Furlough Update
Hello Friends,
We know, way too long since we have posted! Sorry about that.
We wanted to write to give you an update about what we have been doing on our furlough. As you might remember, we came to the US in stages this summer. Melody came back in July, Robin and Bethany at the beginning of August, and Bob at the end of August.
You might be wondering what missionaries do for housing during a furlough. Well, some live in a few different places as they travel during their furloughs, some live in missionary guest homes if they are available, some with family and some with friends. Us? We are so blessed to be living with friends (who are like family). Most times that we have come back to the states, we have based ourselves in Chester, NH, where our home church is at the home of Frank and Kathi Camillieri. Frank and Kathi are as close to family as you can get without sharing a gene pool! Robin has known them as her "second set of parents" since she was a little girl and our family has enjoyed our relationship with them for as many years as we can remember.
The Camillieri's live in a beautifully restored home near the center of Chester and have opened up to us every time we need a place to stay. Even with the length of our furlough this year, they graciously offered for us to base ourselves from their home. What a blessing for us to be on the receiving end of I Peter 4:9 which says "offer hospitality to one another...".
Here's what we have been up to:
We have spent quite a bit of time with our families. It has been great to see everyone and catch up with everyone's lives. Besides visiting with family and friends, we have been:
Bethany - is homeschooling this year. She doesn't like it quite as much as going to school with all her friends, but she does do school with some of her friends here a few days a week and enjoys that very much. She is also enjoying "Impact", our home church's friday night youth group program.
Melody - is taking correspondence courses through Moody Bible Institute and hopes to attend there in 2010. Mel works three mornings a week tutoring a 1st grader, teaches Spanish classes to 25 homeschooling students, and babysits for a few local families. She is also part of our church's worship team and youth leadership team so she is keeping very busy.
Adam - just started working a new job at Sears selling in the electronics department. Bob worked for Sears for 19 years and there are still a few people there that Bob worked with. Adam is also serves on the worship team at church and recently started a second part time job.
Bob & Robin - We have attended two mission conferences, one at our home church and a second one this past week at a supporting church in New York. Every missions conference is a little bit different and we enjoy the variety. We are always glad to reconnect, be fed (physically and spiritually!), and be able to share about the ministry we are involved in.
We will be traveling to Pennsylvania to participate in AMG's annual banquet there next month and are planning visits to other supporters and supporting churches.
Bob is working on starting a masters degree program in Biblical Studies and hopes to get several courses done during this time of furlough.
All of us are enjoying taking part in the ministries at Fellowship Bible Church. Adam, Melody, Bob & Robin are all singing in the choir. Its fun to share in this ministry together.
We'll share some pictures soon so you can see our home town and some of the things we have been doing.
Thanks for all of your continued support and prayers.
Love from all the Hastings
