Global Impact Celebration

It was busy 10 weeks or so getting ready for our Global Impact Celebration on Saturday, August 29. We were able to host an open house at SonSet Solutions.  Many (over 500) die-hard folks came and brought their umbrellas, because it was raining. We were grateful for all who came, particularly our supporters from Illinois.

When the open house ended, we were able to gather for a short program to rename our main building in honor of Clarence Moore, who was instrumental to SonSet Solutions. It is a great story you ought to read. Click here for the Clarence Moore story.

The summer sped by.  Anina got her driver's license in March and that helped the summer to work out more smoothly. This meant that Jean did not have to drive twice to take her and pick her up from places.  David was home and was a good help to us.  JR kept busy at the zoo, enjoying his work with the animals and the interaction at the Zoo Farm. And, of course, we saw the three Turners from time to time.  Micah does something new each time we see him.

This summer gave us opportunities to serve with Lifeline, McCoy Memorial's Vacation Bible School, and at Camp Checkpoint (Anina as counselor and Jean as a camp nurse).

John flew out to the west coast from some family time, and Jean was busy at SonSet Solutions, doing her normal job, as well as picking up more hours than anticipated, filling in with donor management.  Additional time at the office was for being on the planning committee for our Global Impact Celebration.

Now, we are in the full cycle of volleyball games on Mon, Tues, Thurs, and sometimes Sat. David is back to school, and we have started Anina's final year (and Jean's, too!) of homeschooling.

We can tell how fast time is going as we mark and watch little Micah grow!  He is now 8 months and is so much fun!  Here he is enjoying summer and the outdoor baby swing.

So far, so good. God is gracious and keeps us going!

We are official!

 

As of May 7, 2015, we have been officially accepted as SonSet Solutions missionaries.

So we are official!!!

We appreciate all of your prayers on our behalf and appreciate it as we transition over fully. While we won’t be completely transitioned from Reach Beyond until July 1, 2015, we are ready at SonSet to receive your gifts.

If you go to our website, www.sonsetsolutions.org, please click on “About Us”, then “Staff”. Scroll down to our name and click on “Give” on the far right. That will direct you to a new page where you can set up online giving.

If you plan on donating via mail, please use the same account number, #110536, and mail to:

SonSet Solutions

P.O. Box 2709

Elkhart, IN 46515-2709

Thank you all very, very much!

Grandparenting is grand, indeed!

We love the little guy so much.  He is the future, and we look forward to more!

Just want to share of pic of the next generation:

This is a photo progression from birth to 4 months! We pray that he will grow in the Lord as well as he is growing physically!

From Generation to Generation

The faithfulness of God is evident from generation to generation.  As we were thinking about this, pondering it over and over, and seeing in our own families, this story came to mind.  The culture in South Sudan is oral and depends on one generation passing down their history to the following generations through stories.

“You are not going to see mass movements toward the gospel unless the masses have access to the gospel,” observes Andrew Brown of Every Village, an evangelical ministry in South Sudan. So how do you get the gospel to the masses in a country where the literacy rate is around 20% and even those who can read prefer to learn by oral means? The answer—radio!

In this environment, “radio makes so much sense in getting the gospel out,” Brown explains. “The people of South Sudan pass down their history from one generation to another through stories. We use chronological Bible storying, preaching, and church music combined with health and community development training in our radio programs.”

SonSet Solutions has helped provide equipment and technical support for three stations in strategic locations in South Sudan and a fourth is in process.   “Radio is the only media outlet the people have so it is tremendously popular,” Brown reports.

The first station, established in 2008 in the most populous region, broadcasts to the Dinka, South Sudan’s largest tribe. The signal covers an area inhabited by 1.8 million people. A recent survey reports that 33% of the people listen daily, an astounding fact in a country where 90% of the people still live in mud huts!

One Christian listener reports that a relative was antagonistic to the church but would listen with him to Christian radio. Eventually the relative became a believer and an active member of the church. Christian radio softens people’s hearts toward the gospel, and has contributed to a dramatic increase in church plants in the region.

The second and third stations target two other major language groups. When the fourth station goes on the air this year, 29% of the population will have the gospel available to them in their heart language.

Every Village is working for “holistic transformation” throughout South Sudan through community development, radio, and church planting efforts. SonSet Solutions is privileged to assist them in fulfilling that goal.

This story is taken from our website: http://sonsetsolutions.org/reaching-the-masses-in-south-sudan/

Grandparenthood

So this post seems late, but we welcomed little Micah John on December 29, 2014. It is late.  But, when he was born, it never occurred to us to post it on our blog.  We were occupied with the wonder of being  grandparents and enjoying his little self.

As newborns are not very thoughtful about their entry into the world (I mean, it would have been convenient to know at least the day of his arrival--it was peak holiday season!) we had plans to celebrate with Pete and Elizabeth, and then head north to celebrate with John's parents.  We arrived in Illinois, celebrated with the Turners.  Jean stayed back in Illinois as we weren't sure what was happening with this baby; the rest of the family went on to spend a day in Wisconsin and return to Elkhart.

That night, Elizabeth was ready to go, and Micah was born the next morning.  Here he is just after being cleaned up.  Isn't he cute?  This little guy is yet another generation.  What an amazing thought!