Some great finds for our apartment

This is our FREE entertainment center we got from our landlords- they didnt need it anymore cause they got a big screen tv- which we enjoyed immensely as we stayed with them. But we still like our little tv too:)


This is our super comfy couch from Craigslist for $85!


This is our old couch with a new cover and pillows to match our curtains- we feel very coordinated!


This is the best deal yet and the first thing we have bought for Baby Daman- a $15 Rocking Chair! Moose and Roger are occupying it for now. And yep, we painted the babys room yellow!

Students are BACK!

Last Saturday we dove head first into student ministry at Penn State. At 8 am we headed about an hour away from State College to a camp for a leadership retreat. Almost 60 juniors and seniors from PSU joined us around 10 am who will be leading bible studies this year. The group is called "Oaks" from Isaiah 61 and will continue to meet for bible study prep and training on Monday nights. Each of us (nate and caroline) will help co-lead an "Oaks" group on Monday nights of about 8-10 men and women (respectively). This is an addition to the student(s) we will disciple and co-lead a freshmen bible study with. Confused yet? Its actually a pretty well organized system but I dont know how well I just explained it.

Saturday morning we spent time looking at Matthew 9- casting vision for why we want to lead new bible studies, especially with freshmen. This is the passage where Jesus talks about the harvest being plentiful but the workers are few. Despite there being SO many campus ministries at Penn State, maybe 4000 students are involved (generously) which leaves 40,000 students unreached. How can we tell them about Jesus??!!

Saturday afternoon we had some fun- and this is the only photo of the time I took:

Saturday afternoon they had a sweet time of prayer and personal reflection. I napped:) And Nate got to lead worship of a few songs for the time. Many people told me how great he was- yea! Way to go Nate!

Saturday night I got to connect with Anna and Tara, the juniors I am leading bible study with. Both are sweet girls who are excited to lead this year. I got to know them even better this week as we followed up with spiritual interest surveys in freshmen dorms. In just a little while I will grab dinner with them and hopefully some freshmen women who will join our bible study this year!

Saturday night we went over the monday meetings and some housekeeping items, but ended with smores and bonfire (again, i went to bed...)

Sunday we finished up the weekend with some funny skits about following up with people in their dorm rooms. Along with a devotional about evangelism and what it means.

All in all it was a great weekend, though a bit exhausting. Nate is leading with super senior Adam who is awesome. They spent time together this week in the dorm Tenor meeting guys. Last night they met up with some of them for ice cream and we will all try to start our bible study meetings on Monday night!

The rest of the week was filled up with manning survey tables where we give out candy and spiritual interest surveys for a raffle prize to find people who may be interested in bible study or learning about Jesus. Each night (mon-wed) we went into the dorms to follow up with those people. When we werent on campus, we trying to finish up things in our apartment- its really starting to feel like home- yea!

Tonight we are headed to our first NavNight- the large group meeting. It should be a great, if not overwhelming time!

Behind the scenes update...

As I have been posting some of the general news about our move, alot has been going on behind the scenes for us as well. Yesterday we sent a postcard to many of you and tonight I sent an email sharing that we are pregnant and that I have Papillary Thyroid Cancer. Below is Nate's account of it from August 3rd. I also added a few more recent updates at the end, to not leave you worried....

August 3, 2009

Caroline and I are sitting in the office of an Endocrinologist at the Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, PA. This is our first appointment of many here in PA. I thought it would be good to write down some of what we’ve been going through, if for no other reason than to be able to look back at this point in our lives and to see what God has brought us through. In the moment this storm seems quite difficult. We are dealing with one thing after another and it just doesn’t seem real, but I am confident that God will see us through, and that regardless of the outcomes, we can know and rely on God’s love and faithfulness to us. I think we are on the path to shalom, to peace, but this part of the road is very difficult for us.

We moved down to Penn State just two days ago, on August 1st. About a month before we moved, we realized that Caroline was pregnant with our first child! This was unexpected, but our response is thankfulness, joy, and excitement. God’s timing is not our own, but his timing is perfect. Caroline says that it’s almost like God knew that we were out of debt and that he knew we were ready to have a baby.

