Hello, everyone! This is a special update, as it involves a specific prayer request. As most of you should know by now, I have been looking for a job for the last couple of months because the church where I am currently serving has fallen upon rough times financially, and will need to lower my pay to $1000/mo. beginning July 1st (a 2/3 reduction). I've placed many applications/resumes, both near and far, in the last couple of months and most of them have either come back negative or not at all. A few have requested further contact, and I have followed through.
Just to recap, those that have requested further contact are as follows: 1) Berkeley Chinese Baptist Church in Berkeley, CA. They are seeking a full-time pastor for their English-speaking congregation. 2) Cornerstone Christian School in Antioch, CA. I am still unsure what exact position they are trying to fill, as they haven't responded to my questions toward that end...but they asked me to send in my cover letter, resume, and application. 3) Calvary Christian School in Forrest City, AR. They are seeking a HS Bible teacher. 4) Maranatha Baptist Church in Bridgeton, NJ. They are seeking an associate pastor to come under the senior pastor in order to take over the pastorate when he retires in the near future. 5) Colonial Christian School and South Dade Baptist Church in Homestead, FL. They are looking for a HS Bible teacher and HS Youth Pastor.
So, these are the strongest prospects I have had in the past couple of months, and to be frank, they are all still on the table as none of them have come back with a negative response. The reason for this update, however, focuses on the fifth prospect above, Colonial Christian School and South Dade Baptist Church in Homestead, FL. As things have progressed in our conversations, a mutual desire to continue conversations has grown. Last Sunday evening, the pastor of the church and the director of the school took a financial package before the church congregation. This package is meant as a supplement from the church to two men (myself and another), hired by the school as teachers, to work in the youth ministry of the church. They have not brought our names before the congregation, as Pastor Long's vision is that this is a "statement of commitment from the congregation to be thoroughly engaged in duty to grow the work." This Sunday evening, the congregation is to vote on whether or not they will approve that commitment.
This is where the specific prayer request comes in. We are not asking you to pray that God would have us go there. We are asking you to pray that the congregation's vote would be indicative of what God desires for our family, whatever the vote may be. As I've said, the situation is what I've been looking for, but we sheep allow our enthusiasm and excitement to get in The Shepherd's way sometimes, and that's not what any of us want.
I have another Skype video chat scheduled with the Pastor and Director this afternoon, just to touch base, as they want to be as transparent as possible with what has transpired in meetings with the deacons and the congregation, and to give me the chance to ask any further questions that may have risen since our last conversation.
Ultimately, please PRAY that God would confirm to us His will for our family this weekend.
In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, Katherine, and ".5" Healey
Mark 10:45
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Monday, April 12, 2010
April Update...
Hello, everyone! It's that time again for an update from the Healey family. April found us all in good health, and doing well. Dulcy is doing quite well with the pregnancy, and the baby is healthy, too. She has had her first ultrasound, heard the baby's heartbeat, and all that good stuff. I think I was more happy, though, to see that there was only one baby in there...:)
I have begun training to upgrade to the larger buses. If we stay in the area, this upgrade will give me more driving time during the summer months doing charter trips and such, when my regular school route won't be running. It also makes my license a bit more "marketable" as it will now include vehicles with air brake systems. The training has already come in handy financially, as they had me training for about 4 hours a day during Spring Break when I wouldn't have been getting any hours at all. So, God is good, and is continuing to provide.
Dulcy and the kids are still clipping along quite well in their homeschooling endeavors. The boys have started a California State notebook project for their Social Studies class. They are learning quite a bit more about California than I know. Katherine is becoming quite the little reader, now, too. Everything must be read, now...no word or group of words are too mundane. She reads them all! We're happy that she loves reading so much.
Concerning the hunt for a job...Leads are still very slim in the area. Frankly, they're slim everywhere. Presently, there are 5 leads that I am currently running down that are all decent prospects. One is in Homestead, FL, a church/school is looking for a youth worker/Bible teacher. Out of all the prospects currently on the table, this one is the most appealing to Dulcy and I. If God desires for us to leave the area, this is the one that seems to best fit our family. It also carries with it a possible reunion with some friends of ours that we've known since college and their family. Another prospect is in Forrest City, Arkansas, a school looking for a Bible teacher. The third is Berkeley Chinese Baptist Church, in Berkeley, CA. They are looking for an English Pastor to oversee their English-speaking congregation. A fourth is another school in Antioch, CA, who just contacted me this morning asking if I would fill-out an application and send in my resume. And the fifth is a church in New Jersey that is looking for an assistant pastor to take over when the senior pastor retires in the near future. Those contacts that I've made to this area's Christian schools have either come back negative, or haven't come back at all, with the exception of the one this morning. And of the 15 or 16 applications I've made to government positions, I've heard back from just 3. Two of the positions have been cancelled, and the third said that I was qualified, but that other applicants were more qualified.
Honestly, we don't know where God is leading us. We will go where He leads. That is our main concern. It would grieve us to have to leave the wonderful people at Bethany Baptist, but if that is God's will, so shall it be done. Offerings are actually lower than last year, now. Pastor Rushing doesn't understand it, either, because we haven't lost any people over last year. The only explanation we can figure is that the economy's effects have finally trickled down to where the church finances are feeling it.
