Bathroom Addition - Part Uno

     I really do love blogging...and the whole reason for starting the blog was to show you a glimpse into our life here in Pine Ridge. So I am doing my  best to be more consistent.  This post makes me so very happy!  If you are one of the few HUNDRED people who have passed through our home here at Chanku Waste Ranch, you will be so excited to visit, and stay with us again this summer!

 

 Before we welcomed Noah, Matt's family came up to help do a room addition for the big kids, Jacob and Leah!  Until them they had a small like 10 x 10 room (maybe), room enough for a dresser and bunk beds and not much else. We are so in love with our little Log Cabin and I have been so thankful to have a very attractive handy man living here with me! ha! Then, when the kids and I were in Georgia over Christmas, Matt did a remodel to our little kitchenette by adding a hanging pot rack, dishwasher, new cabinets, and more counter space.  I wish I had more before and afters to show you but that was an after thought. But again, those of you who have been here and stayed with us will appreciate this all the more. Before the kitchen redo. I had NO upper cabinets, hardly any counter space, no dishwasher, a single bay sink, and no storage space. It started to become a pain with our growing family. So once again my sweet man did his thing!

 

   So...low and behold...He truly is my favorite person...is doing a remodel on our closet/pantry/bathroom area.  What does this mean? A PANTRY....gasp! Let me say that again.... A PANTRY!  A full bathroom!!!  Yes, we have only one full bathroom and it's in our bedroom which is inconvenient with having people stay with us in the summer, and just plain taking a number is not ideal. So we are adding a second full bathroom! I can hear the angels singing!  And adding a small closet for Matt's clothes as well. Log cabins don't have closets?! Its true which has made it a little more interesting. My clothes are in the kids' closet. Yep, 5 people using ONE closet. Yikes!

 

So I will be posting pictures in sections. I didn't grab a raw before picture but if you can imagine, we had a closet, a large shelf unit as the pantry, a deep freezer, misc kitchen storage, a half bath, AND laundry room in one small area. So...I'm a little giddy with excitement!

 

 

This is after we moved a lot out. To the right is our half bath with our ONLY built in shelves for storage.

 

This is a tiny glimpse of our little storage area and half bath. Soon to be PANTRY!  I think if I make it really BIG everytime I say it, you'll get the point that I'm excited.

 

 

Part 2 coming tomorrow! Mr. Handyman is working on if after work so we can have it done before the big kids get back from their family visit from Georgia.

 

<3

Noah Luke - 6 Months!

     I can hardly believe it has been 6 months...I haven't been blogging much and want to get better. I am not going to remember all the details of this journey and this is a way I can look back on it! Noah's story is special. But what little new life isn't!  When we found out we were having our first little baby boy, Matt and I had 2 names picked out, Jacob Matthew and Noah Luke. Obviously, our Jacob Matthew is 7 years old. When we were expecting Leah, we waiting to find out the sex of the baby. TORTURE! But in the end, I'm so glad we did. What an amazing thing to be laboring and waiting for the "It's A...."! So we had once again Noah Luke or Leah Hope.

 

     Matt and I had talked about another little one. I knew one more would be perfect, and I didn't want them too far apart. (Jacob is 7, and Leah is 4) So we had a nice gap. We talked about it and BAM! haha! Matt and our friend Jake had been in the North West Territory and the last day we had phone communication, I found out I was pregnant. I didn't want to spill it over the phone! So over that few weeks he was gone, I held it in...Kinda :) We had a girls trip in TN with a few of my Best Friends and could not hold that in! So, the kids and I made shirts for the big announcement once we picked them up at the airport. Jacob had a '#1", Leah had a "#2" and I had one on that said "Count our blessings...#3"! He said "ALL READY?!!" He is a Hadden after all!

 

    I was pretty sick, so I was leaning towards a girl. I gave Matt free range on the names. I wanted him to name this baby all on his Own. Of course, he still loved Noah Luke but had picked out Karis Joy, if we had another girl. Still love that name! Karis, means Grace. And we were in a HUGE life change and so dependent on God's Grace, it was beautiful name. A few weeks after Leah was born, I kept having dreams of a little boy, Noah.  I knew that one day we would have another boy but wouldn't dare admit it after just having a baby. I couldn't even think of that! Lol.  But of course, looking back, God was giving me a glimpse. All this time, when we were expecting our first son, we had Noah in mind. If only a name, but I know that God knew, and there was a reason that name was always on our minds.

