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My, how time flies when you're having fun! Last time I wrote it was nearly the end of June, and now August is almost over! Much has happened since my last report, so I'll get right into it.
We finished Session 4 and held our graduation for our students on August 2 at the BSC. All our students were not able to come, but we had many visitors of the students who did come. We like to acknowledge our students' accomplishments and thank them for their time and efforts, so we hold a little 2-hour event on the Saturday of our last week of classes. We play games, raffle off some study helps, Bibles, and notebooks, present our students with certificates of completion, and share in some snacks. Over all, the event is a lot of fun.
The whole week after graduation was a combined Enrollment Week (without a seminar) and wedding preparation! As I mentioned in my last report (and you have likely heard from Amy herself), Amy changed her last name on August 9 by marrying Gabriel Puzon. Gabby is one of our oldest friends and he and his family have been in the church as long as I can remember. We woke up early August 9 to get started on final decorating and preparation at the wedding site, then make-up and dresses. We didn't think about it until after the entourage was picked, but Amy and Gab added every member of our families except Mom and Gabby's father! That resulted in some interesting planning and organization at the reception. The event was really informal, more a family event than anything else, so everyone was really wonderful and jumped in to help wherever they saw a need. Though stress was my primary emotion during the day, at the end of it all Mr. and Mrs. Puzon drove off to start their lives together. You may imagine how it felt when I was dropped off by my parents with the extra wedding decorations and supplies we had used to an empty house. Amy and I have lived together ever since we were children, including when we moved out of our parents' house in 2009. No one gave me a chance to feel dejected and abandoned, however, and after the wedding people came to check on me to make sure I was OK. We have a wonderful family over here :). Please keep Amy and Gabby in your prayers as they begin their family together.
Even though Amy is no longer in the house, I've got a new (yet temporary) roommate! You may remember my mentioning a young lady who we studied with who became a Christian named Genea Canete. Genea has recently had some difficulties with finding a place to live, so when Amy moved out, Genea moved in! It has been a pleasure to have her stay with me, and we are going to start looking for a new place for her to live soon. Please keep Genea in your prayers. Her mother lives abroad and she is living apart from her and her two siblings.
The Monday following the wedding we started the first Mini-Session of the year. Because of religious holidays, our usual 6-week session schedule doesn't always work out during the year, so we use the weeks in between and hold mini-sessions, our usual 6-week courses held every night for one week instead of one night a week for six weeks. Because classes were held every night, not all of our previous students were able to join us. Those who did brought plenty of friends to keep us quite busy! It was a good session.
Right after the Mini-session ended, we decided to take advantage of a free week to go on vacation to Negros Island to see the Emperado family and spend a little time with them. After our much-needed R&R, we came back to the city and began some renovation at the BSC. A few months ago we found that the termite problem we thought had been treated and had gone away was actually a million times worse than it started. We have termites in our walls, cabinets, and even the ceiling in some places. Since this last Monday (August 25) we have been working to treat the little bugs and fix the damage they have caused. This has been both discouraging and yet exciting. Though we have had to tear some walls down and see damage, we have also been able to repair what they termites destroyed. Repairs are coming along nicely, and the BSC is beginning to look as it once did. We still have a wall to rebuild, but other than that we are pretty much finished. Please keep our renovation work in your prayers.
After we finished our work this evening we invited all our local teachers to come to the BSC and we had a planning meeting to schedule Session 6, which will start September 11. We are holding a seminar next week on September 3-5 which Dad will teach called "Does God REALLY condemn Homosexuality?" We are excited about this coming session and are praying hard for an abundance of students. Please join us in this prayer.
As far as the family goes, we have a lot to be thankful for. Mom and Dad are as busy as ever with their business. Jon, Gina, Sean, and Jasmin are doing well. Rachael has been having a lot of migraines lately, but continues to homeschool Andrew and Lily (who just turned 3!). Clint has been busy heading up our renovation project. I already mentioned Amy and Gabby, who seem to be adjusting to married life well. RJ just left us for furlough in Texas, and should return October 26.
Please keep our health, safety, travels, and plans in your prayers. We are so appreciative of your friendship, support and prayers. May God continue to bless us all.
In him,
Sara Murrell :)