allow myself to feel the pain of whatever life I am in the midst of but thru Christ not allow myself to stay there. I am an overcomer in Christ and will invite Christ to help me understand my emotions. 

I choose to trust that as God provided manna for the Israelites that He holds the same provision for my family. I choose to steward with thanksgiving, the amount He grants us financially and to not be anxious for the unseen. 

I choose to be a daughter of Christ that "refuses to be beaten- who will get up, dust myself off and cast my net one more time." I choose to be intentional to stay in the fight against the battle with the enemy and to know that the Sword of the Spirit will always be my greatest defense. 

I choose to root out lies I am tempted to believe, release guilt from mistakes, and to reclaim freedom as a daughter of Christ. 

I choose to organize my life's schedule to be open to serve others in need and to care about the ways I can extend to the plights of the world. I choose to not let myself be blinded to self absorption and pride and will pray for humility to guide the ways I invest my time, my gifts, and my finances. 

I choose to believe that if I desire something that feels void in my season that God is withholding for His good. I choose to let it be a tool to sharpen my focus in Him and not a way for the enemy to make me doubt His presence. 

I believe that He never forsakes or abandons. He is my rescuer, my one defense, and my stay. 

I believe that this season has been for His time and that 'under every season there is a time and a purpose." I will not feel that I have been wasted in ministry, unused by the Lord, or missed the mark for better things. I trust in my El Roi, my God who sees, and believe that He is equipping me daily for His purpose at work thru my life. 

May I be attentive to His voice, sensitive to His spirit, and obedient to HIs Word. 

Moments never forgotten...

Our last moments in Kenya were marked with an emotional embrace that could never be articulated fully in words. Our hearts are pierced by the lives of faith who have taught us deeply about true compassion and extended love. Through the heart of Christ, we have abundantly been blessed to receive a Kenyan family that will stretch across all waters and distance apart. Releasing day to day proximity is no easy feat as we value the ways God continues to use each of their lives and their presence to sharpen us and to challenge us in the faith.

This week we were able to work alongside a group of men from the States as they spent time in fellowship with our leadership team and prayed over them thru a footwashing and a time of encouragement. It was a beautiful moment as Daniel expressed the story of Saul being lifted down by ropes (in Acts) so that he could continue to share the gospel. He voiced the picture of all of us being the ropes for the men- that we are all serving a part of advancing the gospel, but that as we are away from Ngong, we serve as their ropes- supporting them, encouraging them, working together for the sake of Christ- such a beautiful depiction of our family in Christ. The Ngong leadership team then joined in a circle, hand in hand, as many prayers were lifted on their behalf- prayers for unity, for passion, for devotion, and for vision as they take on the reigns to carry out the mission in Ngong. We are now holding the ropes as they go forth and fiercely love the community of Ngong. We are eager to return and to witness the many kids who will be mentored thru the devoted efforts of our Kenyan family.

As we spent our last moments on the site, we looked across the track, the field, Gichagi (the slum), and the Ngong hills and were filled with inexpressible joy for the Lord’s faithfulness over these past 16 months. The Lord has powerfully revealed that He works thru our weaknesses to display His strength. We have felt like Noah building the ark many times over this time- in moments feeling the impossibilities that are seen from our own view, but in the Lord’s plan His purpose always prevails. Once again, hand In hand with our guys, we will remember this last moment singing together, Na we we tu Bwana- Its only you, my Lord...Their voices will forever ring in our hearts as we know that the it is the Lord who has raised them up for service and it is the Lord who will make all things grow. As Paul expresses to the church in Corinthians, Who is Paul? Who is Apollos? For it is the Lord who makes all things grow. We have only been used as a vessel to bring the vision to the hearts of Ngong- Each of you were holding the ropes as we were released into Ngong 16 months ago, and now it is our position to hold the ropes for each of our guys. We believe in them and we trust that the Lord will boldly use their hearts as a vessel to pour out His love and His purpose.

we wish that we could have captured this moment ‘live’ yet it is permanently etched in our hearts for any moment of recollection. As we are making our final steps down Ngong hill, little Lucy skips out of her home with the most captivating smile we have seen from her yet. Life’s hand is displayed upon her torn dress and her dirty frame. This hug is unlike any other we have known- an embrace that only the Lord has orchestrated and a connection that can never be torn. Lucy is like our own- thru and thru- and quickly tears became a waterfall as we knew our moment had come to release our daily proximity with her and the other ‘least of these’. The Lord beautifully connected our lives as one and her life’s testament will be one that pushes us in our life decisions back in the States. Making this transition ushers a culture shock almost impossible to fully articulate, but one that we will not make without carrying each Kenyan family with us. May we not forget how we can organize our lives to continue in close, daily proximity with each of our Kenyan brothers and sisters.

