Happy Thanksgiving!!!

As we prepare to head down the road to Iowa for Thanksgiving, know that we're thinking of you and praying that your holiday will be sweet. We are SO thankful for you...for your prayers, your financial support, your encouragement. We are so blessed to have such an amazing team of partners. Thank you!!!

Have a great turkey day! :)

prayer request!

Matt and I decided recently that we wanted to choose some specific goals related to our ministry partner development process....so after some prayer, we've decided to trust God to provide $1500 in monthly support by January 1. This definitely feels like a faith step, but we've been asking God daily to provide in this way for us. Would you join us in praying for this specific goal?

Please always let us know of specific ways we can be praying for you as well! We'll keep you updated on the Lord's provision that He might receive the glory!

Michigan conference

We just got back from a conference in Michigan that was a follow up to our training this past summer. We received some GREAT financial training as they led us through the Good Cents financial course. We were also refreshed through spending time with friends who are in the same phase of ministry, trusting God to provide their team of ministry partners. Here's a shot of our group...all the new staff who joined this summer from the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest regions of the country.

God of the Impossible

Matt and I were given this talk by a ministry partner who spoke VERY highly of it. We got to listen to it on our drive home and were both blessed and challenged by the message it holds. If you have an hour and want to expand your view of God a bit, click the link below and then the link on the website to listen. I pray you might be challenged as we were. Enjoy!

Asking God for the Impossible

On the road again...

Since we've been back from Colorado, I think we've only spent about 10 days in our apartment in Sioux Falls. The other 2 and a half weeks has been on the road, driving through Minnesota and meeting up with some of our ministry partners. Matt and I have been so encouraged by you, our partners and your walks with the Lord. We've left every meeting feeling deep gratitude for you and deeply impressed by your faith and how you're serving the Lord right where you are. Thank you for what you do!

We've also gotten to reflect on the beauty of God's creation as we've driven through the plains and around the lakes of Minnesota. One night we sat out on the dock at Matt's family's home and looked at the countless stars in wonder and at the same time watched lightning continually flashing through the sky. Such awesome reminders of God's power and majesty.

We're grateful to serve our King and grateful that in his majesty, he still entrusted his kingdom's work to average people.

back in the sioux empire!

After spending 7 weeks living in dorms at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and driving 11 hours straight to get home, we were SUPER excited to be back in our little apartment.

Don't get me wrong...we had a great summer. We were both challenged through the courses that we got to take from excellent professors - Matt took Doctrine survey and Bible study methods while I took Old Testament survey. We also got to meet some great people who were going taking classes with Campus Crusade, as well as reconnecting with old friends. The picture above is from the night of Matt's commissioning as full time staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. All of the new staff said their vows in a commissioning ceremony and then went on to celebrate over dinner together.

The summer culminated with the national staff conference, a bi-annual event. Around 5,000 staff from all of Campus Crusade's various ministries in the U.S. flock to Fort Collins and literally take over the CSU campus for a week. The conference was visionary for both of us and we were refreshed to hear from CCC Pres. Steve Douglass as well as Pastors Tim Keller and Keith Battle. We also got to hear ministry stories and updates from all the ministries - it was SO encouraging to hear what the Lord has done just in the past year in the U.S. and all around the world through our various ministries.

As we re-adapt to lower altitude (ie, enjoy breathing normally), we're also transitioning into a phase of ministry partner development. When we reach 100% of our financial goals, we'll be leaving the Sioux Empire and heading to Mankato, Minnesota, where we'll work at Minnesota State University, Southwest Minnesota State, and other surrounding schools. We're looking forward to making this move together and are hopeful for what the Lord will do in and through us during this season of preparation.

a lil Rocky Mountain excursion

we found out that it was FREE national park weekend, so we headed and hour and a half west of Fort Collins to check out God's amazing creation...here are a few highlights:


this little ground hog guy was our favorite wildlife that we saw - he literally came within feet of us and just watched us. we didn't ven have to zoom in to get this picture!

below you can see some of the breathtaking views of the Rockies...truly a majestic testament to our Creator.

New Staff training

New staff training is wrapping up and Matt and I are looking forward to the national staff conference coming up next week. It should be a visionary week as thousands of staff arrive in Fort Collins, CO from all over the US and the world.