September-October

I forget the author, but I read one time that a proof that we are immortal souls is that mankind is always surprised at the passage of time; we have crazy aunts tell us they can't believe how much taller we are,  we notice people getting wrinkles where there used to be none, and we express wonder at how people have lost weight since the last time we saw them.

I can't believe it's November. We have six weeks before our students go on Christmas break, and the first semester of this grand adventure that God has led all of us on is completed. In the last two months we've gone on a rafting trip and hiking trip, we've completed community service hours, we've become involved in local church congregations, and we've met people within this community who have shown us a beautiful example of hospitality among the body of believers.

It has been a joy and challenge to be here, and I know I've grown as a result. The relational aspect with students has been leading a Bible study with the guys on Philippians with a curriculum that was assembled by my church in college, playing impromptu frisbee once or so a week, having conversations or study sessions with guys on the couch that is now in my room, catching a post-study session movie in our common area, and attending Thursday night church at the local E-Free congregation.

Most of that takes place in the evening though, as that is when students are most free (and I'm most stir-crazy). Days are primarily filled with administrative tasks right now, and preparing to teach economics next semester. Some of those tasks include contacting and coordinating schools that our students will be able to receive college credit from next year, coordinating visiting faculty members for this fall and next spring, researching federal student aid requirements so that our students can apply for financial aid next year, sending out marketing emails and answering any questions that parents or students have, and maintaining and improving our website.

As someone who enjoys entrepreneurship and new things, it has been a joy to be a part of all of this. There is a bit of anxiety that goes along with it, as there is no guarantee right now that there will be a program next year because we don't have students registered yet, but every time that thought creeps into my mind there is a voice that tell me that it isn't based on my work anyways. Whether we have the best marketing in the world or whether we just have a rudimentary website, it will be Christ who works in the hearts of families and students to be a part of our program, and all we can do is be faithful to what we know.

As we are looking forward, there are many big-picture questions that will need to be answered in the coming months: Do we need another faculty member? How many students will we be accepting next year? Do we need other administrative assistants? These are all questions that I would ask you to lift us up in prayer for; that we might have wisdom and that we would have divine appointments to fill these needs.

Please also be praying for my coworker Hannah and me. After being here since late August, we are just now finding a community of peers to be involved in, which we are extremely grateful for. Please pray that God would continue to bring people into our lives to mentor us and encourage us as we labor here.

Thank you for your time in reading this, and for your continued encouragement. It is always a joy to see my supporters and catch up on life. I miss you all and hope to see you soon.