I think I have focused a lot on sharing the challenges of this planting. This post I will try to elaborate on all the amazing things that have happened, are happening, and are in the works.
1) I think more than anything, it has been inspiring to see the overall work that God is doing.
Psalm 127:1
Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
I am so encouraged that our leaders Ruben & Evie, as well as all the team members, have embraced and lived this out. We have all wrestled with God, each other, and circumstance while reminding each other to return to this concept. The unity has grown, friendships have developed, and the Spirit has been active.
2) On a personal note, Francine has been healed of her autoimmune disease! She spent last year mostly on the couch, exhausted and in pain. After 2 months of being here she prayed and then stopped her medications. She also did a juice fast for the past month. We could point to many things like climate change, diet, or drugs. I believe these things can be helpful and have in the past, but without God blessing it, they did nothing. Now Francine is drug free, pain free, and running a almost 100%. She is even going to the gym for the first time in years. The joy and confidence she has makes me so happy. She is also meeting so many people to share God's miracles with and they are responding!
3)The campus and singles here are really going after meeting lots of people. There are many men and women who are becoming regular additions to our family. Pray for them (Dewey, Matt, Havier, Katie, and others...).
4) Francine and I are becoming great friends with so many couples at the kids school and in our neighborhood. They are regularly over to our house and we get to take Francine's yummy food, and my bbq stuff over to them as well. We are really excited about what God is doing in these relationships.
5) We have a building to meet at now! It is a perfect fit for us. And because I have taken forever to finish this blog post, we have met there three weeks now... There have been many new faces and I believe God is bringing the people to us more and more.
6) Personally, I see from time to time the way God is using all of this to call me higher to his likeness. Through the way he lays challenges and burdens on me to bear, I am grateful for the growth he is blessing on me. There is nothing else here that is praiseworthy in me except for the humility, serving, and repentance his working has brought. My prayer is that his work is done not only in me, but I can share it with those he is calling out of the world.
There is more, but I am posting this before I go another few weeks without finishing...
