Seattle Stories

Since our last update a couple of weeks ago, much has transpired.  This update is to give you the quick and dirty version of our lives during this time.  Hence, the first side of the coin…

The Scriptural Conversations a week ago Saturday was a delight.  We had a couple of new friends join us in our quest to satiate the Gospels in chronological order.  Last Saturday we focused on John 1:1-3, Mark 1:1 and Luke 1:1-25.  This Saturday, we’ll be looking at about the next 25 verses in Luke if you want to follow along.  You may even want to consider beginning a Scriptural Conversation group in your home, office, a local establishment, etc.

One friend, while helping me lay carpet in our guest room, exclaimed that he had a great time discussing the Bible last week.  I, Matt, agree with my friend and just had a blast being a part of this group keeping an intense, yet casual focus on Jesus.  Another friend of ours is planning on joining us Saturday.  Would you pray that they would be free to do so and that the enemy would not deter them or throw in distractions.  Thanks.

Another friend of ours meets with Matt each week for Scripture memory, prayer and sharing his life.  This has been a tremendous experience for both!

Now for the second side of the coin…

For the last 10 days our family has been pummeled with the flu.  We all, except Colette, have felt its blow.  In fact, Lana and Asha have had it twice during this time!  Lana is still struggling with it and was laid up all day today.  To give you some idea of the horror – we have gone through an entire carpet spot-cleaning bottle since the outbreak!  I’ll spare you the details .

Just when you thought this side of the coin was finished…

We’ve had some issues with our house that have required immediate maintenance over the last couple of weeks.  Hauling around 4,000 pounds of rock and soil, tearing up carpet, laying new carpet, repairing drywall, cleaning out plumbing, pond maintenance, and the list goes on.

We don’t know about you, but doesn’t it seem odd that right around the same time we stepped out intentionally to engage more friends with the Truth of Jesus all this “stuff” starts hitting us?  Maybe it’s just coincidence, but we don’t seem to think so.  Would you take a moment to pray for God and His Kingdom to advance here among the 20 somethings in Seattle?  We know that our suffering is short-lived compared to eternity, so praying for our safety is not our number one request – though we do strongly desire it.

Another situation that is occurring is a temporary expansion of our role for six months as our friends, Jon and Pat Sween, will be entering a sabbatical in just two weeks.  We will be assuming the 20 something leadership in the Northwest while they are resting and reflecting.

One last thing.  Could you please pray for our friend “Neil”?  He is the one I had been meeting with on a weekly basis to engage about God, the Scriptures and faith issues.  It has been very difficult to get together with him.  For some reason (from our vantage point), he has not seemed to eager to meet.  He has canceled a few times now.  We still are able to talk over the phone in a friendly manner, but the face-to-face interactions have been far and few between.  We also would love to have him join us for our Scriptural Conversations, but he is reluctant to move into that right now.  We know he lives a lonely existence, and desperately want to see him connect with Christ and others.

Thank you for your intercession, notes, financial resources and life stories!  You are such a crucial part of our team.

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Considering it a blessing that we can’t see both sides of a coin at the same time,

Matt and Colette