Rochester L'Abri Prayer Letter - November, 2023
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name. Psalm 33:20-21
Dear Praying Family,
I was about to sit down and start this prayer letter this morning but was waylaid by a couple who were about to leave, and as it often goes, one thing led to another and we ended up sitting in our living room in the sun and I was being fired with questions about L’Abri, its history, how we operate and why we do what we do.
I was happy to be interrupted, as the husband of this retired couple is a non-believer, here with his Christian wife. Their 3 days here has left an impression, and he is hungry for more - thankfully they live in the twin cities, so it’s a possibility. I do so enjoy talking about the stories of God’s faithfulness, and seeing how God is orchestrating things together. The wife heard about L’Abri after picking up the ‘The God Who is There’, and though she found it hard to understand she looked up the website and found we were nearby.
Another retired man arrived just last night, and he recounted his conversion story at high tea. While reading ‘Genesis in Space and Time’ on a train heading out West nearly 50 years ago, he wept learning about Jesus in the Old Testament for the first time. He left as a young rebel and arrived a believer, going on to become a Lutheran pastor, a missionary in Africa and a seminary professor in Minnesota. This weaving of the tapestry carries on and on, and the stories point to our Faithful and good God and continue to witness to unbelievers and encourage the faithful.
The Summer Term ended with a beautiful wedding, with Mercy and Leif Eastvold joining their lives together. It was a small family wedding in a beautiful little country church that Mercy grew up in. Both their large families were joining together with a sweet sense of continuity. They are now happily settled, harvesting together on their farm in North Dakota – we miss her terribly, but are so happy for them both.
Something that has been much on our minds lately is the theme of waiting as we ponder the future. There are so many times that God’s people are encouraged to wait. It is a choice and an act of faith and trust, to not light our own fires, but to place the future in God’s hands. I find that not doing something is hard, and oddly can take more effort than self-reliance. But when we restrain ourselves and are patient, we can place our confidence in God’s present supernatural activity, in the here and now. Rather than distracting detours, the quiet stance of prayer bears much fruit. I don’t find it easy, but at times it is necessary and by his grace the Spirit helps us to discern and be patient.
With Mercy leaving, and the Lowe’s on a short-term visa, our prayers have been particularly concentrated on asking God to send the workers of his choice, to help us in our immediate need, and also to provide for the long-term future of this branch. In fact, this Thanksgiving week, we will be having a special Day of Prayer & Fasting to focus on that need especially. Please do join your prayers with us in this matter as we wait on the Lord.
Waiting on God, however, does not mean complete inactivity - in fact life is very busy. Hosting people between here and Missouri takes up most of our time, but that is only a part of what is going on. Currently the carriage house has started to be built (something longed for, for 30 years) and it is marvelous, but keeping Jock busy. All our ash trees have died and all Summer James, Jock and the students have been removing them. We are glad to have saved quite a few large trunks for a church friend who is building a post and beam home.
We are also glad to be hosting the annual Trustees meeting down in Missouri at the Ebenezer Retreat Center - and in conjunction holding another day conference in St. Louis on Dec 2nd, taking advantage of having them in the area. With the title ‘Pilgrimage in Uncertain Times’, the conference will be at Covenant Presbyterian Church, the church where Dr. Schaeffer once pastored. Registration details can be found on our website. And then there are the ongoing preparations for our annual February conference…
We are very conscious, amid all this busyness, that God has already been so generous in all that He has provided, and His mercy is sweet. We have two wonderful helpers, Carissa and Elizabeth, the dear Lowe family, and more than enough to occupy us - while we place the future in His hands.
In Christ,
Alison