Grace Notes

The problem that arises when neglect my blog for so long is that I create such a “build up” of things to report I don’t know where to start!

First off, I want to say a big thank you to the Bright Lights summer interns: Jolynn, Emily, Anna, and Melodie. They worked so hard, and I don’t know how we could have done it all without them this summer. So many good memories!! The fellowship was very special. We love you guys!

Secondly, thank you to anyone who was praying for our team during the conferences. I had specifically requested prayer before the last conference (pictured above) and the Lord definitely provided and did some very encouraging things! We heard so many stories and good reports. And God gave us the energy and enthusiasm we needed to finish strong.
We have just one set of conferences left for this year. They will be held in Minneapolis on October 4-8. Click here for more information.

Thirdly, I want to thank you all for the encouraging feedback you gave as we were picking a new design for the Bright Lights binder. Wow–we appreciated everyone who commented! We had many discussions around the graphics computer (a frequent occurrence around here!) and we finally finished and ordered the binders. The picture above is Caitlyn, Jolynn and Nickie finishing up the project after Emily left (with Lois watching on the left :)).

On the home front, we are getting a new roof on both houses (our family’s house and the intern/guest house.) Some good friends, the Blooms, are staying with us and Mr. Bloom is helping with the roofing. We are having a little too much fun listening to their funny stories over meals.

AND we removed all the overgrown bushes from the front of the guest house. Actually, we didn’t do it–some other good friends from Nebraska (who hosted my parents during the NE Bright Lights conference this summer) came to visit for a day and asked if there was anything they could do to help. Anyone who knows our family very well knows we usually don’t turn down those kinds of offers. 🙂 Here’s Mr. Rothfuss with the chainsaw.

Thank you, Rothfuss family!

We have also been enjoying having Lois living with us (left) for a while. Her family has been serving with an orphanage and school in Thailand, and we’ve been friends with them for several years. Lois has been WONDERFUL to have around. I took this picture yesterday as we were eating a special Thai lunch that she and Jolynn made for us. Soooo good.

If you are an American and have never eaten homemade coconut cream icecream with peanuts and sweet corn, you are missing out!! (Seriously!)

Here was the little luncheon.

Well, I think that’s enough pictures for now!

One last comment: At the Bright Lights conferences this summer I announced that I would be posting some witnessing questionnaires here on the blog for people to use. I haven’t forgotten, and it will be coming soon! Thank you everyone for your patience.

It was about 10pm Tuesday evening. The “Strong in the Lord Conference” had ended for the evening, and would be starting at 9am the following day. Since we were video taping, we really needed to practice some of our skits that night to refresh the camera crew, since they haven’t traveled with our team for a while. We had a lot to do and it was going to be a late night. But first everyone went to the kitchen to eat dinner. 🙂

Oh no! Upon arriving back to the auditorium after supper, we realized that the janitor had locked the doors to the auditorium while we were all eating. Then he had left to go home. Dawn, our hostess, tried calling several different people, but it was too late at night to get a hold of anyone. Now what?!

I just felt like laughing…hardly believing what was happening. The only time we have EVER been locked out of a church auditorium is the ONE time we need to be in there the most to practice for the video. It’s in situations like this where it is fun to sit back and watch “how God will fix this one.”

My dad called a prayer meeting.

The guys unsuccessfully attempted many various creative ways to well, pick the lock… (don’t tell anybody :)) and trigger the motion release.

Then they began to think of other even more creative options to get into the auditorium: the air vents! But after a little investigating, they decided that wasn’t a good idea. I think the next plan was to take the door off it’s hinges…

Everyone was getting pretty tired and a little silly…(surprise, surprise)… and we were all glad when we heard that Dawn got a hold of someone from the church who had the access code. But I wanted to see someone go through a vent! I was thinking. Okay, I guess it wasn’t the time to complain about that. We were grateful to be able to get in and do the practicing we needed to do before it got too late.

This was just one of the many answers to prayer we saw while recording the conference, so thank you to all who were praying!

Here Stephen is sharing with the group about one specific miracle that happened regarding the audio on Saturday afternoon. Another answer to prayer.

Hopefully, at some point in the future, Bright Lights groups will be able to do “Strong in the Lord” video conferences, just as they are already doing Radiant Purity video conferences. It would definitely be a way to reach more girls.

Hello Everybody

Locked Out.