Does it ever get hot in Minnesota?
What side of the bike path should I ride on in America, left or right?
What is a dime...is it ten cents or five?
Why do so many of the houses here look like a puzzle picture?
Do all the roads and intersections in America look the same?
Why don't my friends finish their food? Why do they think camp food is gross? Don't they know there are people in the world who go hungry every day?
Can we have Malai Kofta, buttered naan, and tandoori chicken for lunch instead of roast, mom???
These are some of the questions our kids have had these past few months as we have been re-learning what it means to live in America.
GETTING SETTLED: This last month has been one of "settling in" to life here. Praise God we were able to rent a townhouse not too far from where we lived during our last furlough. It was a long season of searching for housing options so we are really grateful to be settling now!!
After renting it, we had three days of mad rush garage saling! We literally went to about 45 garage sales in three days, and made about 15 separate trips to Target, but were able to completely furnish our new home in those few crazy days! Thanks to all who donated furniture, bikes, and lent us things to use for this time in the USA. It is SUCH a great blessing to be in our new house and to feel as if we can begin to rest and put down some temporary roots here. God is good.
The last few weeks have also included a Koerner family (Cindy's mom's side) reunion in Missouri, senior teen camp for Steffi, and a Minnesota Timberwolves Basketball Camp for Jeremy. Jenna continues to work on learning how to drive with dad each evening after dinner and is getting ready for North Central University. Todd and Cindy have enjoyed some games of tennis and have been busy unpacking stuff that was in storage as well as just setting up life here.
RENEWING OUR HEARTS: Our time in the USA is split up about 50/50. Half of our time we have set aside for rest, renewal and input into our own lives. We want to "fill up our tanks" and get ready for the next season God has for our lives and ministry. Next week we will attend a conference, and in September we fly to Canada for a ministers retreat. Please do pray that God will refill all the places we have given out and been depleted spiritually, physically or emotionally over the past four years. We know this time of reflection and rest is vital for our long term work in India.
RENEWING RELATIONSHIPS:The other 50% of our time is set aside to renew relationships and share our vision and ministry with friends, churches and partners here in the USA. All our Sunday mornings are booked up from September- November now, but we do have some Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights available. We also look forward to sharing one on one with many of you about what God has been doing in India. If you would like to schedule a time for us to have coffee, a meal, or just hang out with you, or with a group from your church, please give us a call to arrange something. We now have a landline which is 952-997-3695. Our cell is the same and is 952-465-7531.
BUDGET NEEDS: With the addition of needing to rent a townhouse during our time here, our cash budget need has increased significantly! Please pray for the full release of our needed cash budget, for the provision of the $10,000 needed for the land payment due in December, as well as an increase of $400 per month in our regular monthly needs. At this point we are starting from zero...so still have 100% of our budget left to raise! If God is leading you to help with one of these needs, please do write to us for info on how to do that. :)
INDIA: We were recently in touch with our team in India and it sounds as if things are going well there in our absence. The house churches continue to grow and our staff are working hard. Do continue to remember them in your prayers.
God bless and enjoy the rest of the summer!
The Andersons- Todd, Cindy, Jenna, Steffi and Jeremy
No comments:
Post a Comment