Oct 4, 20234 min read

September Update 2023

This past summer we traveled from Texas to Colorado, sojourned in Wisconsin, by way of Nebraska and Iowa, took a six hour detour to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and then back home again. It was a five week, 4,500 mile adventure. On the journey back, I looked at Katie in a moment of weakness and said, "We are never doing this again."

Even as I said it, I knew it was not true. The truth is we love these adventures. We always arrive home road weary and take a week or more to recover, but we are full of joy for the people we have seen and places we had been. We are especially amazed for the ways we had seen God work along the way.

One of the main reasons we travel is to raise awareness for the mission and purpose of TECH. This can take many forms and is often interspersed with our other activities. One way we found over the last few years to do this is visiting with some of the ministries that TECH is privileged to serve with. While working from Texas we often only interact with one or two people who represent the ministry. When we are on site we usually have the opportunity to visit with others in the ministry or those who are being served by the ministry. We are able to talk to people who might not otherwise hear about TECH.

This summer we visited a camp in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Gitche Gumee Bible Camp (GGBC) is situated just off the southern shore of Lake Superior. Like a typical camp, summer is their busiest times of year. Unlike a typical camp GGBC receives around 300 inches of snow per year. While we would typically defer a camp visit to a slower time like the fall or spring, this was not an option for GGBC. When we arrived a whole church Family camp was in full swing. Almost every space was in use and we had to juggle multiple schedules to gather the information we needed to start the master planning process.

It was two hectic days, but it was interspersed with moments of grace as we were able to hear the stories of those who have seen God use GGBC in their lives. The church that was there had been coming every summer for several years. Many of the volunteers had been traveling to the camp from all over the USA, some as far as Florida, to serve each year for at least a decade. It was clear that this secluded camp in the woods of Michigan holds a special place of significance in their journey with Jesus. It was also clear that the Spirit has used this space over the years to grow, encourage and challenge many.

We were encouraged to hear the stories of those we encountered. We were also encouraged to see how Jesus pulls members of His body from across the country to this remote spot for His purposes. The people we met were invested in the work God is doing at GGBC. Often we would have the opportunity to share with them what we do through TECH. When we shared that we were at GGBC to help the camp plan for the future, the people would light up. Some had suggestions, but most were just excited that the camp was planning for the future. Though few spoke it, I imagine many had hopes for how the camp could be a blessing to those that follow, just as it had been to them. We are excited to be on this journey with Gitche Gumee. As we begin the planning process, I pray we can honor the legacy GGBC holds for many while giving them tools to meet the facility needs of those that follow.

How to Pray

- Praise for the trip this summer, for many safe miles traveled, We certainly saw God's hand at work in both the planning and the meetings that took place.

- Our vans, Jayne and Shep, are almost 19 and 20 years old. This summer we took Jayne on our trip, and we felt his age in how he drove. I was never concerned about making it, but the hills were harder to get up. In the wild used car market we find ourselves in please pray for wisdom and resources as we consider options to replace at least one of the vans in the near future.

- Praise for a new couple that is joining TECH at some point this fall! They will be serving in the Media Solutions department.

- Pray for additional staff, specifically architects and engineers for Facility Solutions.

-Pray for wisdom in setting up meetings as we seek to raise additional monthly support

Closer to Home

It is hard to believe but school has started again! Liam is in 7th grade, Hannah is in 4th, and Ranen rollicked into 1st. Liam has enjoyed getting back into the fall sports of cross country and soccer. The girls have enjoyed seeing their friends and learning new things (as well as cheering for brother). The year will have its challenges, but we pray they all will grow in knowledge, wisdom, and love of Jesus. We look forward to the cooler weather of fall as we careen toward the winter holiday season.