Grayson is Kenyan thru & thru as he has spent 8 months of his life with the people and amidst the bounty of the land. Each person has poured deep love over him, prayed over his days, and encouraged his life in more ways than I express. He has many little friends who are awaiting their day to walk hand in hand with him. We were humbled by his life as we were able to welcome our brother Albert’s little girl- Trishia:)- into the world. We enter the hospital that is situated in the heart of Matheri- the slum where children are plagued by the effects of a trash heap as their home. Albert’s wife welcomed their little one along with 3 other women in the world who were also receiving their children at the same time. Sweet Albert was the one responsible to fix his wife chai and bread so that they could have something to eat that day. A much different experience than State side. We do not want to forget the ways that the Lord has generously protected Grayson and continued to grow him to this point. Even though we will be delivering State side, Grayson will be welcomed into this world by many family across the world. May the Lord grant us the provision to connect them together once again...

Prayers for the weeks ahead.

As you know, our season on the ground in Kenya is quickly coming to a close come Nov. 2nd. The enemy is working in great ways to throw vast opposition our way. Yet, it encourages us to know that the Lord who is calls us is faithful and that His purpose can never be thwarted! We know that His love over Ngong far outweighs and defeats any attack the enemy throws our way. With only 2 full weeks remaining, the enemy desires for us to feel overwhelmed and discouraged. Yet, in the Lord's gentle embrace, we feel fueled for the days ahead and encouraged at how His strength is able to shine! He is most glorified in our weakness and we know that none of our efforts will succeed in us alone. We covet your prayers over these final weeks here: 

- We are finalizing all the positions at this time, but see the enemy's attacks over the leadership team. God desires unity and love to fuel effectiveness for His purpose. So of course the enemy desires discord and dissension. We pray great protection over the team as a whole and individually for the guy's relationship with the Lord to guide their steps. If you could pray for these guys by name: Elly, Vinny, Bizmark, Peter, Shadrack, Benard, Simon, Albert, Patrick: and pray for how the Lord has raised them as a leadership team and how they will combat the attacks of the enemy. 

- Pray for us as we train them in their new roles and for the guys to feel competent and encouraged in the timing in which we leave them. 

- Pray also for us as we transition from our time here to our new season in the States. It will be no easy venture to leave our family here, but we are thankful to be embraced by so many loved ones there. Pray that we can maximize these last days with the people and be intentional in our moments with them. 

- Trishia is approaching 31 wks of pregnancy and so far the Lord has granted great health for her and Grayson. Pray for continued protection and for His hand to embrace them both as we fly back and await the arrival of our son. 

Few things on time in Togo...

I (Brett) was able to spend a full week alongside Christian and his family, Vapor representatives in Togo, WEst AFrica at the Vapor Center. It was incredible to experience the different people and environment and to witness first hand how the Lord is using this center as a tool to truly transform lives in Christ.

Togoville is a village that has been taken by voodoo for centuries and it is woven throughout the entire community.  Young children who grow up in a voodoo family are recognized by the scar they bear below their left eye.  They were given this mark to carry at the early age of 2 to identify them with their rich history of idolatry.  Many homes have their man made idols in order to worship their god and ward off any bad spirits.  October is a big month for ceremonies and rituals that take place annually, so I was able to witness the height of their festive season.  It was an experience that was heavy on me throughout the trip because I was reminded of it daily.  It brought to light the idolatry that was prevalent in the Old Testament. Last week a girls body was found down in a well in the neighboring village and her chest had been cut open with her heart removed. There also was a boys body found without a head or legs. It is said that these kids were a sacrifice to the voodoo gods in Togoville. It is strengthening to witness how the Lord is using Christian and his family to shed such light amidst such darkness. God is truly using their presence to love the people into a relationship with Christ. 

1. Christian spoke on Sunday and a guy whose father is a voodoo priest got saved!  I was able to attend a voodoo ceremony and it was wild.  Walking to the party at night through the slums with the banging of the drums gave me chills as I came to an open area with low lighting, dancing, and singing.  I stood there feeling like I have interrupted something that I was not invited to.  But then Christian started going around taking video and shaking hands.  I was introduced to the priest of the area and he was extremely friendly.  I met some of the others whom Christian has developed a relationship with and they were bragging on him.  It was an experience that I will never forget.  

2. I was invited into that priests home and he wanted me to send his greetings and to bring a message:
    - He hopes we are appreciating Christian because he is doing a great work in the community
    - He recognizes that we follow Christ, and Christ did many great things while on the Earth and Vapor is following in his footsteps.  He is happy to be serving together in the community
    - The voodoo community will continue to support Vapor even if it cannot provide jobs because Vapor is changing lives and improving the community.  
    - Anytime we come to visit we are welcome to greet him.  

*What a message he gave!  Never thought I would here those words come out of a voodoo priests mouth.  This should encourage us that we serve the one true God that even the darkness can recognize.  James 2:19 “...Even the demons believe---and shudder”  

Prayers over us.

Brett left for Togo on Friday, Oct. 1st and will return Sat. Oct. 9th. He will be working alongside Christian, the Vapor missionary building the Togo Vapor Center. 

Pray for: 

-  the efficiency of their time as they solidify finishing details for the Togo center

-  Connection with the Togo leadership team and with the people exposed to the center. 

-  Protection for Brett against any sickness- When he returns we have 3 weeks remaining on the ground, so we are praying that he can continue in great health to finish out strong here. 

