November Newletter

November 2010

Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you well and enjoying the autumn season. The weather here in Missouri around the Lake of the Ozarks is beautiful and we are enjoying the change of the season with the leaves changing color and the cool weather. After the stifling hot summer the cool temperatures feel wonderful.

Summer News

Melissa's mom Esther enjoyed spending
time with her grandsons this summer.

Speaking of the summer, our summer was chock full of challenges. One of which was my (Melissa’s) mother’s health. After classes let out for the summer we drove down in June to Florida and spent six weeks living with and helping my mom and dad. During that time my mom was diagnosed with stage one ovarian cancer. She went through surgery and, praise the Lord, the doctors believe they caught it early enough that the cancer hadn’t spread! Thank you very much to those of you who prayed for my mom this summer! She is doing so much better and was greatly encouraged to hear of your prayers on her behalf!

Changes this Semester

This semester has turned out a bit different than what we had originally planned. A few days before we were due to start classes in August the staff here at the Missionary Training Center (MTC) asked us to step out of classes and work full time here on campus. This change in roles is just for this semester and we plan on jumping back into classes in January and going on to finish in December of next year.

The childcare program is a huge blessing as it allows
parents to be fully engaged and participating in classes each day.

Geoff has been working hard on the campus management team and I’ve been filling a need for a full time worker in the childcare center. I’ve been working mainly in two of the three rooms. Some days I’m in Elijah’s preschool and some days I’m in Ethan’s “minis” room. Both boys are really enjoying their time in class.

Student moms are scheduled to assist the teachers during the week so each day that I work in childcare frees up a mom to be in class getting the important training she’ll need.



The grass doesn’t cut itself!
Here’s Geoff on the riding lawn mower
keeping the campus looking beautiful!

Those of you who know Geoff well know that he enjoys working out of doors. There is always a lot of work to be done here at the training center. For example, there are trees to trim, upkeep of the grounds, landscaping, and maintenance. These things don’t work themselves out. It needs hard workers like Geoff and the management team here to keep things running smoothly.

So while our path has taken a slightly different course this semester from what we had “planned” we can see the Lord working and directing our steps. We value this time as part of our training and have been blessed to be able to serve and having a small part in sending out future missionaries.

Praise and Prayer



•Praise God for the things He’s been teaching us since we’ve been here. He is so faithful.

• Praise God for the opportunity to be a part of such a grace filled body of believers!

• Please pray that we’ll be sensitive to the Lord’s direction as we seek where He would have us serve in future ministry.

• Pray for health and safety for the students and their families so they can glean the most from the time here in the training.

Thank you for your friendship and prayers! You mean so much to us.

 

Let us know if there is any way we can be praying for you.

Partners together for His glory,

Geoff, Melissa, Elijah and Ethan Gill