one year later

"Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us." - 1 Samuel 7:12

Ted and Sophie,

You may never remember this past year. Or maybe you will. I don't know. But I wanted to put a stone here. An Ebenezer. Saying "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

These are the ways that we have seen Jesus work in the most amazing ways...
- selling our house
- giving us a place to live for the summer
- a wonderful home to live in Morgantown that is near campus and Daddy's office
- personal donors to the area that helped get the area into the black when we arrived
- providing for us to pay for fixing the foundation of our house and paying off every last bit of debt we had before we moved
- a savings account for the mileage and YL stuff we never got reimbursed for, feeding hungry college leaders, 2 sets of tires, multiple car repairs, a root canal and subsequent dental work, medical bills, etc.
- leaders who love Jesus
- you guys adjusting so well and not missing a beat
- free preschool near our house with wonderful teachers for you, Ted
- full paychecks until May (that in and of itself is a miracle!)
- getting rid of the old office and someone paying rent for the office until we did
- a new FREE office and parking right on campus
- going from $1000/month giving to $10,000/month
- interest/committees forming for Clay Battelle High School, Lincoln High School and Morgantown WyldLife
- learning how to cook (one of those expenses of feeding lots of leaders!)
- Cameron and Sarah doing YL College
- being in a home group in Morgantown with friends that introduced Daddy to Jesus in college
- friends for playdates and girls nights out
- my dear friend Bethany moving here 2 weeks ago
- the Teodoro's living down the street for many months and the friendship that was
- getting settled and plugged in at South Ridge Church
- reconnecting/connect with old and new friends
- you, Sophie, getting into a Mom's Day Out preschool this year which helps tremendously with childcare and gives her a little preschool experience.

A couple of months ago, you guys were playing house at Grandma's. You were pretending you were the new neighbors. I asked why you moved to town and you said, "Because Jesus told us to." If you don't remember anything else, please remember that there is great blessing in obedience. And you have been the recipients of more than we could ask or imagine.