We have quite a bit to update you all on...
At church:
We have had great turn outs for men's and women's Bible study. It has been so great being able to study God's word together in small groups. Please continue to pray that people would continue growing through this ministry.
We have LOVED having the Goulds here. Matt and Ali Gould moved here at the end of August to be our youth pastor. They have been such a blessing and are greatly appreciated by our church. They are also great friends and a huge encouragement to John and me. Please pray for Matt as he is looking for a new job - for continued prayer for them as they are adjusting to being newlyweds AND living in Utah. :)
We have also been SO BLESSED having the Warner family here. They are planning on planting a church in Provo and are attending Grace while they get everything in the works for the plant in a few years. They have jumped in with both feet in serving at Grace. They have been such a wonderful support to us these last few months. Please keep them in your prayers while they get things in motion for their future plant.
We have had a lot of great people step up and serve at Grace. Its been so great to see God using all kinds of people in this body of believers to serve one another. We really do have a great bunch of believers. ;)
We have also continued to see a number of unbelievers coming in to Grace, with searching hearts, and finding Christ. Its been amazing to see how many people are seeking truth in this valley. Please pray for those who are searching. Please pray for those that have found Christ to grow in Him. There are a lot of people who are facing a opposition and persecution for their new faith. Please be in prayer for them.
We've also experienced a lot of numerical growth which has presented the need for building expansion. That's a good problem to have though! We need to raise about $12,000 more to complete our balcony and upstairs bathrooms.
Our 5 year balloon on our building loan expires in January of 2014. We are praying for God's leading and if its His Will, eliminating that all together. We currently owe around $238,000 on our building, and our long term goal is to be debt free. The monthly mortgage is a hindrance, but we know that our God can provide all of those funds or perhaps make a significant dent by year's end. We've been able to put some money towards that in 2012 and will continue in 2013. Pray with us in that, too.
At Home:
First, I just wanted to say THANK YOU for all your prayers for our family this last year as we have been dealing with Autism/ Aspergers Syndrome with Taylor (see our July update for more info).
Taylor was tested by the public school system in September and qualified for a special preschool. Praise God! She stated attending school 3 times a week for 2 hours. A bus picks her up in the morning and drops her off after school. She has a great teacher, 4 aids, and a speech pathologist that work with her. Taylor LOVES school and the bus.
Her communication has improved so much and meltdowns are very seldom because of it. She is putting her own sentences together, and she initiates play with other children! We are so thrilled with everything God has been doing though Taylor. Another praise- she seems to not have a problem with flour anymore- either she grew out of it or God healed her. Thank you so much for your prayers for our little girl.
It makes me think of 2 Corinthians 12 when Paul is praying that God would take away his ailment. But vs 9 says "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Our Taylor GRACE is an amazing testimony of God's grace. He continues to use her in my life to teach me. I can't wait to see how God is going to use this in Taylor's life as she grows up. I know there will times of hardship, but God is glorified through our weaknesses. I know God has an amazing plan for her life.
I also wanted to tell you a little about our youngest, Avery Joy.
She is a happy, healthy, spunky little girl. She is now 14 months old and has been a JOY. (and a stinker).
We didn't know ahead of time when we chose their middle names that they would be so fitting. :)
Here are some of our latest family pictures. Thanks for praying!!
