September 2010
Dear Family and friends,
I don’t like to start out with bad news. But will get it out of the way and move on to the more positive things to end. We all know that God is awesome, but there are days that the adversary likes to try to get his licks in as well... It has been a month of mixed heartache and blessing. The lives of several have been deeply affected by sin and godlessness. This is hard to watch, especially in folk that you come to love. It must be God doing what only He can do to mend these lives and bring back biblical relationships.
You will also know over the past 4 years we have put every bit we can into our building project, it has started to look like someone cares. But we hit a killer blow of sorts a week ago, as we were vacuuming the entry we saw what looked like a dead slug in the corner... this turned out to be ‘dry rot’. It took a week of ripping out walls and carpet and ceilings. A closet had to be completely removed and electrical boxes stripped out. The sad part is that we had just redecorated this area a month ago and had it looking really nice and welcoming. Our folk here have given as unto the Lord, in some cases surprising me with the giving toward the work here. So sitting at my desk last week physically exhausted, emotionally drained with the smell of the fungicide treatment in my nostrils was just more than I could seem to bear... and Ruth was not far behind me.
To be honest, it is a trying time financially with the current US economy. It has put you in less than ideal circumstances and this in turn has lead to our support being very close to not quite making it month to month, but God has provided. However, it does mean that there is nothing ‘extra’ for us to tidy this area. The demolition has been done and the treatment has been taken care of but we will still have to raise the reconstruction costs. But, I am often reminded that God knew about this and has folk out there to send in for this need. Unfortunately it will still take £8000/$12,000 to pay all the bills associated with this. We found that our upstairs windows are to blame for allowing the damp, so must be completely replaced, that is part of the immenseness of this expense. The discouraging part that this puts our upstairs remodel, in the part we are trying to make ‘home’, on indefinite hold. We just don’t have any extra funds and I don’t see where it will come from... so I share this need first as a prayer for my faith to grow and to our Father that He will provide this need very quickly. Pray for Ruth she has been waiting 4 years for a laundry room and kitchen, but she understands that God’s work must come first, so I am blessed, but she will be cross that I mention this.
On the plus side in the midst of the discouragements, we see God at work in lives. We had 16 in for our TeenTime and have had them staying way late asking questions about this ‘God stuff’. As I mentioned last time we also have had visitors every week since Easter. Therefore, we minister out of great weakness and know in the end God will receive the glory as is rightly His due. On our ‘Anniversary Sunday’, 53 people were out for our service. Another plus is that since school started back Judi has only missed a couple of classes so she is quite thrilled to be feeling better. Has a bad day now and again but making it. My back is sore still but I managed to put in a lot of labour on the tear out of the area and not as bad as I had thought I might be.
Your Bridge to Brechin,
Jon, Ruth and Family
