Hitting the Ground Running!

Hello friends and family!

First of all, I would just like to apologize for not getting an update out sooner. Brittany and I have been swept up in the chaotic wave of all our summer mission trips.

On May 9th, we hit the mission field running immediately after moving out of our basement apartment and packing up everything we own before the summer. We recently learned that our season of living in Gainesville, GA has come to a close, and now we are looking and praying for a new place to call home in the fall.

We started our summer by leading 3 back to back mission trips in Hilton Head, and we saw deep spiritual growth in ourselves and the teams we were leading. We even had the beautiful privilege of seeing one trip participant surrender his 16 year-old life to Christ. We’ve had countless divine appointments with strangers. We have served at an amazing program for adults with special needs, a Boys and Girls Club, a few different soup kitchens and food pantries, and cleaned up trash on beaches all over the island. 

One group was made of primarily 10 and 11 year olds, and in only one hour they were able to pick up over 50lbs of trash. People would often stop us and ask us what we were up to, and we would have the opportunity to share about the importance of taking care of God’s creation. Numerous times their curiosity would lead to a spiritual conversation, and at the very least the people who witnessed our efforts were compelled to ensure their own trash was picked up before leaving.

Right now, we are in Mayfield, Kentucky. We are here for the second consecutive week, on our 5th trip so far this summer. 

Brittany and I had the privilege of visiting Mayfield for one day in March, and we have already seen a radical transformation since then. The trash that piled every street corner has been mostly removed and many buildings have been fixed. However, it will likely take 2 years to clean up all of the debris. 

This week, we are going to finish one of the homes that we have been working on. After almost 7 months of living in a motel, Larry and Carroll are going to move into their beautiful new home.

During the last 5 weeks, we’ve been both exhausted and exhausted. We’ve been challenged in almost every way and yet we have been totally and completely supported by all of you and the people we have met along the way.

The Lord is working in us and through us, and he has never left us out to dry on our own strength. We are trusting that the seeds that have been planted and watered will grow into a beautiful harvest at the proper time. 

We are still learning to balance our work with our lives, our marriage, and our personal devotion. Please pray that our Lord would supply every need that we have: For rest and recovery, for endurance, for a place to live, and that he would continue to use us and strengthen us for His own glory.

 

In Him,

Ben & Brittany