GRADUATION

line to meet the teachers

Caleb's math teacher

Pensacola Christian College

rock climbing

getting ready for graduation

right before the graduation ceremony

graduation program

Noah shaking the principal's hand

graduating ceremony

Congratulations Noah!

The time has come when we have now seen our oldest son graduate from high school.  Since 2nd grade, Noah has been homeschooling using the Abeka curriculum, and during his senior year, he was accredited.  This allowed him to participate in the Abeka Academy graduation that was held at Pensacola Christian College.  There were about 360 graduates at Noah's graduation, with another 410 at the second ceremony.  Wow, is Pensacola far!  After driving all the way north to Tallahassee, it is another 3-hour drive west!  We had never been there before, but found it very beautiful.  The day before Noah's graduation, we could tour the college campus and use their facilities, including rock climbing!  Also, Caleb had the chance to meet some of his online teachers from his homeschool curriculum.  Overall, we had a nice few days up there with just our family celebrating Noah and his graduation. Oh! And he was also able to take his driver's test for his driver's license, and yes, he passed! 

photoshoot

some foosball action at City Light Church

great time with great friends

sharing with some at City Light Church

Pensacola drive

bocce time in the Villages

great looking storm in the Villages

always Mission BBQ!

time with family celebrating Noah's birthday

ping pong with friends

Although Noah's graduation was the main reason we traveled to Florida this time, we were able to squeeze in a few visits up north.  We had a great time visiting all of our friends from Calvary Chapel Villages.  We also got to visit our good friends up in New Smyrna, along with their church, City Light.  We will be having a mission team coming in the fall from their fellowship, and we are really looking forward to it.  We also got to be with Len's family for a couple of days and share Noah's 17th birthday.  It was a short trip, but it was a good time, and another chapter has closed as we now look at college.

When we got back, we were welcomed with some of the church body waiting for us in the front cafe room as we came to church that Sunday morning.  While we were away, we were told two new families came to church.  How great to see the church continue to have new people!  And then those two moms from those families came to the women's night as well!

Recent changes in local government policy here in our small city of Motul have created some significant challenges for Calvary Motul and other churches in our area. Under new regulations, churches are now being categorized as commercial entities, which has resulted in a sharp increase in fees and taxes. This shift places a financial strain on ministries like ours that operate entirely through the generosity of the community. While we respect and seek to work alongside local authorities, we’re praying for greater understanding and cooperation so that faith communities like Calvary Motul can continue serving both the spiritual and practical needs of the people without unnecessary obstacles.

We have a youth mission team coming soon from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale.  They will be serving alongside our church for our annual VBS.  Please keep this event and their time here in your prayers.  Last year, it rained a lot before the VBS events, and it kept many away.  We pray for many new families to come, as well as many to return.  This year, we are adding a new part of ministry to VBS.  After the kids are checked in and VBS is in session, we are inviting parents to stay and hang out in the cafe if they want.  We will have coffee and yummy treats available for them, as well as people from our church available to talk with them.  We pray that this will be fruitful.