 

     I know that God is blessing his children all the time. But blessing you with children, with life is such an amazing thing. When you understand the importance of shaping a human being, what a high, and often overwhelming calling.  I can't tell you how many times throughout the day I say to myself that " I love this life. I love my children..." Even in the trying times, In the exhausting times, in the times that test your character and self- control, let's be honest... you can't help but be thankful. I love being a mother, a parent, even when it hurts or is hard. It's so worth it. And I already get a little emotional when I think of the day they will be on their own. I know, I know. Matt and I have often joked that we will be empty nesters at like 45, since we got started so young, which will be amazing. After all, your "goal" is to raise young men and women, with Godly character, to be successful in life according to God's standards and not the worlds, to have healthy relationships, to Love Jesus and experience Him for themselves not because we "say so", but seriously, after being needed and depended on for 20+ years...there is surely going to be some adjusting. You must be laughing...all this spill because Noah is 6 months! hahaha! But it causes you to do some reflecting for sure. I have never been so emotional as I am as a mother. When it comes to my children and Christ, I'm just an emotional puddle. Maybe not openly, but leave me to my lonesome and it get's me every time!

 

  All that to say, I am in love with Jacob, Leah, and Noah. I am thrilled to the core to be their mother, and thankful to my husband who is a wonderful partner in this journey and MORE IN LOVE with him than ever. For those of you with children, you know this feeling. For those of you yet to have children, if I hear any of you are expecting soon...don't be afraid if I cry! Because I will rejoice with you to tears for sure. It is the most amazing thing in life outside of our relationship with Jesus and our husbands.

 

Gah....I'm not crying...or am I? :)

 

 

In celebration of this wonderful little Man who was made and known to God before he was formed in the womb, Happy 6 Months babe!

 

 Brother and sister lovin!

 Talkin....and drollin!

 

 

 

See that sweet new tooth??!! Show off :)

 

<3

 

March Update!

Hello Friends,

It is always a blessing when I sit down to write the newsletter and think of how many of you have lifted us up in prayer in the last month. The ministry God has us here for would not be as strong if it were not for you supporting us in so many ways and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I found out over the weekend that I have not been getting in emails to me if the sender was replying to an email I had sent. Another one of the little annoyances from the hacker that messed with my email back in January. I have the problem fixed now that I am aware of it, but if you have tried to reply to an email I sent I have not received any of them so please resend them, just know that I have not intentionally ignored you.

In Philippians 4, Paul talks about being in many different seasons knowing what it is like to be full or to be hungry, being down and discouraged or abounding in joy, out of this comes some well known verses, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" and " My God shall supply all my need according to His riches and glory." Paul was busy with His calling

.

 

W

hen you are busy with God's calling and purpose there is not any place you would rather be. There might be places that sound easier or more desired from our own selfish hearts but in reality I know that I am exalting Jesus right here where He wants me to exalt Him and that is where my joy comes from, that is when my joy is fulfilled as John the baptist puts it in John 3. With that I know that I can do all things and bear all things through Christ who gives me strength and grace no matter the season of life I am in. Because it is out of a heart of being right where God wants me to be, planted next to the source of all good things I can know without a doubt that God will supply all of my needs according to His wealth and His glory.

I have been looking at finances in scripture and this is really the first point - knowing and believing that God is the source. I challenge you to think about where you are, are you close to the source?

Things here have been busy, Amanda has been teaching Jacob and Leah. Jacob is really coming along really well in his reading and Leah is doing well with her letters and numbers. Noah is full of giggles and is learning how to do his best at scooting and kicking. 

Rob and Michelle will be on the road for 6 weeks in NY and VA speaking at some churches out there continuing raising their support as well as visiting family. Mike will be out of town on the rd in KY for most of March so that will leave a lot of the church duties and services to us. Pray for their traveling safety. 

Our wood burning stove has been such a blessing, I don't know what we would do without it through this cold winter, but one thing we have learned is that when it is really windy (Which if you have been here you already know, is pretty frequently) we have had a hard time getting the smoke to draw up and when it gets real bad it will fill our entire little house with smoke, so if you have received a letter or something from us and it smells like a campfire, that is why. It gets really frustrating when you think you get all the smoke smell out and it happens again the next day. I have tried all kinds of things people have recommended to me with nothing working, until a couple of weeks ago I tried something different that a local guy told me about and it seems to be working pretty well right now so we will see how that does. We will have to wait for one of those nights that you feel like the roof is going to come off before we will know for sure.  

