How is it almost March already?! I kept telling people that winter is the slow season, and telling myself that I would have time to breathe and catch up in January. I'm not sure that's happened!
We were able to spend some time with family in Virginia at Great Wolf Lodge in early January. The boys loved every bit of it! They've never experienced a water park of that caliber before. On the way home, KJ was able to have a medical follow up with his CPAP dr in Chesapeake and all is well. KJ also spoke at two partner churches in January, and we love being able to do that and to see your faces!
In February we hosted a Super Bowl watching party at our house and had the neighbors and Bible study family over to eat and enjoy the company. I think watching my neighbor excitedly yellat the TV cheering her team on was the best part! The next few weeks in February were a little slower, and we have gotten to enjoy some weekends at home and slipping into more of a routine. This past Sunday, I (Sharon) shared some of my story with Soundside Missionary Baptist Church for WMU Sunday, and next weekend I'll share again at Providence Baptist Church in Oxford, NC.
We've gained two more regulars at our weekly Bible Study, and are currently going through the book of Acts. The women's study on Wednesday nights is still in Proverbs, and has had some setbacks with meeting due to weather (flooding) and schedules, but the ladies are all ready to get back on track. A few weeks ago I had to put leaves in the table and bring in a chair from the porch!
Jeremiah and Elijah have both decided to play baseball this year, and that will start soon. One Church is talking with the league about sponsoring and supporting what they are doing for the kids on Hatteras Island.
We're almost two years into our church planting journey and it's still a roller coaster. But God is amazing. Things like checks that show up in the mail unexpectedly when money is short. Or someone at a county meeting telling KJ, I've seen you guys on social media and would love to come to one of your meetings! Or the cashier at the Food Lion exchanging cell numbers after you invite her to watch the Superbowl. Or a text from a Bible Study member that they are praying for me as I'm heading to speak at a church and am so nervous about it!
Please continue to pray for One Church. We really do believe that prayer is what keeps it going!
-Praise God that someone has offered KJ space where he can put a desk and get away for private study and school time. Currently we are all in the same space together and it gets very overwhelming.
-Pray for tax season. We've always gotten a refund in the past that I have used to purchase the boys school curriculum, but due to the extreme cost of our housing, we have to pay so much in self employment tax that we actually owe quite a bit this year and we were not prepared. I have settled on the fact that this is not a surprise to God, even though it was to me, but please be praying that we make the proper decisions to plan to pay taxes appropriately in the coming year.
-Pray for those coming to our Bible Study. They are growing, and the enemy is not happy. Pray for their growth, and for their strength of faith.
-Pray for salvation for many we are witnessing to.
We are so grateful for all or you that are a part of the work God is going in Avon!