February. Update.

The word for this month in Lithuanian is similar to the word for summer.  It seems weird, but it's because February is the time when you really start noticing that there is more and more daylight each day, and for us these past couple of days in Western PA, you get some unseasonably warm weather (in the lower 60s yesterday and today! Don't worry, it's gonna go back to normal February weather in a couple of days) that reminds you that spring is right around the corner.
Today I took the blankets out of our big, beautiful, drafty living room window and let some fresh air and sunlight in. It is glorious.

We are doing well.  Spring semester is running at full speed, and we are keeping ourselves busy as usual!

Steve is currently in the midst of RA hiring for next year.  It is a busy time spent interviewing many wonderful applicants who would like to be RAs!  Steve needs to hire 9 RAs, pray that his team will come together!  Health-wise, Steve is doing well too.  He's recovered from gallbladder surgery and has been able to eat whatever he wants, though having to eat lowfat/nofat foods for awhile has certainly started some better eating habits for us both!  His knee is getting better and better, and he has been back at physical therapy to help with that.  Praise the Lord for good recoveries!

I am keeping busy with school, really liking my classes this semester, and learning A LOT.  I am taking four classes again.  An Old Testament class on the Writings, a New Testament class on the Gospels, a Systematic Theology class on Jesus, and a Church History class on the Medieval and Reformation periods.  All are courses that I need to take for my degree, which is an MA in Mission (focusing on Spiritual Formation and Catechesis).

I've been thinking a lot lately about what I would like to do with this degree.  A LOT OF STUFF!  I haven't nailed anything down yet (and I have time), but I am really interested in maybe teaching Spiritual Formation, or maybe about Christianity and Culture, or about Missions...or all of the above.  For my Old Testament class, one of our assignments will be to write out a 12-week lesson plan for an adult Bible study...I think it will be a really telling assignment for me...I hope I love it!  I can see myself enjoying curriculum (writing it...executing it...etc).
I think we will surely always be advocates for missions (and studying/living/working abroad), but not sure where or what the Lord is calling us to be/do.  We can see ourselves possibly going overseas (specifically to Europe) again, but on the same note we could also see ourselves planted in the United States, but supporting and sending and encouraging missionaries....or maybe we'll find a way to do both!  At any rate, we are planning on being in Beaver County for a while.  I still have another year of school to finish, and it is just nice to be somewhere for longer than two years!
We are so fortunate that I was able to get such an amazing scholarship this year.  We've had to pay very little money for my seminary education, which is a huge relief on our budget!  We can see how the Lord has been orchestrating this the whole year.
This past week, a classmate of mine challenged our class to try to give back to the seminary by seeing if any of our friends and family would like to donate to the scholarship fund at the school. I thought I would ask here, because I know that many who read this blog (or, who used to read this blog) are generous givers and are maybe looking for a worthwhile cause to support!  Helping people to get a seminary education so they can better minister to others is a very worthy cause!  If you are reading this blog and don't feel that you can donate anything, don't worry. We still love you, and understand.  Maybe you are already giving somewhere else, or funds are tight.  That's ok. Don't feel pressure from us.  One thing we learned while we were raising support for Lithuania is that sometimes, people just like to be asked! We trust that the Lord will provide.
Anyway, if you are intrigued by giving something, here is the link to follow:  http://www.tsm.edu/Giving
I'm also supposed to tell you that Trinity (my school) has a nonprofit tax exempt status, and is recognized as a Pennsylvania 501 (c) (3).
I have no idea what that even means, but I'm sure it's important! :)

Outside of work and school, we've also been blessed to feel like we are part of a community here, and have been active in that.  I have been blessed to be a part of a Bible study with some women who are either working at Geneva, or spouses of men who work at Geneva.  It is so nice to get together with them once a week and share our lives and study the book of Genesis!  Our church is doing a book study, and Steve is going to be a part of that when it starts next week.  We've also been blessed to find friends here who like to play games as much as we do (or maybe more).  Always fun when we can find time to have a game night on a fairly regular basis.

Anyway, that is our February update!  Thank you for reading this far.  Hope you are well, and that you come to visit us soon!





PS...if you ever buy anything off of Amazon, and use this link, Trinity receives back a portion of your purchase.