Rochester L'Abri Prayer Letter - April, 2022
Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I hope…
O Israel, hope in the Lord! For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with Him is plentiful redemption.
Ps. 27:14, 130:5, 7
Dear Friends,
We are starting to see the first signs of spring, though in true Minnesota fashion it seems as though the weather is teasing us…one day we have lovely warm sunshine and the next the wind is whipping snowflakes through the air! The earliest of the spring flowers are pushing their way upwards and before long the L’Abri hill will be covered in a sea of bluebells. But for now, all we can do is wait in hope. In my recent reading through the Psalms I have noticed how often the psalmist reminds us to wait for the Lord and trust that whatever our circumstances may be, He will act on our behalf in His time, with the promise that those who wait for Him will not be disappointed. In a world where we are used to making things happen whenever we think they need to happen, the rhythm of the seasons – new life following winter death, harvest following planting – is a good reminder that sometimes the best things are realized only through patient waiting.
It has been a busy couple of months since Jock last wrote in January. We were very thankful to be back at the Kahler hotel to host our February conference - this year on the subject of ‘Image and Identity in a Culture of Confusion’ - after taking a break in 2021 due to Covid. We were expecting lower attendance this year because of Covid, so we were delighted to have around 300 people in attendance, and many more were able to purchase the recorded lectures on DVD! Though the topic is a sensitive one and fraught with tension and emotion, it was handled well by our speakers, and many who came expressed their gratitude for thoughtful, Biblically based discussion of current cultural trends.
The conference was followed by our March term, in which we hosted a succession of students who came to spend their spring break at L’Abri. While talking with one of them about what she had learned during her time here, I was reminded again of the value of the L’Abri rhythms and of how the integration of study time with practical work and time together as a community can be healing and life-giving. She had found plenty of time for study, but what had been most healing and restful for her was the opportunity to spend time doing practical things – creating meals from scratch, helping me to sew a fabric covering for a piece of furniture, spending time with children. God has created us as integrated beings, a complex interconnection of mind, body and spirit, and when one part is neglected the whole person suffers. Living with people in community gives us the time and space to interact with them as whole beings and to be able to see them experience rest and healing and growth in such a variety of ways.
Our team was more lively than usual the last three months thanks to the addition of James and Imogen Lowe, who came all the way from England with their four children to spend some time with us as helpers! Their family is an energetic bundle of creativity and enthusiasm, and they filled the house on 11th Avenue with life. They were a great help on the practical side of things, from cooking meals, to working on maintenance projects, to helping out with the conference. We did all the recording of the conference talks ourselves this year, and thanks to James’ hard work it was a great success. They have now returned to England, but have applied to come back and join the Rochester team as short term workers. The next step for them is to apply for a work visa, which may prove to be difficult. Please pray for them and for Jock as they go through this process.
Karen Alston has continued on as a part of our helper team, and the Rochester L’Abri has become her home base for the time being. Pray for her as she makes the transition from her home in Georgia to a new chapter here in Rochester.
After our March term ended we had a few weeks break, in which Jock and Alison took time to go to England for the L’Abri members meeting. It was a joyful reunion for them and for the other members who were able to attend, since they have had to do their annual meetings over Zoom for the last two years! Following the meetings they were able to take a few days’ vacation and visit some of their favorite places in the English countryside. Karen and I kept busy here meanwhile, working on house maintenance projects and catching up with friends. I was also able to spend some time with my parents on the farm, and enjoyed being together with most of my family on Easter Sunday.
Next on the agenda is our Spring Retreat at Ebenezer, and then we’ll be returning to Rochester mid- May to prepare for our summer terms. Jock has been working through the necessary requirements for starting the carriage house building project, and is hoping that the contractor will be able to start work on it this summer. Pray for wisdom for him as he navigates discussions with the city, the contractor and our donor friend to bring this long-held dream into being.
There is so much to be thankful for whenever we take time to stop and reflect on how the Lord is at work in our lives and is faithful to provide for our every need. In the face of daily reports of war and confusion and “fear on every side”, we can take heart, as we have been reminded by our recent celebration of Easter, knowing that Jesus bore oppression and affliction in order that He might overcome it, and no evil or oppression can thwart His good plan for this world that He created.
We are so thankful for each of you, and for your faithful support of the Rochester L’Abri.
In Christ,
Mercy