So many of you have journeyed with our family through our time overseas and now our ministry in Durham. How we thank-you for your love, care, support and prayers for us!
Two ladies in our mission started a pod cast called "COMPEL: How Ordinary Women Spread the Gospel Story". A few months ago they interviewed me and now the pod cast is on line for you to listen to. I share about one of the ministries I have been invovled with: Caring For missionary Kids and Families. However, on the pod cast I also share a little bit of our family's journey through some of the challenges we have gone through. If you would like to hear our story all you have to do is click the link below and it will take you to the pod cast.
https://ethnos.ca/episodes/ep-13-caring-for-missionary-kids-with-holly-dyck/?fbclid=IwAR3c6LIfi7yN81lHO34eJEwUiOfvVE2jhQ2jC8d3p23QsDBeK6T5E8dkc7M
Today we were able to celebrate a HUGE milestone as we attended the graduation of Dr. Glenn Galle. Glenn has been working on his doctorate in Plant Pathology for six years. We are so proud of him and all his hard work which started in the classroom, then was out in the field collecting samples, working in the lab, and doing his research. We LOVED being a able to attend this improatnt milestone and being a part of his cheerleading squad.
Tonight we have the privilege of cheering on our Emanate Class of 2019 as they walk across the stage and graduate from the Emanate program. Our students came from all over the US and there is a couple from Germany. It has been a full 18 months for our students as they have prepared for cross cultural church planting. This preparation happens in and out of the classroom, up to jungle camp and back down. It is so neat to see how God has used our students in the community and in their churches. We know God will use them in a mighty way as they head out all over the world. We have done a lot of life together and they will be dearly missed as they have left their finger print on our hearts.
This is graduation week for us here at Emanate. We have a full week of classes finishing up on Friday night with our graduation. So this week is filled with a lot of "LASTS". Today was our LAST joint chapel where we hear encouragment from the Word. Vern had the priveldge of sharing in chapel. We also shared communion, sang, and prayed together. I shed a few tears as we spent this precious time together. Oh how sweet to worship together. Our hearts are truly moved as we see another group of students finishing up and heading out to serve the Lord.
Within a few weeks our classes will be finished up and on Dec. 13th our sudents will be graduating. Therefore our families will soon be once again in TRANSITION. They will be packing up and uprooting their children again and moving back to their home areas. Although there is some excitement, there is also some saddness involved as the children think of leaving the friends that they have made here. So todays lesson was on how to have closure, how to have final celebrations with friends, and acknowledge and thank important people here who have invested in them. We also talked about their emotions and how they are feeling. It is always fun to spend time with these dear little ones. Please pray for them and all the transitions ahead.
Last night we ladies, of our Emanate staff went out for a Farewell dinner in honor of Kirsten who will soon be leaving our team. Her, Ryan, and their two children will transitioning to a new ministry in Mexico. Kirsten has been the youngest member of our team and her energy and enthusiasm will be greatly missed. In a world where young families are living for the "North American Dream" it is refreshing to see them willing to lay that aside and to live as pilgrims in this world. Thanks Kirsten for how you have invested in the Emanate training program and the many students that have come through our doors. We are cheering you on as you will soon be transitioning to your new ministry!
How good are you at finding "God Sightings" throughout your day. There are times when God can seem very close and it is easy to see his hand at work all around us. However there are times when the circumstances of life can make God seem far off. It is like looking at a "Where's Waldo" book. You know he is there but it is hard to see him. However, if you take the time to look, you can find him. So as we go through challenging times in life, God is there, we just need to be looking and searching for him.
Our missionary families go through many transitions that can be hard and challenging. Our students will be graduating next month and our families will be thrown into another transition. They will be packing up and moving, saying good-bye to friends here on the campus, at church, and in the community. It is during times like these that life can feel like you are walking through a fog. So today our lesson was on: "God Sightings". We started by looking at a "Where's Waldo" book to see if we could find Waldo in the midst of the chaos. And as we were talking about being on the look out and searching for clues - I made up a scavenger hunt. We started off with one clue and it took us around campus and then back to my office.
As we continued to talk about "God Sightings", I introduced the children to a "Blessings Jar". If we are looking, there are so many "Yea God" moments throughout our days and weeks. God is always walking with us throughout all the twists and turns of life. If we can take a minute to look for "God Sightings" along the way, it is a reminder of God faithfully walking with us in life. As we tune our hearts to God it is easier to see God at work. Writing down these "God Sighting" and filling a jar with them is a great practical reminder of God's faithfulness to us. I love to open my jar at the end of the year to be reminded of all that God is doing around me. It is such a joy and privilege to share these special teaching moments with these dear children. What "God Sightings" have you seen this week?
