Many of you may remember our children from when we were on the field in Kenya, Africa. When we started, our youngest, Jerusha, was four years old and the oldest, Johanna, was sixteen with the three boys spaced in between. Since more than a decade has gone by, we thought you might be interested in a family update:
 
Looking at the photo from left to right:

• Johanna married Matthew Gilmore in March 2010. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in Social Work and is a nanny for three small girls. Matt has an AS in Marketing, Management & Sales and works for an IT company that subcontracts with Corning, Inc. In January 2012 their first baby was born, Genesis Nicole, our first grandchild!

• Israel married Jacqueline Cortland in June 2010. Israel has a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and works full-time as a peace officer at Tompkins Cortland Community College and part-time as a police officer for the Dryden Police. Jacqui graduated from Ithaca College with a Bachelor’s degree in Cinema and Photography and works free-lance. They both are active leaders of the teen group in their church and lead yearly mission trips into Nicaragua (no small task).

• Jerusha (holding Israel and Jay’s arms) is attending Elmira Christian Academy for her high school years and loves the change from years of homeschooling. She has her first job at Bed Bath and Beyond and is also a junior volunteer at a local hospital.

• Japheth is pictured here with his girlfriend Danielle Harris. Jay is a full-time student at Oneonta State College in Business Economics. He’s the bass player in the worship band Oceans and Vessels and the video-guy in a newly-formed media business called Creation Media and Technology. Danielle is attending Corning Community College and pursuing a career in music/worship.

• Jotham married Beth Waters in May 2011. Joth has a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Binghamton University and Beth studied physical education at Roberts Wesleyan College. They have relocated to Austin, TX where Joth works for Hewlett-Packard Co. In May 2012, Joth and Beth had their first baby, Gideon Michael, our first grandson.

As you can imagine, Mom and Dad couldn’t be prouder, especially since all of our kids are serving the Lord in various ways. The home front is shrinking fast – the first three children married within fourteen months of each other. But, we see this coinciding with the ramping up of COGO and our ability to minister out and overseas more.

The Lord gave this scripture to David when we first ventured forth with our family to the field in 2000. We are forever humbled by God’s faithfulness to us and our children as we continue to live in the land of promise: “By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise” (Heb. 11:9).