The Lord is so faithful

Jarrod and I have been having a seemingly repetitive conversation lately; "wow, can you believe how God worked this out? He is so good!' is the gist of it.

We have finally started meeting our neighbors. Sounds like an odd statement, especially for those of you who live in the south.... but let me tell you: Louisville is a 'northern' city in many respects.(Jarrod says the final straw in declaring this statement is the sweet tea. Apparently the tea here doesn't make your teeth grit, poor boy) Sadly, the pervasive attitude among many people around us is everyone has their own life and it's very consuming. Tunnel vision. We've been plotting on how we can make ourselves available to meet and talk with those who live near us and well... let's just say Simba has been well walked :)

A praise! We had a good conversation with our downstairs neighbors (Tammy, Chuck and their daughter Piper). Us coming to them with a gift seemed to help lower their guard a bit. Please pray for them, they are not believers, and pray that we would be faithful in bringing the Gospel into all we do and say.

The Lord has been so faithful to provide. We are in the midst of praying over which church to settle in and serve and not having a quick "home" has been unusual for Jarrod and I. But God has provided some awesome friends who have just reached out and loved on us. I am so thankful for them!

The Lord is faithful in work. I have made a few more contacts regarding an RN position in a hospital and am very hopeful that in the next few weeks it will be settled. Jarrod has an interview tomorrow afternoon thanks to a new friend from a church here. He and his wife moved just around the corner from us; we are so excited to have fellowship so close! Please pray for Alex and Kelli, they're expecting their first child.

The Lord is faithful to grow us. Yesterday in BFG (Sunday school), we were studying 1 John 3. The Word says "For this is the message you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another" (v11, ESV). The whole of the Gospel is to bring us back to right relationship with the Lord so that we can glorify Him by loving. I was really convicted by the call to have genuine love for the family of God. It's easy enough to be nice, but to grow in righteousness to the point where I have a genuine affection for a person and want the best for them, that's hard. If you're like me, there's a few people who come to mind as being "that person" who you just don't like. I want to see others the way the Lord sees them, the way He sees me. He had a genuine affection for me when I was a wretch; He pursued me when I wanted nothing to do with Him. Please pray for me, and Jarrod, as we grow in "love for the brothers" as Scripture puts it. I pray that He might challenge you the same way.

Thank you all so much for lifting us up to the Father; we need you!

Love, the Reeds

First Family Outing

So, as is Jarrod's way, one of our first discoveries in the area was a state park. The E.P. "Tom Sawyer" State Park, to be precise. It's really convienent, maybe a 10 minute drive away. We took Simba, a water bottle, (and snacks of course!), and embarked on the journey.

It's a beautiful park, very similar in layout to Kanapaha park for all of

you from Gainesville. Lots of soccer fields, lacross is big here, playground and covered picnic tables. There's a mile long fitness trail that encircles the main park and a few trials offshoot from it into the woods. Jarrod in the lead, we left the well marked trial in search of adventure.

The Japanese honeysuckle was blooming everywhere... mmm it smelled so good! We were really enjoying the scenery and just being out in the Lord's creation. At one point, in the heart of the woods, there was a small.. very faintly marked, trial. Jarrod and Simba started down it with excitement and as a good wife.. I followed. By the time I caught up the them, Jarrod was forging a creek and the dog was anxiously waiting on the bank. It was a pretty stream, and quick moving. I looked around for other crossings when suddenly Jarrod yells, "oh no! my shoe!". The old navy flip flop was racing downstream, bumping into rocks along the way. Jarrod trudged through the water to get to it, I ran down the bank, head-on into the most intricate spider web ever... yuck! All this for a shoe that cost 50 cents...

Long story short, the shoe was recovered and Simba learned water isn't so bad. Though the bath he got after this incident was not quite so enjoyed.

There is also a designated "dog park" area which we explored another day. You can learn a lot at a dog park... here are some lessons we learned:

1) There is a certain type of person who routinely goes to the dog park

2) It is considered very rude to introduce yourself to a person and not to their dog

3) People willingly admit they will remember your dog by name, but wont be able to pick you out of a line-up

4) Failing to "do your duty" (as the sign calls it) and pick up after your dog results in doggie detention-> no one talks to you or lets their dog play with your dog.

All joking aside, the dog park was a great place for us to meet people. Jarrod was able to talk about God's goodness to a woman who openly shared her life's story with us. We hope to go back and have more witnessing opportunities with these people.

A note of praise: I passed my nursing boards!! I am so thankful to have such a vast prayer base, it was definitely your prayers and God's power that got me through that exam! I am still waiting to hear on work, but He is faithful to provide and we are fully trusting Him.

Okay, I've been rambling for a bit and it's time to go.. thanks for reading!

Trials

Well, we've been here for 3 weeks now.... just a few boxes left to be emptied, we've figured out what all the light switches connect to, and Simba is entirely back to himself. Those are some of the good things.

Another great thing, Jarrod is loving his seminary class. He's doing absolutely amazing in it, I can say that being his wife and all :) , and he really enjoys it. He even called me the other day after class got out to excitedly tell me "I made a friend!" He took his first exam today and felt confident. It's been a really cool thing looking at the original Hebrew in Scripture to get a glimpse of how difficult translation can be!

Please pray for us, that we might make some good friends while we're here. We really miss everyone from Gainesville and Jacksonville... you all are great friends.

On the church front: we are still praying and really trying to see where the Lord has for us to serve. It's an interesting situation because there are two potential places of service, and they are somewhat opposite of each other. Both are solidly founded on Scripture, so that's awesome. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we continue to make this decision.

I had a great interview this past Monday. In case you hadn't heard, the job I had with the small pediatric office didn't work out because I need a 120 hour internship before I can be licensed here and during that time it's required for me to be under another RN. So... I am trusting God that He has a great opportunity for me... and trying not to worry.

I take my board exams this Sunday at 2pm, wish me luck! I have been putting in some good time studying; our table is not covered with dishes of decorations... but school books, haha. I so look forward to really being done with school after this exam, already have 4 books I plan to read for FUN!

There are some funny stories to tell about misguided hiking trips (would we be Reeds without them?) and cookies, so look for those this next week!

love you all and pray for you often