Summer Plans

We are coming up on a very busy season of life and ministry. The Lord has really opened a lot of doors these past few months and our schedule has continued to fill up at a rate we hadn't imagined the beginning of this year. 

Life and Ministry Update

Trenton is still working fifty hours a week, and is still teaching the teens every Sunday morning at church. He will be involved in our annual ladies tea on May 17th, an event that is arguably one of the biggest of the year.  This past month, he sustained an injury to his back which put him on the sidelines for about a week. Fortunately, with the help of some medication, rest, and a few people from our church, he was able to make a full recovery quicker than anticipated. 

Meanwhile, I was hired into a new job this past month and will begin my training next Tuesday. This job is a huge answer to prayer as it is steady and provides training in something I will potentially be able to use in Australia someday.

I also received great news from my most recent medical procedure, and after seven years of failed treatment plans, I am blessed to say that we finally found one that worked! Since receiving the news, I've been able to try a lot of foods I haven't been able to touch in the past seven years of my life and it has been such a blessing to not have to worry so much about what I'm eating and how it will affect me. Our only trouble is that we recently lost our insurance due to the flooding. We had to step up our hours at work to help pay off the debt and that has put us over the eligible rate. So, please be in prayer that we can find something by the end of the month so I can continue to take this medication. 

Missons

In regard to missions, we are currently hard at work with support raising for the two short-term trips we will be leading next year. We have been collecting soda cans at our church for those planning to go on the trip to Uganda in May and have so far raised $160. In July we plan to set up a hot dog stand at the local county fair, but are still working out the details.

The second trip we plan to lead next year is with Sports Event Evangelism with whom we went to Paris last summer. We are in the beginning stages of planning the Soccer World Cup ministry and should have information on where to sign up for that sometime this coming month. 

Writing Update

I am also still hard at work on the Shadow Series. The rerelease was published April 8th and has since been met with great interest. Book two is still being edited. We just finished the second part the beginning of this week, which is a big deal. Once we are done with the first pass through, I should have an estimated release date. I'm thinking by fall or early winter, but that really depends on the editor and how fast she can work. 

I'm personally in no hurry. A novel is a work of art, and like all works of art, it can't be rushed. I keep a tight schedule, but in the long run, I have peace knowing it'll be done when God wants it to be done. 

In the meantime, I've been able to set up four exciting events for this summer to help raise money to pay for the editing. I'll include the dates and addresses below in case any of you are in the area and interested in joining me!

Conclusion

Please continue to be in prayer for direction as we work through the flooding situation. We've had so many things happen to us in the past two years that have really taken a toll and we are working hard to try to unbury ourselves from that. But in the end, we know it's in the Lord's hands, that He has a time and a season, and that He will continue to work regardless of where we are or what we are doing. We know that someday we will be back on the road to Australia, but for now, we are trusting God and His timing. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1- "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."