With the Deitering family
We have had a busy but productive and fun couple of months. The Deitering family is on furlough at this time and we are enjoying getting to know them even more. They came to NY for a visit in Oct and last week we spent time together at The Master's Mission. Our week at the Mission was very good. We learned a lot of practical things and we got to meet the new candidates that are going through the training this year. Pray that the new candidates year at TMM would be a good one and that God would prompt some to come to Ecuador.
You know how much we enjoy having the international students here every year from the University of WV. Well, on our way back from spending time at TMM, we stopped in Morgantown WV. It was great seeing some of the students we have hosted over the years. We went to Church on Sunday and attended the international students Sunday School class. It's so encouraging to see the growth taking place in the lives of those attending. It was a nice surprise to see Jane there. She is a student that stayed with us this year. She had never been to the church before and she told me she felt that God told her she should go. She was so happy she did because she got to see us. She is not a Christian but I believe God is working in her heart. Please keep her in your prayers. She has a husband and a 20 month old baby in China. She gets to fly home this Christmas to see them.
The children's Sunday School program at FLUMC is going well. We had a harvest party for the community at Camp Findley and it was a lot of fun. A lot of people came and hopefully this can be the first of many years to do this. We are also planning a Christmas party for the community at Camp this year as well. Our prayer is that we would get to know the community more through events like this and as we get to know one another more and more we could help each other and be a part of each others lives. Getting to know the kids is just an open door for us to know the parents and meet the needs in our community.
We have had several opportunities to be the speakers at several Mission Conferences this year. What a great way to be stretched and to grow. God has been faithful in opening doors for us. It's amazing to see the different ways people have come together to help us in this journey. From writing letters on our behalf to using their talents to make and do things to help us. From big things to small things, it all adds up to what God is doing in the "bigger picture". Thank you all for what you are doing for Him! Thank you for your continued prayers and support. We still have kept our goal for being sent out in the spring of 2011. As the time approaches it almost seems impossible that we could get everything ready and have what we need by then but we will keep pressing onward and see what the Lord does.
Some more things to pray about:
We would like to keep our home here in NY because by time we serve our first 4 years and come home on furlough our two daughters will be 18 & 17 and may stay in the states. Please pray that the right people would want to rent from us. We do have people that will oversee that and keep up on maintenance.
Many of you know we have Great Danes. Cain & Leda have been a part of our family before we were called to the mission field. It is our desire to take them with us to Ecuador but we want to do what is best for them and us. Kevin Deitering thinks it could be a good opportunity to have the dogs in Ecuador not only for protection but also because people would be curious and it could help get to know them more easily. And because it would help us, especially the kids to adjust to living there. Please keep this difficult decision in your prayers.
Love & Blessings,
Tracy (writing for) Marshall, Tracy, Devin, Cameron & Kaiden Dixon