Hi everyone, how is it mid October already? This year has been flying by! Our word of late has been transition, with me transitioning roles at church and Michael coming into our family unexpectedly, it’s been crazy! But the Lord has blessed us and we are starting to feel more like humans again… we are so thankful for all of your prayers and your encouragement as this has been a very challenging time too!
Michael: Just in the last two weeks or less, Michael has been doing so much better at night! He has been growing like a weed and has started drinking more, which has translated into sleeping more. We’re now down to one or two times awake to feed him, instead of at the worst every hour. What a difference that makes! Even though he still cries like crazy sometimes due to gas, he has been more able to let it out. He’s started to smile and coo and play and become more interactive, so this is wonderful! Michael's case is still ongoing and really slow going, and the process is much different than last time since it's happening in a different county. So please be in prayer for this, and also for the judge to have Michael’s best interest in mind, he has a lot of power over this but the ultimate power lies in the Lord, so we pray that He brings the best outcome for Michael.
Raelyn: We’ve had so many ups and downs since Michael came, which is understandable since she got a baby brother in one day. We recently realized that she tends to fight bedtimes less if we let her go to bed later (it seemed that no matter when we started the process it would last until roughly the same time), so we’ve made that shift, which has the unfortunate side effect of taking away most of the time that we had after bedtime to connect as a couple. That’s why we didn’t want to make that shift but it seems necessary for her to go to bed without fits. Other than that she has been experiencing some separation anxiety for Daddy, she has a hard time letting me go to work, being without me at her naps, and if I’m not there for bedtime on youth group nights. She’s having more fits over not getting her way too, but that is most likely just a normal phase for her as she tries to control her surroundings. We’re praying that she learns to trust God the Father to be with her always and that she can ask Jesus for help when she misses me. On a fun note, she has been really interested in the story of Jesus and how he died and rose again, we’ve just finished reading through the Jesus Story Book Bible and she can retell the story already, so that is exciting!
Us: We were recently blessed to be able to go on a day away, a wonderful friend watched the kiddos for a day/night and we headed over to Saugatuck, we hiked some dunes, had some great food, and were able to relax for a little bit without the kids, something we haven't done for a long time. It was such a tremendous blessing!
Prayer Walking: We’ve continued our neighborhood outreach of prayer walking and it has been so fruitful! We decided to continue through the end of this month and we are praying about how to continue in the winter months. We’ve connected with so many people, prayed for the neighborhood, seen Jesus heal people, and ministered to many broken hearts. We are praying that the seeds planted are watered and grow, a few have come to church but we are praying that more people join us in the body of Christ. Would you please pray for wisdom and discernment for how we can continue when the weather turns cold?
Transition: I am so excited to be more involved in the day to day planning for things at church and for leading our outreach and enfolding ministries. I am part of a team that is praying into a vision for a new outreach ministry, and we are dreaming how having a ministry like this again would be a wonderful way to share Jesus with our neighbors and to give people a place to use their gifts. I’ve been busy designing and making connection cards for our church and have been updating policies and getting involved in other teams like the Deacons and the Discipleship team.
It’s been a challenge though because we haven’t found anyone to take over leadership of our children and youth ministries yet, it’s been a prayer for a couple years now! I haven’t been able to fully step into my new role, and some of those things I mentioned I’ve just been scratching the surface of because I’m feeling tied down to my old role. My desire is really to equip the people involved in these ministries to lead as I don’t have the capacity to DO everything, but I can empower others to lead. This is really following our approach to ministry at Gold, as we follow the Spirit, we equip leaders who learn to do the same. We can accomplish much more for the Kingdom of God if we are growing leaders instead of doing everything as a staff. So please pray for more leaders and for our current ones to be equipped and able to take on more leadership.
Growing the Church: At the beginning of November we will be putting on a conference called Growing the Church in the Power of the Holy Spirit. The title is pretty self explanatory I think, and in the same idea of equipping leaders to lead following the Holy Spirit as He leads. All of our staff and many others from our church will be playing roles in this at all levels. The conference teaches an approach and not just a program, and it is this approach that we use at our church to discern and follow where God is leading. We are excited that many pastors and elders from local churches are coming, and we are hoping for more, as we really believe that this approach opens up the door for churches and individuals to understand how follow the Holy Spirit's leading in ministry. Would you pray for us as we lead and all of those coming? If you are interested let me know and I’ll get you more info!
Computer: I’ve been wanting to replacing my computer which I use for all of my work, since I got it our first year in Romania almost 10 years ago! I am so amazed that it has kept working so well up to now, but it’s showing its age now. I am working on raising funds for it, and only have $300 to go before I can go ahead and buy it. If you are interested please let me know, donations go to the church and are tax deductable!
I could keep going but as usual this is getting long, there is so much going on! Thanks so much for your prayers, and please continue to pray for God to hold us as we navigate the transitions we are in. Also, trying to get all this done has been a challenge and coupled with poor sleep it has seemed even harder. We need wisdom and discernment and to trust the Lord that as we give our all he can take what little that is and multiply it. We also need prayers for continued growth of our family, fund raising support (which God has been so faithful in), and how to stay connected as a couple and with family and friends as things seem so busy and overwhelming sometimes. We really appreciate your prayers and support!!!
Blessings,
Mark, Rebecca, Raelyn & Michael
Enjoy some pictures!
