New Growth! Parrrr-tay!

"...for this was not revealed

to you by flesh and blood,

but by my Father in heav'n."

-Mat. 16:17b 

               The biggest thing that happened after our last newsletter is that.... WE HAVE A NEW BROTHER!!  Just after midnight on August 10, Joseph entered into a personal relationship with the L’d of he@ven and earth.  Words cannot describe how joyful, exciting, encouraging and flat out AWESOME that moment was.  Two days later, Joseph told Andrew,  “ I was talking to J in my cave last night...”  :) :) :)  What’s even better is that Joseph is continuing to seek the L’d and while we were in Europe for rest, he told his entire family about his life-altering decision.

     Not only did his family not-shun him, they have been open to hearing about the Truth!!!  Andrew went with another worker to the countryside to share with Joseph’s family.  They weren’t able to show the J-film that visit, so they’re going back soon for another visit!  For me, my favorite moment in the last few weeks with Andrew and Joseph was seeing them together, flipping through their copies of the Word and studying together.  The love between them is visible... they really are brothers.

     Our time in Switzerland was amazing, filled with encouragement.  We got to revel in the beauty of Dad’s creat’on... we even got to enjoy green grass!!!  It was AMAZING to get to w0rsh:p with over 200 others and hear the Word in our own language.  I cried... not only because of how wonderful it was for me, but also because Joseph has never had that experience.  Dad has given us an even stronger desire to finish our language study with Spanish so we can move onto learning the tribal language used by the people here (including Joseph!).     After we returned to our city, we found out that Aidyn was accepted into a fantastic school just 5 minutes walking from our apartment!! We are so excited and thankful that Dad is taking care of her... it’s so hard to think about sending her into school alone- but then, she’s not alone!  Dad is always with her and we are so grateful!     Andrew has also met another young man named “Zack”.   His fiancé recently ended their relationship and he is really depressed.  Andrew was walking in the park and Zack asked Andrew to sit and talk with him.  They have met several times and Andrew has begun sharing how to have the joy of the L’d.  I have also met another sweet, young girl named “Sara” and plan to meet with her sometime next week.  She knows why we’re here and still wants to be my friend! The open-ness of the people here continues to astound us!

CELEBRATIONS AND REQUESTS:

• We have heard stories of packets from this summer reaching people as far as 3 hours away and that the people have received them with joy!

• We had a wonderful retread in Switzerland and a few days of vacation in France! We had sweet friends travel and join us for Joanna's birthday celebration. Thanks, Heather and Michael! :)

• Joseph continues to read in his Good Book and ask questions. Andrew and another friend have made one trip to share with his family and are planning another!

• Aidyn has been accepted into one of the best schools in our city! We are hoping this will open up even more opportunities to make relationships here.

*   *   *   *

• Andrew's mom, Janice, has a follow-up scan of her brain on Tuesday, September 11.  Please ask with us that she would be CANCER FREE!  Please also think of Andrew's family as well, that Dad would encourage and protect them.

• Please be lifting up Aidyn as she does something no one in our family has done yet- go into a non-english speaking environment ALONE.  Please ask that she will make friends quickly and enjoy school

• Please lift us up as we begin language study again this month after a summer-long vacation from class.  Please ask that Dad would open up our minds so we can learn quickly and completely.

• Please remember Joseph as Andrew and the other workers here begin to d:sc:ple him.  Also, please be lifting up his family as he shares more of the Truth with them!

Your friends,

* * * *

Enjoying the green grass!!

Riding the cable car up into the Swiss Alps

We like him. :)