I ask you to pray for our church family here, life is hard on a reservation, it is even harder when you are surrounded by sin and there is warfare going on around you in your homes and at your schools constantly. There are a lot of hurting people around us, pray for grace to keep our eyes on Jesus.

If the Lord puts on your heart and you would like to know how you can help with some of our church families and some specific needs that are present in their homes (for example… we have a single mom who has not had running water in her home since the end of last summer) please feel free to ask, there are plenty of other needs to be shared.

Our food pantry has been really starting to take off, we have a lot more to grow and learn in that area but we are going to trust the Lord in how we operate and give according to His store house through His leading.

We had a family who lost their home and everything they own in a fire last week, praise the Lord we were able to bless them with a whole pickup load of blankets school supplies food and baby stuff. They have 6 young children please keep them in your prayers as the Lord is working in their lives through this devastation.

 

Just to keep you in the loop - if you, your sunday school class or church would like to help keep our pantry stocked with canned goods clothes and baby supplies, please let me know  and I might be able to further guide you in some ways to do that.

There is always needs in front of us as we expand our horizons.

As always your gifts and prayers are a beautiful aroma and a sweet smelling sacrifice to me and to the Lord. I thank you for all you do for us. May Jesus ever be exalted among people groups in SD, the USA, North America and all over the world. Lets continue to work at seeing Jesus come back full of majesty.

Learning to serve the Lord in all we do, 

Matt, Amanda, Jacob, Leah and Noah

Things to pray for on our behalf - 

Our serving families - Haddens, Brennans, McIntoshs, Tomkinsons,  Mauws, Martyns.

Sharps Corner Church

All the functions of camp as we are starting to get ready

Our teens here

Pantry to continue to flourish and be stocked

Continued support for the church and ministry here

That Jesus would be exalted in our home

February Update!!

Hello Friends,

It is only February and it has already started at being a very full year for us, there has not been any slowing down. We are hoping to get in a little routine around our house here before summer is here and we won't have time to think.

Amanda has been very busy at the house keeping up with Noah who is starting to squirm all over the place and jabber and laugh about everything while teaching Jacob and Leah at home. If any of you are not aware she (Amanda) is my rock. She keeps us all in line, challenging me spiritually taking care of everything in our home, she is looked up to by so many people, she loves Jesus.  (and is really pretty doing it.) I am very thankful for her and don't sing her praises near enough. The role she has taken on in this journey we are on is so very important and a necessity to do what God has put in our hearts. Moms/Wives - don't ever think your calling is not as great as whatever your husband is doing.

We had our first teen weekend at the camp the first weekend in January. I thought it went great. We had 21 through the weekend. The theme was Restoration - How God restores us right where we are in whatever condition we are in. He makes all things new. I have seen the teens grow a lot over the last year. We have been having issues with so many of the younger ones wanting to come and be a part of teen night, as much as I would love to have all of them it is not right for the older ones and we don't have the resources to reach them right yet on this particular night. As of late we have been having over 20 teens each week. I believe God is raising up a new generation of young people here who want more in life than just what has been handed to them. It is really hard to get out of a place in life where all you have been handed in life is abuse and told that there is nothing here for you, so many of them want to check out and are crying out for help and love by cutting themselves or medicating themselves with a drug to get through the day. I see this in very early ages of 10 years old and some even younger. I say this to say - Pray for the young people on Pine Ridge, Pray for Amanda and I to have wisdom in pouring into them with our words and actions. Satan has a stronghold in our young people here and it is time we take it back.

I just got back from the Northwest Territory, Canada a few days ago. We had a great trip. We had worship meetings in the evenings and did some construction projects during the days. On Sunday we baptized 7 people and just really saw the Lord moving in so many hearts there. We were in the town of Rae which is home to some of the Dog Rib tribe. We were working with a pastor Missionary there who has been there for 20 years. It is so encouraging to see what God can do when we are faithful to what He calls to. There is a great group of people there who love God and have a great sense of community and fellowship along with a burden to see more of their people come to know Jesus. You might know this already but I want to share with you something I have learned in my travels over the years - Jesus changes people, any culture, any place, any economy Jesus makes all things new and gives purpose and reason to life. He is the giver of and the very definition of life. I am grateful for pastors and missionaries who are faithful to preach the gospel even when there is no fame or glory for themselves but rather all for Jesus. It is easy to want and desire for God to elevate us and have a big church with all the trimmings in life, but the reality is God wants us where He will be most glorified, how much do we want and desire for God to be glorified? God put me wherever will bring you the most glory. John the Baptist got it when he told His followers that his joy is full when Jesus is increased. Is Jesus increasing in and around your life?

