Baby Kurt’s Twisted Neck and His Brace

We have a pet duck! He/she was born October 13th, this duck was born with a twisted neck (so twisted that its head was upside down). This caused the little duck to walk impaired, do circles, panic, have the family separate themselves from it, and even its mom was pecking at it as if she was going to kill it! Nicole pleaded and persuaded that we keep the duck in order to nurture it back to health! This little guy has given us joy as we watch it grow, be cute, and love upon it. God has also planned it perfectly that we could have this little guy right when we need something to help us as we are going through some various hard times. God has placed this cute little duck in our lives in order to help allow us not get down and discouraged too quickly, but to enjoy life and God’s creation amidst the hardness.

God allowed us to be there at the right time and day to get the duck, much later and there would be no blog about him because his siblings seemed to have disappeared. Also, the little duck is doing much better! After fabricating a makeshift neck brace and splint, its neck is almost back to normal. The little duck has also started swimming (2 weeks before he is suppose to!), and has doubled in weight! God can bring great joy in even the smallest of his creations. His glory will be declared in all things.

Also, as of Sunday (21st) the duck has been following us! It is so cute! Check out the pictures!

This past week we had many things thrown at us; our typical work load at school, social activities, a couple stressful events, our usual jail ministries, a trip to Kansas that begun Seth’s volunteer youth director position at our church where he taught, engaging with several kids from the community, Seth teaching Sunday school, Nicole had her monthly jewelry class with the ladies from church, all the while we both battled with illness and Seth literally lost his voice! But before the busyness came, God brought a little duck into our lives. He was cast out from his family because he had a severely twisted neck, so Nicole with her large and compassionate heart, desired to nurture this little duck to a healthy life (read the story on the next blog!).

School: This week we are still in grammar class and with each new class the study gets larger and larger with more and more parts thrown into the mixture. It is like trying to solve a massive puzzle and each day we get new pieces that look different from the previous pieces, yet they fit into the large puzzle somewhere, and don’t worry more pieces that look even more different with be thrown into the mix later! Expect it! Oh and by the way, you will never have ALL the pieces out there. That’s our job!

Jail: This past week went great! On the men’ side Dave (Seth’s teammate) taught through the first 9 plagues of Egypt. Then Seth taught on how God used each plague to directly attack the Egyptians worldview in every way in order to show that He is God and yet Pharaoh hardened his heart because he saw whom God IS! Seth continued by focusing on the Passover and showed that even during crazy situations you can have fellowship with God, and your freedom will come from the Lamb, but you can only receive that Freedom if you pass through the blood stained door (Jesus-John 10:9).

On the ladies side Nicole and Jinny are teaching through the life of Abraham and Isaac. They focused on the substitutionary death of the ram in the place of Isaac when God told Abraham to sacrifice his one and only son to Him. Abraham trusted God so much that he did as he was asked and God provided the ram to take Isaac’s place once He saw that Abraham’s faith was purified like gold. This is a foreshadow of the substitutionary death of Jesus’ death on the cross in place for us as the penalty for sin. The ladies are really seeing this connection!

Fizz Feud Youth Event at Bethel Church

We are in grammar class, but this class looks completely different from how I remember it in grade school! This class exposes us to many different and unique languages through worksheets and teaching. We have already been exposed to (in part) 20 languages. Each one is unique and functions differently, and we are not just talking about the meanings of the words but rather how they are structured and where they are placed.

We are learning what about the simplest parts of grammar (morphemes, the smallest part of a word) to what a discourse would look like in a different language. This class is very helpful because we plan to go overseas and work with a people group that no one else has ever worked with and the more “tools” we learn the better equipped we will be in order to learn a language no one else has ever learned. We are learning that God has placed an order even within languages; this is how we are able to learn these different languages. The purpose this ability is to ultimately translate God’s Word into that language so that another group of people can know God personally as their God, Lord, and Savior!

