Sala Springs
Pray for us
01/02/12 10:15
I wanted to ask you to be praying for us this month as we have a lot happening with our church ministries. Celebrate Recovery starts its 3rd year tomorrow. We've seen so much change in the people who have been faithful in that program. We see many others who would really benefit if they would commit to it. Pray that those who need to come would. Pray for our leaders. They have been so faithful, but they really have had lots of difficult personal issues to deal with. I can't help but believe that it is a Spiritual attack because of the results we've been having.
We are also starting up small groups for couples again soon. We are having a kickoff dinner for couples with dinner and a movie on February 11 to have them come and hear about the small groups and sign up. Last year's groups were very effective and we saw God use them to really strengthen marriages. We'll also be having a griefshare group start soon and guess who will be leading it? Melissa, who was helping when you worked on the porch will be doing it. You wouldn't recognise her as the same person. She has changed so much! Pray for her to be successful at leading this group. It will be such a good thing for her to succeed at.
When we were in Michigan for Ed's mother's funeral, we connected with his great nephew, who just became a Christian. We had a wonderful opportunity to visit with him and invited him to come out to visit. He's been here about a month now, and he is a very special young man. Pray for Nathan as he seeks God's leading for his life, and pray that we would be faithful in guiding him during the time he has with us.
We also want to lead another Truth Project group. One reason we want to do one now is so that Nathan can experience it. We have a couple in the church who would like to host the group and we would facilitate it, but her father just passed away this week, so that may change their ability to be involved. Pray for this group also and for the right people to be able to participate. We have some Celebrate Recovery people who haven't been through it yet, and would like them to have that opportunity too.
Ed got sick while we were in Michigan, and he is okay now, but still seems to be sensitive to being in cold air. (Not that we've had very much. I feel like we haven't really even had winter yet this year, and it's almost spring!) I'm not complaining. We've enjoyed the warm weather. It was in the 50's today!
The enclosed back porch is such a blessing! It really helps keeping the kitchen warmer and cleaner. I really notice it on Thursday mornings when the men come for breakfast. We've been having 8 most mornings. They don't track in near as much and there's hardly any heat loss as they come in. If I'm using the oven, it's often too warm! So thanks so much for your help with it. I should say thanks from the dogs too. Mari, the yellow lab, knows how to open the door to the porch and so they have all enjoyed their cozy new "dog house."
We don't have any groups scheduled for summer yet. We usually have a couple in the works by now. Pray that those who should come will come.
Tell everyone hello for us.
Love,
Ed & Ann
We are also starting up small groups for couples again soon. We are having a kickoff dinner for couples with dinner and a movie on February 11 to have them come and hear about the small groups and sign up. Last year's groups were very effective and we saw God use them to really strengthen marriages. We'll also be having a griefshare group start soon and guess who will be leading it? Melissa, who was helping when you worked on the porch will be doing it. You wouldn't recognise her as the same person. She has changed so much! Pray for her to be successful at leading this group. It will be such a good thing for her to succeed at.
When we were in Michigan for Ed's mother's funeral, we connected with his great nephew, who just became a Christian. We had a wonderful opportunity to visit with him and invited him to come out to visit. He's been here about a month now, and he is a very special young man. Pray for Nathan as he seeks God's leading for his life, and pray that we would be faithful in guiding him during the time he has with us.
We also want to lead another Truth Project group. One reason we want to do one now is so that Nathan can experience it. We have a couple in the church who would like to host the group and we would facilitate it, but her father just passed away this week, so that may change their ability to be involved. Pray for this group also and for the right people to be able to participate. We have some Celebrate Recovery people who haven't been through it yet, and would like them to have that opportunity too.
Ed got sick while we were in Michigan, and he is okay now, but still seems to be sensitive to being in cold air. (Not that we've had very much. I feel like we haven't really even had winter yet this year, and it's almost spring!) I'm not complaining. We've enjoyed the warm weather. It was in the 50's today!
The enclosed back porch is such a blessing! It really helps keeping the kitchen warmer and cleaner. I really notice it on Thursday mornings when the men come for breakfast. We've been having 8 most mornings. They don't track in near as much and there's hardly any heat loss as they come in. If I'm using the oven, it's often too warm! So thanks so much for your help with it. I should say thanks from the dogs too. Mari, the yellow lab, knows how to open the door to the porch and so they have all enjoyed their cozy new "dog house."
We don't have any groups scheduled for summer yet. We usually have a couple in the works by now. Pray that those who should come will come.
Tell everyone hello for us.
Love,
Ed & Ann
from Ed and Ann Hegler--Sala Springs
26/12/11 08:44
Dear Ones,
It always comes as somewhat of a surprise to me when the year end comes around again so quickly. This year has been a full one, filled with challenges and blessings.
Ed recently had a close friend ask him, “If you could do anything ministry wise that you wanted, what would you do?” and Ed replied that he had been considering that very thing recently. His answer, “I’d want to be where I am, doing what I am!” Truly we are among the most blessed people we know, not because everything is perfect in our lives, but because we are able to be doing what we truly believe God has called us to do.