This coming weekend I will be teaching on finances at our church. I don't know that I am the best person to be teaching on this as I have always had the idea that if you have it you need to spend it. However I can share a lot of my failures as illustrations as well as share how faithful God has been to me. We either believe that God is  trustworthy and provides our needs as He said or we don't. Most of the time our actions show we don't trust the Lord. I am grateful that God is patient with me as he constantly teaches me this as He provides in ways I could have never dreamed and it is always when it is needed. As our vision grows our ministry continues to grow, with that so does our need. God has met every one of our needs and I have no doubt that he will continue to do so. My dad has always said "Whatever God orders, He pays for" - so true.

Thank you for everything that you guys do for us, we are surrounded by wonderful people that loves us and pray for us. I want you to know that it does not go unnoticed and we are so very grateful.

Learning to serve the Lord in all we do,

Matt, Amanda, Jacob, Leah and Noah Hadden

PS.

If you do not want to receive this newsletter any more or would like to add a different email please let me know, I am working on this area of ministry for us and it is not easy for me. I am not to good at writing and definitely not good at the real technical stuff. Hopefully by next month I will be changing the way this is sent and will have the website functional to make it easier to check out pictures and the way you can give toward certain projects and such. 

My turn!! :)

Wow, what a whirlwind of the last few months!  What joy it is to say we are healthy, blessed, loved, and overwhelmed by God's goodness! Since the last update, we have welcomed Noah Luke into our family and it has been so much fun! The kids are at such good ages and enjoy him so much.  When your "baby" isn't much of a baby, when you do welcome a little one you appreciate the small moments so much more.  We have enjoyed seeing him grow and the different stages, and so enjoyed the big kids loving and playing with him.

Right now, the kids and I are in Newnan, Georgia with our family missing Matt as he is in South Dakota.  He had to return for work and to be back with our church family.  We are enjoying the time spent with our family but do miss our home and family in South Dakota. We are so close to our families, and the kids are loving playing with cousins, aunts and uncles, grandparents, and friends.  Our kids are 5th generation kids! They have a great-great grandmother, 3 sets of great grandparents, 2 sets of grandparents, and as  many of you know LOTS of aunts, uncles, and cousins!  The Hadden Family lost their grandmother in September, but we are so glad Jacob and Leah were able to know Maw Maw.  So for us, it's important that they have relationships with their extended family and that we make that a priority for them.

While Matt was in town we spoke at Lisbon Baptist Church in Fayetteville.  I got to meet the ladies Sunday school class that has been emailing us, sending cards of encouragement, and praying for us.  The following Sunday we had the privilege of speaking at Forward Church in Sharpsburg where my parents and some of our family attend.  Man were we blessed! Matt spoke, and I had the opportunity to lead in worship with my cousin Caitlin whom many of you met this summer. The anointing was amazing and we were so encouraged.  It's hard to leave Pine Ridge, you feel you are leaving things undone or that there are things that need to be taken care of, places you can minister. But knowing this first hand, coming back to a church who has a heart for the Natives and the Kingdom, and chooses to just love and encourage you, energizes us to head back with a refreshed sense of urgency and vision. It's so important that we take that time, and we are so thankful for all the church families who have taken us in so beautifully.

We have been blessed with a wood burning stove from a family in Mississippi. And boy have we needed it! Matt returned and was welcomed by 6 degree weather, and if any of you have experienced the South Dakota wind...you know it's brutal!  We are so thankful, our units weren't keeping up the the temperatures and we now have an alternative way to heat our home. 

In the coming weeks, we are going to celebrate Matt's 30th birthday (old!!), the Birth of Jesus, and Jacob's 7th birthday!  For me, I love birthdays!  I love to pour into someone on their birthday, especially my kids and husband.  It's a day we celebrate the birth and the gift of them coming into our lives.  We celebrate all the Lord has done in and through them, and it's encouraging to hear people say that have been impacted by you in their life. It's a day that is all about them. Some may say it's a selfish holiday (Matt, haha!), but every now and then it does need to be all about them. For Jacob, I want him to know that in all the ministry, and busyness, He is our priority, and I look forward to celebrating HIM on December 31st!

Also, we are sending out Christmas cards and if you would like to receive one and are not already on our email or contact list, please message us!  We would love to add you!

In the spirit of the season, and the gift of Jesus, take time to love on one another.  To give more than you receive and to pray for those that are missing family or loved ones during this time. We look forward to updating you again in December!

With love and thanks!

