2013 Fall Newsletter

Today’s Verse:     “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” ~ Isaiah 40: 28-31

Catching     : I can freely say that looking back on our summers working at camp, Megan and I have never enjoyed anything more than being a counselor. I believe it is the most energy draining job, but the most amazing privilege. Even though we know being a counselor again is quite improbable, we do every now and again reflect on good memories and shed tears in our desire to do it again. This last summer I, Lucas, had the privilege of being the Program Director and Game Director again, with a little leading singing on the side, of course. It was my job to make sure the schedule flowed, the activities were planned and ready, as well as keeping the summer staff working in harmony. As this was my second year in this role, I feel like I’m learning to enjoy it a little more. Making friends with the staff and helping the staff make friends with each other can be a lot of fun. Megan, although pregnant, did her best to stay on top of photography and crafts, and was blessed to have helping hands here and there to lighten her load. Overall, I feel the Lord has used the staff this summer for His honor and glory, and to be His mirror reflecting His Word. As always, we miss it when it’s over, but we are looking forward to all the great things the Lord has in store for us.

Home:  If you didn’t catch it in the last section, we’re pregnant! Well, Megan is, I’m so skinny I could turn sideways and stick out my tongue and look like a zipper. Megan is currently past the half way mark with a due date of Feb. 6^th 2014. We’re so excited about another heavenly gift! Maggie will be in for a surprise with a unique first birthday present. By adding this baby to the family, we will possibly have three birthdays in February. And we know you’re asking, but we are not going to find out what it is.  It’s like a box of chocolates, you won’t find out what’s inside till you take a bite. As for Maggie, she is now the owner of two pearly white teeth. She has also learned how to crawl and pull herself up on things. It’s so exciting to watch her learn what she can do. Here recently, if you were around the house you’d probably hear the sound of a chainsaw and the smell of fresh cut wood. We’ve been cutting firewood, in preparations for the cold days to come, which will hopefully bring a few days of good snow. We praise the Lord for free firewood that has been provided from here and there. Another common sound you’d hear around our house, is notes being plunked out. Since camp decided they didn’t need their piano due to the use of their electronic keyboard, we thought we could make use of it. Megan’s gifted at reading and playing piano music, Maggie and I are the plunkers. It’s fun to watch Maggie plunk around figuring out which keys make what note. Also, because our family’s growing, we’ve been praying for a more reliable, spacious vehicle. Unfortunately, due to family spread abroad and the ministry life, we put miles on cars like seconds on a clock. So we’ve been praying for the Lord’s guidance and wisdom on this decision for a vehicle.

Camp:   Things have been changing round here at camp. We’ve added an addition to the Dining Room Kitchen, along with an addition to the Gymnasium. With these additions, we’re hoping to be able to reserve more campers through the weeks in the summer. In addition of making more space indoors for those rainy days, camp is also hoping to insulate the Gymnasium so we can use it year round with comfort of heat in the winter. Campers have also enjoyed the new set of 6 swings we installed. Recently, I’ve been in charge of keeping up the activity equipment as well as keeping the weeds down. Megan, with Maggie’s help, finds little jobs here and there to do. Here lately she’s been doing an excellent job at mudding the dry wall in the new kitchen addition while Maggie takes naps.

Work/School: Since camp’s over, we’ve been back to our previous jobs. I’m back at Jersey Mike’s and Megan is back at the Hillbilly Book Barn, her mom’s homeschool bookstore. The plans are for me to be more available for camp as well as finish my school. After the last BGM (Bancroft Gospel Ministries) Board meeting, the Board agreed that finishing out schooling was more important than putting in 40 hours of labor on campus. This last summer halted our schooling, and we’re back at it, finishing off the Gospels, and digging into the Epistles. We’re still aiming to finish by this coming April. As for my guys Work O.U.T. (Work Out Unconditional Truth) and Megan’s ladies Butterflies group, we stopped them right before the summer got started. Megan finished with a trip to Dollywood, and the guys finished with a paintball game. We’ve got them rolling again and we’re excited to be used of God to reach out to these young adults.

