Hey Everyone! Sorry we haven't updated this in a while! Anyway, here is what is going on....
I (Shauna) got laid off from my job in June. Shane and I have been praying about what I should do now, and here's how it looks: I am still doing the housewife thing and I LOVE it. I spend my days cleaning, doing laundry, cooking, practicing cake decorating, and I think I'm about to take up sewing and learn to make my own clothes. So, I really want to be the 50's kind of mother/wife. Both my parents (and Shane's) worked full time when we were growing up, and it was hard on us (they rarely were able to go to my games, concerts, award ceremonies, etc, and not to mention how hard it was finding a ride from someone else home every day!), and we don't want that for our kids. Don't get me wrong, I love my parents and feel like they were the best they could be! I want to cook my family amazing dinners, help them with homework, and I'm even toying with the idea of homeschooling them. All this to say that I think I'm going to take this year and build up my home economic skills and get ready for my kids to come into the world (don't worry, I'm not pregnant yet!).
Shane is still working at Hunter Street as a teacher and worship leader for Route 56. As all of you know, we had a financial scare (if you will) this summer, and we found ourselves getting worried again when 20 out of 40 of Shane's students dropped before the fall semester started! Nevertheless, God had been showing us and bulding our faith in His provision. Shane started teaching at First Baptist Pelham on Fridays, and it seems to be making up most of what he is losing financially at Hunter Street (plus it's closer to our home!). Either way, we are surviving and growing in our Faith. Let me just say that we do not want the American dream. We want to be neither rich, nor poor. We want to have enough to live on, and give extra to others in need. Pray that God would continue to hold us accountable to this.
We mentioned in a previous blog that we had to postpone our trip to Israel. E3 has applied the funds we received to the '10 trip. The exact dates have not been determined yet, but I will let you know as I receive updates. Thank you all for your prayers and those who gave. I will be sending out a letter soon with more details.
All of you faithful blog readers also know that we are praying about what ministry(s) we are to be involved with. We are still praying about missions, but we have some local ministry updates:
The first update we have is about something we started up this month we are calling, "Worship Jam" The way it works is we have people come over to have dinner (me and my friend Liv cook), then we hang out in the living room and worship in song together. Those who play bring their guitars, drums, shakers, etc) and we just leave it open to whomever wants to choose and lead a song. Anyway, it is going really well. The first night we had 4 or 5 of us, and this last Sunday we had 11 and 2 kids! We are doing it every other Sunday night, and all are welcome! Shane will have to tell you all more about this in a different blog, but we are toying around with starting a house church, and it might come out of the Worship Jam.
The second ministry we may be involved with is through First Baptist Pelham. We have been attending a small group with them, and they are about to kick off a twenty something ministry. They are looking/praying about a building (right across from our house) that would work well for this. This will basically be a place where anyone in their 20's and 30's can come and hang out, worship, and even each lunch at a coffee shop inside. If all works out, Shane and I will be helping this ministry. I love to cook/bake so I hope to help with the coffee shop. Shane is volunteering to lead worship, and offer to teach Theology, Bible Studies, and maybe Hermeneutics? Anyway, nothing has happened with this yet, but all of us in the small group are excited and ready to help!
That is all the updates we have now. Look for a blog in the near future about the house church idea and thoughts on Christian community. Thank you again for your continued prayers and support!
-Shauna
