September: God's Goodness on Display

Every year a highlight for ministry opportunities are the three-day hikes that Mark gets to do with the students. This year, once on the calendar, we saw that it would also be one of the tougher seasons for both of us. The two separate three-day hikes were separated by three days. That is a lot of hiking for Mark and a lot of single parenting for Audrey. However, God in

His goodness supplied everything we needed to not only get through it, but also enjoy the enriching moments along the way. For Audrey it became a cherished time with Adeline. We are learning how precious these days are with her, and for Audrey it became quality time that she got to spend with our little girl (who today turned nine months old). Not only did she have great quality time with Adeline, but also with coworkers who came in support of her while Mark was gone. We are so thankful for how the Highlands community has come in support of us through this season. God has supplied so much support and encouragement through many of the Highlands teachers and families. It has really helped make this process of parenting a little easier. God is so good and His goodness to us is so undeserving. We praise Him for the goodness He has shown us in what was seemingly to be a tough stretch and instead what turned out to be an encouraging time of ministry and joy.

On Mark's end it was not only going to be a physical challenge, but an emotional and mental one as well. The school ended up deciding to do the same 23-mile hike for both hikes. The first hike was with the 11th & 12th graders, and the second hike was with the 9th & 10th graders. However, God kept Mark's batteries charged and body strong as he had genuine conversations and "kingdom moments" with students from each hike.

What was cool for Mark was that each hike took on a different "feel" and helped the fact that he was doing the exact same 23-mile hike only days apart. Yet while the hikes felt different, the same Christ-centered conversations and moments occurred throughout both. God was so good in providing open hearts and opportunities for Mark to have with the students on the hikes. While the second hike was a little more challenging because of the snowier conditions, it did provide a new look to the start of the trail (as well as opportunities for Mark to peg freshmen with snowballs). Overall both hikes saw God at work on the trail, around the campfire, and even on the bus ride home. These hikes are truly a highlight of every year for Ministry opportunities and for God to show His goodness and beauty in His creation.

One final way in which God showed His goodness and provided even more ministry opportunities was through our school's Spiritual Emphasis Week. Former teachers brought down a group from their church in Mississippi and put on one of the better Spiritual Emphasis Weeks since Mark first arrived 7 years ago. The week saw messages of God's love and many conversations and discussions about abiding in God, rooted in John 15 and 1 John 2. It was an incredible week in terms of conversations and relational ministry, not to mention a shot of energy and encouragement from Mark's friend and former coworker, Luke. Now in the early stages of October, we praise God for His goodness in providing so many things over the past month, and we eagerly look forward to further reaching the students and seeing what God will do through us in the opportunities that He will provide.