May 18, 2013
Well, it’s official; I am taking a full-year furlough, beginning in August. Finally, after 14 years. Yep, I need it! I hope to base out of my parents’ home in Wisconsin and travel to see as many of you (in the continental US and Canada) as possible. Yep, all the way out to Deer Park, Washington, and British Columbia, down to southern California, over to Sanford, Florida, and on up to Maine and Ontario, and pretty much everywhere in between. Can’t wait to see you all! For some of you, it’s been 25 years since we’ve seen each other face-to-face.
You might be wondering, “What about the Brickyard while you are gone?” My helper will become the leader. Vanessa will take over organizing everything and leading the meetings on Fridays. We hope that 3 of the current helpers will return in August and continue to assist her.
But more importantly, we are hoping to disciple the ladies of the Brickyard to assist in various capacities! Over the next two months we will be training them to be teachers’ aides, help with the building maintenance and cleaning, administer funds, assist others with the sales of their crafts, etc. I believe the Lord is leading me to leave so that these ladies will HAVE to step up and minister, instead of just being ministered to. Hopefully this will counter the effect that all the other groups are having on the community by the constant giving and pampering attitude. Please pray for this new phase of the work!
Good-byes are always hard. I know that a lot can change in a year, and that the Brickyard may not even be there when I return in 2014. I might be saying “adios” to some of these ladies and children for the last time here on this earth. Pray that I can leave one last imprint of Christ’s love on their hearts in these coming months. Thanks for laboring with me in this!
Serving the King of Kings!
Allison