Fraternity House Fix Up

This past Saturday we cleaned and painted our new Fraternity apartment and we discovered painting is NOT fun. 30 minutes after painting begins, all positive thoughts go out the window and dreams of finishing quickly increase. About a week prior to painting and cleaning our apartment at the fraternity, Lisa informed me that I was ‘terrible’ at painting, which in the moment hurt my feelings, but in hindsight she was quite prophetic; I am a terrible painter. Fortunately, we had reinforcements as Keith, the director of Navs at OSU helped us paint in the morning and our amazing friends, Steve and Megan spent the afternoon and night cleaning and painting with us. Though it was all quite tedious (we spent 12 hours in all!), the day was cluttered with laughter and wonderful conversations.

This is the living room before (ugly couch and recliner left by the previous house dad) . . .

The living room after. Still not perfect but MUCH better!

The Andersons and The Bruckers

A Bitter Sweet Season

July has come and gone. It seems like yesterday we were merely dreaming of ministering to college students at Oregon State and yet, with August here, we are reminded once again of the immanency of moving to Corvallis. We will be leaving behind friends, family, our church and the normalcy of life in Portland over the past 4 years. There is a great sense of nostalgia when it comes to moving, as Portland for us has been the context in which God has matured us, inspired us, and called us to Oregon State. Thus, we soon leave, singing a song of joyful lament, that though filled with great anticipation for the upcoming year, we are also filled with a deepening sense that we will be leaving very meaningful relationships behind. But we go, not fleeing to greener pastures, but clinging to the commission, which Christ has promised He will fulfill, through men and women who preach Christ, and Him crucified, to those aware and unaware of their need. We go, knowing uncomfortable times await us, because students at OSU need to know of the transformational work of Christ.