NTM

There is hammering, whirring, and other manly noises coming from the loft today – the guys are laying hardwood flooring!

I have been supplying them with delicious coffee (the beans came all the way from Iowa) and chocolate chip cookies (studies show that these affect the return rate of volunteers!)

John Bender is the carpenter who has been making the doors for the loft with Peter for the last couple of months. Can’t wait to show you those masterpieces!

As soon as lunch is over (chalupas bubbling in the oven, fresh asparagus, and Mom Humphreys’ chocolate cake) I’ll take a picture of their progress. You might notice that the flooring is only partially sanded, and all different colors. It was originally donated to the NTMC camp, and was then passed on to us. We will get it completely sanded down, and have already chosen a color to stain it with (I think it is Early American Blonde…hmm, should we worry?)

This is a busy time for some of our kids….

Dan and Cheralyn Hendrix will be moving to Corpus Christi, Texas, in a few weeks. They are still waiting on direction from the Lord as they would like to adopt one or more children. Please include them in your prayers – thanks!

Deryk and Ivy will be moving up here to Canada in August to complete the last half of their missions training. We are so excited to have some grandkids around here! Please pray for them as they decide on moving options, and say goodbye to friends in the area.

Dan and Kiki Jongewaard always have a lot going on! We were thrilled to be able to visit them recently (and also got to see Deryk, Ivy, and Emery on the way). Kiki has her house set up beautifully and it was fun to be their guest. Dan and Kiki will be married for a year on August 26th!

We will try to have a new picture of Max, Zuly, and Naomi for our next letter – they have moved to Peru!

Okay, here’s a picture of progress being made. The flooring is laid at least half-way to the main door, and is already extending into the bedroom.

Thanks for praying for us; we are always grateful for your prayers, generous support and notes of encouragement.

With appreciation and love,

Peter and Leah Humphreys

Did your hands fly off the keyboard like mine did?! Ha!

Jeff and Stacy Hunt sent us this picture, taken in Paraguay (home of the Manjui Indians) where we lived for so many years. I think the nasty bugs are just getting bigger and bigger out there.

People always say that their fear of spiders and snakes is what keeps them from considering missionary work. What’s really funny is that when we would return to North America from Paraguay for home leave, people would ask us, "How can you live out in the jungle with all the spiders and snakes?" (I definitely had "Terminal Fear of Spiders Disease"!)

And I would reply, "How can you live HERE with all the human predators we read about? At least nothing out in the jungle is getting up in the morning and making plans to come after my kids!"

Here is an old picture of Shaun with a baby anteater – our kids loved growing up in the jungle! To my great amazement, I became more comfortable in the jungle with all the creepy critters than anywhere else in the world. But, Canada hasn’t been too hard to adjust to. I do really miss the sun, though…

It’s interesting to me that God gives us amazing grace to live wherever He takes us, calming our hearts and giving us joy as we obey His will – no matter what dangers are common to the place where He puts us. And that grace comes with obedience – whether He tells us to GO or STAY!

Peter has been working hard in the loft, finishing up the painting, and building a stone backdrop for the propane fireplace. Recently he finished grouting the tile floor on which the fireplace will sit. It looks really great! We are thanking God for the gifts that came in recently to make this possible. And thanks, Peter van der Heide, for the gift of the materials to do this project!

After Peter finishes fashioning the wood mantelpiece, he’ll put trim along the sides of the stonework. We are about ready to put down some flooring! It’s fun to think ahead to the people God will bring here, and imagine them pulling up their chairs to the warmth of the fire, or looking out the picture window at the beautiful scenery.

Currently, Peter has been working with a friend from church, John Bender, who has offered to make all the doors, windowsills and trim for the loft at his shop. This is another wonderful provision from the Lord, who is also giving them great times of fellowship together.

I have been studying and preparing for upcoming speaking opportunities – my favorite! Peter and I are grateful, too, for really good health.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and interest. We have been enjoying the people God has already brought our way, and are thankful for the opportunities He is giving us to trust Him and appreciate His promises.

With love and prayers for you,

Peter and Leah Humphreys

Yes, there has been great progress, and lots of willing helpers. But first…
This is what we’ve been seeing out our back window, all through the day! It’s been a cold winter, and the deer love to eat the cedar branches around the pond. Now they are easier to get to with the pond frozen over – a beautiful sight.

And this is what the ceilings in the loft look like! We hired a ‘ceiling guy’ on Saturday, and once again, Jason Walton came out to help (he’s a student at the missions’ institute in town). God keeps on providing!

The last week in February, two men come up from Wisconsin to pour a new garage floor. They were amazing! Freddy Peraza and Dave Tatem worked tirelessly on this project with Peter, and also brought funds with them to help finance it!

The old (cracked, uneven) cement floor was chopped out, and a new one poured, complete with in-floor heating. This will make it possible to insulate the garage and keep it warm enough so that the water pipes for the loft won’t burst during winter’s freezing temperatures.

Thanks, guys!

We are grateful for each of you: for your notes, prayers and gifts.

Peter and Leah Humphreys

As you can see, we’ve had a lot of snow lately – almost two feet in one night! Since there is rain predicted (which would ice up the roof and add greatly to the weight on it) people are busy shoveling in this neighbourhood! There is a four-foot pileup of snow in places on our roof…

On the loft project, Peter has been sanding the walls for priming. Jason Walton, a student from the nearby NTMC Missionary Training Center, has been out to help and much has been accomplished.

Thanks, Jason!!

I, personally, have the arduous task of selecting colors for the walls – this job is made easy by the fact that God has already provided the decorations, including wall hangings, some lamps, and throw pillows! Matching those will be easy.

Following the final painting, we’ll be ready to put in carpet and kitchen flooring – thanks for praying with us for the necessary funds to cover those costs (see our website for more details)!

Meanwhile, we keep busy studying for several upcoming speaking engagements, as well as Bible studies and other opportunities God fills our schedule with.

Thanks for being our partners in this great job!

With appreciation,

Peter and Leah Humphreys

Greetings from Still Waters – and we finally have some snow here! We had a wonderful holiday and a green Christmas, made even more terrific because of having Deryk, Ivy and Emery Humphreys here to celebrate Christ’s birth with us.

Pray for Deryk and Ivy as they are planning to enter the second half of mission’s training in the Fall, here in Durham. There are many things they are praying about and trusting God for as they move ahead by faith and take this big step.

Early in the New Year, Peter was rear-ended while turning into our driveway. The young man in the truck didn’t get hurt, but he was later charged with careless driving. Our car was pretty banged up, as was Peter. As of today, though, Peter is doing great, and the Honda looks brand new!

I am sitting up in bed writing to you on my laptop, recovering excellently from surgery (that I’ve had to put off several times). Peter’s been hovering over me since I got home from the hospital and I’m starting to feel guilty for still being in bed.

We have such a long list of things to be thankful for, one of which is God’s provision through you for further work to be done on the loft project! We are so grateful for help
from students at the mission’s institute nearby and are also excited at the possibility of a work team from Wisconsin coming to help in February.

Whatever the challenges are that 2007 will bring through God’s hand, we look forward to them with glad hope. Pray, too, for His dear servants that will come this way for refreshment and guidance from His Word.

Working together with you!

Peter and Leah Humphreys