Hello Friends,
Last Monday we received news concerning Kirsten's sister, Katie. Katie had been in a terrible accident and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Katie sustained major injuries, is still in the hospital and will be for weeks to come. We praise the Lord that she has no injuries to her head, neck, or back! We also praise the Lord that she is alive! Her legs, however, were badly broken and will need both surgery and an extensive time of rehabilitation. We also praise the Lord that she is alive and that her recovery is underway! In addition to this, Kirsten's father had surgery Friday morning on his shoulder - a (scheduled) follow-up to a surgery he had over the summer. After prayer and thinking through how to love our family best, we decided that Kirsten should head up to the States to be with her family for a few weeks and serve (with Trevor) as the encouragement squad while I hold down the fort! Please pray for them as they are in NJ that it would be a sweet time together as family even in the midst of rough seas.
In addition to the news about Katie, on Monday we also received word that my grandmother suffered a mild stroke and was hospitalized for a few days to be monitored and have tests taken. She is home now and trying to take it easy.
Lastly, two young boys (15 or 16 years old) from Kingston drowned yesterday afternoon. One of the boys was from our sister church in Kingston and a regular at camp. Many of our young people are understandably shaken up and are mourning.
Please pray for these items with us. Particularly pray for Katie, the medical teams around her, her recovery, and the family as they stand with her. Pray for my grandmother that the doctors can regulate medicine and that she would take it slowly over the next couple of days and weeks. Lastly be in prayer for the family of these boys who drowned. Also be in prayer that even through this difficult and confusing time - God would be glorified. We are thankful that we serve a Sovereign God who is not surprised by any of this news. God is good even when we do not understand how all things are working together. Job said it well - "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Even in this we can say with Job, "blessed be the name of the Lord"!
Grace and peace,
Jon (for Kirsten and Trevor)
Last Monday we received news concerning Kirsten's sister, Katie. Katie had been in a terrible accident and needed to be rushed to the hospital. Katie sustained major injuries, is still in the hospital and will be for weeks to come. We praise the Lord that she has no injuries to her head, neck, or back! We also praise the Lord that she is alive! Her legs, however, were badly broken and will need both surgery and an extensive time of rehabilitation. We also praise the Lord that she is alive and that her recovery is underway! In addition to this, Kirsten's father had surgery Friday morning on his shoulder - a (scheduled) follow-up to a surgery he had over the summer. After prayer and thinking through how to love our family best, we decided that Kirsten should head up to the States to be with her family for a few weeks and serve (with Trevor) as the encouragement squad while I hold down the fort! Please pray for them as they are in NJ that it would be a sweet time together as family even in the midst of rough seas.
In addition to the news about Katie, on Monday we also received word that my grandmother suffered a mild stroke and was hospitalized for a few days to be monitored and have tests taken. She is home now and trying to take it easy.
Lastly, two young boys (15 or 16 years old) from Kingston drowned yesterday afternoon. One of the boys was from our sister church in Kingston and a regular at camp. Many of our young people are understandably shaken up and are mourning.
Please pray for these items with us. Particularly pray for Katie, the medical teams around her, her recovery, and the family as they stand with her. Pray for my grandmother that the doctors can regulate medicine and that she would take it slowly over the next couple of days and weeks. Lastly be in prayer for the family of these boys who drowned. Also be in prayer that even through this difficult and confusing time - God would be glorified. We are thankful that we serve a Sovereign God who is not surprised by any of this news. God is good even when we do not understand how all things are working together. Job said it well - "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?" Even in this we can say with Job, "blessed be the name of the Lord"!
Grace and peace,
Jon (for Kirsten and Trevor)
Despite the string of unwanted and troubling phone calls and breaking news, we see God clearly at work. For example, in order for Kirsten and Trevor to go back to the States and return to Buff Bay without any hassle they needed to get new visas. However, in order to do that, we had to wait on our work permit paperwork to go through. The paperwork had been submitted in early December, but with the recent election and other bureaucratic issues we were waiting, illegally, in limbo. Literally seconds before finding out about Katie's accident - we received the call from the Ministry of [Labour].
Additionally, we have seen the great joy of belonging to the local church. The people in Buff Bay have been fantastic in loving us through the storm. Not only is the support here, but it is State-side as well in so many kind words of encouragement and solidarity sent to us!
Times are hard and not how we would have planned them. However, God is good, and He wills for our sanctification - that is our growth in personal holiness, with which we may see and enjoy Him (1 Thessalonians 4:3, Hebrews 12:14)!
Soli Deo Gloria!
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