- that Brett can be prepared to fight against the spiritual forces (Ephesians 6) of the heavily influenced Voodoo culture. That the Lord would use him to speak forth His light in such a dark environment. 

In addition, pray for us that we can be 'imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.' Heb. 6: 12- We have offered positions to different guys, but are in the waiting stages now of how the Lord will reveal His purpose. Through different conversations, we have difficult decisions to make on who is best fit for those roles. Continue to pray for us as we solidify our final leadership team.

 Weirsbe states, "the trials of life are the tools God uses to mature us, to build our faith, and to get us to trust the Spirit and not the flesh." 

Pray for us that as we continue to face some trials here that we will allow the Lord's refinement and maturity to guide our decisions- as we trust in the discernment of the Spirit. 

"Only by the grace of God can we have the patient endurance that we need as we go through the furnace- (w.)". Pray that we may embrace the grace of God and spend these final weeks in the patient endurance to finish out strong God's purpose in this time. There are many things left to accomplish, but we serve a mighty God who has already foreseen all things unfolded. 

Praises and Prayers in Ngong...

There are many testaments of the Lord’s favor and provision to communicate across the way.

As Paul expressed in 2 Corinthians 2: 14, “But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.” For those of you who have stayed connected thru our blog, we asked for your prayers over a life who has been jaded by the church’s influence of ungodly leadership. Just this week, he awoke with the strong battles of Typhoid- in a state of great restlessness as he expressed a moment where he truly thought that he was dying. He prayed that if the Lord saw him thru another day, that he would devote his life to his service. Immediately when he awoke alive, he called one our leaders, and said I want to be saved. We have walked with him for the past 14 mths and to welcome our new brother into the family of God fills our hearts with much joy. Psalm 37: 39-40, “the salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them, because they take refuge in him.” He stood before the church yesterday and announced his new faith family- an incredible testament for us to witness God’s pursuit within his life. Please pray with us as he continues to be discipled thru Vapor’s bible study and that he can deepen his relationship with Christ. Pray that the Lord would place a godly mentor of the faith in his life that can shepherd him in the Word- thru consistent leadership and thru humble love extended in his life. What a praise!

In reading Paul’s words to the churches of Macedonia, it brings our workers to mind. 2 Cor. 8: 2-5 ‘for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, so I can testify, and beyond their means of their own free will, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints- and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.” The Lord has entrusted us with 6 guys who have been poured into thru discipleship over these past 14 months. Pray for us as the Lord grants discernment to our hearts within the next week or so in assigning particular positions to them. When we read these words by Paul we think of how they have devoted their lives to the Lord’s service and over this past year have volunteered their time and their love in order to extend to the community. Thru their leadership and their generous hearts, the men/women who have worked with us on the site have embraced a deepened sense of the faith and many have come to know the Lord. We have witnessed street boys who once held a glue bottle in their hands now hold shovels in their hand tilling the harvest that the Lord has been planting thru the field/track. A powerful testament of how the Lord works thru the faithfulness of his service for the purpose of His will. We held a staff appreciation day this past Friday and it was incredibly strengthening to see such laughter and joy lived after such months of hard work- truly a testament of the fruits of God’s labor. We continue to pray provision over their lives as we do not have ‘work’ for them. Many of the workers are part of our bible studies and we pray will become coaches for the Vapor sports league. What a praise ‘for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints’.

Bill, our project manager, was recently here with us and it was a great time of efficient work. Pray for us as we finish out our days here- It is very surreal that we only have 6 wks remaining on the ground. In Brett’s new position, he will continue overseeing the Ngong center, so in that aspect we are grateful to continue on with connection in our leaders.

Pray for us for all that remains in these final 6 wks:
- We plan on hiring our 6 guys for particular leadership positions this week. Pray for us as we carry out this task- that the Lord would guide us in continued discernment on which guys fit the assigned roles and for the fight against opposition as we place them in their jobs. After hiring, the rest of our time here will be quite intentional in training them for their individual responsibilities and for their dynamic as a unit within decision making. Pray for our 6 guys: Vinny, Elly, Bizmark, Shadrack, Peter, Patrick that the Lord would make them courageous and that they would lead in humility and in truth.

-There is some finishing touches left on the 2 structures and on landscaping around the track/ field. Our hope is that all of the construction would be complete within 2 weeks. Pray for the continued favor that we need in forward movement and efficient work.

- Brett will be in Togo, West Africa from Oct. 1-9 assisting missionary, Christian and Celine, on the ground and forming relationships with the leaders as he will also be overseeing the operations of the Togo center. Pray for his travel and his time there to be efficient and connecting with the people.

- Pray for us that we can finish out our time here in strength, in perseverance, and in focus. Pray that we 'will not grow weary in doing good' but will continue to fight the waged war that encompasses us- the enemy does not want this center to continue as He knows the pedestal it brings to Christ. Pray for the Lord's protection and favor as we push thru certain opposition that comes our way. 

- Pray for Grayson as he continues to grow and to develop. Will be flying home when Trishia is 33 wks (Nov. 2nd) so pray that the Lord continues to bless us with good health and with protection over this little one.