At our church in Kansas, there was a teen activity (fizz-feud) the weekend of (Oct. 13-15th) which brought many kids in from the community. The activities were fun, the food was delicious, and the messages brought from Brother Fischer were heavy. He focused on how everyone has a decision of where they will spend eternity (heaven or hell) and asked the kids which one will they will choose. Several kids professed a testimony of Salvation. Seth had the opportunity to talk with a kid named Christian, to see what he was challenged by from the messages and what he might have learned. The closing comments from Christian were, “Jesus is God’s gift to me for my Salvation” and he praised God and said “thank You God for your gift” (Jesus). Nicole blessed families by working in the nursery so that they could be involved with the “decision making” time after the messages.

Solar Electric System

The Electrical Hub with Grounding Plate
(FYI this is a long post in an attempt to explain a big concept)

Where do we begin? Neither one of us are savvy in the area of electricity, technology, or mechanics and yet we are going into tribal church planting which requires us to live in isolated jungles far away from anything familiar. We will need electricity to power our laptops for language learning and developing lessons, lights to read (and see), a freezer to have consistent food in

order to have physical energy to minister to the tribal p

eople, oh and we have to have clean water to drink, keep stored, to clean, and to cook with. We will have to learn many things in order to have a functioning house with the end

Soldering Alligator Clips

goal of being able to best serve in that foreign context. Obviously we can’t run electrical wires hundreds of miles from the USA, nor can we have giant windmills because they are far too

dangerous. Hydroelectricity is very sensitive and requires a mere perfect set-up with so much maintenance that it would be a full-time job just to maintain them. Running everything through generators can be expensive for a long period of time, fuel is very expensive overseas (as if it wasn’t bad enough here). Generators are relatively loud and many tribal locations are rather quiet which would cause disturbance to our neighbors and they also require frequent maintenance.

This leaves us with only one option: Photovoltaic Systems (PV) (also known as solar power). You say that is nice for during the day, but what about at night? Solar Panels make DC (direct current) electricity that can be stored very much like a battery (a battery is DC electricity). AC electricity is what we in America have in all of our outlets

Soldering

, lights; pretty much everything we have is AC electricity. The beauty of DC electricity is that it can be stored. The solar panels collect the energy and then the excess of which is not being used gets stored into giant 100lb batteries. A car battery is typically ¼ the size of these batteries. In this technology class, we are learning how to set up these systems and what appliances can be used on them along with how to maintain them. This has been a challenge to the comforts we have as Americans because of how reliant we are on electricity for everything and it has shown us how much we actually “need’’ and compared to how much is really a “comfort”.

First, we had to learn how to solder and de-solder because many if not all of the P.V. panel and other system connections get soldered. Soldering is long-lasting connection and provides great continuity between connections for electricity. Also, we are learning how to maintain batteries and in this process we learn how dendrites build up in batteries and that is what kills a battery. We will be learning how to slow down that process in order to preserve our batteries, so that we can get the most out of them.

We plan to serve on the foreign field long-term so we are preparing for many years at one time. We are learning all this because we see the value in discipleship and building up the church to maturity, as was Paul’s desire. He lived with the people he ministered among, he taught them from the scriptures (we have to learn the indigenous language, translate the scriptures first, and many other steps Paul did not have to do), built them up to maturity, appointed elders/overseers from that local assembly to then take responsibility of that congregation, and then moved on to the next location. This was his pattern of ministry. This is our desire as well. We were not given the gift of tongues (in foreign languages) so the process of living with the people will take longer before we can teach them. We will have to learn the culture and language of the people, and unlike Paul who was inspired by God and wrote to the people God’s Word, we will have to translate from another language into the indigenous language, present the Gospel from Creation to Christ (as Paul did) teach the people and bring them up to maturity in their belief and then have the elders take over and phase out. Then we would go to the next place (as Paul did) all of that to say this: it is a BIG and LONG process that will take time!  We plan on doing this for the rest of our lives so we are being equipped for a Big job which will take many years.

