Sitting here in our home in Manila, we think back to our time in Canada and feel overwhelmed by feelings of gratitude to God and to all of you. Three of our main goals for our time in Canada were to rest, to reconnect with friends and family, and to raise prayer and financial partners. Upon reflection, we feel like God provided abundantly in these areas and we are so thankful! Praise God for such a lifegiving season in Canada.
Reflections On Our Time In Canada
We spent the past few months traveling across western Canada. One of the main ways that we rested was by soaking up God’s beautiful creation – the breathtaking Rocky Mountains, the vast Pacific Ocean, lush forests, babbling brooks, expansive prairie fields, and some of the animals, birds, and fish that call these places home. We have such a creative and powerful Heavenly Father who spoke these things into life!
We were also very blessed to reconnect with dear friends. It is such a gift to have friendships that transcend time and space, and people with whom it feels like we had never left. Thank you to everyone who was able to meet with us. Thank you for your hospitality, for opening up your hearts and lives to us. Our God is a relational God who came to earth to be with us, and we experienced these qualities through you. You refreshed our souls!
God has been faithful and has provided a stellar team of prayer warriors that pray for us on a regular basis. Thank you to each and every one of you who do so. We cannot do what we do without you! A huge thank you is also in order to each of you who give and who have given generously to support the work that God has entrusted to us. Our mission organization determined that our financial support is in a place where we can return to the Philippines. We have now returned and we are looking forward to a year of teaching, coaching, and discipling the children of missionaries at Faith Academy.
Looking Ahead To The New School Year
This year, Brittany is transitioning back to staff and will be teaching part-time. Our principal has agreed to stagger our schedules so that one of us can always be with Mia Joy. This is a huge blessing for us as we desire to be her primary care givers. Brittany will be teaching French I and II and is looking forward to being back in the classroom. Grady is continuing to teach Questions in Church History and is adding a new university-level course, AP Research.
Brittany will also continue to coach the swim team while Grady will continue to coach the volleyball team. This is our fourth year as teachers and our third year as coaches. We are looking forward to continuing to deepen the relationships with our students that we have been able to build over the past few years, and to deepen current and foster new mentorship and discipleship relationships.
One highlight upon return to Manila was receiving a note from a student who had graduated. A few special things she said include:
“Thank you for being such a good listener, always being so understanding and thoughtful. Your support and love and comfort gave me strength.”
“I appreciate all the suggestions you gave to me. The way that you know me so well and your advice is so WOW. With your help, I’m able to think and solve problems more maturely. Thank you for being such a mentor to me.”
Prayer Requests
Prayer for continued growth, protection, and unity in our marriage.
Prayer for discipleship opportunities with our students and athletes. Pray that God would show us how He wants to use us in their lives to point them to Jesus.
Pray for strength for Grady as he takes his online course next week. This course will help him teach AP Research. It takes place on EST, so Grady will be up from 8pm to 4am.
Prayer for wisdom as we establish new rhythms. Pray that we would create appropriate boundaries and that our priorities of honoring the Lord, then our marriage, then Mia, then our ministry at Faith Academy would be reflected in our decisions and actions.
Prayer that we would be attentive to Mia Joy’s needs as we transition to life in the Philippines. She has done well overall with all of our transitions, but lately sleep has been a struggle!
Thank you so much for your prayer and support. It really means a lot to us!
Much love, Britt and Grady