Suffice it to say, though, that we have pretty much entered "crunch time". Our lease is up at the end of June, and while the lease agreement does allow for a month-to-month stipulation after the first year, we'd much rather have things figured out before then. If God is leading us away from here, there are so many preparations that would need to be made. We are not forgetting what God did to get us here, mind you. These things are simply on our minds.
Our requests this month are simple:
1. Pray that the pregnancy goes well, and that Dulcy and the baby stay healthy.
2. Pray that God would guide and direct us to His will for our family.
Thank you so much for your prayers for us. We are looking forward to seeing how God works all this out.
In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, Katherine, and .5 Healey
Mark 10:45
I have begun training to upgrade to the larger buses. If we stay in the area, this upgrade will give me more driving time during the summer months doing charter trips and such, when my regular school route won't be running. It also makes my license a bit more "marketable" as it will now include vehicles with air brake systems. The training has already come in handy financially, as they had me training for about 4 hours a day during Spring Break when I wouldn't have been getting any hours at all. So, God is good, and is continuing to provide.
Dulcy and the kids are still clipping along quite well in their homeschooling endeavors. The boys have started a California State notebook project for their Social Studies class. They are learning quite a bit more about California than I know. Katherine is becoming quite the little reader, now, too. Everything must be read, now...no word or group of words are too mundane. She reads them all! We're happy that she loves reading so much.
Concerning the hunt for a job...Leads are still very slim in the area. Frankly, they're slim everywhere. Presently, there are 5 leads that I am currently running down that are all decent prospects. One is in Homestead, FL, a church/school is looking for a youth worker/Bible teacher. Out of all the prospects currently on the table, this one is the most appealing to Dulcy and I. If God desires for us to leave the area, this is the one that seems to best fit our family. It also carries with it a possible reunion with some friends of ours that we've known since college and their family. Another prospect is in Forrest City, Arkansas, a school looking for a Bible teacher. The third is Berkeley Chinese Baptist Church, in Berkeley, CA. They are looking for an English Pastor to oversee their English-speaking congregation. A fourth is another school in Antioch, CA, who just contacted me this morning asking if I would fill-out an application and send in my resume. And the fifth is a church in New Jersey that is looking for an assistant pastor to take over when the senior pastor retires in the near future. Those contacts that I've made to this area's Christian schools have either come back negative, or haven't come back at all, with the exception of the one this morning. And of the 15 or 16 applications I've made to government positions, I've heard back from just 3. Two of the positions have been cancelled, and the third said that I was qualified, but that other applicants were more qualified.
Honestly, we don't know where God is leading us. We will go where He leads. That is our main concern. It would grieve us to have to leave the wonderful people at Bethany Baptist, but if that is God's will, so shall it be done. Offerings are actually lower than last year, now. Pastor Rushing doesn't understand it, either, because we haven't lost any people over last year. The only explanation we can figure is that the economy's effects have finally trickled down to where the church finances are feeling it.
Suffice it to say, though, that we have pretty much entered "crunch time". Our lease is up at the end of June, and while the lease agreement does allow for a month-to-month stipulation after the first year, we'd much rather have things figured out before then. If God is leading us away from here, there are so many preparations that would need to be made. We are not forgetting what God did to get us here, mind you. These things are simply on our minds.
Our requests this month are simple:
1. Pray that the pregnancy goes well, and that Dulcy and the baby stay healthy.
2. Pray that God would guide and direct us to His will for our family.
Thank you so much for your prayers for us. We are looking forward to seeing how God works all this out.
In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, Katherine, and .5 Healey
Mark 10:45
Friday, March 12, 2010
February/March Update...
First of all, I apologize for the relative silence that was February. It was a rough month for us, and we were just trying to hold on, much less get everything accomplished that we wanted to accomplish.
By way of back-tracking, we got some not-too-good news last month. Pastor called me into his office one day as we usually do each week to touch base and keep each other abreast of any news and schedules for the week and all. Long story short, the church isn't picking up financially as we hoped that it would. Offerings are just about the same as they were at this time last year. What this means is that simply in about 4-5 months the church will no longer be able to pay me what they are paying me now. Let me stop here and say that no one wants this to happen. Pastor told me that he is abssolutely pleased with what I've done, and the impact that our family has had on the church. We love the church and desire to stay, and that's what we are hoping happens.