Our missions’ organization really does a great job to make sure we are trained in all the areas that they have experienced from the past and are expecting for us in the future. Due to the intensity of some of the material that we just covered here in the first week of October, we would like to share with you some of that training but can not post such sensitive material here on our blog. Use this as an excuse to call/email/text us! We would love to hear from you and tell you what we are learning.

Hint; since most of the places we are looking to work in are very volatile as a whole, we were trained for some various situations that might occur in our life.

Don’t you love surprises!? This past week was our home church’s mission’s conference. It was an awesome time to see God working all over the world, that we get to be apart of His work, and to hear some very impactful messages.

Dr. Don Sisk challenged us to use our life to the glory of God (as in the parable of Matt. 25 and the servants with 5,2, and 1 talent). God does not want us to be stagnant and “hide”, but to use our life to bring a great reward for our Master. Later that night Don Sisk brought a message on “looking at the back of the book”. He challenged us that when times are hard (and they will be), to be encouraged by looking at the back of the book (Revelation). Knowing God has overcome the world, and the situation you are in right now will not last forever, but God’s Kingdom and glory will last forever!

God’s timing is always the best! This past weekend I (Seth) had the chance to come home for the mission’s conference (and by God’s grace I have not missed one yet since I started going there) at my home church. Also, I got to come home and surprise my mom for her 50th birthday. I snuck into her work and several of her coworkers watched with anticipation as I walked into her classroom and gave her a hug and shouted “Happy Birthday”! She immediately turned red and had that look “why/how are you here”, with tears in her eyes and a big smile that didn’t go away for hours, I was able to be with my mom and celebrate her birthday.

Before any of this ever happened, I had to say good-bye to my wife at the Saint Louis Airport. With tears in both of our eyes, big smiles, and a long hug we said “good-bye” for the longest time we have ever been apart in our marriage and it was painful. We both agreed that this was the “best thing” to do, to surprise my mom and to make it to our home church’s missions’ conference. But it was still very hard and my stomach hurt all day being away from my Beloved.  This trip truly was a trip filled with joy, tears, smiles, and sadness.

Healthy Baby Job-Praise God!
Jehovah-Rapha, the Lord is our Healer! We finally received news on Job’s kidney. The doctor said the obstruction in his ureter has subsided. His kidney is still swollen but not as much as it was 3 months ago. His kidney tissue is healthy and doing well as is his bladder. They think it should not be any more of a problem, but the parents (Scott and Jennie) want to have another check up in 6 months to make sure.

We are rejoicing because GOD is good and has healed Job immensely! Thank EACH OF YOU for your prayers and concern for Job and our family. Please continue to pray that the rest of this swelling and any other remaining issues would be healed of GOD! Thank-you so much for everything!

Seth’s sister (Jennie) and her family (Scott, Moses, and Job) came down to visit us a few weeks ago and they were here for a whole week! It was so nice to hang out with the kids and glean much wisdom from Scott and Jennie and their lives, they are Missionaries in Indonesia doing a tribal church plant among the Dao people. They have been there for almost 10 years and have experienced many things. They were such an encouragement and we got to make many good memories! Praise God the abnormal growth we were all worried about on Moses’ hand is nearly gone. But please to continue to pray for little 3-month-old Job, he went in October 2nd to get a diagnosis on his kidney, the doctors believe there is an obstruction and might have to operate. It is never good to open up a baby and we are praying that God heals Job so the doctors do not have to lay a finger on him.

Another blessing was getting our car fixed. Every so often, a group of mechanics comes down here to the Training Center in Missouri from all over and they use their gifts to bless the missionaries here and the missionary candidates (that’s us). Apparently one thing that is common with missionaries is that their cars always need a little TLC. We got to experience that first hand and they fixed our igniter coil for free! Praise God, that is an expensive part and with how much traveling we do we need our car to run the best it can.

Seth also worked on the car before the mechanics came down and changed the brakes and a caliber without his dad for the first time, he was very proud of himself.

