Housing and General update

I shouldn't say it but I will....it is WAY past another update....so here we go.....well, since moving here our housing has been one of the things God has used to keep us on our knees - both our house here in CO as well as the house in SC. So to catch you up here is an update on both including a totally random collection of pictures interspersed:

1. Colorado
The house we currently rent is officially re-entering the foreclosure process. We have been here once before but our landlord thought she might be able to short-sell so we were back to showing it with realtors in and out...the long and short of it is that it did not work out. Banks don't rent houses we have been told and so once again we're living week to week waiting for someone from the bank to show up and ask us to move out. So far God has given a tremendous amount of peace overall concerning this. Would we love to buy this home? Absolutely. But simply put, God has not provided for us to be able to do so, even though it is an incredible price compared to what it was originally. Timberline would also love to own this house (perfect distance to the center etc.), but the priority in fundraising right now has to go to the Timber House - which has essentially 3 separate living spaces and provides more housing options overall than this house here does.

Staff housing in general is a huge issue right now with three of us families currently being in limbo about where we will live (the Hammonds at the Timber House, the Thomas' at the chalet and with us here - at what I shall refer to as "the Cottage":).  It really is ideal to be close to the center so that we can be involved with community life and most effective in how we serve the students. So would you join us in prayer for all of these needs and that God would provide a way for all of our families to continue to have housing close to the center? In our flesh we want to have quick resolution, but God is often far more interested in how we trust Him in the process so we just ask for the grace to trust Him no matter what part of the journey we are in....

2. Our house in South Carolina

We were under contract but unfortunately the buyer had to pull out (no fault of his own, it included a job loss) and both parties I know are extremely disappointed. Being somewhat at a loss to know what to do, we have decided to put it up for rent. There was someone who looked at it yesterday who was mildly interested in buying but we have heard nothing further to date. We would really appreciate your prayers - it is imperative that we sell or rent the house - yesterday. Literally, our ability to continue to serve at Timberline depends upon it and we have been continuously asking the Lord for guidance and direction regarding where we are financially at this time.  I know there are so many others in the same boat including several of our family members and friends.   So we would appreciate your prayers for all of that as well. God has promised His children that He will give wisdom and guidance. We don't know what the future holds but we know we can trust Him and have found that He continually meets us with His love and grace when we are discouraged and call out to Him.

3. Timberline Life
This has been the first year that Reid and I have been really involved with the students as far as Family Group and Covenant Groups are concerned. And it's been a treat. The year is coming to a close and it's going to be hard, once again, to say good-bye. We head to our annual end-of-the-year trip to the Sand Dunes this coming week to process what this year has been like and all that God has done. The kids love this time as well and we're in high gear getting everything packed and ready for our 6:00am departure.  Graduation is just around the corner after we return, along with a day long staff-debrief.... and then we jump head-long into guest season at Timberline. We have several family members and friends coming out to visit us this summer and we're very excited to see them.  The last time I heard, July was bare at Timberline and so I know the staff would really appreciate your prayers for groups to register as our yearly budget depends on summer retreats etc. I am especially excited that it looks like a highschool friend of mine - Stephanie - is going to be coming all the way from Germany to attend the photography week.  There are still plenty of places available both for the photography week and the biking week if anyone is interested - or if your church or youth or women's ministry would want to hold a retreat at Timberline we would love to hear from you!

Reid has really enjoyed leading the outreach group the Denver Rescue Mission this year and is attending the Expo in hopes of becoming more familiar with other areas we can be more practically involved with serving and loving the homeless community in Denver. In addition to his business manager responsibilities at Timberline, he has also been teaching classes - this semester on 1. John - and is enjoying the variety of ways he can serve the staff and students. Timberline enables him to express his love for business, his love for hospitality and guest service, as well as his love for teaching and mentoring/discipleship, including continuing to serve with the homeless inner-city community to a certain capacity. I think the only thing Reid lacks is enough hours in his day! :) Somehow he still finds time though to be home and be husband and Dad and that is still his favorite role, for which all of us are very thankful. But as always, the areas where God is using us are also areas where the enemy likes to discourage us and point out the many ways in which we fall short - and he has been busy trying - in all of our lives. The hope we turn to is Christ in me the Hope of Glory... that it is not about us at all - but about the Jesus living out His life through us - serving others through us, loving others through us and accomplishing His kingdom work in our lives in spite of the many ways we fall short. And we often fall short! :) But He never does!

4. Home Life
A lot of what is on our minds I have already shared in the housing section. But in addition I think we are doing well. School has been great this year - Ian has enjoyed the Christian school so much and the girls and I have really benefited from the new Classical Conversations chapter that started up last fall here in Grand County. The relationships and friendships that have developed have been sweet and encouraging. We are also enjoying being a part of Winter Park Christian Church's Saturday evening service where I have started playing the keyboard and singing as a part of the worship team and the kids are participating in Awanas.

Well - this is long enough for now - please email us if you have any more questions about Timberline, about how you can be a part of the work (practically, prayerfully, financially etc.) - even by coming and helping out for a week or two on staff, particularly during our busy weeks etc....

Love,
Jennifer for all the Dales