Author name: Lois Gillespie

It’s so good to come back to you each week and thank you for the prayers we know you have offered on our behalf. We have been able to complete the purchase of the vehicle God has provided for us, and now we feel like real career missionaries, rather than short-termers who borrow school vehicles (which aren’t always available). 

Spiritual Emphasis Week is over, but if the testimonies at the bonfire Friday night were any indication, the impact will be lasting. The students were challenged to be humble, to be more sensitive to others, and to be encouragers – good lessons for us all!

Christmas has already arrived at ICA since Leaving Day is Nov. 21st. Some dorms are decorating and making cookies, while Student Senate is planning next week’s Christmas banquet. The high school boys are being extremely creative in asking the girls to the banquet. Invitations range all the way from a singing telegram at meal time to an individualized quiz with the big question (teacher cooperation) to having the big question on an overhead during song time in chapel. One guy even came charging up on a borrowed horse to sweep his girl off her feet. I think the invitations are actually the fun part; the banquet will be anticlimactic.

Thank you again for your prayers and for being faithful where you are. We like to think of you all as you meet on Sundays and Wednesday; they are special times during the week when we know what our loved ones are doing. It feels like we’re connecting with ‘home’. Thank you for being there.

We’re back to the ‘real world’ after a somewhat relaxing week in the mountains and rain forest. Although we have many more bug bites and all our clothes came home smelling like mildew, we really enjoyed this time away. It was a very special week for staff and students alike. It’s pretty special when Outdoor Ed can be taught from a Christian standpoint, and even though we kept them busy, none of the students wanted to leave.

Now we are in the middle of Spiritual Emphasis Week. A speaker from Vienna Christian Schools is here, speaking every morning and evening about how the gospel changes lives. We tend to forget this sometimes, especially if we’ve been Christians for a long time, or if we were saved at a very young age.

Please pray that the we will be able to complete the purchase of the vehicle the Lord is providing for us. Since the people we are buying it from are already back in the states and they aren’t avid e-mailers, communication has been a problem. We’d like to get this completed so we can take the jeep to Mali in November.

Also pray that the Lord will work in hearts during this Spiritual Emphasis Week, and that life-changing decisions will be made. These are pretty special kids, most of whom are bilingual and comfortable in a third-world situation. How special to realize that God has plans for them and for us, plans to prosper us and to give us success.

Bob and I are ready to leave on the 8th Grade Outdoor Ed experience. Since we won’t be anywhere near e-mail this week, our Wednesday Update is a little early.

Please pray for our safety as we travel about 8 hours by school bus to a beautiful camp in the mountains of Cote d’Ivoire. Currently, conditions seem to be calm in the country, so we’re expecting no trouble. Also pray for a good week of drawing closer to these teens and renewed spiritual desire for everyone. Pray for wisdom on the part of us leaders as we serve as ‘camp counselors’ this week. We will be traveling back on Friday, so again pray for our safety.