Amanda

 Jacob and Matt's brother, Nathan!

 

 

Jacob and his cousin, Isaac!

Leah and her cousin, Ansleigh who is only 6 weeks younger!

Matt and I also had the honor of celebrating our best friends wedding, Jake and Nicole!  This is the first time in YEARS all of us friends from Highschool have been in one place :)

 

Matt's parents with Noah!

Noah is getting so big and changing everyday!

Our Snow White!

Family game night with my mom, and their cousin Ashlyn!

Angel.

 

November Update from Matt

Hello friends,

I am so thankful for so many things. I know it is easy to start saying how thankful we are because it is that time of season and then be so very forgetful of how blessed we are as soon as the dust settles from the holiday season, but I truly am thankful for so many things and pray I never lose sight of all the grace and blessing God has poured out on us.

We have a sign in our house that a friend gave to us that says "Look at what love the Father has lavished on us", it is a constant reminder that we are so loved and nothing can ever separate us from that love. I don't know at what point in the Christian faith that the message of the gospel and the mission of the church strayed away from the fact that God loves us so immensely that he gave His son Jesus to die for us. The Bible says that when we lift Him up He will draw all people to Himself. This should be the heart cry of every missionary, church and believer that we would live lives in such a way that lifts the Name of Jesus up and allow Him to draw people to Himself. the more I grow in my walk with the Lord the more I realize that it is all about Jesus and that I am usually not doing God or anyone else any favors by straying away from that.

A few weeks ago we left SD and headed to GA for a dear friends wedding that our whole family had part in and was able to see our families while we were there. Along the way we stopped in Memphis and had stayed with wonderful friends and I was able to have some dental work done that I have been in need of for a little while. I am grateful for dentists and doctors that use their skill in ways that glorify God in other countries and in the US. I am back in SD while Amanda and the kids are still in GA until Christmas. I will fly back for Christmas and then head to Chicago for a youth conference and then we will head home. Pray for grace while traveling and for the youth conference I will be speaking at, I am super excited about the opportunities God has opened up for us.

In just a few weeks we will have our first weekend getaway for the teens. It will be December 6th - 8th. I will be able to take 30 local teens and have a weekend at the camp where they will come in on Friday evening and then go home on Sunday morning. It will be a fun time and also a growing time. We want the kids to be able to come at no cost to them so that money is not a concern or reason to why they would not be able to come. The theme will be "Great escape to nowhere" - how God restores us right where we are. It will cost roughly $35 - $40 per person to do all the things that we would like to do with them over the weekend. if you would like to sponsor a teen feel free to let me know or you can donate to YES (address at bottom) put teen camp or Hadden family in memo.

One thing I have been super encouraged by is seeing more of the teens and the kids coming to church on Sundays. It is such a blessing to be able to see the kids outside of school and them run up to give you a hug, or even when i got back to work the other day they were in the halls excited to see me and I excited to see them. It has been great over the last few months being able to build relationships with a lot more of the kids.

I am excited for the holiday season for all the ways that God can use us to be a blessing to so many families here. Last Saturday Rob and I helped pack over 200 boxes with all the fixings for a thanksgiving dinner for 10 people. I also have a list of families that need firewood that we have been working on getting them set up for a little while to meet those needs. God has promised to provide all of our needs according to His riches and I choose to believe that because I know of His faithfulness. He never goes back on a promise, I am so grateful for a great God who proves Himself over and over again.

I pray the Lord keeps you all safe through this season and that your hearts are truly filled with gratefulness and that you go about glowing with the presence of the Almighty resting on your lives.

I am grateful for each one of you and how you continue to bless us with your generosity and kindness.

Learning to serve the lord in all we do,

Matt, Amanda, Jacob, Leah and Noah Hadden

A friend of ours has been faithfully working on a website for us - if you would like to go check it out or donate there or keep up with more pictures and such I want to begin using it more for you guys to be up to date more and be able to see more through the technology God has given us. I do not think it is %100 but hopefully will be within the next month or so. Check it out and feel free to give me any feedback on how his can minister to you better.

www.haddenjourney.com

Things to pray for:

The families that work in our ministry

That we would lift the Name of Jesus up constantly

A tractor with a front end loader.

The teen weekend coming up

The families that are faithful in our church

A generator for the building

September Update!

Hello Friends,

I know I say it every time , but it is still hard to believe how fast time goes by. I cant hardly believe it is nearing the end of September. We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of our son Noah, it is so hard to believe that 9 months have passed. A lot has gone on in those months that has kept us very busy.

