It’s been an emotional week at the hospitality house to say the least.  Tim & Bobbi Bettger transitioning out, while we transition in.  Tim & Bobbi saying goodbye to all the servicemen they have ministered to all these years, and those servicemen seeing a new family arrive.  Our friends in Alaska missing us and we are missing them.  I’ve had a wet shoulder more than a few times this week as our girls and Penny work through the loss of friends and home.  You know, the average stuff that goes with a big transition in life…

…and yet, the peace of God has been present the whole time.

We’ve had several firsts this week also:  First time leading a hospitality house, first meal cooked for a bunch of hungry combat soldiers, first time to have an adorable dog (“Buddy”) in our home, first time Emily & Kelsey have EVER moved, first time for our family to have passes to get on an active military post, first time to attend church on an active military post as well as youth group for Kelsey.  The ‘firsts’ continue to ‘roll in.’

I was moved to tears this morning as we attended chapel with around 300 servicemen and their families at Ft. Drum.  A prayer request of mine was answered as worship music and the preaching were excellent.  We will miss Soldotna Bible Chapel, but God has provided a wonderful alternative!

Jesus is alive and well at Ft. Drum.  Everywhere we look we see new growth and people just wholeheartedly seeking God, not religion or a denomination, but a true relationship with God.  There were 6 baptisms this morning in Chapel.  6 new believers from this last week made a public proclamation of their faith through baptism!  Praise God!

I’ll leave you with some pictures from our week and ask that you continue to pray for transitions for everyone.  Pray for our girls to find meaningful relationships in the weeks ahead and for their parents to overcome their nervousness and insecurities as they step up and lead in a new way for our Lord and Savior.  Thank you for praying, please don’t stop!

We made it!  We are staying our first night at the North Country Hospitality House at Ft. Drum!  Our furniture will arrive in around 3 weeks and for this week we will spend it with Tim & Bobbi Bettger as they bring us up to speed on the inner workings of the house.  We are a little nervous and much excited!  Pray we remember everything as they leave after this week!!

24 hours without sleep waiting for our next flight into upstate New York!

We did it Team!  As our last newsletter referred to, we moved an impossible Rock out of the hole!  Praise God, we are humbled and overwhelmed, He is SO Good!  Cadence has looked our numbers over and, with the exception of a few of you who still need to sign up your pledge online here we are 100% supported!!

If you’ve followed our story from the beginning you know that we started with dreams and visions of being Missionaries serving the Lord and the military through Cadence International.  This meant raising a substantial amount of money to provide not only our families needs, but also the needs of the ministry.  Its like raising finances to support yourself and your business.

Cadence asked us once we accepted the job how long we expected to be in the partnership development phase.  We felt our Lord wanted us on the field in a year – so that’s what we told them.  This is no easy task, but with the Lords help bringing all of you together to support what He is doing with the Military we are there!  Our support is raised and it’s been a year.  We believed that if the Lord wanted us there in a year He would provide.

The Beaudin family is now in full court press getting our house packed and ready for renters!  We have a couple things to complete for Cadence and then they will officially release us to the field.  I will post that document when it comes!

Here are our current Prayer Requests:

• Pray for the 10th Mountain Division as they are deployed to Iraq, Afghanistan, and South Korea.  Pray for their loved ones back at Ft. Drum.
• Pray for us to get everything done.  I still have some yard and house projects that need completion.
• Pray for awesome renters who will take good care of our home.
• Pray for our family as these times can be stressful.
• Pray our vehicles sell and pray we can afford something reliable once we get to upstate New York.
• Pray for everyone affected by our move and for the teenagers and adults at Soldotna Bible Chapel.  Goodbyes are brutal after 20 years with people you love.
• Pray for awesome transition for the new youth pastor as well as us with Cadence.

 “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.”

Matthew 6:31-32