Praises:

Ø  The summer staff was amazing this summer, we believe the Lord really worked through them.

Ø  So far, the midwife says that the baby on the way is healthy and we’re off to a good start.

Ø  Our family is fit as a fiddle, and we’re praying it stays that way throughout the winter.

Prayer Requests:

Ø  As our family grows, we have been praying and looking for a vehicle with preferably 7 seats so it will comfortably fit our family of 4 and growing.

Ø  We are still on probation as full-time staff, as we are trusting God to supply our needs.

Ø  Due to have two babies, two jobs, and schooling, it’s easy for us to feel overwhelmed.

         

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Goofing off just for fun (Not a True Story):       When Megan was growing up, she used to spend a lot of time at her grandparents’ house. She loved going to see them, because she loved seeing and hearing her papaw show  his affection with his actions and terms of endearment. He especially enjoyed calling her “Sweetie”, “Honey”, “Love”, “Sugar”, and so on. One day, as Megan was heading out from her grandparents’, her papaw walked her to the door. “Papaw” Megan said, “it’s so precious the way you call Mamaw all those nice things. It means a lot to me, how much you show your love to her.” “Well hun,” her Papaw said drawing close to her ear, “To be honest, I call her all those things cause I forgot her name 10 years ago.”

THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO READ OUR NEWSLETTER!

Thank you for all your prayers and support! To Contact Us: Email: whistlerforgod@gmail.com Address: 2907 Devault Bridge Rd  Piney Flats TN 37686 Phone: 423-335-1059(Lucas) or 423-646-9866(Megan)

Support for Lucas and Megan comes from the gifts of supporting churches, family and friends (our ministry team). We praise the Lord for the way He is constructing our ministry team

Spring update 2013

Today’s Verse: “For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb. I will Praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.                                            ~Psalms 139:13-16~

Home! Just as two robins flutter here and there collecting material to build a homey nest in the spring, so have we been busy making changes in our little nest. From replacing bad flooring to painting the walls and the ceiling, the baby’s room was ready for the baby’s arrival. Our little nest has also experienced a few other projects outside of the baby’s room. We have retired our old water heater and invested in a much healthier one as well as organizing what stuff has not been put in its place from baby showers and the move.

Ok I won’t delay the exciting news any longer. It all began the 15^th of February, when Megan started having contractions early in the day. That evening we decided to contact the midwife and decide whether or not it was time to head to camp (Bancroft Bible Camp). The plan was to have a “home birth” in apartments 2 and 3 at camp. After discussing all the facts and details, we all headed toward camp for the arrival of our long awaited bundle of joy. Everything was proceeding as it should with her water breaking at 2 in the morning. Excitement was building as we witnessed the signs of the coming miracle of our little “Pearl”. Unfortunately, after 12 or so hours of contractions, the progression ceased which we found out later was caused by her water resealing. The midwife had to re-break her water which got things rolling again. In a short hour and a half, our little one was making head way and it was pushing time. That was when our world got scary… FAST! As Megan began pushing, the baby’s heart rate was fading and wasn’t recovering fast enough. Immediately our midwife, knew that our baby’s life was at stake. This once excited father preparing to catch his child instantly became a father terrorized with the fear of losing his first and only child. I began begging God for His mercy on me, knowing I was undeserving of such a miracle. I knew that death is a result of all mankind’s sin, including mine, and prayed that the Lord would help me accept His decision whatever He chooses. As suspense was building, Megan was trying to keep herself together. Knowing this baby she had carried for 42 weeks was at risk had her praying for strength to resist the urge to push. It wasn’t long before Megan was transported via ambulance to the local hospital in hopes of an emergency C-section. The Lord, our great Doctor, rode with Megan in the back of the ambulance and worked an undeserving miracle and helped our baby to push past Megan’s pelvis so that once she arrived at the hospital she was able to forgo the C-section.  It was amazing how God worked in that short trip to get our “Pearl” where she needed to be so Megan could proceed with a vaginal delivery (with some help from the doctor). So at 9:30 pm, February 16^th, born to us was a beautiful 6lb and 13oz baby girl, Maggie Joanna Walsworth. We named her with the same meaning as her mother, “Pearl”, and just like a precious pearl inside an oyster, she has proven to be an undeserving miracle after a long labor.

