Life Update

I can almost always say this - I suppose because it's true - we've been very busy lately - and there is no end in sight.

A highlight in life has been a dear friend of ours, Pastor Umar Ado, from Nigeria, who had a believing friend whose life was threatened (his name is James). James was taken captive by some Muslims, beaten horribly. Then the chief officer took him and freed him and confessed that he was a secret Christian. The two of them are in hiding now. It's amazing what God is doing. If you want more info, just ask.

Prayer is powerful (duh). I just need to keep putting it to the test. I had our Senior High students pray for our Junior High Students for our Junior High Retreat (Winter blast). It was the best we've had. I really beleive God worked in many students' lives.

This weekend we have scrapbooking (Lori does) Friday night and then I'm at a worship retreat/seminar for the day. Next week we have our CDSM meeting (Iowa youth pastors) on Valentine's Day, we have a Vday banquet, and something else.

We're working on getting ready for our summer missions trip to Rosebud - our 4th one to the same place - Wood, SD. I'm excited for it. Hope we get enough students there. People are busy.

Last night had its low points (youth group). Our music was bad. Really bad. I need to make us practice - but we're so busy. It's tough. Worse than that, I heard one of our students is no longer coming because his parents won't make him come anymore. It just kind of takes the wind out of my sails.

My family is great. Elise is teething and going through many pair of clothes a day as she fills her pants (and clothes) with runny mush often. Benjamin is doing so well. What a guy. He has great prayers and is just a lot of fun. Lori really is doing incredibly well for being pregnant. We find out in a few weeks what our baby's gender will be - if it will cooperate.

I need to figure out how to get pictures in here. I'll try.