Newspapers!

Peter John and Gretchen have been earning some of their own money on local paper routes.  It has been lots of work for Mom and Dad, too, helping them get set up, make decisions, and solve problems.  My friend Angie's kids have paper routes and it has instilled a great work ethic in them and given them some of their own spending cash.  When Ethan was growing up, he and his siblings had paper routes, too, so this is nothing new for his family.  It has been a great way for them to get to know some neighbors who seem to really like these two kiddos.  

Most of this week we had temps in the 90s plus high humidity. Those days were definitely a trial. The kids lacked the motivation to go out and do it.  Their dad had them wet a cap and put ice in it before placing it on their heads, plus they had plenty of water in a bottle to carry with them.  I am so proud of them for persevering through some tough days.  They survived!  Lots of prayers were going up to God for them from Mommy.  Today we had a great rainfall and break in the heat with cool weather in the 60s!  What a relief!

June 2012 Ministry Update

Ethan returned June 16 from Athens, Greece where he was teaching for ten days recently. Here is an update from him:

Et I had a great teaching trip to Athens, Greece this month teaching Biblical Theology to Romanian Pastors and Leaders. What are Romanians doing in Athens? Thousands work here in the construction industry, just as they do all over Europe.  There are several large Romanian congregations, and we had people from four of them.   In front is David Kern, my teaching Partner. The boys in front came with their dads every night (there were usually four of them).  We gave them curriculum books just like the others and they followed along intensely for four hours a night!! Wow, what is God going to do with those boys? This was my first as an official TLI staff member, and I want to say Thank You so much for being one of our financial supporters. I told my students the first night that I am able to come and serve them because of a team of supporters who send me. I join the students in saying “Thank You” for sending me to serve!

Our team in Minneapolis before the trip. Our team taught 5 different groups: Romanians, Albanians, Farsi speakers from sensitive nations, Arabic speakers from nations in Africa and the Middle East, and a group of English speakers from Africa and the Phillipines; a dozen or so nations in all!  Most of our students were extremely well read in the Scripture but few had ever seen or studied the themes of the Bible in a macroscopic view, or the story of the Bible from start to finish. So, the Biblical Theology curriculum was very exciting and helpful for them in understanding Scripture as whole. All in all, the trip was very intense, and the teaching both challenging and fruitful. For me it is a taste of things to come and I am so amazed that God has given me the opportunity to serve with TLI! TLI staff & wives in Colorado Springs. Speaking of TLI, and amazing, I had a great staff meeting in Colorado Springs! I can't say enough how thankful I am to work in such a well organized ministry with such smart and experienced guys. I love their passion for the Lord and His glory in our lives, ministry, and in the nations! Despite my jump directly from Athens to Colorado, I didn't really jet lag. Thanks for your prayers!! We had three intense days working through a lot of planning and decisions. One of the decisions was for TLI to co-locate our staff in one city… but we are not yet sure if that will be Minneapolis or Colorado Springs. That will be settled in October. Either way, we will be moving, probably next spring. We also planned most of our TLI trips for the coming year and I will be heading to Kenya in November, Greece again in January, then some locations in South Asia. It will be a busy year, and I am very excited to get in the field and teach, as well as start writing curriculum! Job # 1 Now that I am back from Greece I am back on the support raising trail! I will be meeting with many in the local area, and will probably take a trip out west again as well. Please pray that we can get our budget raised by this fall and begin teaching and traveling. Prayer for this month:  1. Praise God for the good trip to Greece, and pray for the pastors we trained as they serve Him in that city! 2. Praise God for the ministry of TLI and a great staff meeting. The needs and vision continue to grow which is exciting and sometimes overwhelming. We have more opportunites than we can serve, and we need wisdom to serve well.    TLI needs 200+ pastors and students to travel as volunteer teachers next year.    TLI needs 12 additional staff    TLI needs at least 10 fulltime missionaries to staff positions at schools in Africa.    3. Pray for my family as we wait to hear where TLI, and our family will be moving. We will have to make some housing decisions so please pray for wisdom here. 4. Pray for our family as we enter a season of change. It is exciting and we know God is leading us to green pastures! Pray for us to lean on and rejoice in the Lord, and lead our children joyfully and faithfully in this transition. 5. Pray for our support raising efforts and that God would bring all He calls, to partner with us!

Memorial Day

The Walk of Flags in Fergus Falls, MN, a beautiful city tradition.

Today we are remembering those that have gone before us to fight for the freedom of American citizens and others throughout the world. I remember both my grandfathers who served in the U.S. military and all the relatives who have come before us who made this country great by their faith in God and their hard work serving others.

2012 Garden News by Gretchen

2012 GARDEN

 Weeds, Weeds, Weeds! Hoe, Hoe, Hoe!

Radishes, Spinach, Beans, Corn, Lettuce, Dill

Grass clippings can be a great mulch!!!

 This year, we've planted our garden early, due to the great weather! Our garden this year consists of zucchini, lettuce, cucumbers, beets, corn, spinach, radishes and much more. And, our beloved rhubarb! :) We guarantee that we'll have a wonderful harvest!

Mother's Days

Frank Family Mother's Day! Mom, Grandma, my four sisters, and me.

Ministry News by Elysia

Our road to serving God through Training Leaders International is moving forward. Ethan is preparing to serve in Athens, Greece in June 2012. He will be teaching along with a team of other teachers the subject of Biblical Theology to pastors and church leaders congregating in Athens. This short-term trip will be about ten days long.

In order to prepare for these teaching trips, Ethan is currently support raising for his yearly salary and mission trip costs for TLI. So far this spring, Ethan has traveled by car to Idaho (twice), Arizona, and Colorado to meet with friends and relatives sharing the vision God has given us to teach and minister to church leaders around the world.  In fact, today he will be returning from Idaho where he spent a week meeting with friends there to share about our mission work.

Are you interested in joining us in our team of prayer and financial supporters?  If so, please contact Ethan or visit the Training Leaders International support page in order to receive more information about supporting us.  Please let Ethan know if you would like him to meet with you to talk about TLI and our vision for teaching and training Biblical, Christ-centered leaders throughout the world.

Praise and Prayer Requests

1. PRAISE: We are already building a team of supporters who are interested in seeing the Gospel taught and leaders built up to advance the ministry of Jesus Christ throughout the world.
2. PRAISE: Ethan will be joining a team of teachers in June to Athens, Greece!
3. PRAYER NEED: Ethan's studies as he prepares to teach Biblical Theology.
4. PRAYER NEED: Spirit-filled and Gospel-centered teaching that glorifies God and builds up the Church throughout the world.
5. PRAYER NEED: Financial provision and prayer support.
6. PRAYER NEED: A long-term base for the Larsons to work from. Strength and provision for family life. Spiritual growth and fellowship for the Larsons.

"That Your way may be known on earth, 

Your salvation among all nations." Psalm 67:2

The Primary Thing in Marriage

....Christ and the Church

As Christians, we often talk about Christ as the foundation of our marriage. Is this really true about us and our marriages? When I first saw this video, I realized how selfish I am and was saddened.  This couple has taken the gift of the covenant love of Christ and applied it to their marriage. We must look at this covenant relationship with Christ as the point and purpose of marriage, rather than our personal happiness.   I had a talk with a missionary in Chad when I was there in January. She was telling me about this concept and reminded me of the book "The Cost of Discipleship" by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In it he writes,"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." Now, Lord, teach us how to apply this concept and cling to Christ as our source and true foundation in marriage.

To read more about Ian and Larissa, go to the Desiring God blog:
Why We God Married
A Daily Disabled Life