It definitely feels like winter is just around the corner here in Discovery Bay. The mountains are constantly shrouded by precipitous clouds and the persistent wind has blown the leaves almost completely from the trees. The lecture series portion of the Discipleship Training School (DTS) is flying by and the outreach portion is looming ahead. We’ve been busy listening to teachers and working around the campus, raking leaves and picking up windfall. The temperature is gradually dropping and we’re keeping our small wood stove stuffed with fuel. With only a bout of stomach flu and an odd cold here and there, our family is healthy, active, and doing great.
It’s been about a week since we rose early to attend a Sunday service at the Emmanuel Bible Church (EBC) in North Seattle, where we began our week-long urban outreach. The service was great, lively Spirit filled worship and solid Bible teaching on the centrality of the gospel in everything, and the fellowship was full of love and holy calories as we enjoyed a wonderful potluck lunch together. We settled in at EBC with all of our bedding and clothes since this would be our home-base for the entirety of the week. It was a trip full of ministry and busy-ness, with many expeditions downtown to represent Christ to the city. Our time was spent serving the Lord in various ways; in street evangelism across the street from Westmont Center, me with guitar in hand, Cameron and a fellow student singing worship songs and the kids floating around with other students looking for open doors of ministry. Having Aubry and Ryan with us was amazing! Watching them work with the team and minister to the city’s inhabitants was truly precious. We worked side by side handing out food at Northwest Harvest Food Bank and served homeless men at the Bread of Life Mission. We also prayerfully walked the often hilly streets becoming familiar with the city and looking for any open door of ministry, sharing food and hot chocolate with homeless, praying with and encouraging them. When we were back at EBC we stayed busy with various chores and service projects and enjoyed our time with Pastor Darren Larson who taught extensively on the word of God, its origin, importance, interpretation, and much more. It would have been great to have him teach us for another week but our time in the city quickly came to end and we soon were back in the van heading home, exhausted in many ways but also enlightened and our hearts enlarged. It was tough leaving Sean and Kay with their grandparents but they had a ball together and we were blessed to have a little more mobility and freedom as a smaller troop.
We got the news upon our return that the sale of our home fell through and so we are currently praying and awaiting further instructions from the Lord as far as what to do next.
The kids are continuing in their home schooling endeavors, Ryan has really enjoyed writing creative and exciting stories while Aubry is beginning to excel in her reading skills and is taking horse riding lessons at a neighboring ranch. Sean is as active as ever and trying to literally follow in his older siblings’ footsteps. Kay is talking up a storm and all have adjusted to their new surroundings and friends and are happily flourishing.
We’ve been blessed to make Calvary Chapel Sequim our home church while we’re in the area and have enjoyed our time with the Bailey Family; we also, look forward to visiting some other churches over the next few weeks to share the vision for Australia. Speaking of Australia, we’ve received some info that looks to be an answer to prayer! We’ve been praying about where in the country we would be completing the outreach portion of the DTS and it looks like the YWAM base in Townsville, Queensland will be hosting us. Our director is in contact with them and doors seem to be opening up…exciting stuff!
►ANSWERED PRAYER!
Thanks to the hard work and generosity of our church friends and family our house has been prepped to be sold or rented as the case may be…Thank You again CCF!
The Abbate Family is all moved and getting settled in in their new rental.
Our kids are growing in their individual relationships with the Lord, it was especially evident in Seattle.
We’ve completed the after-school program and the hosting church has successfully taken it over. I look forward to hearing how things are going as we close out the year.
►CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
God’s will and direction with the house in Forks
Provision for the outreach portion of the DTS
Vision for the next step after the DTS
More ministry opportunities in Port Townsend
It’s been about a week since we rose early to attend a Sunday service at the Emmanuel Bible Church (EBC) in North Seattle, where we began our week-long urban outreach. The service was great, lively Spirit filled worship and solid Bible teaching on the centrality of the gospel in everything, and the fellowship was full of love and holy calories as we enjoyed a wonderful potluck lunch together. We settled in at EBC with all of our bedding and clothes since this would be our home-base for the entirety of the week. It was a trip full of ministry and busy-ness, with many expeditions downtown to represent Christ to the city. Our time was spent serving the Lord in various ways; in street evangelism across the street from Westmont Center, me with guitar in hand, Cameron and a fellow student singing worship songs and the kids floating around with other students looking for open doors of ministry. Having Aubry and Ryan with us was amazing! Watching them work with the team and minister to the city’s inhabitants was truly precious. We worked side by side handing out food at Northwest Harvest Food Bank and served homeless men at the Bread of Life Mission. We also prayerfully walked the often hilly streets becoming familiar with the city and looking for any open door of ministry, sharing food and hot chocolate with homeless, praying with and encouraging them. When we were back at EBC we stayed busy with various chores and service projects and enjoyed our time with Pastor Darren Larson who taught extensively on the word of God, its origin, importance, interpretation, and much more. It would have been great to have him teach us for another week but our time in the city quickly came to end and we soon were back in the van heading home, exhausted in many ways but also enlightened and our hearts enlarged. It was tough leaving Sean and Kay with their grandparents but they had a ball together and we were blessed to have a little more mobility and freedom as a smaller troop.
We got the news upon our return that the sale of our home fell through and so we are currently praying and awaiting further instructions from the Lord as far as what to do next.
The kids are continuing in their home schooling endeavors, Ryan has really enjoyed writing creative and exciting stories while Aubry is beginning to excel in her reading skills and is taking horse riding lessons at a neighboring ranch. Sean is as active as ever and trying to literally follow in his older siblings’ footsteps. Kay is talking up a storm and all have adjusted to their new surroundings and friends and are happily flourishing.
We’ve been blessed to make Calvary Chapel Sequim our home church while we’re in the area and have enjoyed our time with the Bailey Family; we also, look forward to visiting some other churches over the next few weeks to share the vision for Australia. Speaking of Australia, we’ve received some info that looks to be an answer to prayer! We’ve been praying about where in the country we would be completing the outreach portion of the DTS and it looks like the YWAM base in Townsville, Queensland will be hosting us. Our director is in contact with them and doors seem to be opening up…exciting stuff!
►ANSWERED PRAYER!
Thanks to the hard work and generosity of our church friends and family our house has been prepped to be sold or rented as the case may be…Thank You again CCF!
The Abbate Family is all moved and getting settled in in their new rental.
Our kids are growing in their individual relationships with the Lord, it was especially evident in Seattle.
We’ve completed the after-school program and the hosting church has successfully taken it over. I look forward to hearing how things are going as we close out the year.
►CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
God’s will and direction with the house in Forks
Provision for the outreach portion of the DTS
Vision for the next step after the DTS
More ministry opportunities in Port Townsend
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