Have you ever heard the phrase "No news is good news?" Well, in our situation that's certainly not the case. For us, "No news" to you simply means we are still struggling to find some routine in the day-to-day happenings that have been consuming us:
Cassie's situation is still unchanged. She has had a continuing problem with seizures and we are preparing to put her in the hospital at some time in the near future. There, her condition will be monitored over a several day period, mainly via a constant EEG.
Until that day comes, life for our family has been somewhat "like eating an elephant . . . . just one bite at a time." Cassie spends her days with Kris over on the Alaska Christian College Campus (the folks at ACC are a real part of our "support group" right now!) and is trying to focus on her home school curriculum. But the medications she is on make it difficult to apply herself. This only increases her frustration. Meanwhile, we try to keep her as active as possible and not allow her to retreat into a wait and see attitude regarding her treatment. We are also waiting on final word re. being accepted on a Medicare program called TEFRA, which is for children with permanent disabilities. At one point we thought we were "in" but wee keep having to fill out something more . . . and we are awaiting some sort of final confirmation.
We have also been busy with Chelsie's plans re. college. She has been accepted at both Grace College in Indiana and a college in western Washington, which has an in-state agreement program with Alaska, and Chelsie has been approved under that program. It's not an automatic thing, Chelsie had to apply sort-of like a scholarship, and she was accepted. Later in February she will be traveling back to Indiana for a week to visit Grace College and spend time with the Soccer team there. We are hoping for some sort of partial athletic scholarship. We are also hoping she will choose Grace. But the financial burden is pretty much on her, and we will be excited for her, whatever she chooses.
Tyler is still living in the area. We see him every now and then. Last time we had him over for dinner it's like we traveled in time back to the days when we would all sit around the table and tell stories about each other growing up. You know the stories - - the ones that you tell over and over again? He is still walking far from the Lord. But his heart is still tender and we are confident that it is only a matter of time. How much time? I wish I knew, but then again, that's somewhat insignificant in light of eternity, huh?
Please don't take our decrease in communication to mean anything other than simply the fact that we are busy coping. We are loved by God and His dear children and have allot of support during this time. But we are also trying to hit on the best way to keep you informed. There are even more issues relating to confidence and discretion in how we share about Kris' activities and New Hope than in our working with families in the bush with ABM. Kris and I were just talking about this the other day. In the past, I have always been the one sending these updates out. But currently I am not involved as much in the day-to-day on campus. But Kris' plate is full enough right now, so I guess we are still transitioning. Once we have found the right combination of her details and my ramblings, we will start back up in earnest. Because we firmly believe that you are our partners in ministry and it thrills us to know you are staying up to speed on our ministry.
God is really breaking my heart with a concern for the lost. He is bringing me in contact with unsaved people on a regular basis. Sometimes, the contrast between their lives and what assurances WE know in Christ almost chokes me. I am teaching a Sunday School class in II Peter at church.
2 Peter 1:3-43 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4 Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. NIV
Everything we need! And through His promises we can participate in the DIVINE NATURE. That's good enough for me. This human nature is just too complicated, don't you agree?
THERE or in the air!
