Author: Wick

Hey friends!  So here’s the latest:  Surprise, Sarah and I are sick again!! Hopefully nothin’ more than a really bad cold, that I caught from the residents at the home I work at, and lovingly passed on to Sarah.  Speaking of the residents, working at that home has been incredible, but also very stretching.  I’ve done more things this past week that I never would’ve thought.  Anywhere from making “tater tot casserole” from scratch for like 20 people, to putting on rubber gloves and helping several of the men with their showers.  Altogether I’m really glad to have done this though.  I’ve grown attached to each of them a lot sooner than I would have thought.  It’s going to be tough when/if I stop working there, but I will definitely keep involved there.  I want to just volunteer there, and be friends with the guys.  Right now I’m an employee, and the boss doesn’t like employees who pretend their real friends, cause usually when they quit, they dump ’em.  I hope I can be a positive example of someone who actually does this cause they love those people.

So yeah, update:  Tomorrow morning I meet with the radio stations manager, they want to make me an offer to be one of their sales-reps.  This could be fun, and it might pay well too..which would be nice, moving towards tax season.  I’m also meeting with a local Naz. Pastor later tomorrow to talk about different things going on in their church.  It’s a great church we visited last Sunday, that I’m actually preaching at this Sunday morning and night.  God definitely had his timing worked out there.  I’ve also contacted the DS for IL, and have proposed a “combined” youth group with several of the smaller Naz. churches here in the Decatur area…and am working on an official proposal to give the pastors here.  Please continue to pray for us, as we seek where God would have us doing His work.:)   Sarah’s doing well, and is signed up to substitute….only one call so far, and she was too sick to work that day.  Things are going well though, and her sister is about to pop out a baby in Terre Haute, IN…so it’ll be nice for her to have the freedom to check it all out.

Anyways, God and I are doing well.  He’s been showing me a lot of things through these residents.  Teaching me wordless things about love, patience, heart, friendship, needs, and many more.  To anyone who would ever get a chance, I’d recommend it, even if only for a day…but hopefully longer.  I hope and pray these relationships can continue to form, and God can use me in the lives of these men.:)  Anyways, I’m tired for now….and gotta big day tomorrow!  God bless, and AMEN…:)

Wow.  Incredible experiences thus far working at the home.  I will definitely be more detailed in future postings, but for now, we don’t have internet at home.  I can only get on quickly to check e-mail, and make a quick post here at Sarah’s parents’ house.  To everyone waiting on an e-mail reply, sorry it’s taking sooooo long.  E-mail me on my personal e-mail address from now on….and remind me I owe you a reply:  YouthWick@hotmail.com   Cause I may have lost or forgotten about all the e-mails I got lately.  It’s been crazy busy!!!

I finished “Obsessed” by Ted Dekker finally!!!  What an incredible book, and once again, a great picture painted about the Love and Kingdom of God.  He speaks about love as an obsession for something, and in the book the characters must decide what they’re life is an obsession about.  What their life is “loving towards”.  We have the same decision, and realizing our love for God is not simply a love, but deeper…an obsession for the things of God.  Also, the realization that this is only a small reflection of His love, and His OBSESSION for each of us.  To think of the Father obsessing over us, His creation, and taking joy when we come to Him, as objects of His obsession…wow.:)  Definitely worth reading, and as always, Ted Dekker rocks.

Gotta run for now, I’m working 1pm-9pm usually.  I have tomorrow off, and Sunday.  We’ll be visiting one of the local Nazarene churches, and I’m excited to get involved even more.  I’ve yet to hear from the radio station, but have already decided wherever employment takes me here in Decatur, I will continue to serve at the home as well, even if it needs to be for free.  I’ve gained so much from only 2 days there, and am excited to continue there.  I promise to write more another time.  God bless you all, and e-mail me soon!!  Amen.

Well, it’s about time we gave an update, eh?  It’s been crazy busy for the past couple weeks, but here’s where we are now..: 

We’ve moved to a 2-bdrm apt. in Decatur, IL.  It’s really a great place, and with a wife as creatively decorative as mine, it’s already becoming home.  Sarah’s family rocks, and it’s been great to actually spend time with them not worrying about when we have to leave, and all the mushy goodbyes that come with seeing eachother about once every 2 months or so. 

I’m anxious in so many ways.  Every time I meet someone at Wal-Mart or wherever, I wanna begin with “Hi, I’m Chadwick, I live here now, who are you?  What do you do?  Want to be friends?”  I’m a nerd, I know.  But I can’t wait to get involved in the lives of the people who live here.  I interviewed yesterday for a position selling advertising for a few radio stations, and hope to hear back within a week.  Today I begin my other job, working at a Christian home for DD adults.  1pm-9pm.  Not bad hours, hopefully I’ll find out what my schedule looks like for the week, no promises though.  We got cable turned on this morning, just the basic 20 channels, and phone will be on Friday at the earliest.  Our new phone number is 217-ICE-ICON   Easy enough to remember.  A giant frozen cube that represents something.  That was the coolest thing our number spelled.  If you’re curious what yours spells, go to www.yahoo.com and search for “phone number anagrams”.  There are quite a few sites out there.

Anyways, I’m planning on re-reading “In The Name of Jesus” by Henri Nouwen.  It’s an incredible book, and talks about his time working for L’Arche, which was a community of DD Adults.  I figured now would be as good as any time to read that book again, seeing where I am.

We miss Cedar Rapids…well, not really.  We miss the people from Cedar Rapids (and surrounding cities).  To those who read this….we love ya’…and you’re in our thoughts and prayers.  We pray that God continues everything He’s doing there, and that someone will eventually mail my IL liscense plates back to me. (they’re in the garage) 

So anyways, there you have it.  Sarah is signing up to begin subbing, and I’m workin’/interviewing.  In our spare time, we’re setting up our new life.  There is so much here to be discovered…I’m excited.  So, today, one more day at a time, we step forward into the unknown.  Confident, called, bold….and yet, still, with fear and trembling.  God is good.  Amen…etc…