News Emailed out
Hi everyone,
I hope you all had a merry Christmas. It always seems like such a build up then in one day, it’s over. New Year’s is almost here and I feel like I haven’t even had time to think about everything. Oliver’s first birthday was yesterday and he has really grown into such a sweet little boy. It was very special for him to have his grandpa here for this past month, visiting from Cyprus. Claude leaves in three days and I will really miss having him around.
I wanted to also let you know that we have found a house, put in an offer and got it accepted. I was beginning to get really anxious because we have looked at so many houses and we need to be out of ours by Jan.20th. This is a very cute, old style home and it’s a fixer upper. The whole kitchen needs to be redone. Matt and I are excited to take on the project but a bit overwhelmed at the same time. Thankfully we have lots of friends that are familiar with this stuff and are willing to help. Still, we will be living in a construction zone for quite a while until the work gets done. I just wanted to let you know we finally have a home to move into!!! Soon after will begin the fun of having people over. Our friend Kelly will be living with us as well.
This year has been a year of remaining faithful to our task at YWAM Madison, while searching deeper into what our future will look like in ministry. I don’t know how these elements all fit together but we feel certain that housing projects are all in the mix of it. I am interested in creating a space where community, discipleship, refreshment and family are offered to people who need a season of growth. We’ll see how it works out as these months go by.
I believe that this New Year is going to be very stretching for Matt and I both as we seek maturity in pursuing our passions at a more committed level. I will be teaching in a DTS in Arkansas in Feb. (as Oliver accompanies me) and this is my first DTS to teach in since he was born. I’m excited but nervous about the timing with our house and all the work that needs to be done. I’m sure it will be fine. Matt is continuing with communications for YWAM Madison but he is trying to learn more about housing and business over these next months. He also got a lot of tools for his birthday and is learning how to work on the house.
Thank you for your prayers regarding our living situation. We love you and wish you a wonderful and hopeful new year. I will leave you with this….
“Hope causes not rest but unrest, not patience but impatience.
It does not calm the unquiet heart in man.
Those who hope in Christ can no longer put up with reality as it is, but begin to suffer under it, to contradict it.
Peace with God means conflict with the world, for the goad of the promised future stabs inexorably into the flesh of every unfulfilled present.”
- Jurgen Moltmann
Sincerely,
Tracie,
Matt and
Olivier Bonjour