At church…We have had a lot of firsts together in the past couple of weeks. We had an opportunity with a family at our church in Kansas to go inner-tubing, we now go to the same jail ministry, we had our first visitors while being down here in Missouri, the first time an inmate led part of the teaching, the first time we did not have to pay for a part (or the labor for installation) on our car and much more!!

As we are getting back into a routine, one particular Sunday when we were in Kansas, a family, Doug and Shelle Eden, thought it would be nice to treat us to some good ole’ time on the lake. Next thing we know, Doug was trying his best to knock Seth off the tube while pulling him behind on a Jet-Ski,; with a couple close calls, Seth managed to hold on! This is the same family that also introduced Nicole to her first time on a 4-wheeler. The Eden’s treated us like their own family, as so many other families have done as well at our church in Kansas.

Another first, Nicole is beginning to teach a ladies/girls Jewelry class in between the morning and afternoon services on Sunday’s once a month. The ladies seem really interested and about 20 ladies signed up! This will be an awesome time of fun, learning, and getting to know the ladies better.

In jail…In addition, we now go to the same county jail to minister. This is nice for many reasons; now we can talk together about the same ministry and strategize our focus on how to “best” to minister to the inmates. We also get to spend more time together and that is really nice. Nicole, Jinny, and Grace are the ladies that make up the female team. Seth, Dave, and Pastor Jim (he usually drives us to the prison) make up the male team. Both teams are starting from Genesis explaining through the scriptures. We are focusing on the beginning, foundational truths, and the lineage of the Promised Deliverer. The inmates are very receptive and they are seeing the Grace of God and His Provision for sinful mankind. I (Seth) have been teaching/discipling a man named Joel for 8 months now. A few weeks ago we had Joel teach part of the lesson. He taught on Genesis 19, focusing on the Holiness of God and how He demands punishment for wickedness. Joel used part of his testimony and the guys were really excited to see “one of their own” teaching. This is always the goal of ministers, to see the locals teach their own, that is the “end goal” of a missionary, it is nice to see it put into practice here and now.

I (Nicole), have been very encouraged by the excitement the ladies are showing each week as we teach. For the first time, some of these ladies are hearing the Creation story explained and connected with the rest of the Bible and to their personal lives as well. One key theme that has stuck out to the ladies and also to me personally is how God pursued Adam and Eve at the moment when they ran and hid from God. As humans, our natural default is to hide when we are ashamed. God didn’t let us go off on our own; He ran to us and pursued us, giving us an alternative. God gave Adam and Eve clothes (coverings) and gave them the sacrificial system of killing an animal as a temporary fix to their sins until one day Jesus came to once and for all pay for the penalty of sin. The penalty for sin is death and it was only through a perfect death that the wrath of our Righteous God could be appeased.

As we continue to get back into the swing of things, I (Seth) went back to my jail ministry. I am teaching at the county jail with a fellow classmate (Dave) and we are going through familiar events in the Old Testament that show God’s redemptive plan for mankind that lead up to the birth of Christ. This approach really opens eyes to see who God really is, and how He has always striven for a relationship with mankind. Two weeks ago, Dave taught on God’s ark and Noah showing that mankind has only two choices; to trust God (in the ark), or not to trust God (outside the ark). Last week, I taught on the tower of Babel. In this teaching I focused on how man apart from God only wants to “boast himself” up, and yet in our pride, God still “comes down” to us and shows us mercy. His mercy scattered us and did not destroy us. God’s desire to keep His promise in providing a Redeemer will bring us back together as one. Next week, I will teach on two men; Abraham and Terah; one man choose to trust God and take Him at His word, the other did not. This is the pattern from the beginning of Genesis and will never change.

The newest transition for me (Nicole) is that I will be joining the same jail ministry as Seth. Of course I will minister to the ladies instead, but in this move I will have the opportunity to “hone” my teaching skills as well as minister alongside my husband. We can talk about the lessons we are preparing, and at this jail, we are more free to do one-on-one visitation with the inmates in order to more effectively encourage and disciple them. This is very exciting!