Praying For Silas

On Monday, January 26th, a few members from the community came up with a way to rally behind Silas and remind people to pray. At 7pm, several of us changed our Facebook profile pictures to this one to show our care and support. We're so grateful God put Silas in our lives and are hoping for a quick recovery for him!

On Tuesday, a home game day, the boys basketball team came onto the gym floor with shirts that had "We Got Your Back" (a team motto) on the back and Silas' number "20" on the front. The team (and this community) stick together. It's pretty incredible to see. It's a huge gift to be a part of a community who really love each other, mainly because they know what it looks like to be loved by God, and it's just the natural response to pass it on. So beautiful.

Silas was discharged from the Billings hospital on Tuesday, and he's staying with a family in the community as he heals. He's very worn out, but his pain level seems to be under control right now, which is a huge blessing.

Thank you for those of you who have prayed! Please keep praying. It sure makes a big difference!

Nothing For Granted

Ordinary Life
(which includes a lot of hardboiled eggs
for breakfast around here! smile.)

It's kind of a cliche realization to not take anything for granted when we're faced with loss and hard times, but those who are facing those times, understand the reality of it. Nothing should be taken for granted. Those who know loss understand this painfully more so than many of the rest of us. Even ordinary things should be acknowledged as the gifts they are.

This past week, Silas, one of our juniors, broke his leg. It was a pretty gruesome break too that took him to Billings for an early surgery yesterday morning. The surgery went well, but he's currently in a lot of pain. Would you please pray for Silas as you think of him? That God would bring quick healing and even more so, that His presence would be evident and comforting to Silas right now, that He would speak to Him? Thank you! I KNOW that prayer makes a difference.

Silas is passionate about basketball, and the loss of the function of his leg isn't just about his leg. It's about something he loves. It's not going to be an easy road for him to figure out a new normal for the next few months, but he won't be alone in it.  This community has been so loving and so supportive of him. We're sticking by you, Silas. We are. We love you!

~~~

As for other happenings at the dorm, Dimon left the dorm two weeks ago as she was welcomed into a family from this community. It is SO HARD to have her gone, but it's beautiful to see God at work in her life and to see her loved on by others who care a lot! 

Besides that, basketball has consumed most of our free time. The typical weekly schedule includes games on Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday. This weekend was a Dorm Weekend Out, so kids stayed with community members and enjoyed a break from the dorm. Even though it's great to have a break as an RA, it's a fun moment for me when they start coming back, and the quiet dorm fills up again. :) 

This week will include more games as we wrap up the last week of January. Hard to believe. We've even had some sunshine and warmer weather the past few days! I think we're being fooled that spring's on its way. Nonetheless, we're enjoying the small break from winter. :)

~~~

Back to not taking anything for granted, I want to remember the beautiful, little things about this unique dorm world. I want the students to remember too . . . this is such a unique season in our lives. Let's not take it for granted. 

Today, I'm thankful to live in a community who cares and prays and loves us. I'm thankful for the seven stools by my kitchen counter, especially when they're being used by the kids. I'm thankful for groceries stores and sales and freezers that can keep our food for longer periods since we live so far away from those stores. I'm thankful for hospitals, pain meds, and people who were willing to drop what they were doing to hang out with Silas these past few days in Billings. I'm thankful for teachers that love these kids and have devoted their lives to them. I'm thankful for good sources of heat in this dorm during the winter. I'm grateful our running water works. I'm thankful for someone who cooks our weekday meals. I'm thankful that for the most part, we're all pretty healthy around here. I'm thankful that God's presence is here and that He walks us through each day and loves us, right where we're at. He is so good. There is so much to be thankful for!

More Beautiful Ordinary

Happy Twenty-Fifteen!

It's a newly birthed year, and the unknown of it spurs my excitement at the possibilities. Onwards to 2015. Hard to believe we're already 1-1/2 weeks past our two week Christmas vacation. Time again refuses to slow its pace.

Ibrahim and I (danae) arrived back at the dorm on Friday, January 2nd. The next morning, we picked up Alek and Aleyna at the airport. They had spent time with family over the holidays, and it was so good to be with them and spend time catching up. Sunday evening was when most everyone else began to trickle in. How special to be reunited with each one of them and hear about their breaks! None of them were super excited to start up school again, but most didn't seem angry at being back in the dorm. ;) Maya and Nevin came in late on Monday after being away for the break. It was great to see them too!

It took awhile for the kids to readjust to waking up early and getting through a school day, but they made it as they jumped right back in! Many helped with AWANA and a Poplar Ministry on Wednesday night. On Thursday, the kids played a Bible trivia game in chapel, the freshman and sophomores (known as the "Froshmores") versus the juniors and seniors (known as "#dubnation"). The kids knew a lot, and it was fun to see some healthy competition. :)

Another positive part of our week was that Aleyna had her {hopefully} last knee appointment at the doctor's! The doctor affirmed that her knee was healing well and gave her special instructions for physical activity as well as sent her away with a brace to use until her leg continues to strengthen. God is so incredible in the way He heals our bodies! He is the realest and kindest Doctor.

Aleyna showing off a sample of what a knee
looks like in her last doctor's appointment.

On Friday night, the real craziness begun: First Basketball Game of 2015. The Lustre Lions played against the Frazer Bearcats. What incredible games! The JV boys team won! Sadly, the girls and boys Varsity lost, but both teams played AMAZINGLY and lost only by a few points. The girls were scoring into the 70 point range! AMAZING!

I'm HORRIBLE at taking basketball pictures, but this was kind of a fun one.
Coach Randy Reddig speaking directly to Jacques at the Frazer game.

On Saturday, we had a home game against Poplar. Sadly, all three teams lost, but again, we had some really good plays, and the scores ended very closely. We have some super talented athletes.

Saturday also happened to be Mawin's birthday! We didn't get to celebrate much with him being involved in the basketball game, but on Sunday, we all went out to eat Chinese food after church, and then Ibrahim and several of the kids went to watch a movie in the Glasgow theatre. Those who didn't go to the theatre went to MacDonalds to get some things done or just take it easy for a while. It was a great afternoon / evening.

The kids weren't great at giving me a posed picture, but this was
their natural picture of eating and waiting for Chinese food. ;)

Happy Birthday, Mawin!

Happy seventeenth birthday, Mawin! I am so glad you are a part of our world here. You make us smile with your quirky charm and sense of humor. You add so much life and energy to the dorm. You have been so brave to come here, to leave family and familiar and brave the Lustre winters and unfamiliar faces, to pick up a basketball and stay the course several years. You're one talented person.

Here are my birthday verses for you, Mawin. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5: "For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night."

Ephesians 5:8-10: ". . . for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 

Mawin, my prayer for you is that you would continue to grow into a man of courage and into Light, that as you seek and grow in Jesus, His light in you will expose the darkness and injustice around you. You are so loved!

This Tuesday, we had another string of basketball games. They were home against Frazer. JV guys won, and the girls Varsity team also came out with a win. Sadly, the guys lost. Hard to see them lose, but they sure played hard. They'll have another chance to snag a win on the upcoming Friday game.

Thank you again for following along with us! We are excited to see all that's ahead in this brand new year. :)