|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Because a church is made up of imperfect people, it comes with it's challenges in various forms. This small body of believers have weathered a few situations in the past weeks and months that COULD have been tools the enemy used to bring division and trouble. Yet, it has been a blessing to see each committed servant in BFF stay firm in their faith and the truth of God's goodness and loving grace towards us. They have demonstrated that grace and love towards each other as well. It makes me want to should for joy from the rooftops! It is a beautiful thing to see. Praise the Lord with us for how He is growing each of these believers in their faith!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Summer School/Family Camp 2017
What a blessing!!! The Crosby team rocked it and God provided in many ways. Our missions team was smaller this year but God knew, and attendance at Summer School (click to see pictures) was a little lower this year as well, making it perfect for more intimate fellowship. Family Camp (click to see pictures) was lower in attendance for various random reasons making it a great time of worship and fellowship also. We want to express our thanks to the Crosby Team for serving us so wholeheartedly and tirelessly. Would you please lift these members and their church, First Baptist Church Crosby, up in prayer now? They are in the midst of the effects of Hurricane Harvey and its aftermath. Their church is now an emergency shelter and they themselves have family and friends living through the effects of this disaster. Pray for strength and stamina in the days and weeks ahead!
Purity Seminar
BFF's 4th annual Purity Seminar was this past weekend and it was SUCH a blessing. Our kids went home so encouraged about how God made them in His image and the amazing plans He has for their development, their sexuality, and their future spouses. My favorite part was the parents seminar time, which we had over dinner in the evening. It was such a wonderful time of open discussion where we told them all about what their kids learned that day and encouraged them to continue the teaching at home. The parents went home to have wonderful open conversations with their kids about the topics we discussed during the seminar. THIS is our goal of Purity Seminar, to give both the kids and parents a Biblical foundation for the topic of sex so that the discussion can continue frequently at home. These kids are immersed in a very sexualized culture and if the conversations don't happen at home, the world's perverted ways on the topic WILL be their only source of knowledge. Please keep praying for BFF's kids. They are the leaders of tomorrow, and we want to raise them up to Kingdom Builders!!!
A summer break for the first time in... ever!
Due to the change in our plans to return to the states on home assignment, for the first time ever we had a slow and easy August. It was... heavenly! We have always been on the go until we stop to start homeschool, usually on the road for several weeks in August. But this year we had nothing on our schedule since we were supposed to be stateside. What a WONDERFUL blessing it has been. Don't get me wrong, we missed getting to see you all in person (seeing Facebook was hard some days, knowing we should have been in some of those pictures) BUT we needed this time of rest and the Lord knew it. We also would have missed seeing again and spending lots of time with our precious sister from India and her son. Lourd, whom we've known for more than 20 years, has been working in Indian restaurants for years in Japan and is like our brother, but his wife, Nirmala, and children have been back in India for the last 13 years and we have been missing them SO much! What a blessing it has been to have Nirmala and their youngest son Jayden here with us almost daily over the last month since they arrived! We are looking forward to one more month of deep fellowship and friendship with them before the two of them return to India. Plus Jayden is joining us for homeschool which is fun for the kids!
Our neighbors to the North...
As many of you may have heard for the first time in about 8 years North Korea launched a missile over Japan this time without warning! Many of our friends in the Northeasterly part of Japan were rudely awakened by cell phone alarms and city announcement systems warning them to be prepared to take cover. It left all of us feeling a bit more uneasy about our hermit neighbor to the north. However, this much I know is true... The Lord is our strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though the waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. Psalm 46. Folks, our refuge is in the Lord. He is the source of our strength and courage and we will not fear. The battle is being fought, but the ultimate victory is won! Jesus paid the price on the cross and we are totally HIS. We do not worry or fret and we know that He is for us, so no weapon formed against us can stand. We appreciate your prayers for the powers that be who are making political decisions about the situation, and your prayers for us in the instance that we might need to exercise wisdom and courage about our whereabouts and personal safety. But know that we trust Jesus fully in His plans for our lives and the church He has entrusted to us here. We will stand with our family and friends here and use every situation to speak the truth about His saving grace and continue to invite others into the Family until that day comes when He appears in the clouds! Hallelujah and AMEN!
picture below, you can see where we live
(marked in yellow) and the trajectory of the missile.
Thank you for praying!
With all our Love,
The Aroma Team
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
