We're back in MN!!!

TA-DA!!! We made it! :)

It is such a joy and a blessing to be back in Minnesota. We are so thankful for this past summer and having the time to spend back home in Michigan with family and friends. It was just a good time. We love and miss everyone lots. Yet we are also excited to see what God has in store for us in this next season.

Our lovely kitchen

We arrived in MN on Tuesday evening (the 27^th of August). We had a very smooth drive through Chicago and up through Wisconsin. We sure were happy though when we pulled into the YWAM drive. We had left Grand Rapids around 10 or so in the morning and arrived around 8 pm MN time.

Our bedroom

The first couple of days we just spent unpacking our stuff and moving into our new cute little apartment. We are living on the base…and kind of off the base. Most of the buildings are located in the same general area. We are only a five minute walk from those buildings. We will be living in the “farmhouse.” The house has been split into two living areas. We are in the upstairs section of the house. We love it already!

Our living room

Nate’s sister and brother-in-law came over Labor Day weekend with a trailer full of all of our “big items.” It was fun to show them around the base and where we live. It’s much easier to explain what we do here when we can also give a tour. (Feel free to come visit us sometime!!!)

Nate breaking in his new lazy boy :)

We’ve already been jumping into life here at the base. Our fall Discipleship Training School begins on the 22^ndof September. We will be helping staff that school as we did last fall. Right now we have 27 students signed up for the DTS!!! Last year and previous years before we had schools of 14. We are so excited for what this school is going to bring. We can hardly wait for the students to get here. :)

We are beginning the preparations for the school. These next two weeks will be filled with planning, preparation, set-up, cleaning, and lots and lots of meetings. :) All the fun things needed in order for the school to work. It may be a bit crazy at times, but it sure will be lots of fun.

This DTS has three different focuses:  Justice and Mercy, Dance, and Wilderness. Each student will select one focus and will participate in activities for that focus on top of the Bible training they will be receiving. Nate is going to be helping work with the Wilderness focus while Julianne will be helping with the Dance focus. We are excited for this new experience and being able to work with the students at a closer level.

The lecture phase will last through the first week of December and then the students will leave for an 8 week outreach overseas. We will not be leading a team on the outreach portion of the school. We will be spending December and January back here at the base instead of overseas.

And yes, now the lovely news that you have been waiting for.

We are so excited for this new little person in our lives. This little girl is already so special to us. We are expecting her around the 23^rd of January. It seems like it’s still forever away, but we are already half way through this pregnancy. We are so grateful for all your prayers and support as we prepare for her arrival and all the changes she will bring. :) Julianne has been doing well, and we are so thankful.

(The sign says "Baby ---> )

Thank you all again for all your love, support, prayers, and time in our lives. We will do our best to keep you updated on what is going on in our lives. Please keep this upcoming DTS in your prayers. Please pray for the students who are coming: that they will have the financial support they need, that they will know they are supposed to come, and that the transition process between home and DTS will go smoothly. If you know anyone interested in doing work with missions that has graduated from high school, let them know that we are still accepting applications. We would love to have them join us in what God is doing here in MN and around the world!

We love you all lots and lots!!

Nate and Julianne