We are faced with what we can see are four basic possiblities:
1. The church's finances turn around, and they are able to keep me on at my current rate or bring me on full-time. (best-case scenario)
2. I am able to procure a full-time teaching position at a local Christian school, and the church falls into more of a part-time role financially. (desirable alternative)
3. I am able to find a full-time position somewhere else in the country meaning that we would have to uproot and move again. (not-so-desirable alternative, but I'm willing to do it, if it means my family's needs are provided)
4. I am not able to find any kind of job that would sufficiently supply my family's needs, and we are forced (no offense to her family) to move in with Dulcy's family in Washington to start over from scratch. (worst-case scenario)
We are not sitting on our hands, here, and we need you all to join with us in prayer for God's provision. He's provided for us in the past, and He can and will do it again. I don't know how God would turn the church's finances around to enable the church to bring me on full-time, but I know that He can. PRAY. I have already recontacted the Christian schools in the area, and have two decent leads. We are waiting on letters of intent from the teachers to be returned to the principals/directors before we know anything further. Most schools require the letters of intent to returned by the end of March. PRAY that something will open up for me on this front. I really miss teaching, and this is what I believe to be a really good fit, as it will also provide the way for our kids to get back to a traditional Christian school setting. My Dad is helping me apply to as many federal government jobs as possible. I've already applied to seven vacancies that he has sent me in the last few days. I am quite unfamiliar with how the application process works with these government jobs, but I've followed all the directions. PRAY. If nothing avails itself within the next few months, we will more than likely have to move in with Dulcy's parents to start from scratch again. And sincerely, I do not mean to paint this in such a negative light. Russ and Mary have been very gracious and generous to put that offer on the table for us, and it is something of a safety net, so to speak. But from our point of view, this is not what we want to see happen for our family's sake. It wouldn't be bad to be near the family there, indeed, the kids would love it; but it carries with it a certain air of failure, for which I am willing to accept full responsibility. Long story short...PRAY.
I'm sorry to be dropping this on you all so suddenly. I have told some of you before this update of our current situation, but for most of you, this is the first you've heard of any real difficulty. Please also understand that, while we are struggling currently, we are fine in most respects. We are paycheck to paycheck, but we aren't starving, our clothes aren't ratty, our vehicles are running well, and we are generally safe. The difficulty is simply that our future is now once again uncertain. And it is a weary realization to find ourselves in that state after having come so far. But now that you all know our situation, please join us in petitioning our mighty God to intervene on our behalf. Really, any of the possibilities that I've mentioned before are things that I would willingly do to ensure my family's safety and provision. So, please PRAY that God will continue to work, and that He will show us what He wants us to do from day to day.
Now that the unfortunate news is out there, February also presented us with some good news. About two days after we found out about the church situation, we also found out that Dulcy is pregnant with our fourth child! Her due date is October 19th. She has another check-up scheduled for April 1st. Katherine, of course, is praying for a girl, and Michael and David, another boy. Dulcy and I aren't necessarily concerned with gender this go around. I'm sure Dulcy wouldn't mind another girl, and I'm with her on that one, too, after seeing how much easier a girl takes to many different things (not the least of which is potty-training). But no matter what the gender turns out to be, we will love and cherish him or her as we do all of our kids.
I will endeavor to send another update out this month to catch you all up on the other things going on. I would include them here, but I fear I've rambled too long already. Please feel free to contact via email or by phone if you have any questions of any kind.
In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45
By way of back-tracking, we got some not-too-good news last month. Pastor called me into his office one day as we usually do each week to touch base and keep each other abreast of any news and schedules for the week and all. Long story short, the church isn't picking up financially as we hoped that it would. Offerings are just about the same as they were at this time last year. What this means is that simply in about 4-5 months the church will no longer be able to pay me what they are paying me now. Let me stop here and say that no one wants this to happen. Pastor told me that he is abssolutely pleased with what I've done, and the impact that our family has had on the church. We love the church and desire to stay, and that's what we are hoping happens.
We are faced with what we can see are four basic possiblities:
1. The church's finances turn around, and they are able to keep me on at my current rate or bring me on full-time. (best-case scenario)
2. I am able to procure a full-time teaching position at a local Christian school, and the church falls into more of a part-time role financially. (desirable alternative)
3. I am able to find a full-time position somewhere else in the country meaning that we would have to uproot and move again. (not-so-desirable alternative, but I'm willing to do it, if it means my family's needs are provided)
4. I am not able to find any kind of job that would sufficiently supply my family's needs, and we are forced (no offense to her family) to move in with Dulcy's family in Washington to start over from scratch. (worst-case scenario)
We are not sitting on our hands, here, and we need you all to join with us in prayer for God's provision. He's provided for us in the past, and He can and will do it again. I don't know how God would turn the church's finances around to enable the church to bring me on full-time, but I know that He can. PRAY. I have already recontacted the Christian schools in the area, and have two decent leads. We are waiting on letters of intent from the teachers to be returned to the principals/directors before we know anything further. Most schools require the letters of intent to returned by the end of March. PRAY that something will open up for me on this front. I really miss teaching, and this is what I believe to be a really good fit, as it will also provide the way for our kids to get back to a traditional Christian school setting. My Dad is helping me apply to as many federal government jobs as possible. I've already applied to seven vacancies that he has sent me in the last few days. I am quite unfamiliar with how the application process works with these government jobs, but I've followed all the directions. PRAY. If nothing avails itself within the next few months, we will more than likely have to move in with Dulcy's parents to start from scratch again. And sincerely, I do not mean to paint this in such a negative light. Russ and Mary have been very gracious and generous to put that offer on the table for us, and it is something of a safety net, so to speak. But from our point of view, this is not what we want to see happen for our family's sake. It wouldn't be bad to be near the family there, indeed, the kids would love it; but it carries with it a certain air of failure, for which I am willing to accept full responsibility. Long story short...PRAY.
