Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his. He changes the times and the seasons. He removes kings and raises up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the understanding. He reveals deep and secret things. He knows what is in the darkness and light dwells with him. Daniel 2:20-22

Our Christmas letter is difficult to write this year, for 2009 has been tumultuous in many ways. Yet for all the trials, the faithfulness of God has also been clearly evident. How grateful I am that this great God whom Daniel praised has revealed Himself through His word and His Son, Jesus Christ, and that His presence is with us at all times, and in all places. With that in mind, let me briefly fill you in on the whereabouts (3 continents, 5 countries, several states) and “whatabouts” of the Moul’s Mountain Gang.

Jenny received her Master’s Degree from University of Illinois, Chicago, in May and returned to Pui Ching School in Macau in August. She is teaching conversational English to several hundred high school students and is in charge of the school’s English Corner for all grades. She has planned a Christmas outreach to her students and fellow teachers on Dec. 19^th. It’s been amazing to see God pull together ladies from two churches here in the States and her church in China to provide the supplies she needs. Pray for souls to be saved and seeds of truth planted in these young lives on that day.

By God’s grace, Andy returned safely from Iraq a month early, in April, and joined us at home in June. His active duty with the USMC ended in August. In October he moved to St. Louis, MO where he’s working at a Firestone Service Center and has his first apartment on his own. 

In January, Matt moved to Sierra Vista, Arizona and began working as an instructor with Tactical Tracking Operations School, a job God tailor-made for him.  Basically, they teach military and police how to track fugitives. He does quite a bit of travelling and is actually just finishing his second trip to Germany. The highlight of his first trip was a tour of the castle where Martin Luther hid after being excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.

If you contact Crossway Books in Wheaton, IL, you just might get Rayanna in Customer Service. She is very active in her church, has a good group of friends (mostly MKs from Turkey), and is praying for God’s direction about her future. She was able to spend almost two weeks visiting Jenny in Macau this fall and she ran in her first 5K race in October.

Ben continues to excel at Purdue University- Calumet where he is an RA in the residence hall. He is very active in his church and in the on-campus outreach group. He doesn’t have a car this year (last year Andy loaned his) so he bought a bike this summer and rode it to and from work in Pentwater. He’s hoping to take a bike trip with friends next summer and also to compete in the 2010 Chicago Marathon.

It’s Dave’s senior year at Hart High School, with all of its decisions and “last times”.  In June he took a ministry trip to an orphanage in Mexico with our church youth group; the same one where Marcos and Beto lived.  He will be auditioning for the music programs at Michigan State and Western Michigan Universities in February. Hopefully all our trips to Lansing for his voice lessons will pay off in scholarships!  There’s also less of Dave this December than last year because he’s lost over 60 pounds!! He runs often, and played soccer this fall. He looks GREAT!

Marcos and Beto are both doing well in their language adjustments and in school. They were both able to attend Lake Ann Camp and have been active in soccer (both), baseball (Beto) and wrestling (Marcos).  Marcos is attending Hart High School, where his teachers have been very willing to work with him as he tries to learn both language and content in each subject. An anonymous donor blessed us all by paying for Beto to attend Oceana Christian School this year and that is exactly the right place for him. Thank you to all who have and are praying for our family as we make major adjustments.

Our “baby” is in 8^th grade, will be 13 in February, and is taller than I am!  God provided in extra special ways so Maggie could attend OCS this year, and also attend a week of horse camp at Grace Adventures. She is doing very well in school and enjoying the daily social life. She played softball this summer and is playing basketball right now; both are firsts for her. She also learned to play alto sax over the summer and earned 1^st chair in the 8^th grade band!

Al still works at Wilbur-Ellis, with a 6 month layoff each winter. In the past couple of years he has applied several places for year-round work and also tried to find more part-time work during the winter, but so far nothing has turned up. We are grateful for his job and trusting God to provide what we cannot. Al is also involved in the Hispanic ministry at church.

In May, I graduated! Well, I finished everything last December and got my diplomas in the mail in January, but the ceremony was in May and it was a lot of fun to walk up there and hear the applause! J   I’ve had some health issues, including surgery on Nov. 2. (Al did a FANTASTIC job of caring for us all while I recovered!) Thankfully, these seem to be resolved and I’m feeling fine now. A Monday morning Ladies’ Bible study at church this fall (Beth Moore’s “Believing God”) was a huge blessing to me.