Just a few days later, Caroline had a routine physical with her doctor in Lexington, MA. Her doctor noticed that her thyroid seemed large, and suggested they do an ultrasound. The ultrasound revealed a nodule a centimeter in diameter in her right lobe of her thyroid. The next step was aspiration, which ended up being a biopsy of sorts, and the lab work strongly suggested it was thyroid cancer—papillary carcinoma. I think we got the call that it was cancer on the Tuesday before we were moving.

On Tuesday night, Caroline showed me a bug bite she had. Over this past week, it has grown in size, and I happen to think it is Lyme Disease. It was the classic red and clear bulls-eye that you could see in images on Google. We delayed in getting it treated, because of our move and because we already had today’s appointment with the Endocrinologist scheduled.

On Thursday, we packed up the truck for our move to State College, cleaned up our apartment, and turned the keys over to Rebecca Daniels. The people who helped us move were: Rebecca Daniels, Paul and Katya Moran, Kevin and Martha Kohl, Rhiannon Baker, Hannah Daman, Rudy and Vicky brought food, and Dennis Lindblom.

On Friday, Caroline also began experiencing pain on her left side lower abdomen. This is the same side as her tick bite. We’re still not sure what it is, and I guess we’ll find out whether or not it’s our baby tomorrow at our appointment with the ObGyn. *We found out the next wednesday that it was probably soreness from moving or my growing uterus and nothing to be worried about. In order to check though we saw our first ultrasound of the baby- alive and well! Kicking and moving:) Absolutely amazing!!!!*

On Saturday, we drove down to Penn State, but it took a lot longer than we had previously expected. I decided we should both gas up in Sturbridge, MA, about 45 minutes into our journey. When Caroline went to start the car, the engine wouldn’t turn over. We called AAA, and they sent someone out to check the problem. After poking around and hitting on the starter with a hammer from under the vehicle, he concluded that our starter was dead. We called AAA again to see if they would send a tow truck.

While we were waiting for the tow truck, Caroline, seeing the camera in my hands, decided it would be safer in its case. The camera slipped from her hands and hit the pavement pretty hard. It doesn’t work anymore.

AAA did send a tow truck, and we left the truck at the Mobil station in Sturbridge. On our way (the opposite direction) back to Auburn to Firestone for a new starter, we were stuck in traffic for about a half hour. Turns out we were waiting for people to clear what remained of a fatal car accident. It’s amazing how short life is. I can’t imagine how devastated any remaining survivors from the crash might be. Life is so short.

We ended up at Firestone Tire, and they gave me a quote for $380+ dollars to replace our starter. I refused to sign the work order. Our AAA tow guy wasn’t allowed to leave our car. I went over to AutoZone next door to price starters. Firestone was going to charge me $220 just for the starter, and AutoZone told me it would cost $185 or so. Went I went back to Caroline, who was just eager to get back on the road, she asked if I wanted to check with Sears Auto, which was across from the parking lot. I ran over to check their prices, they quoted me installed for *around* $200. I decided to go with them. It turned out to be a lot more than they thought, but they took off about $40 for us because of their misquote, and they got us back on the road a whole lot faster than I thought they would. All in all, our delay took from around 9AM until around 1PM. We got lunch at Arby’s across the street from Sears (and across from the Auburn Mall), and were there when Sears Auto called to let us know our car was ready.

We went back to the Penske truck in Sturbridge, and soon after that we were on the road again. I think our delay cost about 4 hours and just over $310 for the tow and the repair.

We arrived in Penn State with no other incident on Saturday night, and were greeted by other Nav staff. Our truck was unloaded in minutes! It’s amazing to move into such an amazing community. They all are so friendly and kind and serving and loving. It’s a great place to be in such a crazy time.

Today we had our first appointment with the Endocrinologist. It went OK. They gave Caroline a prescription for antibiotics to treat her possible Lyme disease. They seemed concerned about the pain in her abdomen and told her not to lift anything. We’ll find out how worried we should be tomorrow at the ObGyn appointment.

Our Endocrinologist was also able to get us an appointment this afternoon for an ultrasound for Caroline’s thyroid. He wants to monitor it himself, and thinks that the best thing to do is to postpone surgery until after her pregnancy, and the second best thing is to have the surgery in the second trimester. We have another appointment with him 8 weeks from today. He’ll be monitoring her nodule for any changes.

