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Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,
School started for most kids in East Tennessee this week. Perhaps that's why the line for our food distribution had 71 families in it this week, way beyond our normal 50. One volunteer guessed that perhaps buying school supplies depleted some families cash this month. Maybe that's true. In any case we were blessed to be able to be here to help. Our furniture donations have slowed down this summer, so we've got quite a waiting list. Please pray the Lord would provide some furniture in the near future.
We had a wonderful volunteer meeting for our JobsforLife program on July 20. We had a number of folks come out and three couples commit to helping champion students through the process. Since then, I've begun recruiting students. The very first person I invited to participate is a lady I've talked to before, and she's on board and excited about participating. I also talked to an older man who is trying to help her, and he's agreed to drive her. So far, the rest of the people I've spoken with said they were no longer interested, but that's to be expected. I was hoping ten percent of people who previously said they were interested in JobsforLife would actually follow through, which means I need to get through another ten to twenty rejections before the next person signs up. Next week I'll be working through a bunch of the contacts, so please pray that the Lord would help me find the 10%. The class will start in just a couple of weeks, the Tuesday after Labor Day, and run for 8 consecutive weeks.
I'll also be teaching the book of James at the seminary extension this fall. That class begins in October the week after JobsforLife wraps up, but I've already begun prepping for it. James is all about practical religion, so please pray the Lord would bless my prep and time in that.
Our family is doing great. We have started back teaching the Senior High Sunday School class at First Baptist. We've had fun visits from good friends and grandparents passing through recently. Lily turns 4 this month, so look for birthday pics on the next post! Hosea turned 10 months old on August 7th! Hard to believe how fast the time is flying. Thank you so much for your love and support. We couldn't be here without you!
Things you can be praying for this week:
1. Please pray for Mrs. Earlene's back surgery. It's scheduled for next Wednesday, August 13. It's outpatient, but she'll be home-bound at least until her follow up appointment on August 27th. Pray that the surgery goes well, that it provides relief from the pain she's been fighting, and that her recovery is swift!
2. Praise the Lord my back now seems to be fully recovered and I'm back to life as usual.
3. Pray that the Lord would bless my time as I recruit students for our JobsforLife class this fall, and that we would have an awesome first group.
4. In a rather different than normal request, please pray for a young man named Daniel. Last week we spent quite a bit of time with a groups of guys from U-Turn for Christ doing some much needed clean-up for our landlord at the Storehouse. Daniel is a former drug dealer who seemed to be repentant and legitimately trying to follow the Lord. I had a couple of good conversations encouraging him and praying with him. On Wednesday, another of the young men we'd been working with attacked Daniel with a saws-all blade. By God's grace the group leader saw the attack and intervened in time to save Daniel's life, but not before he was seriously injured. He is currently in the hospital in stable condition. Pray not only for his healing, but also that he'd see the Lord's goodness in allowing him to survive, rather than questioning God's goodness for allowing this evil to happen to him. Also pray for the other young man who's now facing attempted murder charges. He has a long road ahead of him.
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| These two both love their bath! |
Dear Friends and Prayer Warriors,
School started for most kids in East Tennessee this week. Perhaps that's why the line for our food distribution had 71 families in it this week, way beyond our normal 50. One volunteer guessed that perhaps buying school supplies depleted some families cash this month. Maybe that's true. In any case we were blessed to be able to be here to help. Our furniture donations have slowed down this summer, so we've got quite a waiting list. Please pray the Lord would provide some furniture in the near future.
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| Folks lined up early on this foggy morning in East Tennessee. |
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| Chevy, one of my favorite guys from U-Turn, helps a lady carry her heavy basket of food. |
We had a wonderful volunteer meeting for our JobsforLife program on July 20. We had a number of folks come out and three couples commit to helping champion students through the process. Since then, I've begun recruiting students. The very first person I invited to participate is a lady I've talked to before, and she's on board and excited about participating. I also talked to an older man who is trying to help her, and he's agreed to drive her. So far, the rest of the people I've spoken with said they were no longer interested, but that's to be expected. I was hoping ten percent of people who previously said they were interested in JobsforLife would actually follow through, which means I need to get through another ten to twenty rejections before the next person signs up. Next week I'll be working through a bunch of the contacts, so please pray that the Lord would help me find the 10%. The class will start in just a couple of weeks, the Tuesday after Labor Day, and run for 8 consecutive weeks.
I'll also be teaching the book of James at the seminary extension this fall. That class begins in October the week after JobsforLife wraps up, but I've already begun prepping for it. James is all about practical religion, so please pray the Lord would bless my prep and time in that.
Our family is doing great. We have started back teaching the Senior High Sunday School class at First Baptist. We've had fun visits from good friends and grandparents passing through recently. Lily turns 4 this month, so look for birthday pics on the next post! Hosea turned 10 months old on August 7th! Hard to believe how fast the time is flying. Thank you so much for your love and support. We couldn't be here without you!
Things you can be praying for this week:
1. Please pray for Mrs. Earlene's back surgery. It's scheduled for next Wednesday, August 13. It's outpatient, but she'll be home-bound at least until her follow up appointment on August 27th. Pray that the surgery goes well, that it provides relief from the pain she's been fighting, and that her recovery is swift!
2. Praise the Lord my back now seems to be fully recovered and I'm back to life as usual.
3. Pray that the Lord would bless my time as I recruit students for our JobsforLife class this fall, and that we would have an awesome first group.
4. In a rather different than normal request, please pray for a young man named Daniel. Last week we spent quite a bit of time with a groups of guys from U-Turn for Christ doing some much needed clean-up for our landlord at the Storehouse. Daniel is a former drug dealer who seemed to be repentant and legitimately trying to follow the Lord. I had a couple of good conversations encouraging him and praying with him. On Wednesday, another of the young men we'd been working with attacked Daniel with a saws-all blade. By God's grace the group leader saw the attack and intervened in time to save Daniel's life, but not before he was seriously injured. He is currently in the hospital in stable condition. Pray not only for his healing, but also that he'd see the Lord's goodness in allowing him to survive, rather than questioning God's goodness for allowing this evil to happen to him. Also pray for the other young man who's now facing attempted murder charges. He has a long road ahead of him.
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| For our daddy/daughter date this month, I took Lily camping in the back yard! She had so much fun sleeping in the tent with Daddy that her first words the next morning were "Can we do this two or three more nights?" Maybe next summer! |
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| We had fun roasting marshmallows. |
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| We made smores! |
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| Which she didn't like because the marshmallow was too sweet. She did, however, eat a graham cracker and chocolate sandwich. |
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| Our strawberries are just starting to really set lots of fruit. |
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| Berry picking is a little girl's delight! |
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| Look dad! A big one! |
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| My mom stopped in for a visit on her way home from Ohio. This is one of the best photos I've ever taken of her! |
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| Most of them are like this! You have to love these faces! |
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| Lily just finished up swim lessons. She had a great time! |
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| Our dear friends Robbie and Kristy Stith stopped in with their four precious girls to spend a night with us on their way from Kentucky to the beach. Our families had a fantastic time together! We love having guests. If you're coming our way, please stop in for a visit! |
