February
25, 2008
Dear
Freinds,
"The
time has come," quoth the walrus, "to talk of many things..."
(Alice in Wonderland?)
Ah yes, the
prayer/youth ranch...
Sorry so
slow with this update....
In the past
month, we've had some serious disappointment and discouragement, and yet,
some neat and wonderful encouragement as well.
The porch
roof over the conference center has caved in due to the heavy snow load we had.
Likewise with one of our cabin roofs here. In Idaho City itself, multiple
buildings have collapsed, and one person has died. It's beginning to all melt
off now, but talk about slushy, messy roads! I'll be honest
though, seeing part of the conference center building roof collapse was like
a knife in my heart, in all honesty. I want to use that building so badly to
hold classes, camps, reterats, and whatnot! But without funds to restore it,
it'll never happen.
Todd is out
of the hospital and back to work in Afghanistan. Read his letter in the other
email labeled "Todd's musings". God is good.
My job
in Idaho City is going well, but is still on a month-by-month basis. I
have been building night-light poles lately, for rental use in fire camps next
summer.
We ran out
of firewood again, but had some delivered through a gift, and were able to cut
down several dead trees back behind the house and get them hauled in and
split. The kids did great with it, and though they usually resist work at
first, :-) they usually kick in and get the work done quickly, once we
get started. They make me proud sometimes.
Our 501-c3
non-profit application was denied, but someone recently suggested a new angle
on it when we re-apply. It fit with something I had already been thinking, so
we'll be re-applying soon. More details later.
We've had
several answers to prayer regarding finances, but still silence on others
(including future accomadations). We just keep trusting God to take care of us.
I am juggling two jobs, 8 kids and wife, paying off debts, and still trying to
build a dream, and frankly, I'm tired and wore out.
In fact, I
was even praying and asking God if it was time to move on. I even looked at a
house that I knew of down in Boise with lots of bedrooms, that was for sale in
the last couple years. I told God that if it was still available, I would
pursue it (kinda like I prayed about moving to the ranch here). So our family
drove by it to take a look, and it was not available. So I just had to shrug,
and move on.
And then
over the next several weeks, I spoke with TWO DIFFERENT people, in different
states, that both shared with me that God has placed a vision for a youth
work, very very similar to my original dream, deep in their hearts, and
that they were looking/praying for God's leading. One of them shared even that
God has ALREADY told them to move to Boise, Idaho to work with youth
somehow. This encouraged me. It means I'm not the only one hearing God
tell to build a youth ministry here. Now if we could ALL just get on the same page
somehow.... It will only be birthed through heavy, serious prayer though. Who
will pray with us about these things?
Incidentally, a
nearly finished draft of the "The Innocence of God" manuscript is
available on our http://www.bighouseministries.com
website if you care to read it and/or pass it and/or its link along.
You know,
it's been interesting to note something about the response to my
newsletters over the last number of months. Almost guaranteed, every single
newsletter will elicit a handful of encouraging notes telling us to hang
there, and inevitably, at least one negative or critical one. I
almost expect it now. The last one still kinda hit me broadside though, and I
wrote a long response to it, trying to keep from taking it personally over the
days that followed my receipt of that letter.
Read my response here (http://www.bighouseministries.com -
midway down the page under "Dear anonymous" - or under
"newsletters") for yourself, because it encapsulates in many ways
what I am doing right now, why, and where I am headed.
There's
also an updated PowerPoint presentation on the http://www.bighouseministries.com
homepage if you want to see it.
So please
just keep praying for us. We're surviving, trusting/loving Yahweh, but we're
tired and weary. We need our joy back. Thankfully, God is good, and I
trust him.,
Thanks
In Him,
TIm, Karen,
and the kids.
208-392-6723
timbenedict@peoplepc.com
http://www.bighouseministries.com
21 Yellowpine Lane, Boise, ID 83716