Sunday, October 13, 2013

Update - from Hannah

Dear Friends,
I realize I have moved a lot since my last update. I'll do a brief overview of what's been going on. For those who may not know, I spent several months in Africa with my family. It was so nice to be home for awhile, and to be able to be involved in the ministry there. I enjoyed teaching and spending time with the kids, and helping out with the music at church. I am so glad for the time God gave me to be at home.
My mom wrote about our cousins who came out in July, so I won't repeat that. It was fun to show them Africa and spend time with them.
In August, we all came back to America together (Seth and I and our cousins who were visiting). We came down to Lattimore, NC and started school at Ambassador Baptist College after spending a few days in Winston Salem with family there. We love it here! Ruth came back from Thailand about a week after Seth and I arrived. It has been so fun to be at school all together. We have many of the same classes, and have been enjoying them very much. The people are friendly, and the preaching and music are so good! It has been so nice to be here. I'm glad for the way God brought me back here in His timing and not in my own.
We are just settling in to church and are enjoying that. I just started tutoring for a lady down the street. She has an 8 year old boy that she is trying to homeschool this year, but she does not like math. So I have been going over there about 2 days a week to teach him math. It has been going well thus far. I have enjoyed the fact that the schedule is flexible and their house is very close--within walking distance! They are not Christians, and have just recently moved to the area. I would appreciate prayer for their salvation and that God would give me opportunity to be a good witness and to share the gospel with them. It was interesting how I met them. Seth was out on visitation one day and happened to visit their house. They were very open to talking with him, and he was able to share the whole plan of salvation with them. They know it, they just need to make it personal in their own lives.
It has been so neat to see how God has provided and guided throughout the whole transition/settling-in process. I am amazed at how fast time is going. Just as I am beginning to get into a routine and feel like I know what I'm doing, midterms are coming up and the semester is almost over! I'm trying to make the most of each day and enjoy life as it flies by.
God is so faithful. I am thankful for the way He has been taking care of us and keeping us safe. Thank you to all of you who pray for us. The other day I was playing softball and got hit in the head with the ball. I was in the outfield and was supposed to be catching the ball, but I missed and it hit me in the forehead instead. It swelled up almost immediately. I was so thankful that it did not give me a concussion, hit me in the eye, break my nose, knock out a tooth, or do any real damage. Thank you all for your prayers for me :) God certainly did protect me. The swelling shifted down into my eyes, and eventually went away, leaving me with 1 1/2 black eyes. Thankfully, it didn't even really hurt--just felt like a bruise. It has been getting a little better each day, and is almost back to normal now--Praise the Lord! Ruth told me I looked like I hadn't slept in about 3 weeks--smile.