November Update

Today is a very slow day. It is quiet. Peaceful. A good day to give an update about what is going on in our lives. We are out of school for the next 6 days for the Eid - a Muslim holiday celebrating the event of Abraham not sacrificing his son. We are enjoying the time to relax and spend time with our little tribe. Last month Jonathan sent out a letter to all of our supporters and pastor friends. He included an updae about everything that is going on. I decided to put some of that on here since it pretty much sums everything up....

"We (the Borden family) are doing fantastic. The weekly Bible study has started and we are excited to see God moving in our home. We are serving the 7th and 8th grade students and they are excited about studying the word as well. Please pray that our numbers continue to grow and that it will become a place where students, both Christian and Muslim, will feel welcome by the Holy Spirit. (We currently have more Muslim students coming than Christian students.)

Our weekly church service held at the school is growing as well. Several of the students are beginning to come to our weekly service as well as our local teachers. I lead the worship service and play drums for our local fellowship as well as speak on occasion. Believers coming together in one mind and in one accord from all nations. It is a tiny glimpse of what heaven will be like.

I have taken on the responsibility as the Head Basketball Coach and Athletic Director for the school this year. We are young but we are agressive. Haha.. The extra days and hours spent with these young men helps us speak the truth about Jesus Christ to them on a daily basis. Not always in words, but with our actions and the fact that we are there everyday means so much to them. We have joined a league in Bethlehem and go and play every Friday. So instead of Friday night football I have Friday afternoon basketball. Just wish we could take a band.

Tracee has taken on the role of tutor for the lower elementary school. Everyday she is able to help young boys and girls on an individual basis overcome language barriers and learning disabilities. This is a challenging job for her but extremely rewarding. In a country and with a people group where relationships are the most important thing spending one on one time with students and their parents is invaluable.

Something new that we are doing this year is partnering with Convoy of Hope here in Jerusalem. In the West Bank there are thousands of needy children. Children that do not have a country nor do they serve a loving God. Through Convoy and volounteers and fellow missionaries here in Israel God has opened the door to minister to these children in a very tangable way. We have been able to make contact with and build relationship with an all girls school in Silwad. These young girls are in need of clothes. Tracee and I donated four bags of our girls old clothes we had here in Israel. They loved them. We were able to make bags for each of the girls with the help of the principle and deliver them to the girls. If you would like to mention this to your Girls Ministries Coordinator or your Womens Ministries group please do so. Your clothes donation can be shipped directly to Convoy of Hope in Springfield and then they will ship it to us here in Israel.

I want to thank you for your continued support for our family here in Jerusalem . Without your monthly giving we would not be able to continue with God's work here. As you can see God is up to something special here in Israel and you are a big part of that. "

This a glimpse of some things that are going on here. God is orchestrating some very powerful things where we are and we are so humbled that He has called us here to do his will at this particular time.