God graciously answered my prayers and allowed all ELEVEN of us to be together at one time (for the first time) over the weekend of July 4^th.  One of Ben’s best friends bravely took pictures and got us all looking pretty good! Thanks, Kevin! I hope you enjoy these glimpses of the Moul’s Mountain Gang.

 

                                

L to R:  Rayanna, Dorothy, Jenny, Maggie                                            Clockwise: Ben, Beto, Dave, Andy, Al, Marcos, Matt 

                  

 

From 9/4/09

The world is on the brink of autumn. Leaves are changing in a few places; birds have been flocking for two or three weeks. The bright sunshine arrives a little earlier each morning and leaves a little sooner each night. The achingly sweet smell of woodsmoke lingers in the air near the campgrounds just a little longer. The air is noticeably more crisp in the morning and a sweater comes in handy in the evening. Back-to-school sales are full-swing, but the offerings have been picked over. Bedtimes are being readjusted. Summer's produce is being canned or frozen against the winter's hunger.

All signs point to the nearness of autumn outside and I'm realizing that all signs are pointing to the nearness of autumn in my own life...my birds are spreading their wings and flying; my energy arrives later and leaves earlier each day; changes and adjustments occur often.

It's the beginning of autumn in my life.

Where did the summer go?

When Matt left for boot camp on July 27, 2003, I didn't rush right out and buy a Blue Star Service Flag for my window or the pin to wear. I waited until he earned his Eagle, Globe, and Anchor and could truly be called a Marine. I didn't want to "jinx" anything or count my chickens too early.  But since THAT day in October 2003, I've never deliberately gone without it on my left shoulder, a "rank insignia" so to speak. I wore one star for Matt, two when they were both in, and one for Andy. I purchased his from a street vendor at the Vietnam Memorial when we visited him in Washington, DC. Matt had just finished his active service and it was time for  the new pin, one which represented only Andy.

But yesterday, I didn't put it on. I intended to wear it until Andy was officially finished, August 5, so has not to "jinx" anything or count my chickens too early. My shoulder feels a little bare, my morning routine a little strange and I know I can't dig through the laundry and find it there any more. I gave it away.

It was Friday night, Fourth of July weekend. Jenny was bringing four friends; Rayanna was coming; Andy and Matt were home. Everyone would be there. I'd forgotten the spaghetti and sauce even though they were plainly on the list in my hand that morning. I took Dave to work and ran into the grocery store to grab those two items....and ran into the mom of a high school classmate. I hadn't seen her in fifteen? twenty? years. I listened and chatted for 20 minutes or more, all with a strong sense that God wanted me listening and chatting more than He cared about having spaghetti on the table exactly on time. One of the things I learned was that my classmate's son was about to deploy to Afghanistan and his mom was worried sick about him. I promised to write him on my prayer list, hugged my classmate's mom and left.

This past Thursday we FINALLY got a good day for the beach. People dilly-dallied. We ran late; there would be no parking spots left.  I stopped to get snacks. Beto forgot his shoes so he couldn't go to the go-karts as planned with Dave. I fussed and fumed and drove back for the shoes. We had to stop for gas. The first pump wouldn't work, we had to pull around and face the other way. AAARRRGGGHHHH!  

And there, going into the gas station, was the high school classmate. And I was wearing my pin. And I knew I was supposed to give it to her.

So I went in, touched her shoulder and said her name, quickly dispensed with the pleasantries and asked if her mom had mentioned meeting me. No? Well, she told me about your son...I was taking off the pin as we spoke...this is for you. I wore it every day for my son; he just came home. This is for you now until yours comes home. Don't make me cry, she said. I won't. But he's on my prayer list. Don't make me cry, she said. I won't. I hugged her and went on my way. I think in truth we both had tears.

I'll have to call another day, when kids aren't waiting in the van, frazzled and anxious to be going. My prayer, then and now, is that God will use that pin for His kingdom. My empty shoulder is also a reminder to pray for Cheri, and Bud.

Only later did I realize that I wasn't running late either day. I was right on time to meet two ladies God wanted me to meet. So my frustration and anger were totally useless and ugly. Forgive me, Father.

Beach time was fantastic too.