I'm sorry to be dropping this on you all so suddenly. I have told some of you before this update of our current situation, but for most of you, this is the first you've heard of any real difficulty. Please also understand that, while we are struggling currently, we are fine in most respects. We are paycheck to paycheck, but we aren't starving, our clothes aren't ratty, our vehicles are running well, and we are generally safe. The difficulty is simply that our future is now once again uncertain. And it is a weary realization to find ourselves in that state after having come so far. But now that you all know our situation, please join us in petitioning our mighty God to intervene on our behalf. Really, any of the possibilities that I've mentioned before are things that I would willingly do to ensure my family's safety and provision. So, please PRAY that God will continue to work, and that He will show us what He wants us to do from day to day.
Now that the unfortunate news is out there, February also presented us with some good news. About two days after we found out about the church situation, we also found out that Dulcy is pregnant with our fourth child! Her due date is October 19th. She has another check-up scheduled for April 1st. Katherine, of course, is praying for a girl, and Michael and David, another boy. Dulcy and I aren't necessarily concerned with gender this go around. I'm sure Dulcy wouldn't mind another girl, and I'm with her on that one, too, after seeing how much easier a girl takes to many different things (not the least of which is potty-training). But no matter what the gender turns out to be, we will love and cherish him or her as we do all of our kids.
I will endeavor to send another update out this month to catch you all up on the other things going on. I would include them here, but I fear I've rambled too long already. Please feel free to contact via email or by phone if you have any questions of any kind.
In His Service,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
January Update...
Happy New Year, everyone! The year of change has ended, and so begins the year of...uh...I don't know what to call it. We seem to have settled in quite well here in California. There were, and I percieve that there still may be, some unforseen bumps in the road, but ultimately God has been absolutely and truly awesome in every aspect of our transition back to the States from Korea. We still have many fond memories of our time there, and we still miss all of those we left behind there, students and co-workers alike; but we are excited for what this year holds for us and our new church family here in Martinez.
Speaking of unforseen bumps, the new year started off on a somewhat negative note with the radiator in our little truck giving up the ghost. But with a little help from a church member, a little elbow grease, and about $130, she was back up and running in no time. At the very least, it happened to the truck, which I know I'm able to work on without having to take it to a mechanic. If it had been the Cadillac, we'd have been in some pretty hot water, what with all the gizmos and gadgets it has under the hood. Also, it presented a good opportunity for this man from our church and I to spend a little bit of time together. So, all in all, we'll chalk it up as a good experience.
We are about half-way through our first year of homeschooling. Dulcy and the kids are hitting their stride, so to speak, and getting a lot accomplished. She took the kids to the library downtown (only about a 15-20 minute walk from our house) one day last week to work on a report on George Washington Carver. Dulcy told me that the librarian said she couldn't remember the last time a parent brought their child to the library to work on homework. That's kind of sad, I suppose, as there is so much more in the experience of going to the library than the mere acquisition of knowledge. Everyone's grades are doing well, although we can't say the we agree 100% with how some of their work has been evaluated by ABeka. I guess that comes with the territory, though. Keep praying that Dulcy and the kids will continue to do a good job in accomplishing this task that was set before them by factors over which they had no control. And please also pray that there will be some way for the kids to return to a traditional school setting next year. Whether that means a teaching job for me, or a step-up in salary, or whatever means God chooses to use, please join us in praying towards that end.
Our church members have been taking a lot of hits lately. Pastor Rushing's father just passed away. Our head deacon's son-in-law passed away last month. Yet another church member's mother passed away last month. Another member had to go under the knife on Sunday for a growth on the back of her neck that has been causing her severe headaches. Another deacon's step-father is not doing well physically, and another member will be having hip-replacement surgery this Friday. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the evil one is at work, but He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Please pray that our church flourishes under this time of difficulty and spiritual oppression. But even during these trials, we had a visitor on Sunday that said she has been listening to the podcast that Pastor sends out, and has decided to come. So, God is at work, too! Pray that we will remain faithful and ready to be used by Him as He works.
The past holidays have presented a number of opportunities for fellowship. We had a game night on New Year's Eve that was a success. We had about 20 people there altogether, and we all stayed until about 1:30am. We just had another game night after the evening service Sunday, as many of our members didn't have to report to work on Monday because of MLK Day. And those aren't even counting the Christmas get-togethers that were had, and the youth activities. Fellowship is something that I believe to be especially important in the forming of strong bonds between the brethren. So, please pray that more of these opportunities will present themselves and that members would continue to join in the fellowship.
Well, that's about it, I think. As we've always said, we absolutely covet your prayers for us, and hope that you will share your requests with us, too, so that we may pray on your behalf.
In His Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45
Speaking of unforseen bumps, the new year started off on a somewhat negative note with the radiator in our little truck giving up the ghost. But with a little help from a church member, a little elbow grease, and about $130, she was back up and running in no time. At the very least, it happened to the truck, which I know I'm able to work on without having to take it to a mechanic. If it had been the Cadillac, we'd have been in some pretty hot water, what with all the gizmos and gadgets it has under the hood. Also, it presented a good opportunity for this man from our church and I to spend a little bit of time together. So, all in all, we'll chalk it up as a good experience.
