Our Next Journey

Dear friends and family,

I am sorry that we have not done an update lately. It has been rather busy in the Pirtle household. We have lots of changes to share with you.

After much prayer, God has opened a door for us to move to Fitzgerald, Georgia. We moved about 4 weeks ago and we have been going full steam since. We actually live in Ocilla, Georgia, but Jon is teaching at Fitzgerald High School. It is definitely a mission field for him. Please pray specifically that the kids that enter his room would see something different and that God would open doors for him to reach out and witness to these children. Most of them come from a bad homelife and the school is a haven for them.

We are still in school. Just because we moved doesn't mean we are through. Jon is doing his schooling online during the fall and spring semesters, and then during his Christmas break and summer break, we will travel to Louisville to pick up some extra classes. They call these J-term classes. Basically, they cram a whole semester into one week. So, please continue to pray for extra strength and energy as he continues his schooling.

We are glad to be back in Georgia and to be a little closer to home. We miss being close to my sister and her family, but plan to take trips to see them. When I think about how far God has brought us, I am reminded of a chorus of a song by Keith and Kristyn Getty. Not only are the words powerful, but I know that whatever journey we are on, God is in the middle of it, and our prayer is that he will use us for his glory. May this be your prayer as well:

May this journey bring a blessing,

May I rise on wings of Faith,

and at the end of my heart's testing,

With your likeness, let me wake.

Taylor has begun 6th grade and we decided to put her in public school this year. We are out in the country. We don't have a neighborhood like we did in Indiana, so there are no friends for her to hang out with. We are supplementing the public school curriculum via materials at home to make sure she gets all that she needs. Homeschooling last year was great; I miss it during the day. Already, we have seen how advanced Taylor became because of homeschooling. We are very grateful that we did it. Please pray that Taylor will make wise choices, as we pray that God will use her at school. She is on a traveling soccer team and very excited. We are looking at a swim team in April.

Jeremiah is off and running these days--literally. We can't keep him out of Jon's books. He loves to take the books off the shelves and look at them. He loves music and dancing. It is hysterical to watch. He has quite the personality, and loves being the center of attention. He is into climbling these days, too; we can't keep him off the living room chair. I am waiting for a broken bone any day now.

Jon will be preaching at a local church in Fitzgerald on September 7. We are praying about where the Lord would have us to serve while we are here. We know that he will guide us; we just have to be obedient and follow his lead. For those of you who have asked about the military. We are still in the National Guard and are currently transferring states. Hopefully, we will begin our monthly drills soon.

We want to say a more-than-special thank you to Mom and Dad, who helped us move (again). We don't like the idea of life without you. We are thankful for your godly example to us.

Lastly, please know this: we pray for you. Specifically, we pray that you may grow in Christian wisdom, discipleship, and discernment. Much of what passes as church is Christian in name only; there is a dearth of biblical wisdom and sound doctrine in many churches. And God's people are commanded by our Lord himself to be sanctified in the truth (Jn. 17:17)--not in storytelling, not in antics, and not in entertainment--but in sound biblical truth. As Moses was instructed by Yahweh in the Old Covenant, "The LORD bless you, and keep you; The LORD make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; the LORD lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace" (Num. 6:24-26, NASB).

In Christ,

The Pirtle family