We have recently completed the first semester of the school year and would love to share about it with you in this prayer letter! Overall, it was a more challenging semester, but we are thankful that we can honestly say that we felt like we were still able to thrive the past several months.
Semester 1 Recap
As you may recall, Grady received ACL reconstruction surgery in late July. Since our school year started in early August, he was starting off fairly fresh post-op. Early on, even “small” daily tasks were quite difficult and at times, impossible. He was able to make helpful adjustments while teaching, but it was harder to adjust to a new way of coaching (it’s hard for him to sit while he’s on a volleyball court!), but he found some creative ways to coach his team.
Britt’s pregnancy nausea subsided partway through her second trimester, so she also started off the year feeling sick and fatigued. Teaching two new courses was fun, but it also meant that there was more prep work. Having a (wonderfully) active toddler is such a joy, but combined with the prep that she had to do, meant that rest didn’t always happen in the quantities that were needed!
In light of both of our physical limitations, one of the goals that we made with our mission organization was to discern our capacity for discipleship, and to be okay with it! The second half of that goal has definitely been harder than the first! It is humbling and yet so freeing to accept our human limitations and trust that God will continue to provide, even when we don’t do as much as we have done, or would like to do. There were a handful of days where Britt was not able to go to work, and praise God, it became easier for her to truly be at peace with resting at home and prioritizing her health, rather than “pushing through.”
Sports
We are always grateful for the opportunities that God gives us to disciple our athletes through sports. Grady’s volleyball season had many ups and downs. He saw a lot of growth in his athletes, but his team faced quite a few hurdles. One of their best players is in the US this year for his family’s home assignment, and their other top player wasn’t able to join them for the full duration of the end of season tournament because he had already missed several days of school playing on the Philippines National U16 basketball team! Their next best player pulled his hamstring during pool play which kept him out for the rest of the tournament, and then another player sprained both his ankles at the tournament! Definitely not the way that we would have liked his season to go… but, what great opportunities to experience that there are greater reasons for playing sports than athletic success. Grady was able to talk with his team about being rooted in Christ, the firmest of all foundations, and how we can glorify God in all circumstances. Praise God, one of his athletes was baptized at the start of the season, and one of his other athletes accepted Christ just after the season and was baptized!
Britt’s swim season was a highlight of her semester. A few swimmers have started swimming with other clubs in the off-season, and it is exciting to see their rapid improvement! This means that there is quite a range in the ability of the swimmers on the team. At our ACSC tournament, Faith had some of the fastest and some of the slowest swimmers at the meet. Of course we wanted to recognize the hard work and celebrate the successes of our top athletes, but Britt and the other coaches also tried to foster a sense of unity among the team. They emphasized how our worldly possessions (medals, trophies) will pass away, but each and every one of them had an opportunity to make an eternal impact by honoring the Lord with the platforms He has given them.
Finances
We are deeply thankful for the faithful financial support that so many of you have provided over the years. Your generosity has allowed us to continue teaching, coaching, and discipling students here at Faith Academy, and we do not take that lightly. Thank you for playing a part in what God has been doing in the lives of our students in the Philippines, both in this world, and the age to come.
While we had raised support to the point of being fully-funded when we were in Canada in 2024, over the past several months, due to changing circumstances, a few of our supporters have had to step away from regular giving. At the same time, with a new baby joining our family early next year, our monthly expenses will be increasing. Because of these factors, we are currently in need of $900 in additional monthly support.
Given this need, we wanted to ask if you would be willing to prayerfully consider if God is putting on your heart to support us financially in any of the following ways: to begin giving monthly, to begin giving annually, to increase your current giving, or to give a one-time gift. Thank you for your kind and prayerful consideration. If you feel led to give, you can do so here. We deeply appreciate your continued prayers as we trust in God’s provision in this season.
Prayer Requests
- Praise God that Grady’s knee recovery is going well! He is getting close to the next phase, which is starting to jog!
- Praise God that two of Grady’s volleyball players got baptized! Pray that they would continue to walk with Christ, be discipled, and be marked by Chris-tlikeness.
- Praise God that Britt and baby are both healthy. Mia loves being able to hear baby boy’s heartbeat on the ultrasounds at our appointments!
- Praise God for our little (and yet quickly growing) Mia Joy! She loves swimming, climbing, playing hide and seek in the couch cushions, helping Mommy around the house, singing Japanese songs with Daddy, and cuddling as a family 🙂
- Pray that God would provide the remaining financial support needed and that we would trust Him fully as He does so.
- Pray that our lives and words would be a witness of the transformation that comes with following Christ
Much love, Britt and Grady
