Brett & Debbie February update and prayer requests.

Dear <<First Name>>

We have been super busy since we got home from our second Debrief January 25th. The family debrief went very well, even while being very different from the couples debrief we did in early January. It was a good time getting to know the

family and listening well, playing games and sharing meals together. It was also good to work with our colleagues Mark & Peggy. Here's a picture of the retreat center we used...

Debbie has been putting in extra hours at the tax and advisory office she works at part-time, helping to get documents and other materials out the door on time. This week will give a bit of breathing room, and less hours, which is good because…

We are approaching the second year anniversary of Joash’s’ death. It’s this Thursday February 10. We covet your prayers for us and all our children as we remember him. The local boys, their families, and Katie will all come here for Indonesian Curry, a Joash and family favorite. We will also have his favorite

dessert of chocolate and cherry dump cake baked in a dutch oven, Boy Scout style, the way he liked it. We plan to play games, talk, look at pictures and cry a bit together. Our California boy plans to call in as well as our Indianola, IA couple. But while plans are good, my heart is very heavy and sad, and has been all month. Two years seems like a long time, yet many days it still seems like yesterday, I miss him so. Grieving is a hard journey, and we want to do it well, so that our family members who are not trusting Jesus will be encouraged by our faith.

And finally, to end the week, our friends and colleagues who work in The Czech Republic will arrive on Friday morning to offer an open house here from 2-6 and

then spend the night. They have a 1½ year old little boy and a 3 year old little girl. I (Debbie) also have a 9 AM meeting and then work from noon to five. Pray for God given appointments as they share their hearts and ministry, and for the many that we and they have invited to come and be blessed.

This week also holds several Pastoral Care calls, classes at the gym, Life Group and getting the house ready for all the company. Maybe next week will be a bit less intense and busy? Which we will need as we prepare to go to Omaha and Lincoln NE to teach for the very first time, Lesson Five of the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement. We are looking forward to it and nervous at the same time. Again we appreciate your prayers. The classes are February 20 & 21.

In all this, we are still waiting for Brett’s business venture to come to pass. He is doing some consulting work for a few businesses in town, to help pay bills too.

Oh, and speaking of bills, mine arrived from the MRI’s on my hand and wrist, and they are doozies. And the news was not good. There were eight different problems found in the scans which will eventually require 3 different surgeries, two of which can be done at the same time. While the tingling, numbness and

pain are hard to put up with, the thought of causing more pain to correct my symptoms is not something I look forward to. I would like to be able to work through tax season, but then one of our CR sons is having ankle surgery, and I would like to be available to help out their family for awhile. Pray for healing, relief from the pain, numbness and tingling and for wisdom of when to schedule the surgery.

I know this is a lot. We really need your prayers! And we appreciate so much your notes of encouragement and support for our ministry financially.  If you'd like to donate to our work, here's a link! 

Lots of Love in the month of Valentine’s Day to you all!
Brett & Debbie