Village Blog

What we call the beginning is often the end, and to make an end is to make a beginning.  The end is where we start from.

 T.S. Eliot

Dear Village Bible Church ,

What is our beginning and end? Leaving the U.S. and returning to Ireland. Jonathan leaves "Sunday week" as the Irish would say (a week from Sunday, July 20th.) Becky and the boys leave the 31st.

Little did our forefathers know what a "beginning" they had created on the 4th of July! We seldom see the full repercussions of our actions. That is why we must trust God for every step we take. Just four months ago we were in need of an additional $1775/month. Funny enough, this daunting figure prompted us to think of the year 1776 when the Declaration of Independence was signed. Even if $1775 was raised it was still not 1776 - independence.   We're always dependent on Him.

The Georgian Doors of Dublin pictured above can be traced back to the 16thcentury and are named for the English monarchs that ruled during that period (Kings George I-IV; 1714-1830). As the population of Dublin grew so did the need to expand beyond the old medieval city; however, tight structural and design restrictions imposed upon builders resulted in many homes appearing identical. So, people added ornate knockers, elegant fanlights above the door, wrought iron boot scrapers near their entrance, and painted their doors in different colors to set their homes apart from others.

The Scripture gives us all identical designs for what our lives should look like. But we each have a different colored door.  In our case, the door He has asked us to walk through is Forty Shades of Green*. However, it is you who have swept the steps, added the knocker, installed and polished the doorknob, and sped us on our way. Praise God! Thanks to all of you who have once again made our journey possible. Can you believe we are now only short by $300/month? Because of your prayers and support we are now ready for the end of our time here and another new beginning in Ireland.

Prayer items:

1. We'd appreciate prayer for all the things we must attend to before our return - e.g. we've had some delays in getting Andrew's birth certificate. Please pray it will arrive soon so we can get his passport in time.

2. Andrew and Evan are going from feast to famine - from multiple Christian friends and godly influences in their lives to almost none. May God draw them to Himself as they face the challenges of returning to Ireland and give them the faith and boldness to be used by Him.

3. For Caleb as he rises to the occasion of living apart from the family and fully adjusting to the U.S. May God give him a good friend.

4. Jonathan is coordinating a missions team arriving in Ireland Aug. 2nd. Please pray everything will go smoothly as most of the preparations have had to be done from here.

5. Please pray for the final support we are in need of. And thanks again to all of you who have so generously helped us return to Ireland.

The next time we write it will be on Irish soil.

God bless,

Jonathan & Becky Schuster

*Forty Shades of Green is a song written by Johnny Cash in 1959 about Ireland.