Many things have happened in the last month...

Here's our story in pictures...

We enjoyed the falling leaves!

We visited Stowe, VT and were treated to a Gondola Ride

by the Mountain because of Brian's new job! He will be

working as a ski instructor during the winter.

We participated in a corn maze fundraiser for the Children's Room.

Dad took the kids on a Scavenger Hunt with the Children's Room, too. Please pray for the people we have met through this group in Waterbury .

Dad and Nathanael made a really cool firehouse

thanks to the Home Depot!

We enjoyed a visit from GG and CC.

A new series of studies has begun on Tuesday night-

we are studying Christian Beliefs and advertise weekly in the local newspaper.

Nathanael carved a pumpkin (with Dad's help) at the Waterbury Library.

The Associational house next door to us had some work done- Nathanael enjoyed the excavating!

Rusty Parker Park in Waterbury

The kids enjoyed a Halloween Party put on by the Children's Room.

Can you spot the outgoing frog??

Ellie's Pumpkin Patch in Northfield, VT

We passed out candy bars in Waterbury with cards attached inviting people to our Bible Study. Sadly, we had to stop passing them out after we learned that the glue we used to attach the cards to the candy made the candy taste bad. We made a written apology in the newspaper this week. Please pray that those affected will forgive us and that God will use this for His glory!

Gotta love sharing clothes!

Nathanael in March '08- 8 months

Katie- October '10- 10 months

She also picked up his bear costume for Halloween!

Nathanael '08

Katie '10

Katie is enjoying new foods (after we spent the night in the ER because we thought she may have swallowed a pill- we found one on the floor where she was playing about two weeks after Brian's grandma was visiting. Thankfully, we do not think she swallowed the pill- she did have to eat charcoal and have an IV overnight, but she's just fine!)

We are closing on our new house on Friday. Please pray that things go smoothly and that the updates are completed in a timely fashion so we can move to Waterbury soon! We are having the heating system and bathroom updated before we move in.

...now we wait for snow!

Theology Lesson

This is Nathanael reciting from My First Book of Questions and Answers. Thanks to the Cooks for the book and Avery for the motivation to learn them!

September

Mount Washington in NH

September was filled with special treats for us! My (Allison's) parents and sister were here for almost 10 days to spoil the kids while Brian and I had much needed time together. We spent one weekend in Sunday River, Maine at a pastor's encouragement retreat put on by Phil Waldrep Ministries- fully funded by generous southerners! It was such a blessing to have a worry free weekend with encouragement and free time to spend with one another. Our second weekend, we attended the BCNE's church planter basic training where we gained a bit more insight on planning and executing a church plant.

Holly and Nathanael

Brian has continued working on trails and building relationships with the mountain bike community. He was able to share with one Jewish guy on the way to a work site. I went to The Children's Room which is a preschool room open to the public during school hours. It is in the basement of the elementary school in Waterbury. I saw one person I had met before, the director, and met two other ladies there as well.

Nathanael praying before our first Baptismal Service last week!

Katie enjoying the last bit of warmer weather

We also looked at another house today- not our favorite, but it may just work for now. We are seriously considering this one. We also found a place to rent today if this house does not work out. Our goal is to be in Waterbury by the winter.

Nathanael having fun at the Barn Dance in Waterbury

Our Bible studies have been going well. We are studying the big picture of the Old Testament- seeing how it all points to Christ. I am reminded of the Covenant study by Kay Arthur I did with the ladies at OMV. It’s really exciting for us to see what everyone is learning!

Nathanael is learning theology, too, thanks to a book given to him by The Cooks from SC. It’s called My First Book of Questions and Answers. He’s picking up on them very quickly. He had fun reciting them on Skype for Gary and Debbie.

Katie is about to get two new teeth. She is pulling up on everything and thus getting into everything, too! They both enjoyed being spoiled by Grams, Papa J and Holly and are looking forward to a visit from CC and GG in October!

Playing at Thatcher Brook Primary School

We are also trying to keep notes of great quotes from the kids. This is our favorite:

Nathanael what do you deserve for being disobedient to Mara at Bible Study? “Mercy!”

"Mama"; Katie replies "DADA"

August

We were blessed to have had two additional mission teams during the last month. They both helped with the $1 car wash in Waterbury (we give away a dollar and a contact card), and our friends from Gainsville Baptist Church in Lincolnton, NC finished off painting the Waterbury Senior Center and installed doors on the closets there. They also brought us a few Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, too! We were also encouraged in July by our pastor and his wife from Grace Wake Forest in NC.

Helping out at the Car Wash

Kyle and Caroline Smith enjoying the view from Mount Mansfield

World's Tallest File Cabinet, Burlington, VT

Gainsville Baptist Church Team Lincolnton, NC

Installing Doors at the Senior Center

Painting over pink walls at the Waterbury Senior Center

(the location of our weekly Bible Studies)

Gainsville even brought someone special to watch the kids! Thanks Becky!

Last Tuesday night we had 13 adults and 4 kids at Bible Study! Praise God! We are hoping that God will bring more unbelievers as we continue to reach out to the community. Brian just came home from another mountain bike trail workday. In other exciting news, Brian has a job interview with TD Bank in Waterbury on Wednesday. Please pray that he will get a full-time job in Waterbury soon! He also applied last night for another job at Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. If he does get a job, we will also begin the process of finding a babysitter for our kids until I can cut back my hours at work.

We are also in a lengthy conversation with a lady who is selling her home in Waterbury Center. We are still unsure if she is moving out of her home before the winter which would allow us to buy her home. We are now praying that she will find a place to live so that she remains willing to sell her home.

We have been so blessed by the giving hearts of our friends and those who have heard of the church plant in Waterbury. We have been formally approved by NAMB in the last month as well. We are humbled by those who have been faithful to support the ministry here.

In kid news:

Katie has two teeth, is sitting up, crawling and pulling up on things as well! She is not fond of the homemade pureed green beans I fix, but loves sweet potatoes and fruit!

Dining with the girls from Bible Study

two teeth

All smiles

Katie is now big enough for the bike trailer!

Nathanael is busy helping daddy meet people with his outgoing personality.

Pulling carrots at a friend's house

Hiking with Dad

Charmer