That’s where Caroline is at the moment—getting her thyroid ultrasound.

Next up: 2 hour drive back to State College, then more painting or prep for painting???

We went to Hershey’s Chocolate World in between. *We still have been able to laugh and have fun through the midst of it all- Praise God!*

Back to Caroline, just to update. The cancer seems to NOT be growing right now- Praise God. Please pray with us for it to continue NOT to grow ever, but at least till after the baby is born. We are due February 21st. My thyroid is functioning normally so although there is cancer on it, it should not be affecting the baby. I'll be going back to the endocronologist in about five weeks to see if it has changed or not and we will go from there.. And our next baby appt is in September.

Thanks for being in this with us!

Our New Apartment

Back in April we visited State College for the first time. During our visit, we met with almost all of the current staff team. We got to walk through two of the couples homes who are owned by Dave and Cathy Bowman, our staff trainers here with the Navigators. As our visit was going so well, and it looked like we would be coming to State College, they brought up the idea of us living in their fourth duplex unit. They had inherited their current tenant when they bought the place and she was not very good (to say the least). They decided to pray about this option, as we decided whether to definitely come to PA. A few days after we arrived back in MA, they called and said they would like to rent to us if we were interested- we said YES! It is an affordable place and much bigger than our place in Worcester- 3 bedrooms, laundry, and a garage! (Nate is VERY thrilled about the garage). And this seemed way easier than trying to find a place from MA, not being able to visit again and not knowing the area. The only catch was that they needed to do ALOT of work on the place and the lease was not up till July 31st.

They worked it out with their tenant that she would leave on July 15th. That would give Dave two weeks before we arrived to start work on the place and before he went on vacation. New work included: new floors, painted walls, and general "work" - like patching over 500 holes in the wall! And installing a new toilet! However, on the 15th we got the call we were hoping NOT to get- she didn't leave:( The following week Dave actually rented a truck and helped her move out, but she stayed up to the very last minute on the 31st. But she did GO which we are so thankful for!

Dave quickly changed the locks, pulled up old carpet, and made sure the garage was clean and then left on his family vacation- which we also knew about- it had been planned for over a year with his daughter and her husband and his family. They had told us that would be the case from the very beginning, but it meant we arrived to a very not finished apartment. Instead of staying at our new place, we actually got to stay at the Bowmans which was a real treat. We got to know them so much better and more quickly than we would have meeting just once a week, for even two years perhaps. And they treated us so well! We ate amazing food every day and got to watch a TV on thier new big screen in HD:) I am not sure how I feel about leaving...

In those two weeks, Nate and friends painted all the walls, hardwood floor was laid in the living room/hallway, new carpet was installed in the upstairs bedrooms and downstairs, Nate and Dave laid a tile floor in the kitchen and bathroom, a new toilet was installed and blinds and so much more!

Today, after being in State College for over two weeks, we have moved in!!!! And some of our staff team even came over and prayed through each room with us, that they would be cleansed in Jesus' name from the past and be a NEW place of rest and welcoming and love and joy for us as we settle here for the next two years.

We aren't fully unpacked of course, but our bedroom and kitchen look pretty good. Unfortunately since our camera broke, we don't have any before pics, but we did get a new one so here are some after ones- more to come as we move even more in:)

Oh and we have gotten some amazing Craigslists deals like a rocking chair and couch! (pics of those to be posted later- forgot I hadnt taken any yet)

Our front door, with Dave's car parked in front of the garage.
All of our stuff in the garage.
Just SOME of the stuff they had to haul out of our place as they worked on it etc.
Our kitchen:)

I promise to post more once we get a bit more settled, but its come a long way and we are so thankful:) It feels like home already!

We made it to State College!

