“Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.” Acts 14:17
We’re so thankful for your prayers over the past years regarding our water situation here in Monterrey. This year, for the first time in many, many years, our city’s reservoirs are full to overflowing. I’m sure there are many sermon illustrations and spiritual life lessons to which we can apply this illustration of years of drought ending in a downpouring of blessing, but for now I’m just thanking all of you for remembering us and praising God for sending rain.
Our school year ended with a flurry of activity, as it does most years, including final concerts, exams and senior recitals. This year, we had an addition blessing mixed into the frenzy when some dear musician friends from our sending church in Blue Springs, Missouri came to help us with our final concert. We worked them hard for the 4 days they were here, and they were a huge blessing and encouragement not just to me and Tom, but to our music students as well. We’re now in the planning stages to complete the exchange by taking a group of IUCLA student musicians up to Missouri at the beginning of October. Please pray that all of the logistics of this trip will fall into place, and that many of our students would be able to get their visas to be able to make the trip.
We just returned from our nephew’s wedding in Cordoba, Veracruz, Mexico this past weekend. We all enjoyed time with Erika and Jordan who flew in for the wedding and we spent some time together in the nearby town of Orizaba. Erika has gone back to Kentucky already, but Jordan will be with us here in Monterrey for a couple more weeks. We’re so thankful for the time we get to spend with our children and for the love they have for each other.
We’re now getting in gear for the 2024-2025 school year. Tom will have a full teaching schedule as well, along with directing the choirs and orchestra. The music department is in need of a Solfeo teacher, so I will be filling the role, for at least the first few months while the regular teacher is out on maternity leave. I love getting to know the new students and sharing my love of music and singing with them. Please pray that I would have a sufficient mastery of the language and sensitivity with my words to communicate clearly not only musical knowledge but also the love of Christ and our responsibility to serve and honour him in everything we do, including in our music.
Of course, Tom and I are not the only ones in our family that will be busy once school starts. Isaac will be a senior Theology major, and he is assisting with our friend Jonathan Latham at a smaller church just outside of town. He spent a good deal of his summer travelling with Jonathan to few conferences, teaching and playing his trumpet. His senior year will involve even more travel, and I know he’d appreciate your prayers. Andrew will be starting his Sophomore year in Music. Andrew has been on a rotating schedule to play piano for a little church about an hour away that is currently with a pianist. He’s also been working in our own church sound room, as well as playing in our church orchestra. Emelie, Lord willing, will finish high school this year, and has been working with the children’s church ministry. Next week she’ll be helping with VBS. Natalie is starting Jr. High, and although she’s not quite old enough to have a true “job” in the ministry, we look forward to seeing what the Lord will do with her. What a joy to see our children grow and become involved in their own branches of the ministry.
For now, we’re going to try to make the best use possible of our last 2 weeks of summer vacation, enjoy time with our children and prep classes for the coming school year. May God bless you and thank you again for your interest in our ministry and your prayers.
Some beautiful scenery from our time in Orizaba, near Cordoba.
The 7 originals (not in any particular order): Nathan (26), Erika (21), Jordan (25), Natalie (11), Isaac (19), Emelie (15) and Andrew (17).