Octopus and the Queen of Sheba

Recently Josh and I attend a traditional Vietnamese Wedding - Brad and Trinh, a couple from our church were gracious enough to invite us and it was a JOY attend their big day.

We got to see (and Cait even sampled) traditional food. And while octopus, jellyfish, whole fried flouder and ginger lobster are not usually part of our Americanized palates it was fun to adventure into another culture, even if it was just for a few hours.

It was also incredible to be with friends. We got to the reception a bit early, so we all crammed into Erin and Chris' SUV. With two boys in the trunk we all enjoyed the AC and laughter.

Lastly, it was great to catch up with our Waltham friends Dan and Britt. We are also honored and excited to be a part of celebrating Dan and Britt soon - it so fun to see those two in love!

This week also brought the start of a new season of YL Bible study - that we call campaigners. John and Kim are sadly away for the rest of the summer on assignment at Saranac Village, and Josh and I have the blessing of hosting campaigners at our home. For whatever reason this week it was all ladies who were available, and we focused on the story in 1 Kings where the Queen of Sheba comes to Jerusalem. It was encouraging to know that she came with hard questions for King Solomon, and that his Godly attitude was patient with her as she sought out answers to her questions about faith. We are so blessed by our Godly campaigner ladies - next semester is going to be a blast as we walk with them (and the boys too of course!)

A Prayer for Your Family

Father God,


I am so thankful for the family of believers your are knitting together around us, through us and sometimes even in spite of us. We repent of and ask you to remove any feelings of bitterness, jealousy, pride and decit - acknowleging with humility how human we are - and replace them with joy, thoughtfulness, contentment and a true desire that others succeed. Thank you for our YoungLife family of leaders, people you have hand crafted and brought to us from the far corners of this earth, to live with us.


As you did with Moses, when the burden of leadership became too great, we are thankful for those that you have brought us.   

The LORD said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you.  I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone." 

(Numbers 11:16-17)

God protect our small family. Teach us to love one other deeply, as you have loved us. May the world know You, because we are One.

Bring clear wisdom as we seek your will on where to place leaders. Raise up other prayerful adults in these towns/communities that will help us encourage, edify and establish us. Humbly we know we cannot do this on our own, but only with your strength. 


We pray for the kids you have chosen. Thank you for these few but sturdy ones. Thank you for the uniqueness - again a group with roots in different corners of the globe. Thank you for their child-likeness and their stories. Give us your heart for them, give us your eyes to see how to love them best, give us your ears to hear their stories. Father protect these little ones from the evil one. May they love you forever.

In Your Name, Amen.

Good News

Been thinking and seeking Jesus in new ways this summer. Partly out of desperation and partly out of desire for more joy, peace and contentment I have come to once again find how incredibly good the truth of salvation is.

I have just finished Strenthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley Barton. Past the incredible amount of dense, wonderful truth this read offers it has also inspired a renewal in me to try and do this right again, to seek Him first. This book coupled with Master Plan of Evangelism by Robert Coleman has jointly begun a push in my heart and Josh's heart to love our YL leaders and live this out in a healthy, life giving way that reproduces itself into eternity. I've struggled with what my purpose is to be in ministry with my strange hours and caring for leaders now seems like my piece in this puzzle. We've also grown to realize how important it is to share, to ask for support and to invite others into our battle and journey here in Walpole as we run jump into the thick of ministry.

So please pray. For unity and joy in our marriage, for clarity in when to say yes and when to give and when to protect, for growth in the hearts of our college leaders, for Christ to be glorified, for healthy life reproducing life in teens' hearts. For mentors, family and friends to surround us.

For this Good News cannot be kept to ourselves.