This is a long overdue update from us. To be honest, we have
really struggled this year and it has been hard to write an “appropriate
missionary letter’…sometimes we feel that we should only share the positive
things in ministry and living abroad. We know that feeling is pride and
foolishness. So you’re gonna get our hearts in this one. Good, bad, and ugly.
This year has taught us that you, our supporters and
friends, are not only supporting the ministry we have the privilege of being
part of, but you are also there to help us by understanding some of our
everyday challenges.
So, this update is less about the ministry we’re involved in
and all the activities and relationships, and more about what God has been
doing in our lives…shaping, disciplining, and molding us over the last few
months.
We hope that you can be encouraged and challenged by our
experiences, for His Glory!
We’ve
been told that it’s fairly common for missionaries to deal with a sort of
“third year itch” in their third year on the field. Basically, we’ve really struggled with a
sense of restlessness, discomfort, and quite frankly, faithlessness that
prompted us to look at our long-term calling to ICSV. To top it all off, the
“expected” struggles of the third year seemed to be compounded by so many
things: a number of close Vienna friends moved away, our family has had
multiple illnesses including 4 hospital stays, and finally, a handful of
expensive repairs to our house in Apple Valley, the death of Rebecca’s dad, Joe
Van Gilder, right before Thanksgiving.
This
period in our ministry has been rough, it has been uncomfortable, it has been
downright hard. And this discomfort has sent us on a whirlwind of emotions and
questions; should we stay in Vienna or should we go back to our comfort zone in
America with family close by, a language in which we are fluent, etc.? We even went so far as to begin a cursory
search for potential jobs and ministry positions in the States.
First
and foremost we have become ever more dependent on our Savior, trusting in HIS
goodness and faithfulness. Back in September we took a group of student leaders
to Budapest for an ACSI leadership conference. The speaker’s opening message
was on James 1 encouraging joy through trials…and this has become real for us,
because the promise is that the “testing of our faith develops perseverance.
We
feel like we are still called to remain in Vienna. Through this whole period we
have been prayerfully considering what God could be calling us TO. We simply
didn’t know and wanted to test this feeling against what God had called us to
do in ministry. Despite the difficulties of this season of ministry, we really
have been confirmed in our calling…but we have also been encouraged in that we
have a sense as to a longer term call for us. We feel like God has planted a
seed for us to look into Michael going to seminary to study Inter-Cultural
communications in order to be further equipped to minister to Third Culture
Kids as they transition, and missionaries on the field. We don’t yet know when
that will take place, or specifically what it will look like, but we do know
that this first part of our preparation for the next stage is right here in
Vienna…and we haven’t yet learned or experienced all we’re supposed to.
So. Some specific ways you can pray for us...
- BE STILL-
two words that God has been hammering into our heads through many of our family
and friends. It’s much easier to run from difficulties then it is to really
trust God and let Him take charge of everything. Please pray that we can
continue to trust God in this way.
- The students at ICSV, that
those who know Christ will grow closer to Him, and those who do not will be
open to receiving His grace.
- Rebecca and Michael will be involved in some
new Bible studies with students in the coming weeks.
- A Day Care solution for
Kailyn, so Rebecca can be more regularly involved at ICSV
- Justin to continue to grow
in his faith, especially as he interacts with his classmates.
- The finances of the school.
Thanks for taking the time to read it. So much of this journey has been about obedience to God's call. We haven't understood a lot of it. Most of it has been a challenge. But the joy that we can find in our Savior has been shining through bright and clear...and we have grown as His followers as a result.
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