Good2BeWood

Poof! I just disappeared [again], I know. But life these last few weeks has been eventful. In short, Caleb's bottom two teeth are coming in something serious, he now sounds like a pterodactyl with his random noises, and by the end of this post...he will probably be crawling or walking; whichever he chooses to do first. The church has had some incredible breakthrough. We have seen our first family respond to the altar call, witnessed our largest attendance Sunday ever, and seen consistency in attendance. We have real members! It is so beautiful to see God work. We have done a lot of things in our life and marriage that required faith, but church planting is at the very top and it has taken us to a new level of love and dependency on Christ. I've also witnessed a new love for His people. Leading a church [internationally particularly], people open up to us in a way that is very raw and authentic and it has just shown us that no matter where you are on the world people at their core need love, encouragement, community, and above all...faith. It has been an honor to hear such beautiful compliments and testimonies following service about Church 360; the physical building but more importantly the spiritual aspects of Church and what it means for the island. We are knocked to our knees each week at the goodness of God and His constant provisions. God feels so close to us at times, it makes my heart rattle beneath my chest in awe. Church 360 has a long road ahead but it is so beautifully promising; I am just grateful that God would choose to use little, unworthy me.

Here on Saipan and within Church 360, I have met some people I just love. This dynamic, godly, divine love that stirs up something deep within. Living internationally, particularly but not exclusively on an island, so much of the demographic has come from just about everywhere else and by various different means. There are just so many stories; some that include adventure and excitement, others filled with desperation and pain. In many ways, it creates this unique community of a million cultures and nationalities that tend to be more receptive to friendships and conversations with people they would have never known or associated with elsewhere. It's really refreshing.

So this is short and doesn't really tackle anything in great detail but I just sit here typing very grateful and truly happy, in a giddy child like kinda way at the thought of what God has done...and is doing.