1st October Update...

Sorry that it's been a couple weeks since a formal update was sent out, but we've been busier than a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs! Some days it seemed as if the day was over before it actually began. Have you ever felt that way? It's been that way for quite some time for us, but the fact that we are in God's will is satisfaction enough for us.

I guess I'll start with the kids and homeschooling. The boys are plugging along steadily as they both work on their 4th Grade work. Michael is doing well in most of his subjects, except math. He's having trouble grasping multiplication and division. Please PRAY that he will be able to forcus more diligently on this subject, and that Mom and Dad will have the patience to give him the time he needs to grasp the concepts. He seems to do very well with both social studies and science, though. So, praise the Lord! David is also doing well. He seems to excel at penmanship, and math. He struggles slightly with science, though. So please PRAY that he will focus more on this subject. Katherine is having a blast with her video classes. Her teacher incorporates a lot of singing into each subject, and she LOVES singing! It's always a blessing listening to her sing along with her class. She's getting better everyday in every subject. It's amazing how quickly 1st graders begin to excel in each subject once the school year gets started. She's learning how to write in cursive, and she loves it because it's so "pretty".

My job situation is progressing steadily. I am now a substitute teacher for Berean Christian High School. In the last 3 weeks I've been called in no less than 7 times to fill-in for various teachers and subjects. I've had to say no 3 times because of a commercial driver's license course for driving a school bus, but they have been understanding and have continued to call me. This is providing some extra income to help supplement waht I am recieving from the church. The CDL course I am taking has a job at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. It is a 40-hour course divided into two parts, classroom and behind the wheel. I have completed the classroom part, and passed the required special endorsement and first aid tests with the California Highway Patrol. I've begun the behind the wheel training part, at the end of which I'll be required to perform a pre-trip inspection and driving test with the CHP. Upon passing those last two tests, I'll have a bus-driving job with Durham School Services, which specializes in transporting special needs students to and from some of the public and private schools in the East Bay area.

Church is going well, too. We've begun a kid's program on Wednesday nights using a curriculum called "Shout Praises Kids!" by Integrity Music. We only have 5 kids coming right now (including our three children), but they are all having a great time, and learning valuable truths from God's Word each week. Youth group is also going well. We're beginning a new trend with the group, though, in order to try and meet their spiritual needs a bit better. We're kind of focusing on discipleship with the core group, and opening up twice a month for evangelistic get-togethers to which the youth can feel more comfortable inviting their friends. Please PRAY that we will continue to meet the youth where they are, and not leave any behind. The worship services have all gone smoothly, and despite my having a sore throat for the last couple weeks, the congregational singing has gone very well. I'm going to be picking out music for our Christmas choir this week, and practice will begin on Oct. 25th. Please PRAY for this process, as this is the first time I will have ever led a choir in any capacity, and I'm quite nervous about it. We've also been ab le to have a good bit of nice fellowship with a good number of the members of the church. Just last Friday, we were able to get together with 3 other families at one of the deacon's homes to break bread and play some games. Next Sunday is a potluck and business meeting in the evening, so that will be yet another great opportunity for fellowship.

All in all, not everything is peachy, but we're so joyful at being in the center of God's will, that all the less than spectacular stuff becomes water on a duck's back. thanks so much for all your prayers and moral support. You've really no idea how much it helps.

In His Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45