We are about half-way through our first year of homeschooling. Dulcy and the kids are hitting their stride, so to speak, and getting a lot accomplished. She took the kids to the library downtown (only about a 15-20 minute walk from our house) one day last week to work on a report on George Washington Carver. Dulcy told me that the librarian said she couldn't remember the last time a parent brought their child to the library to work on homework. That's kind of sad, I suppose, as there is so much more in the experience of going to the library than the mere acquisition of knowledge. Everyone's grades are doing well, although we can't say the we agree 100% with how some of their work has been evaluated by ABeka. I guess that comes with the territory, though. Keep praying that Dulcy and the kids will continue to do a good job in accomplishing this task that was set before them by factors over which they had no control. And please also pray that there will be some way for the kids to return to a traditional school setting next year. Whether that means a teaching job for me, or a step-up in salary, or whatever means God chooses to use, please join us in praying towards that end.
Our church members have been taking a lot of hits lately. Pastor Rushing's father just passed away. Our head deacon's son-in-law passed away last month. Yet another church member's mother passed away last month. Another member had to go under the knife on Sunday for a growth on the back of her neck that has been causing her severe headaches. Another deacon's step-father is not doing well physically, and another member will be having hip-replacement surgery this Friday. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the evil one is at work, but He that is in us is greater than he that is in the world. Please pray that our church flourishes under this time of difficulty and spiritual oppression. But even during these trials, we had a visitor on Sunday that said she has been listening to the podcast that Pastor sends out, and has decided to come. So, God is at work, too! Pray that we will remain faithful and ready to be used by Him as He works.
The past holidays have presented a number of opportunities for fellowship. We had a game night on New Year's Eve that was a success. We had about 20 people there altogether, and we all stayed until about 1:30am. We just had another game night after the evening service Sunday, as many of our members didn't have to report to work on Monday because of MLK Day. And those aren't even counting the Christmas get-togethers that were had, and the youth activities. Fellowship is something that I believe to be especially important in the forming of strong bonds between the brethren. So, please pray that more of these opportunities will present themselves and that members would continue to join in the fellowship.
Well, that's about it, I think. As we've always said, we absolutely covet your prayers for us, and hope that you will share your requests with us, too, so that we may pray on your behalf.
In His Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey.
Mark 10:45
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
December Update...
I am absolutely amazed at how quickly time flies! It seems like only a few days ago that I wrote last month's update to you all; but, alas, it's been a whole month! God continues to bless our lives in a variety of ways, not the least of which is His constant and faithful presence in our day-to-day existence. I've been thinking more often lately of how peculiar it seems that God chooses to put so much stock in our relatively puny existence. Christian songwriter Michael Card put it this way in a favorite song of mine, "God shapes every second of our little lives, and minds every minute as the universe waits by." (The Poem of Your Life/1994 Birdwing Music). I realize that God doesn't view our existence as "puny", and that He does value us more than we could ever imagine. But isn't it marvelous that the Creator of the universe takes an interest in the most minute detail of our lives? I think it is, and if you would ponder it for a while I'm sure you would, too.
Concerning work, I am now getting between 25 and 30 hours a week at Durham School Services. With the Christmas vacation beginning next week, though, I will not be putting in any hours there for the next two weeks. I have been given a new student on my route, which is the reason for my hours going over 25. It also means that I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier now, but it's worth it. So, my schedule on Monday through Friday is roughly 5am to 5pm, with a few exceptions. I get up at 0500 to get to the bus yard by 0600 and start my route by 0630. I'm done with my morning route usually by 0900, and I park the bus at the church to start my day in the office there. Then, on most days my afternoon route starts at 1400 and ends around 1630. I'm usually back home no later than 1700. The exceptions are that my students get out an hour earlier on Mondays, and I'm not required to work at the church on Fridays (so, I don't)...:) So, that roughly has me putting in around 50 hours a week, altogether, give or take a couple hours from time to time, and doesn't include any extra events at church or my responsibilities during church services throughout the week.
Dulcy reports that while home-schooling is still challenging from time to time it has most definitely smoothed out. She says that she attributes most of the stress it caused early-on to how she was going about accomplishing the work. She has since changed her routine and theirs, and it's now coming together much better than before. It's neither easy nor convenient, mind you, but now it's manageable. Michael's favorite subjects are history and science. David's favorite subjects are math and history. Katherine's favorite subject is Bible and anything that involves singing. When not schooling, it's hard to get the kids away from their Nintendo DS's that we purchased before leaving Korea. They enjoy playing against each other. Dulcy and I frequently have to tell them to "power-down" and find something else to do, and when we're able we play board games with them or some other activity. We often have some kind of church-related activity or get-together of some kind with folks from the church, too. They miss their friends in Korea a lot, but they are happy to be living here in California, too. The kids have recently discovered the wonder of houses decorated for Christmas. Usually, it's very loud in the car when we drive anywhere because of the arguing going on in the back seat over one thing or another. Now, it's still loud, but the loudness is all the ooohs, aaahs, and wows over all the houses decorated with lights and various other decorations. It is a joy to listen to them as they marvel at all the decorations...most of the time...sometimes it gets a bit too loud.
