February Update 2013

February Update 2013, a set on Flickr.

Hey everyone! :)

We can't believe we are now in March! The Lord has been so faithful to bring us to this point. This past month we had various trials that were very diffficult, but the Lord has brought us through and continues to sustain us. Thank you for all of your prayers, they have been effective!
The Bible college is in full swing now, it is a very small semester with only two students (guys) who arrived on the 11th of Febuary. It has been a blessing to have them, we know that God is preparing them both in a special way for what He has for them. Adriel has been spending good time with them and encouraging them in the Lord.
The church continues to thrive! We have seen growth in the people who have been faithfully attending. Now we have more people serving in different areas, which was much needed. There have also been new people coming. A man gave his life to the Lord just two sundays ago, his son had been coming occasionally with a friend to the childrens ministry, we were all so excited and blessed! ... We have been meeting on wednesday nights now to pray and to equip people who desire to serve, and for our Easter service which is coming fast! Please pray for us that at Easter many people would respond to the Gospel!
Adriel continues to lead worship at the church, and is now holding a practice on wednesday nights for people who would like to join the worship team! He also has been doing a lot of labor around the facility, fixing leaking roofs, toilets, plowing etc.
I have been focussing all of my time on the childrens ministry cirriculum, that way its built in for the future with crafts and activities. I have enjoyed this so much, and I love teaching/being with the kids on Sundays. We are also preparing for our summer camps in June!

In the midst of all this business, we went with a group from the church snowboarding, one of the guys at the church hooked us up with a huge discount, which was such a blessing! Adriel taught a few of us how to snowboard; we are still sore!!! :)

Please continue to pray for us that we would have endurance, and that we would be filled with the Spirit. Thank you all for your prayers and support!

In His Service,
Adriel and Gabriella

January Update 2013

January Update 2013, a set on Flickr.

"HEY" from the Rocky mountains! We had so much fun in CA in December, that we didn't write a December update. But we had such an amazing and great time in CA visiting our friends and family! It was so good to see many of you; we wish we could see and hang out with all of the amazing people who the Lord has blessed our lives with; we love you guys!

When we got back to CO (Jan 3), we immediately had some difficulty as Gabby got really sick which lasted TWO weeks! She came under walking pnuemonia, but thank God, she's completey over it! Thanks for the prayer guys!

There's been several snow storms and the camp is FULL and covered with snow; it truly is a "winter wonder land." Snow storms mean a lot of work for me, but it's good air and good exercise. =) After the storms pass, we have beautiful royal, blue skies, with deep white powdery snow; one day it was like walking on bubbles! We're about to get hit this weekend with another big storm. Thank God, we haven't had any accidents (since the deer incident in July).

We're focussing our attention in Glenwood Springs - the church. You can check out the website - www.CalvaryGlenwood.org - We are vamping up for a big Easter church re-launch! God has brought some very, very sweet people to the church, and we are truly enriched by them. We are also preparing for another Bible college semester, but this time we are only having TWO students/two guys. We're really looking forward to it. They arrive this Monday! Although we are having this semseter, we are still going to be giving most of our attention to the church plant.

We've begun to practivce every Wednesday, cultivating/developing/building a worship team for the church! It's pretty exciting. Right now it looks like we have me (guitar), a real good bass player, and a flautist! It's coming together! Pray that the Lord brings the final piece to the puzzle... a percussionist! =) The Lord has really been using and blessing the worship ministry; it's been an incredible privilege for me. Gabby has been very effective in the children's ministry teaching and loving the kids every week. She's prepared Sunday school lessons and crafts through March!

Please keep us in prayer, that the Lord would give us grace and strength for each day; that He would lead and direct us; for the difficulties which we face; for the Bible college students and the semester; for Jeff and his family; for the Lord to really do something awesome in Glenwood Springs! We love you guys so much, and can't tell you how much we appreciate you support and prayers!

In His Service,

Adriel and Gabriella

November Update

November Update, a set on Flickr.

Hey Everybody! We've made it six months out here! God's grace has truly been sufficient! A lot happened this month, but we'll try to sum it up in some kind of a orderly/succinct fashion for you guys!

The Bible College semester is over. The students ended strong, and we sent them all packing on the 21st. We really saw the Lord do a work in each of their lives, as they all left different from when they first arrived. Everyone grew close together, and we already miss them. It was a great group! We are very privileged to have been able to live with such an awesome group, and minister to them practically and spiritually. It was a LOT of work around the clock with no breaks or weekends (24/7)... We've heard the Bible College semester being likened to grabbing hold of a speeding freight train & your hair catches fire as you hold on for dear life! Then 90 days later it comes to a screeching halt!!!! =O It's true! Haha! But it was so sweet! The semester was followed by Thanksgiving, where Gabriella and I shared a very sweet meal and time with the Christianson family - good food and good company! Gabby was a whirlwind in the kitchen preparing pies, ham, casseroles, and mashed potatoes; God has really blessed me ;) Pastor Jeff and his son were in Israel ministering to the Bible College students in Jerusalem, but had to come back early because of the recent conflict there; they made it back on time for Thanksgiving.

Gabriella is a whirlwind in the Kitchen AND in the Children's ministry. She has organized and is running a Christmas program with the kids. She has them singing and practicing; the program will be Sunday morning December 16th - ***please keep her and the children in your prayers.*** She really wants to bless the church/people with a sweet Christmas program. She just loves those kids so much!

Before the Bible college students left, we did some more outreach and evangelism with them. I meant to get more pictures, but it's hard getting random people to pose sometimes =) But it was very fruitful. I got to lead the college kids in evangelism and give them basic instructions, and some stuff that I've learned along the way. And it was an awesome time! We waited for the kids at Glenwood Springs High School to get out from school, and we began to share the Gospel of Jesus with them! We got to pray with and lead about 6 kids to the Lord. ***Please pray for those young people and for follow-up opportunities.*** We also shared the Gospel in the downtown/main street areas, and shopping center. Jesus is the MAIN Light of the world, but He has us here as little lights for Him... so let's shine for Jesus!

Now that the semester is over, we are again able to spend more time and energy focusing on the church, visiting with folks, and being witnesses for Jesus in Glenwood. We've gotten so much exposure in the last several months. The church has grown noticeably in that time. But we do pray for the Lord to continue to add to the church; not for numbers sake, but because there are so many people that need to know Jesus and what He has done for them! And there are not a few Bible-teaching churches in this area; Calvary Chapel is unknown to 99% of the people out here. ***Please pray for the people of Glenwood!***

SNOW!! We got our first big snow storm! What a blast! Snowball fights... snowman... hot cocoa, and all the works! We've adjusted so much to the cold! But the worst is yet to come! =) We're not worried! =) The property is winterized. I've learned how to live in the mountains in the winter, and how to operate all the equipment - tractor/snow blowers, etc. So when the snow storms hit... I get to work - ***please pray that we don't lose any toes to frostbite.. Haha and that the Lord keeps us safe this winter & accident free!***

Well, so far, we've learned so much! One of those things is how to economize and budget! Hahaha! And God is so good! He gives us everything we need! We are VERY MUCH LOOKING FORWARD to seeing our family & friends for Christmas! We've begun counting the days, and are SO EXCITED! We also updated out prayer request page - we covet your prayers! Blessings,

In His Service,

Adriel & Gabriella