Greetings!

As we mentioned in our last email, we've been stateside for 8 months now. It's been a humbling, stretching, refreshing time so far. When we made the difficult decision to move back to the states, we did so in order to build a stronger foundation for our marriage and family and to pursue further training for a lifetime of faithful ministry. Towards the first goal, we have been meeting with a few couples regularly seeking out care and counsel, processing the past few years as a married couple as well as learning how to love one another better. 

In regards to further training, Todd enrolled at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary last August and has enjoyed the classes he's been taking. His intention was to continue taking classes towards an MDiv unless a better option for training presented itself.

Recently, that option come to fruition with Sovereign Grace's Pastors College. The Pastors College (or PC) is a full-time (40 hours/week) 10 month program  consisting of 36 one-week grad level courses taught by pastors and professors. It seeks to equip and shape men who desire to be in ministry. We chose this avenue of training mostly because it hits a number of key areas for us:

• It's hosted at the local church we are currently members of (Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville). The culture here of grace, gospel-centeredness, and genuine care is one we both have been affected by and would like to continue to learn from.

• In addition to the rigorous theological training, the PC incorporates small group care and teaching from seasoned pastors and their wives for the students and their wives, proving to be a rich context for growth and accountability.

• The student body is made up of a small group of like-minded men that Todd can grow with and process the material with all year.

We've submitted our application for the 2022-23 school year and are excited to begin this training in the fall!Our long-term trajectory is still the same: to return to a cross-cultural missions context in the future. As the PC year will come to a close next spring Todd will begin seeking out a church he can intern at for a season before finding a place and team we can serve long-term. 

Partner with Us!

The total cost of attending the PC is $27,000. We are able to pay $10,000 of that from our savings, but

we need to have the remaining $17,000 pledged in support by August 1, 2022

. 

Would you consider supporting us financially this coming year? If you have any questions about the PC we would love to respond through email or schedule a time to talk with you. Just let us know! To donate, simply click this link:

A New Missions Opportunity

Soon after we landed in Louisville, KY, Mack and Leeann Stiles (who helped found FOCUS 20 years ago and now live in Louisville) invited us over for lunch to catch up. In talking we received some invaluable advice on how to view this current season of our lives (one that has felt very disorienting). We also learned about an exciting new venture that Mack has undertaken which (we think) will serve the American evangelical church greatly in learning how to think and act biblically in global missions. Mack asked if Brittany would help him out with the admin for this venture, and it has now turned into a steady part-time position. We are so grateful to be involved in this and look forward to telling you more about it in the future! 

The Goodness of Jesus

We want to take a minute and reflect on a variety of ways God has shown His goodness to us this year:

1. Todd has had a steady line-up of work as a handyman, contracting out his services to do everything from finishing basements to patching roofs. This has proven to be a flexible way he can earn sufficient income as our lives fluctuate over the next few years (since he won't be able to work during the PC).

2. We have been blessed with a number of married and single friends in our local church who we've clicked with and have enjoyed fellowshipping and having fun with. 

3. There is a group of college students who have been attending our church from a variety of backgrounds and Todd has really enjoyed discipling a couple of the guys (including taking one through the book of Mark).

4. Brittany's involvement in GCC has kept us involved in a hands-on way in global missions. It's helped keep our minds on getting back on the field in God's timing and will, and has provided the context of learning from the Stiles, who are seasoned missionaries (now retired). 

5. We are LOVING being parents to our sweet son, Zion. He is growing into a joyful, nature-loving boy. Every day it gets better. He has been a huge gift. 

These things among many others have reminded us of God's goodness even in the midst of the challenges of re-entry. 

Pray with Us for...

• God's provision of the funds needed for Todd to go to the PC this coming year.

• God to restore to us the joy of our salvation (Psalm 51:12). Both of us have lately been battling spiritual numbness and physical exhaustion.

• fruitfulness in Todd's time with Pedro, a new believer, studying through Mark.

• new opportunities for us to build purposeful relationships with unbelievers here in Louisville.

• wisdom, patience, and love as we seek to raise Zion in the fear and instruction of the Lord.

• perseverance in spite of the various challenges we still face in re-entry. 

Highlights in Pictures

Getting visits from dear Dubai friends like Shanyl here is a breath of fresh air to us! 

Back in January we took a weekend trip away in a historic cabin to reflect on the past year and look forwards to the coming year. 

Brittany was able to participate in the Sovereign Grace Music Songwriters Retreat in January, writing songs for an upcoming album based on JI Packer's book, 

Knowing God

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Zion is already showing a strong draw to music and to nature. It brings us so much joy to watch his personality bloom before our eyes. 

Being stateside enables us to be present for family events like Todd's grandparents' 58th anniversary. 

Mack and Zion have become fast friends through our regular visits to the Stiles' house to meet about the GCC. Z is also really into climbing the stairs now. 😅

"Light is sown for the righteous,And joy for the upright in heart."Psalm 97:11Light is sown for those who love HimSeeds of joy in rocky landPlant them deep in the BelovedWhere you do not understand.In the darkness of the waitingKeep on trusting; keep on praying.Though you may not see the harvestIt is growing in His hand.- By Brittany Hope, 04.07.22 -