This is most definitely one of the busiest times of the year for church ministry. There is a ladies' Christmas fellowship tonight, a youth Christmas fellowship this Saturday, a choral performance of a Christmas mini-musical this Sunday (with a final rehearsal on Saturday morning), and a church-wide Christmas potluck and fellowship this Sunday evening...oh, and regular mid-week services on Wednesday night, too. God is good, though. The family I mentioned that has begun attending our church is becoming more regular, now, even after a move that requires a bit longer of a commute to church. Their youngest child, Josiah, has really attached himself to Dulcy, who watches over him when they are here, as he doesn't quite fit into the other age groups just yet. Their other two kids are fitting in quite well in their respective groups, too. Please Pray that God will continue to allow us to minister to this new family, and that they will become members of the church soon. Please continue to pray for the Bible study that Dulcy will be beginning in January. We hit a snag with getting the books ordered, and must wait until after the first of the year to order them.
In the next few months, I will begin petitioning the Christian schools in the area regarding a teaching position for next year. I am content with how things are working now, but Dulcy and I both desire to have the kids in a Christian school next year, and this is one of the only ways we forsee being able to afford such an endeavor. Specifically, I desire to work at Berean Christian High School, as this would provide free tuition for my kids to Walnut Creek Christian Academy, and when the time came, to BCHS. I ask that you would pray towards that end. It should also go without being said that we, of course, desire God's will to be done in this matter, and only want what is best for our family and kid's education.
Well, that's about all we have for right now. We really do desire to hear from any of you on a more regular basis. We completely appreciate how much all of you have prayed for us over the last year, and are completely humbled when we think of how God has so graciously answered your prayers through His various provisions for our family.
We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
In HIS Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey
Mark 10:45
Concerning work, I am now getting between 25 and 30 hours a week at Durham School Services. With the Christmas vacation beginning next week, though, I will not be putting in any hours there for the next two weeks. I have been given a new student on my route, which is the reason for my hours going over 25. It also means that I have to wake up 30 minutes earlier now, but it's worth it. So, my schedule on Monday through Friday is roughly 5am to 5pm, with a few exceptions. I get up at 0500 to get to the bus yard by 0600 and start my route by 0630. I'm done with my morning route usually by 0900, and I park the bus at the church to start my day in the office there. Then, on most days my afternoon route starts at 1400 and ends around 1630. I'm usually back home no later than 1700. The exceptions are that my students get out an hour earlier on Mondays, and I'm not required to work at the church on Fridays (so, I don't)...:) So, that roughly has me putting in around 50 hours a week, altogether, give or take a couple hours from time to time, and doesn't include any extra events at church or my responsibilities during church services throughout the week.
Dulcy reports that while home-schooling is still challenging from time to time it has most definitely smoothed out. She says that she attributes most of the stress it caused early-on to how she was going about accomplishing the work. She has since changed her routine and theirs, and it's now coming together much better than before. It's neither easy nor convenient, mind you, but now it's manageable. Michael's favorite subjects are history and science. David's favorite subjects are math and history. Katherine's favorite subject is Bible and anything that involves singing. When not schooling, it's hard to get the kids away from their Nintendo DS's that we purchased before leaving Korea. They enjoy playing against each other. Dulcy and I frequently have to tell them to "power-down" and find something else to do, and when we're able we play board games with them or some other activity. We often have some kind of church-related activity or get-together of some kind with folks from the church, too. They miss their friends in Korea a lot, but they are happy to be living here in California, too. The kids have recently discovered the wonder of houses decorated for Christmas. Usually, it's very loud in the car when we drive anywhere because of the arguing going on in the back seat over one thing or another. Now, it's still loud, but the loudness is all the ooohs, aaahs, and wows over all the houses decorated with lights and various other decorations. It is a joy to listen to them as they marvel at all the decorations...most of the time...sometimes it gets a bit too loud.
This is most definitely one of the busiest times of the year for church ministry. There is a ladies' Christmas fellowship tonight, a youth Christmas fellowship this Saturday, a choral performance of a Christmas mini-musical this Sunday (with a final rehearsal on Saturday morning), and a church-wide Christmas potluck and fellowship this Sunday evening...oh, and regular mid-week services on Wednesday night, too. God is good, though. The family I mentioned that has begun attending our church is becoming more regular, now, even after a move that requires a bit longer of a commute to church. Their youngest child, Josiah, has really attached himself to Dulcy, who watches over him when they are here, as he doesn't quite fit into the other age groups just yet. Their other two kids are fitting in quite well in their respective groups, too. Please Pray that God will continue to allow us to minister to this new family, and that they will become members of the church soon. Please continue to pray for the Bible study that Dulcy will be beginning in January. We hit a snag with getting the books ordered, and must wait until after the first of the year to order them.
