Greetings from the Stevensons! We are already near the end of October, though it feels like August was just yesterday. I apologize for being inconsistent in communication with you, our partners. This is an area in which I’m seeking to keep growing. We are thankful for you, the letters received, encouragement given and so much more. We seek to be God’s diligent and faithful hands and feet as we continue building Temple Baptist Church.

Family Update

This season of parenting continues to zoom by, filled with juggling our two precious boys in a season where Paul and Leroy think naps are more negotiable than necessary.

Leroy update: as many of you know, Leroy, 2 on November 16th, has a procedure coming up to remove the cyst on his head. Leroy has had this cyst since he was 2 months old. His “special little bump” most didn’t even notice because his hair covered it perfectly. Over the past few months we have gone through the process of figuring out what needs to be done. Though currently not causing any known issues, the doctors said it was time to remove the cyst due to the location on the head and potential for deforming the skull’s structure.

It took an ultrasound, MRI, and CT scan to be able to confirm that the cyst is intact and the skull not affected yet. This is a HUGE praise as this means we can do a simpler procedure with the plastic surgeon to remove it and not need to go the route of the neurosurgeon.

Thank you for the many and constant prayers as we have walked through this. The removal will be at Children’s Hospital in Omaha on November 11th.

Jimmy has his hands full at the job site each day, working alongside the Howards and volunteers from the church. Many concrete pours have come and gone as the elevator and stairwells start to take shape. We are currently waiting on some big things, like structural steel for the next step in building the stairs and elevator shaft. Now we are starting on the sanctuary’s  facelift. Not as many huge changes like the rest of the church, but paint and carpet will help brighten things up. The biggest change being a new sound booth installed.

Would you prayerfully consider gathering a group of your friends to come work on this project in Nebraska?

• Please pray for continued financial provision as we are half way through paying off our trailer, with just $33,000.00 to go! A big number but far less than we started.

• We are staying steady in our support at 91%. We need $650.00 more a month  to reach 100%.

• The cost of Leroy’s cyst removal. We don’t have the final number, but it’s not cheap.

The fall season tends to put the mind towards being thankful as we come upon the Thanksgiving holiday. To name a few things we are thankful for:

• the beautiful fall weather that has allowed us to be outside more and have fun experiences of enjoying nature, crunching leaves, gathering sticks, picking apples and even a pumpkin or two.
• Bible studies and time in God’s Word seeking to learn about Him.
• the privilege of being a part of this current church body that seeks to glorify God and point others to Him, reaching out to the community with an ice cream social and much more. Abby is currently teaching in Children’s Church and enjoying the time with this group of kids.
• Our fifth-year anniversary of when Jimmy and I started our relationship has come and gone as well.  As we look back on what God has done through just these past five years, it is overwhelming and beautiful to see evidence of how God has been guiding us each step of the way.

May we try to follow Christ like the boys follow Jimmy. When I watch my two precious boys eagerly run after their daddy trying to walk as big as him and carry the heavy loads he does, it reminds me of how we ought to be with our Heavenly Father.

May we be seeking to follow in His footsteps, carrying the loads He asks us to carry. Though we will never be perfect in our following here on earth, let us be diligent and faithful. And every day may we fill our hearts and minds with the truth of who God is.