August 2019 Update

Hello and Welcome to our "End of Summer Update"! 

(Yes, it's that time of year in Northern Maine.)

There is always so much to write about. I will try to update you on events quickly but thank you in advance for your support in reading the post through.

Benjamin's brother generously rented us a U-haul the day of the move and we were blessed to have the help of friends from church (young and old) along with Benjamin's brothers. Maine's strongest man was there to help too - despite beating three world records at a competition the day before!

The month of July was spent in praying and searching for a new apartment in Caribou, as we told our landlord we would be moved out of his place in Presque Isle by August 1st. The idea is to be closer to our church in order to grow practically by serving there during this year while we wait for God to give us clearer direction on what our next step should be. Amazingly, God showed Benjamin the right apartment on Facebook after I had called every landlord in Caribou and still had no perspective apartments that we were excited about. A week later we signed for the apartment and a week after that, on Sunday (07/28) family and friends from church helped us move between towns and between rain showers. We are so thankful that no furniture got wet in the process, thankful to now be where we clearly saw God open the door, and thankful for the huge show of support from the people we are staying to serve and to learn from. It is always beautiful to see Christ in action through His body.

Nathaniel is actually 5 months old now and always a joy
and a delight!

He enjoys his jumper very much! He also loves to "sing"
and to play with other children. 

On Thursday (08/01) we had unpacked enough to host Benjamin's family for dinner! We were so blessed by Benjamin's mother's prayer for the apartment that it would be a bright light for Christ and that we would have many opportunities to have people into our home to show them hospitality. Hospitality is one of my and Benjamin's main goals for this year as we believe living life with people is the primary means of discipleship and relationship and that centering around meals is a great way to accomplish that.

This is Nathaniel's first ferry ride! Crossing Lake Champlain in the new onesie Aunt Margaret tye-dyed for him <3

Nathaniel loved spending time with his Auntie and cousins! 

Friday through Saturday (08/02 - 08/09) were spent traveling and on vacation to visit my parents and home church in New York state as well as Camp Shoshanah where Benjamin and I worked together when we first met. My sisters, nephews and nieces from Virginia were also visiting so it was a fun and full vacation! We were blessed to have Nathaniel meet his aunts and great-grandparents whom he had never met and to have lunch and visit with some friends from church and with Arnold Fructhenbaum. We are grateful for the friendship and counsel that we received and for the generosity of my parents in hosting us all week and of my Aunt Margaret who hosted us for one night on the way down. We are also thankful that Nathaniel did fairly well in the car both ways and was over his cold by the time we started the vacation. He was able to fully enjoy all of the attention and love that he received! 

Snuggles with Nana!

Friendly Father and "Son" Archery Contest.

We LOVED spending time at the beach!

Now that we are back "home" (in our new apartment), we are unpacking final items and decorations, have set up internet to allow Benjamin to study from home, and are getting ready to launch our ministry objectives for the school year. These include a book study that I (Megan) will be co-leading with my sister-in-love with two younger women from church on Lies Young Women Believe. We had our first get-to-know-you meeting on Saturday and will have our first book-study meeting this coming weekend. I also hope to start helping out at the home of a home-schooling mother with seven small children, believing it will be a mutual blessing. I am also looking into three different ways of adding to the family income from home. I'll let you know which, if any, of those pan out! 

On the way home to ME we took a bus up Mt. Washington - the tallest mountain on the east coast and home of the world's worst weather! A couple from our NY church also took us up Little Whiteface Mountain in the gondola (below).

We really enjoyed making "Adirondack Al's" display
at the Keene Valley Farmer's Market our first stop in NY. 

Benjamin is very busy at work. We are thankful that he will be able to continue his construction job through the winter (which is rare up here) at a location that is no further from our new home as it would have been from our old. His hours have increased, however. He now leaves the house at 6:00 AM and finishes work at 5:00 PM Monday-Thursday (and at 3:00 on Friday). He is encouraged to show up for work Saturday mornings also. Benjamin has been spending the early morning studying for a Bible study that he is starting in our home this coming Saturday! If an opportunity opens at church to teach we would be grateful, but in the meantime Benjamin wants to be obedient to the passion that God has given Him to share His Word. The study will be about how to study the Bible using the tools of observation, interpretation, and application, especially looking at the theophanies of God in the Old Testament as well as misunderstood passages of the Old Testament. Benjamin has also been putting his carpentry skills to work at the home of some friends who hope to sell soon. 

Meeting Great-Grandpa Crofoot!

Finally, our pastor called us while we were on vacation to let us know that he and his family will be leaving the church at the end of September and taking a position in Southern Maine. This makes us very sad for ourselves (though excited for them to follow where God leads) and will leave many gaps at church in the areas of preaching, music ministry, and childcare. Benjamin has been approached by the head deacon at church about stepping into some of these roles.

Two of the Seven :) 

This long update includes many Prayer Requests! Please pray with us about:

1) Benjamin's Bible study. That only God's truth would be taught and that Benjamin would grow in skill in presenting God's Word. Pray that God will bring the people who need to hear His Word to attend.
2) Opportunities at church. Please pray that we would have discernment as to where God wants us to serve and a willingness to rise to the challenge in obedience. We realize that saying "yes" to growth means stretching ourselves, becoming more vulnerable, and becoming more responsible in how we handle all our free time and accomplish our current responsibilities.
3) Megan's book study. Please pray that Christina and I would lead in unity and humility. Please pray for the girls attending the study that God would prepare their hearts, draw them to Him, and open their eyes to see the truth and soften their hearts to accept it.
4) Our current work. Pray that we will be diligent and unified under God in all that He has given us to do.
5) Our future direction. Benjamin does not feel a great desire to stay in Northern Maine and would still love to pursue Bible school. Please pray that we will gain clarity on God's future direction for us.
6) Our home. Pray that our hospitality skills would increase and that our home would be a place of greater fellowship and discipleship this year.
7) Aaron. Please pray for Aaron whom we had lunch with after church last week. He is homeless and looking to "reset" his life, believing that going to church is a "good" thing to do and something he hopes will earn him favor with a "higher power". Benjamin was able to share the Gospel with him and he was given a Bible. Please pray that God's Word would not return void and that Aaron would come to know and accept the truth, Jesus Christ. 

Peace to you. May you have the willingness, courage, and discernment to follow the Lord daily also.

~ the McEndarfers 

Cousin Caleb.