Baby Coming Soon!
I (Naomi) am 37 1/2 weeks pregnant now and busy preparing for the arrival of baby #4, due July 22nd. With all my pregnancies, back pain in the third trimester has been a huge problem for me. But with this pregnancy, I have had the least amount of pain thanks to a new chiropractor. She really is an answer to prayer.
We praise God that I was able to have a successful, all natural VBAC with Cassia. My recovery was so quick and easy after a natural childbirth. I would like to do the same with baby #4 as well. My doctor said the risk of uterine rupture with this baby is exactly the same, even though I have had one successful VBAC. Please join us in praying for a successful, natural delivery. Please also pray that it would be quick. My labor with Annalei was 31 hours and my labor with Cassia was 24 hours.
I would also appreciate prayers for a peaceful, easy baby. Cassia was my most difficult baby. We had 6 months of colic and 15 months of bad sleep. I would really love to not repeat that.
BUILDing up Our Co-Laborers
Thank you so much for your prayers for the BUILD conference in Vancouver. Our family had a rough time getting there. Zack and Miah had to fly separately because Miah was throwing up continually the day we were supposed to travel. But once we were all there together, we had a great time as a family. We were even blessed that my (Naomi’s) mom was able to join us and work childcare for the conference! I would say that overall, the BUILD conference was a very encouraging and restful time for our family as well as the Bridges staff family.
Zack used BUILD to train several other Bridges staff in conference production. As usual with training someone, there were a few hiccups, but on the whole the production team for the conference did an incredible job. I am very excited that there are other Bridges staff joining Zack in conference production. For so many years, he has carried too much of the burden of production at our Bridges events.
You can watch the main messages from our keynote speaker, Jim Coffield, here:
Christian Faith is Reasonable
As part of my continuing education with Cru, I (Zack) took a seminary-level class this summer on Apologetics. We analyzed arguments for (and against) the existence of God, the reliability of the Bible, the Resurrection of Jesus, and many other topics. My final assignment was to take what I learned and write an article geared towards the objections that a typical Chinese student has to Christian faith. You can read it here. Please feel free to copy/paste anything you find helpful into a discussion with your friends. I want to be a resource for your own ministry efforts!
Upcoming
We are looking forward to the arrival of baby #4 who is due on July 22.
Praise Reports
•The BUILD conference went really well, and was a robust forum for all of our Bridges staff to engage with our mission and each other.
•Zack was able to effectively train several other Bridges staff in conference production at BUILD.
•Zack was very encouraged and equipped by his Apologetics class this summer.
Prayer Requests
•Naomi could have a quick and all-natural VBAC.
•Baby #4 would be a peaceful and easy baby.
•Cassia would adjust well to having a baby in the house (and sharing her room!)