Both Buddy and Ninja have adjusted very well to us bringing home our little girl. Buddy, our dog, is still trying to figure out what it is we carry to and from the car when we leave. Along with wondering what could produce such noises and smells. Ninja, our cat, has slowly begun to understand that mommy has a new fragile “pet”. Ninja’s learning to share his mommy with the new little one, and has done an excellent job at finding time when he can have mommy to himself. Our lives have changed drastically but Maggie has made it worth it all.

Camp! Our life has been filled with even more excitement besides just Maggie being born. The board members of camp had a meeting April 6^th. We were busy with the retreat going on and didn’t expect much news on our status at camp. However to our surprise, Timothy Strickland (the president of the board) met us after their meeting to explain that they voted to make us full time staff! We are on a one year probation in which we are to finish our schooling and raise our support. We are extremely excited about this news and what God has in store for us at camp!  

Everyone at camp has been busy little bees doing their normal tasks as well as preparing for the summer. A couple of the exciting things in construction are the remodeling of the gym and the addition to the kitchen. Megan and I (little Maggie too) went to a Paintball Symposium in Ohio for another project we are working on for this summer. At the Paintball Symposium we spent 4 days learning about how to repair and clean paintball markers, how to play paintball, how to build a field, and how to use paintball to disciple the campers. Now, I know some of you are already asking, “How much paint covered Lucas after Megan played?” Well, I am lucky to say, that I never once received any paintball welts from my wife. We both got to enjoy this engaging game but we didn’t play each other due to one of us attending to Maggie. *Phew* Thank you Maggie. Since the symposium, I have been put in charge of constructing the paintball program. We are so excited and have been working diligently to prepare paintball for this coming summer.

 

B.U.T.T.E.R.F.L.I.E.S. and Work O.U.T. In the summer, we have two teen weeks in which we are privileged to disciple teens. However, we don’t have any discipling means for the rest of the year, so Megan and I felt burdened to start Bible studies. Megan started the B.U.T.T.E.R.F.L.I.E.S. (Beauty Undergoing Transformation That’s Everlasting, Reaching For Ladyship-by Infinitely Exploring Scripture) for the gals and Lucas started the Work O.U.T. (Work Out Unconditional Truth) for the guys. We meet once a week for fellowship snacks and study. Currently, the guys are studying different men of the bible and the girls are doing a “Foundations” study by Ken Ham.  We both enjoy meeting with the teens each week to encourage them to grow in Christ even when the camp session is over.

Work & School! School is taking longer than we had hoped. However, we are making progress. We have now completed the Old Testament section and are now working on the New Testament. The goal is to have it completely finished by April of ‘14. While I have continued to work at Jersey Mike’s, Megan’s mother has blessed us by letting Megan work at her bookstore. She is able to take Maggie along with her and enjoy these early precious months.

             Praises:

 Ø  Praise God for the safe arrival of our little girl, Maggie.

 Ø  Praise God for being accepted as Full Time Staff at Bancroft.

                  Prayer Requests:

 Ø  Pray that God will give us ideas and strength for summer camp.

 Ø  Pray that the Holy Spirit will give us patience and wisdom as we live life on fewer hours of sleep.

 Ø  Pray for wisdom in knowing what to do with our vehicles as they show their unreliability.

 Ø  Pray that we can work diligently to finish our schooling and reach our support requirement before April ‘14.

Our Beautiful baby girl. Maggie Joanna