Our volleyball theme has been "One Mind, One Voice" for three years now, and that is taken from Romans 15:5-6, which says, "Now may the God who gives perseverance and encouragement grant you to be of the same mind with one another according to Christ Jesus, so that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is one of our main goals to teach our players unity and teamwork--both on and off the court. This year, an added emphasis to our coaching was the need to be ready, expectant, and intentional. Mark would often remind the team to "pursue the ball." Likening this to everyday life, and specifically to one's spiritual walk, we all need to be alert. It's easy to become lazy and let life happen, but God wants us to live with purpose. We must all pursue Christ, and in so doing also strive toward sanctification and close relationships.
We thank God for our ministry of coaching. The season ends in mid-November after two big tournaments.
Although volleyball was our main focus this fall, we have experienced some amazing family moments as we've explored more of Seoul and enjoyed our children's developments. Late in this month, we had a fun evening of celebration at Mark's school. It had an island theme, and Malia was asked to dance hula at the event. Mika stole the show, however, when she joined her mom on stage and mimicked her movements with surprising accuracy. She did a terrific job, and this is a memory we will cherish forever!
Praises:
-An injury-free regular season of volleyball
-Closeness as a family--we do not take it for granted!
Prayer requests:
-Continued balance of work and grad school for Mark
-AWANA as we continue volunteering as leaders
-The international playgroup has a few special events planned over the next 2 months to celebrate harvest, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. Please pray for wisdom in planning and boldness in teaching the gospel.
