The Stamp Collector
Thank you for your prayers for our new Bridges promo video, “The Stamp Collector.” It was a whirlwind two month project, going from concept, to script, casting, to filming, to editing, to completion. God really carried us through.
In the film, an international student collects stamps that look similar to passport stamps. But each stamp represents an experience he has here in the States.
Zack was thrilled with the opportunity to write the script and edit the final product. It’s something he has dreamed of doing for Bridges for several years. Naomi enjoyed working as the casting director, and Annalei assisted our director Lauren (pictured below). We are excited to share this film with you after it premiers at our Cru staff conference in July.
God provided in crazy ways, including using Coach Adrian’s old gymnastics space to supply the location for the set.
Forever 21
The day we were filming “The Stamp Collector” our beloved Granny passed away. We will treasure the memory of our last FaceTime call with her before she passed. She was opening her mouth and slightly opening her eyes. To quote Cassia, “she tried her best” to talk to us. We are also very thankful that we were able to have a wonderful visit with her over Easter.
Granny’s funeral was a wonderful time of laughter and remembering this amazing woman who impacted all of our lives. We all wore red (her favorite color) or dressed for 4th of July (her favorite holiday). Her 8 great-grandchildren at the gravesite are pictured above. Zack wrote a beautiful tribute to Granny on Facebook.
My grandmother, Granny, went to be with the Lord this weekend. She was only 21. (If you asked her age, that was always her response.) Granny was hands-down the funnest person I have ever known. She taught me to laugh about everything in life, and to never take yourself too seriously. She was the embodiment of generosity and the personification of hospitality. She could pinch pennies and drive bargains, but she was always generous with those she loved. Or our friends. Or people she just met. Because she never, ever met a stranger. If you’ve ever had a meal with Granny, you probably had more food served than you’ve seen in your life.
She always called me “Joe” by mistake, either thinking of my uncle or grandfather, but she never forgot my favorite foods, or any details about the clocks she collected. She was also, at times, my personal alarm clock, making sure I didn’t ever sleep in past sunrise. There was simply too much to do to be lazy. She herself never sat still, and was always hard at work. Her life was full of beauty and light and warmth. As such, my own life feels a little more drab and dim and cold today. I will miss her deeply.
With the work stress, and grief of Granny’s passing, Zack has not been sleeping well and has had dizziness and heart palpitations.
Summer Seminary
We are now in Fort Collins, Colorado. As part of our ongoing training with Cru, this Summer we are taking seminary-level classes: Biblical Interpretation & Communication; Christian Worldview & Ethics; and Humanity, Christ and Salvation. We will end our time here with the national Cru staff conference. We would appreciate prayer that the time here would be encouraging & enriching for us, empowering the ministry work we do.
UPCOMING
We will gather with 5,000 other Cru staff for our biennial Staff Conference at Colorado State University.
PRAISE REPORTS
- God brought together all the details for the film, including Adrian supplying the perfect location
- God carried Zack through and he finished editing “The Stamp Collector”
- Granny’s funeral was a won-derful time of remembrance.
PRAYER REQUESTS
- “The Stamp Collector” would be a powerful tool in creating strong emotional connections b/w Americans and internationals.
- Encouragement through seminary classes & staff conference.
- Rest. (We are coming off an extremely exhausting month)
- Zack’s insomnia & health problems from stress.