Amanda's due date is Sept 29th, pray that everything goes well and that God would give her and I a peace through the delivery and early stages.

God has been so good to us.

We were able to finish up camp last month, that relieves a lot of time because of everything it takes with groups coming to help and have the kids everyday. It is still a joy and honor to be able to see the children everyday and be able to pour into them.

Amanda and I were able to take Jacob and Leah to meet her family in Missouri for a week of rest and fun to get away for a bit before the start of a new season. It was much needed and we are grateful to have had the chance to do that.

My parents and some of my siblings were able to come up, along with some longtime friends from GA, to help us close up the back porch of our house to make a little extra room for the kids before baby Noah comes. It was like extreme home makeover and we were able to get it all done in a week. Mostly because my dad is a work train and doesn't know how to slow down, of which I am very grateful for. We couldn't have gotten it done without the help we had. My mom and the ladies spent most of the time cooking and cleaning, they cooked enough food to last us more than a month and freeze it so all we would have to do is heat it up to take that load off of Amanda. 

With the new season starts a new era of ministry. When we first wanted to come up here Pastor Mike Brennan had said "Winter will be your hardest time here, there is more ministry to be done in the winter than any other time of the year." I can very much see that in the off and on time we have been here in the winter months. It is different up here in the winter. All the "white vans" are gone, all the "Wacitus" (white people) are gone and there is such an opportunity to serve. The food pantry we worked on during the summer to be able to have a place to store food, personal hygiene products, baby supplies and clothing is in the process of being stocked to be able to last us through the winter. This is something we are really praying about as a team and ask you to pray with us to be able to discern the best way to show compassion through our pantry ministry. True love and compassion is usually more inconvenient show than what we are willing to do. The Lord has really put this as a burden on my heart the last several months. It is so much easier to give one of the hundred people that come up to you and ask you for money because their mom or dad is in the hospital and they just need a few dollars to get the gas to be able to go see them in Rapid (This is an everyday conversation being here) There are a few things to think about here - one is, I don't have enough money to hand out to everyone even though they think I do. Two - I see what they do with the money and it is more than likely not for gas to see a relative in the hospital but rather to get a fix for whatever their vice is. So do you push them away and tell them no as nice as you can? Or do you take the opportunity to say I am willing to show you that I love and care about you and I don't have the money to give to you but rather begin to ask for discernment from the Holy Spirit to truly show that person the love of God. This is a whole sermon, so there is a lot I could go into here but I hope this presents you with some of the challenges we face here in this area of ministry. By the way the answer the Lord gave me one day is - I don't have any money but I have got some time, "let me drive you to rapid to see that relative." You are meeting their need and showing you care while not feeding their habit causing them to stumble. Most of the time they say "no can you just give me the money" and you can Identify them as "takers" - The inconvenient part is when they say "OK that would be great," I'm like "man, i really don't want to take an hour drive there and an hour drive back, that is really inconvenient for me but it is an act of true compassion.

The same is with the pantry in different ways that I wont go into this time.

In October we begin Wednesday night dinners and the bike ministry that we have been working on. Next month I will give you more of an update on that.

The building is getting to the place that we can begin music classes and counseling like we had planned originally just have not really had the space to do it. We are still a ways off from having the building finished but it is closer each month with little things (and big things) that are donated. In Oct we have a group coming up to help put in the septic system as well as hang the doors and help with the trim. At the end of Oct we have a group coming up to help with grading some of the driveways for the elderly in the community before winter so that it will be easier to get to their houses and for them to get out easier when it snows. Many of our elderly people are dependent on dialysis every week so this is crucial.

God is doing much in our hearts and we are excited for the new season of life ahead of us. We could never express our gratitude enough for all of the kind notes, gifts, material and financial donations. Many of you are the reason we are able to stay here. i have been blessed with an opportunity of a job to help fill in where we do not have support. It is so hard to get a job here and the Lord just gave me one. I never would have dreamed in a thousand years I would be a librarian but that is what the Lord has opened up for me, so I have been gladly working at it and learning all I can as I go along. I get the privilege to work with a good portion of the children we have seen at camp and it is such a blessing. It also keeps me out of my comfort zone and out of my normal element.

You are all a blessing and I thank the Lord for each of you.

Learning to serve the Lord in all we do,

 

Matt, Amanda, Jacob, Leah and Noah Hadden

Things to pray for:

1. Amanda and baby Noah

2. Matt learning how to be a librarian

3. God would bring the right people our way for us to pour into and disciple

4. That the idea of community would grow in our church