Glimpses back over the year are glimpses of the people who have filled our lives. We have poured ourselves into people. I see the laughter and tears of our Celebrate Recovery group. I see the tremendous faithfulness of our leadership team, and feel the struggles they face in their own lives, yet they faithfully pour out of their lives into others who have needs. I remember the couples enjoying the dinner and a movie our team put together to kick off our couples ministry, and the great interaction as couples met in small groups and discussed “Love & Respect.” I see hurting and healing in our Griefshare group. My heart warms as I think of the discussions in our Old Testament Sunday School class where so many applications to present day life brought the characters from the Bible into our lives as role models and friends. I think of our kitchen table on Thursday mornings as the men gathered around it pray and partake of God’s Word along with their breakfast. I see their lively discussions, their compassion as they encourage each other in their ministries. I see young people timidly approaching horses at the beginning of the week, and riding proudly down the drive at week’s end. I hear the great Bible lessons my teen leaders prepared for the horsemanship kids, and see the women who transported kids, made treats, or gave a helping hand wherever it was needed. I look at our enclosed back porch and remember our friends who came all the way from Marquette MI to build it. The hay in our barn, reminds me of the friends who helped us put it in. The wall in the barn reminds me of the teens from Virginia working as a team to make it over the top. Our little guest house reminds me of those who enjoyed its comfort and those counseled at its kitchen table. A new roof reminds me of our Amish friends who helped Ed with roofing this summer. As I look across the lawn I recall the grandchildren playing in the kiddy pool on the lawn, riding on the horse, being pulled in the wagon. One of my special memories is of my friend Emily and I as we did chores by flashlight and prayed together each morning before beginning our long day’s ride on the Michigan Shore to Shore trail ride. I think of us singing hymns as we rode along a beautiful river in a beautiful place. I think of the hours Ed has spent on the phone, listening and giving out nuggets of truth to those who have come to respect his honesty and insight.
We praise the Lord for the Thanksgiving Day we were able to spend with our children and grandchildren, welcoming our newest grandson, only days old. We praise the Lord for the comfort of friends and family as we recently gathered at Ed’s mom’s funeral, and the hope, the joy of knowing that eternal life follows physical death. We have this reminder that people are eternal. We have this reminder that so much of what our world admires is not eternal.
Yes, we love what we do. We love investing our lives into others lives. We get tired, and sometimes, we get very tired. There is a lot of physical effort that goes into the farm and all that’s required to keep it going. But really, when the sun comes up again on a new day, and we are able to see God’s power changing lives and know that we have been a little part of that, we are humbly thankful that we can be in this place at this time and do what we do. Thank you Lord. Thanks to you who fill our lives. God bless your Christmas and the new year ahead.
We love you.
Ed & Ann
It always comes as somewhat of a surprise to me when the year end comes around again so quickly. This year has been a full one, filled with challenges and blessings.
Ed recently had a close friend ask him, “If you could do anything ministry wise that you wanted, what would you do?” and Ed replied that he had been considering that very thing recently. His answer, “I’d want to be where I am, doing what I am!” Truly we are among the most blessed people we know, not because everything is perfect in our lives, but because we are able to be doing what we truly believe God has called us to do.
Glimpses back over the year are glimpses of the people who have filled our lives. We have poured ourselves into people. I see the laughter and tears of our Celebrate Recovery group. I see the tremendous faithfulness of our leadership team, and feel the struggles they face in their own lives, yet they faithfully pour out of their lives into others who have needs. I remember the couples enjoying the dinner and a movie our team put together to kick off our couples ministry, and the great interaction as couples met in small groups and discussed “Love & Respect.” I see hurting and healing in our Griefshare group. My heart warms as I think of the discussions in our Old Testament Sunday School class where so many applications to present day life brought the characters from the Bible into our lives as role models and friends. I think of our kitchen table on Thursday mornings as the men gathered around it pray and partake of God’s Word along with their breakfast. I see their lively discussions, their compassion as they encourage each other in their ministries. I see young people timidly approaching horses at the beginning of the week, and riding proudly down the drive at week’s end. I hear the great Bible lessons my teen leaders prepared for the horsemanship kids, and see the women who transported kids, made treats, or gave a helping hand wherever it was needed. I look at our enclosed back porch and remember our friends who came all the way from Marquette MI to build it. The hay in our barn, reminds me of the friends who helped us put it in. The wall in the barn reminds me of the teens from Virginia working as a team to make it over the top. Our little guest house reminds me of those who enjoyed its comfort and those counseled at its kitchen table. A new roof reminds me of our Amish friends who helped Ed with roofing this summer. As I look across the lawn I recall the grandchildren playing in the kiddy pool on the lawn, riding on the horse, being pulled in the wagon. One of my special memories is of my friend Emily and I as we did chores by flashlight and prayed together each morning before beginning our long day’s ride on the Michigan Shore to Shore trail ride. I think of us singing hymns as we rode along a beautiful river in a beautiful place. I think of the hours Ed has spent on the phone, listening and giving out nuggets of truth to those who have come to respect his honesty and insight.
We praise the Lord for the Thanksgiving Day we were able to spend with our children and grandchildren, welcoming our newest grandson, only days old. We praise the Lord for the comfort of friends and family as we recently gathered at Ed’s mom’s funeral, and the hope, the joy of knowing that eternal life follows physical death. We have this reminder that people are eternal. We have this reminder that so much of what our world admires is not eternal.
Yes, we love what we do. We love investing our lives into others lives. We get tired, and sometimes, we get very tired. There is a lot of physical effort that goes into the farm and all that’s required to keep it going. But really, when the sun comes up again on a new day, and we are able to see God’s power changing lives and know that we have been a little part of that, we are humbly thankful that we can be in this place at this time and do what we do. Thank you Lord. Thanks to you who fill our lives. God bless your Christmas and the new year ahead.
We love you.
Ed & Ann