Anderson Update Christmas Edition

 

We hope your Christmas is filled with joy, blessing, and knowledge of our Savior.     M • Micah had a space day at Purdue University and started to learn to play handbells. • Marley Marie was born in March to David and Dominique. David continues to develop software in Central Illinois. E • Elizabeth and Peter homeschool the kids and attend and serve at Lansing Bible, our sending church. • Eleanor is taking piano lessons and is learning to crochet. R • Recovery from breast cancer surgery and radiation treatment both went pretty smoothly for Jean. R • Roles at SonSet Solutions continue for John (software developer, chaplain, personnel) and Jean (donation services, communications). It is busy. Y • Yard work kept John busy, too (as if he wasn’t busy enough!) as this was the year of the acorns.     C • Chicago, Illinois is where Tyler and Anina are now residing. They just moved in December. We will miss them in Elkhart but will have a good reason to visit one of our favorite cities. H • Hubbard Hill is where John’s parents live in assisted living. They are doing well there. • Hom family is getting more spread out. Jean’s nephew, Derek’s family, all live in Tennessee, but Jean’s three nieces live in Illinois still. R • Reunions are great—even mini ones (the one where the college friends come to see you when it doesn’t work out to meet at Wheaton for your 40th). I • IUSB graduation for Tyler, who graduated with a bachelor's degree in August. S • SonSet Solutions has assisted 108 ministries in 48 countries via equipment, service, consultation, training, and partnership development in the first three quarters of 2023. T • Thankmas happened because John (Robert) was able to get thanksgiving off from Lee Richardson Zoo (Kansas) where he is a lead animal keeper. We were all glad to be together. M • McCoy Memorial is our church in Elkhart. Our senior pastor retired; our interim pastor’s name is Mike. A • Abel is a big three-year-old boy. He is all boy and is a lot of fun. • Aunt Penny continues to live in Elkhart and is a great help to us all. S • Sovereign Savior came to earth to pay the price for our sin so we may find salvation in Him.       Solar Ministry Toolkits are great tools for Ukraine!   SonSet® radios continue to reach the very remote.

October Trip

"We stand on the common ground at the foot of the cross, as sinners saved by grace, irrespective of the function, gifting, or place that we are given in the economy of God's purposes." – Alistair Begg 

What a blessed time this trip was. It was a trip we had hoped we could make this past spring. To sum it up a bit: 

• 13 states 
• 6717 miles
• 21 days 
• 4 different time zones 
• we both have visited all 50 states now 
• unmeasured prayer support, encouragement and fellowship 
• views of God's creation that took our breath away 

Thank you to those who took time to meet up with us, share a meal and/or hosted us overnight. Your hospitality was appreciated. It was wonderful to catch up with you and share about SonSet Solutions. We enjoyed all the meaningful conversations! We also realize that we failed to get photos of all those we saw; too deep in our conversations sometimes. So sorry! 

Even while we were away many, of whom we did not see on this trip, texted or emailed that they were praying for us, and we felt encouraged all the way around. We consider it a joy to hear how you are being used by God where he has placed you and share that common ground with you for God's purposes and his glory!

Praises

• We praise the Lord for good travel this month for mission business and to see many of our support team.
• Praise that John's back is much better! The plan of treatment was changed to a more conservative one with some supplements and perhaps therapy.
• No more breast cancer follow up until next year. In February, Jean will have labs and a mammogram.

Requests

• Fall brings many opportunities for SonSet Solutions to be represented at colleges, universities and missions conferences. Please pray for the Lord to call some we meet to serve full time at SonSet Solutions.
• November will be very busy. We have several hosting opportunities in November. Please pray for us to get back up to speed and get back into the swing of things. We haven't had an apprentice, intern or volunteer since March. There are days we are tired.

Water Monitors

 

SonSetLink®

Cody Hall recently returned from Honduras, working with Healing Waters International (HWI). Cody was able to install and train at three sites in Honduras. Fraternidad, Mercedes and Sante Fe were updated with the new model of SonSetLink monitor that is solar powered. The Healing Waters ministry builds holistic clean water solutions and spreads God’s love in at-risk communities around the world, empowering people not just to survive, but to thrive – physically, socially and spiritually. Projects are sustainable and provide long-lasting development in the community.  In addition, please pray with us that as these three HWI locations will be able to demonstrate the gospel being lived out by meeting physical needs as well as spiritual needs.     Our call to missions – 13 years and counting: Thirteen short years ago, we started missions service. This was the start in understanding the true nature of effective and fruitful ministry – flexing and stretching. John's career and training was in software development and business. He started mission service in software development, but over time assumed a variety of other roles – I.T. duties, chaplaincy, and Personnel Director. Jean's career and training was in nursing. Yet over time she assumed a variety of non-nursing roles, most recently head of Donation Services. How did we both end up in roles that years ago we never could have imagined? It's nothing other than the Lord's calling and enabling – and our being willing to answer the call. The Lord stretches and grows us, pushing us beyond perceived limits, so we may be increasingly fruitful and faithful. The life and ministry of a believer is not designed to stagnate – not even in retirement. We don't know what the future holds, but we do know who holds the future. A call to missions: The need for workers in ministry is great – and nothing new (Matt. 9:38) Who can the Lord use for the cause of world missions? Anyone He chooses and calls! Callings are tricky, but often are borne out over time, circumstances, and wise counsel. We have many needs for kingdom workers at SonSet Solutions. If you sense the Lord might be calling you, we encourage you to take a step of faith and give us a call. We'd love to share opportunities for service – on site or even remotely. We are united to work together so that others may come to know Christ, choose to follow Him, and have true peace that comes from knowing Christ as our personal Savior.     Family Update (or look at our cute grandkids): Grandparenthood remains one of our greatest joys.

Praises Checkpoint Bible Camp was a blessing; three campers came to know Christ and others recommitted their lives to Him. Jean's radiation is complete. She had her last treatment on Friday, August 25. We are praising the Lord that she feels normal and was able to keep up with the schedule well.  Requests Please continue to pray for our church in Elkhart as we transition from our pastor of many years to an interim pastor. A couple of weeks ago, John suddenly experienced low back pain. An MRI showed a bulged disc and pinched nerve. John is scheduled for a cortisone injection in September and may possibly have physical therapy.