1 Year Down, 1 To Go!

Robert just turned in his last paper to complete his first year of study at LTS!

Woo Hoo! We're celebrating today with some burgers!

And, as a proud wife, I must say he did great (and his marks reflect this!)! He hit the books hard this year - and for a man that would always pick ultimate frisbee with students over time in the library, being in the books was not always easy. But blessing after blessing has come through this intensive time of studying the Bible and theology. It has been such a gift to be able to set aside this time in our lives to focus his attention and energy to preparing for a future in pastoral ministries.

And I feel like I am learning so much right along with him as Robert has been wise in sharing with me all he's pondering and learning. Here's an excerpt from this last paper that details some of Robert's thoughts prayers leading up to the decision to move to England:

When I first began to read for and think through this assignment, I thought of the years 2011-2012. Between the Fall of 2011 and the Spring of 2012, God was preparing my heart to be ready to move my family across the ocean to England for the purpose of Christian ministry! How did He do it? One day I randomly ordered “One Year Book of Christian History.” This book had a profound impact on my life because every day I read amazing stories about men and women throughout church history that had dedicated their lives to spreading the gospel — most of their lives were marked by extreme suffering and trials. My heart was deeply moved as I read about these suffering saints and how the Lord used them to advance the gospel. Reading these stories prepared my heart and mind to be ready for what God was going to call my family to do later that year - move to England, away from all our friends, family, a great job, and a life of comfort we had built. And through reading these stories, listening to sermons, and meditating on Scripture, I knew that committing to full-time ministry meant putting me AND my family in the path of suffering and trials in a more intense way than before. God had prepared my heart for the realism of ministry, and He also showed me His promised presence and power. 

I will conclude with the main verse I have kept close to my heart through this entire transition and still do this day in preparing for my future, “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace” (Acts 20:22-24).

We're so grateful to friends and family for their faithful prayers and support.

1 academic year down and just 1 more to go!