In the next few months, I will begin petitioning the Christian schools in the area regarding a teaching position for next year. I am content with how things are working now, but Dulcy and I both desire to have the kids in a Christian school next year, and this is one of the only ways we forsee being able to afford such an endeavor. Specifically, I desire to work at Berean Christian High School, as this would provide free tuition for my kids to Walnut Creek Christian Academy, and when the time came, to BCHS. I ask that you would pray towards that end. It should also go without being said that we, of course, desire God's will to be done in this matter, and only want what is best for our family and kid's education.
Well, that's about all we have for right now. We really do desire to hear from any of you on a more regular basis. We completely appreciate how much all of you have prayed for us over the last year, and are completely humbled when we think of how God has so graciously answered your prayers through His various provisions for our family.
We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!
In HIS Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey
Mark 10:45
Monday, November 16, 2009
November Update...
I fear that I may have spoiled some of you with 2+ posts per month earlier in the year...:)
Time absolutely flies when you're having fun, if I may turn a rather tired phrase. We are definitely having fun, and we are also incredibly busy. Last Saturday was the first day, weekday or no, that I recall being able to do absolutely nothing but rest in quite a very long time. It was needful rest, too. I've been fighting a head cold for a good while, and the rest I was able to take on Saturday has finally kicked it for good, methinks. Even though we are busy, we still have opportunity to see God's hand at work.
I have begun my first bus route with Durham School Services. This is the second week that I have had full responsibility over it. I have 6 special needs students on my route, one of which is in a wheelchair, but he has been in and out of the hospital so much that I have yet to actually transport him to or from school. I don't transport all of them at the same time, as some of them go to a different school than others. This is giving me between 20-25 hours per week at $12/hour. I wish it was a few more hours per week, and indeed it can/will be in the future, but God's providence is so good. I wake up between 0500-0530 each morning, start my route from the bus yard by 0640, and then my morning route is finished by 0930. Normally, I pick the kids up from school at 1445 in the afternoon, and my afternoon route is usually done by around 1600-1630. So, I have all that time in between to work on church stuff, sending these updates out, or help Dulcy at home with the home-schooling, whichever is more needful that day. It is only a Monday-Friday job, too, which was needful for my responsibilities at the church. So, while it isn't as many hours as I was hoping intially, you can see how God has provided a job that works well with my responsibilities with the church, which is exactly for what we were praying...PTL!
A new family has begun attending our church during the mid-week services because they have 3 children, the youngest of which is autistic, and the church they are attending now doesn't have any provision for the autistic boy. This left the parents in somewhat of a dilemma, as the boy wasn't cooperating during the adult service that the parents were attending, which left them not being able to pay attention and not getting anything from being at church. So, they began coming on Wednesday evenings, and Dulcy and Katherine have been taking the autistic boy into the nursery to play and have a short Bible story with a simple activity, while the parents went into the adult service and their other two children took part in their respective groups. They came last night to our evening service on Sunday for the first time, and they repeatedly remarked how warm, friendly, and receptive our church has been to them. PLEASE PRAY that our church and its members will continue to be a service to this new family, and that they will find a new home here.
Our pastor is away at a conference with his son, David, and David's fiance. He'll be gone for a little over a week, which has me with the preaching responsibility next Sunday morning. I'm looking forward to preparing the message in the next few days as God has been working with me and speaking to me about a lot of things lately. I am excited to see what He will lay on my heart for the message. I am resisting the urge to simply put together a nice, quaint Thanksgiving message, but if that's what God would have me speak, I am willing. I noticed something out of the blue a few days ago...I am currently reading no less than 5 books, all of which are academically theological in nature! Those of you who know me know that this is truly something remarkable. I'm not one to read, especially in an academic sense, but God has given me the opportunity to study these various volumes, and I am happy to do so. Pastor Rushing 'expects' (that is to say, 'enables') me to use part of my church responsibility time for uninterrupted study, and for that I am truly thankful. It is refreshing to be able to sit at the feet (so to speak) of men like John MacArthur, Samuel Ward, J. Oswald Sanders, Charle C. Ryrie, and C.H. Spurgeon, as they expound the Scriptures, and impart their wisdom from so many years in the ministry.
Dulcy will be beginning a ladies' Bible study with some Beth Moore materials around January 1st. She and some of the ladies are currently planning the specifics, so PLEASE PRAY that they will be able to work all of those things out. We will be ordering the materials soon, so that they will be here on time to begin after the holiday season. Dulcy has also had opportunity to spend some time with a lady with which we play board games frequently. The lady has expressed an interest in doing more with Dulcy including joining the ladies' Bible study she will be organizing. So, pray that Dulcy will be able to be an effective minister in Christine's life, as she continues to spend time with her. Dulcy is also tasked with taking care of Josiah, the autistic boy of which I spoke earlier when he is here. So, pray that she will contiune to have new ideas each week for things he can do during their time together.
There isn't much news with the kids. They're all plugging away quite dutifully at their schooling. Home-schooling continues to be a challenge for our family, but the task is being done. PLEASE PRAY that the kids and Dulcy wil remain energetic and focused for their school time. Also, PLEASE PRAY that God would guide us in what He would have us do next year for schooling. Neither of us wish to continue home-schooling the kids. So, PLEASE PRAY that God will provide either a teaching position for me that will take care of tuition at a Christian school in the area, or lead us into some similar situation with similar benefit.
