Rochester L'Abri Prayer Letter - Sept, 2022
…In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come…nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Rom 8:37-39
Dear Friends,
Well, it has been quite an unusual summer for us! After a very full first summer term – the fullest we’ve had in years – we were looking forward to a nice break in July. We usually spend a couple of weeks working on construction projects at Ebenezer, but since the building is now complete, we planned to stay here, and I decided to use the time for a couple of vacation trips. One of them was to Montana to visit my sister, who manages a ranch in the northeast corner of the state. My plan was to drive out there, spend a few days, and get back in time for the beginning of our second summer term. But my plans came to a crashing halt on July 24th! I had decided to drive from MN to MT all in one day, since a friend was going with me and we could share the driving. We’d been driving all day and were only 7 miles from our destination when the road changed from pavement to gravel unexpectedly, so I was going highway speed when I hit the gravel. A tire blew, which must have caused me to lose control, and the car flipped and/or rolled, landing upside down in the ditch. Somehow both my friend and I crawled out of there and I was able to call my sister. A visit to the ER confirmed that my friend had a concussion and she was sent home to rest, but I was airlifted to a larger hospital for surgery, as one of my carotid arteries was severely damaged and blocked with a blood clot. I also had a concussion, and my C2 vertebra was fractured.
So instead of going home to Rochester to help with the second summer term as I had planned, I went home to my parents’ farm in order to recover! I am amazed and so thankful that my friend and I are alive and well, able to walk and talk and think. The story could have ended so differently! Nonetheless, the recovery process for such an accident has been long and slow, so I’ve been grateful to be with my parents where I can stay quiet and rest. The concussion has healed well, and my carotid arteries also seem to be functioning normally, with no after effects. Healing the fracture is a slower process, and I am wearing a neck brace which limits movement while it’s healing. I will have to wear it for at least 3 months from the date of the accident.
I am so thankful for the opportunity this accident has given me to experience the goodness of the Lord, and how He delights to care for His children. Going through this accident and subsequent recovery has been a vivid reminder for me of these verses from Isaiah 30: “In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” But you were unwilling, and you said, “No! We will flee upon horses”…Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore He exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him.””Is. 30:15, 16, 19 Being brought up short in the midst of my constant busyness has given me time to rest and to think and to realize how easily I get caught up in a busyness that leaves no room for the quietness and trust that Isaiah speaks of here. I may not be doing the things the children of Israel did – turning to idols or to the kings of the surrounding nations – but is my attitude any different than theirs? Am I not falling into the same mistake as they did by placing too much value on what I am able to accomplish? By relying on “horses and kings” (my own resources) instead of living as a beloved child of the King of kings? Like the people of Israel, I am sure that I know what needs to be done and am determined to get it done my way! And all the time as I scurry and scramble, He is waiting for me to stop and look up, to realize that things of value are accomplished only through quiet confidence in Him, and that my strength will fail if I try to rely on my own resources. This has been a time for me to stop and look up, and in doing so I have been overwhelmed by His love and graciousness towards me.
Meanwhile, life at the Rochester L’Abri has continued on with as much of a normal rhythm as possible. Jock and Alison have carried on with the second summer term, managing everything on their own, as Karen Alston, our long-term helper, is with her family in Oregon and won’t be returning until later this month. Thankfully, it has been quieter than the last term, with a small and easygoing group of students and not as much coming and going – a blessing for the McGregors, since half their team is absent! It has not been without its own difficulties though. Alison had finally healed from her broken shoulder and was relieved to finish her last physical therapy appointment…but a couple days later she rolled her ankle and ended up with a broken foot! I will let Jock fill you in on the details of this, as well as other news from the Rochester L’Abri…
Yes, (Jock here), it has been a season of challenges…and broken bones! But God has preserved…and God has provided! Mostly, we are just so thankful that Mercy (and her friend) were not more seriously injured – or even killed! And so glad she is healing well and getting good rest at home. Alison also got the good news that she will not need surgery on her foot, and wearing a boot for six weeks will suffice. We are also very thankful for how God has provided for L’Abri during Mercy and Karen’s absence – John & Day Hodges flew in to pinch-hit for a few weeks and Beth Keister from Minneapolis also jumped in a few times. So, with providentially fewer students and an awesome helper, Crystal La Plue, we have made it through and wrap up term tomorrow. We had a good run of Friday Night Lectures and I have also set the agenda for our next February Conference.
The 2023 Rochester L’Abri Conference will again be at the Kahler Grand Hotel over February 17/18th on the theme of Education – especially tertiary education - under the title ‘From one generation to another: The Christian Education Mandate and its Challenges’. The full details will be posted online later in November, but meanwhile do save the date.
With deep thankfulness we can now look forward to a few weeks of rest also – God is Good!
Yours in Christ,
Mercy (& Jock)