August Update

Hello friends!

We hope you are enjoying the rest of the summer! We are finally all settled in to our apartment - with the exception of hanging a few more items (like our map in the photo above) and finding a kitchen table (our coffee table has been doing double-duty). Thank you so much for your prayers and support through this move. It certainly hasn’t been easy, but we are sure that this is where the Lord has led us. We have so much we want to share with you, so let’s get right down to what we’ve been up to!

Settling In

Since moving to campus, we have learned so much more about our new home. Gordon-Conwell’s campus sits in a region north of the city called “The North Shore.” The North Shore is the name of the coastal area in Massachusetts that spans generally from north of Boston to New Hampshire and includes towns like Salem, Gloucester, Beverly, Essex – and of course, Hamilton, where we live. We love it up here! The people are so kind, and all of the towns are very quaint and historic. Plus, there are beautiful little beaches everywhere along the coast. It’s a gorgeous place to live and is another reminder of God’s beauty and goodness!

Finding Community

Getting Part-Time Jobs

Other than settling in and looking for a home church, we are proactively looking for part-time work. God has provided us with a number of great opportunities that we’re still in process on right now – from on-campus positions to waiting tables to babysitting. We’re really praying for wisdom and for the Lord to provide the income we have budgeted for living expenses.

Fundraising Update

God has been so good to us through our partners – who have given generously, sacrificially, and joyfully! The Lord has taught us so much through the last 3 months of fundraising. We are thrilled that we are 89% funded! By God’s grace through you we have enough funds for Josh’s Kern Program and for the remainder of Whitney’s tuition. Nevertheless, we still need that 11% more to cover books, fees, and living expenses. We are prepared to try to work a few more hours than we planned or to take out some additional loans to fill that gap, but we’re also trusting God to provide that last $300-or-so per month.

Prayer Requests

Thank you for your prayers for us over the last month. We know that one of the greatest things you can do for anyone is to pray for them, so we appreciate you all so much.

• Finding a home church. Despite all of the costs and logistics, missing our community has been by-far the most difficult part of our move so far. We have both struggled with feelings of loneliness. Would you ask the Lord to lead us clearly (and quickly) to the church family he has prepared for us (and us for them)? Also, thank God for the kindness of our neighbors.
• Getting part-time jobs. We both have had interviews for various jobs, but would you pray that God would open up the right opportunities in the right timing for us? We know he will provide, but please pray that we will trust our heavenly father.
• Raising financial support. We honestly view being 89% funded as nothing less than a miracle. Nevertheless, we would love to be 100% funded by the beginning of the school semester in September. Would you ask the Lord to stir peoples’ hearts to give financially?
• Spiritual protection. Charles Spurgeon once said, “It is a good rule never to look into the face of a man in the morning till you have looked into the face of God.” Would you pray that we would faithfully devote ourselves to God and consistently stir our love for Jesus during this time of transition?

Love,

Josh & Whitney