Well, that's about it for now. I welcome and encourage any emails with questions or comments from anyone. So, please feel free to email me, even if it's simply to say that you read the update, and are praying for us. That alone would be an incredible encouragement.
In His Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey
Mark 10:45
Time absolutely flies when you're having fun, if I may turn a rather tired phrase. We are definitely having fun, and we are also incredibly busy. Last Saturday was the first day, weekday or no, that I recall being able to do absolutely nothing but rest in quite a very long time. It was needful rest, too. I've been fighting a head cold for a good while, and the rest I was able to take on Saturday has finally kicked it for good, methinks. Even though we are busy, we still have opportunity to see God's hand at work.
I have begun my first bus route with Durham School Services. This is the second week that I have had full responsibility over it. I have 6 special needs students on my route, one of which is in a wheelchair, but he has been in and out of the hospital so much that I have yet to actually transport him to or from school. I don't transport all of them at the same time, as some of them go to a different school than others. This is giving me between 20-25 hours per week at $12/hour. I wish it was a few more hours per week, and indeed it can/will be in the future, but God's providence is so good. I wake up between 0500-0530 each morning, start my route from the bus yard by 0640, and then my morning route is finished by 0930. Normally, I pick the kids up from school at 1445 in the afternoon, and my afternoon route is usually done by around 1600-1630. So, I have all that time in between to work on church stuff, sending these updates out, or help Dulcy at home with the home-schooling, whichever is more needful that day. It is only a Monday-Friday job, too, which was needful for my responsibilities at the church. So, while it isn't as many hours as I was hoping intially, you can see how God has provided a job that works well with my responsibilities with the church, which is exactly for what we were praying...PTL!
A new family has begun attending our church during the mid-week services because they have 3 children, the youngest of which is autistic, and the church they are attending now doesn't have any provision for the autistic boy. This left the parents in somewhat of a dilemma, as the boy wasn't cooperating during the adult service that the parents were attending, which left them not being able to pay attention and not getting anything from being at church. So, they began coming on Wednesday evenings, and Dulcy and Katherine have been taking the autistic boy into the nursery to play and have a short Bible story with a simple activity, while the parents went into the adult service and their other two children took part in their respective groups. They came last night to our evening service on Sunday for the first time, and they repeatedly remarked how warm, friendly, and receptive our church has been to them. PLEASE PRAY that our church and its members will continue to be a service to this new family, and that they will find a new home here.
Our pastor is away at a conference with his son, David, and David's fiance. He'll be gone for a little over a week, which has me with the preaching responsibility next Sunday morning. I'm looking forward to preparing the message in the next few days as God has been working with me and speaking to me about a lot of things lately. I am excited to see what He will lay on my heart for the message. I am resisting the urge to simply put together a nice, quaint Thanksgiving message, but if that's what God would have me speak, I am willing. I noticed something out of the blue a few days ago...I am currently reading no less than 5 books, all of which are academically theological in nature! Those of you who know me know that this is truly something remarkable. I'm not one to read, especially in an academic sense, but God has given me the opportunity to study these various volumes, and I am happy to do so. Pastor Rushing 'expects' (that is to say, 'enables') me to use part of my church responsibility time for uninterrupted study, and for that I am truly thankful. It is refreshing to be able to sit at the feet (so to speak) of men like John MacArthur, Samuel Ward, J. Oswald Sanders, Charle C. Ryrie, and C.H. Spurgeon, as they expound the Scriptures, and impart their wisdom from so many years in the ministry.
Dulcy will be beginning a ladies' Bible study with some Beth Moore materials around January 1st. She and some of the ladies are currently planning the specifics, so PLEASE PRAY that they will be able to work all of those things out. We will be ordering the materials soon, so that they will be here on time to begin after the holiday season. Dulcy has also had opportunity to spend some time with a lady with which we play board games frequently. The lady has expressed an interest in doing more with Dulcy including joining the ladies' Bible study she will be organizing. So, pray that Dulcy will be able to be an effective minister in Christine's life, as she continues to spend time with her. Dulcy is also tasked with taking care of Josiah, the autistic boy of which I spoke earlier when he is here. So, pray that she will contiune to have new ideas each week for things he can do during their time together.
There isn't much news with the kids. They're all plugging away quite dutifully at their schooling. Home-schooling continues to be a challenge for our family, but the task is being done. PLEASE PRAY that the kids and Dulcy wil remain energetic and focused for their school time. Also, PLEASE PRAY that God would guide us in what He would have us do next year for schooling. Neither of us wish to continue home-schooling the kids. So, PLEASE PRAY that God will provide either a teaching position for me that will take care of tuition at a Christian school in the area, or lead us into some similar situation with similar benefit.
Well, that's about it for now. I welcome and encourage any emails with questions or comments from anyone. So, please feel free to email me, even if it's simply to say that you read the update, and are praying for us. That alone would be an incredible encouragement.
In His Service in Northern California,
Sam, Dulcy, Michael, David, and Katherine Healey
Mark 10:45
Monday, October 12, 2009
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
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
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