I forget where I heard this quote first, or who originally wrote this piece of wisdom down, but it's quite poignant in our lives right now. Our students all flew out on Thursday, after an incredible year of ministry and personal growth. We had times with each one of them before they left, formally asking how their experience was and what they learned, and it was such a great testimony of the Lord's goodness and faithfulness to hear their responses. God has changed these students' hearts, lives, minds, to point more toward Him and His glory, and it was so encouraging to us for them to speak those things out.

But they're gone now, and another FYM program is over. And as those words of wisdom remind us, something else is beginning. For those of you who haven't heard, Christina and I will be leading the Awakening here in JBay in the fall. In a nutshell, the Awakening is a three-month training program for the 08-09 FYM program. All of the students who will be in our Africa sites beginning in January of 2009 will be in Jeffreys Bay from September to December, being prepared for their experience in their specific locations. Tag and Holly Thompson will be coming back to be a part of our leadership team, and four of our students from this year, as well as one from our 06-07 year, will be part of our student leadership team, as well as others that are answering God's call to come alongside Him in this training program.

Indeed, this concept of training is one that the Lord is showing Christina and me in a very real way right now. We feel that the Awakening will not only be a time for us to train the students, but for us to be trained for what He will call us to in the near future. I do think that everything we do God can use to help us later on, but I feel that we are beginning, in these next twelve months, a time of intense training and learning for a longer-term, bigger picture plan that the Lord has for us. In vocation, yes, but also in our marriage and our own personal walks with Him. What's after the Awakening we're not completely sure, but I think it will play a role in this time of intense training as well.

But for the immediate future, we're very much looking forward to coming back to the States. We fly out in a little over two weeks, and are hoping to have a some good R&R once we step foot on American soil. I'm getting ready to reacquaint my taste buds with proper Starbucks coffee, and Christina is looking forward to seeing little additions to her friends' families.

We must give praise to God for His provision that He continues to show us through the faithfulness and generosity of our supporters. We will be, once again, traveling across the country, and we would love to tell you in person how great this year has been for us, and how much we appreciate what you have done to make that possible. Once we get our schedule set, we'll let you know if we'll be coming to a city near you!

Please continue to pray for us, as we finish the small things, and look at what the Lord will begin in us over the next few months. For we know that what He begins in us, He will continue with until the day of Christ's return. Amen to that!