But it took us 13 hours!!! On Thursday morning we picked up our Penkse truck in the POURING rain. Nate headed to his old roomie's place to pick up his long lost grill now that we have a backyard and deck:) And then we headed to our friend Rebecca's who moved into our old place. We helped load her stuff into the truck and then headed to our place around noon to unload all her stuff into our old bedroom. Then we had lunch- thanks to Rudy and Vicky for bringing it over! Oh, and when we got to Rebecca's, the sun came out! So we did not have to move in the rain, just a really really hot and sunny day:)

Then we had more friends come and help us- Martha and Kevin Kohl, Hannah Daman, Rhiannon, Paul and Katya, and more! We got everything done so quickly- it was great. We even had help cleaning up at the end so we got to give our keys to Rebecca and have a great dinner at Bertucci's- after much needed showers:)

Friday ended up being a chill day which was nice- we hung out at the Damans. Nate sold one of our desks- yea! Put our "new" bikes in the truck and other last minute errands with his Dad. Friday night, the Bottchers came over and we celebrated! There are a few pics of this on fb.

Saturday morning the Daman-Papia clan got up early with us to have breakfast which was so nice, we said our goodbyes and headed out- Nate in the big yellow truck and I in our trusty Taurus. We got about 45 minutes into our drive, almost out of MA, and stopped for gas (it's generally cheaper in MA than in CT and NY). We filled up, I went to the bathroom, got back in the car....and it didn't start:(! Couldn't believe it. We had had the car looked over a few days before and got the green light for a long drive to PA, but apparently not:(

We called AAA and they came- the first guy came really quick and checked that it was not the battery and found out it was the starter. He said it was shot. But the regular mechanic he sends people to was out of town on vaca, being a Saturday in August, this was not surprising but very disappointing. He recommended we go to a Firestone Place in Auburn, about 13 miles away. So we called AAA again to get a tow this time. The second guy came pretty quick as well and we all piled in, leaving our unlocked Penske truck at the gas station- praying the whole time for God to keep our stuff safe. After traffic from a fatal car crash we made it to Firestone, where they were gonna charge us over $300 for a new starter! We were also right next to a Sears Autozone so Nate ran over there and asked for their quote- $200! So we had the car brought over there...where they quickly told us the part was more than they thought :( But at this point we didn't have a lot of choice, so we asked them to just do it as fast as possible. We walked across the street for some lunch, thinking we were gonna have to kill 2 hours, but they called us in 45 min and by 1 pm we were back on the road. We got our truck, all stuff still there, and quickly left MA!

We made it the rest of the way to PA without trouble, in the expected 7 hours or so. And when we arrived at our new place, our new neighbors and co-workers helped us unload right away which was SO helpful- and we even dropped our truck off that night.

I wish I had pictures to show of our entire adventure and our new place, but in the process of waiting for the tow truck I dropped and broke our camera:( so here are the last of our photos for a little while, documenting the beginning of our crazy time.

July 2009

July has flown by! I think we didn't really notice cause most of the time was cold and rainy:( This week, the week we are preparing to move, is actually warm though- of course! We are in the midst of boxes and preparing to go- bemoaning how much STUFF we have, but not wanting to part with too much of it, though we did take 5 or 6 bags to good will:)

I thought I would take a break and share a few fun moments from this month thus far. On July 4th we headed up to Canaan, NH for a night with the Peirce family. My great grandfather bought the house the year my dad was born- 1956- and I think both my Dad, me, bro and sis have been there at least once every summer since! July 4Th was one of the few sunny days around Boston this month, but as we drove into NH, it was rainy! I couldn't believe it. We still managed to have a good time eating and watching fire works. My brother, Matthew, left the following Wednesday for a year teaching in the Czech Republic, so it was good to see him one last time. Nate even cut down a few trees that had grown in the garden over the last ten years, and I fell down trying to help him, seriously scrapping my knee, two weeks before Laura Daman (now Papia)'s wedding! (at right is my family in NH, watching fire works)

Not too long after that, Laura Daman married Andy Papia, July 18th. The ceremony was at Trinity Church in Bolton, where Nate grew up, and the reception at his parents house. We spent most of the week celebrating or helping get ready- Nate mowed ALOT! (and Loved it!) Despite a huge thunderstorm, which struck a tree near the house, the night before, the wedding day was beautiful and sunny and went off without a hitch! (The Daman- Papia Clan is pictured- arent they happy?!)

Now our lives look alot more like this:
Thursday we rent a truck, Friday we celebrate Andy and Laura's return, Dad Daman's and Cousin Arlyn's Bday and goodbye to us with the Daman Clan, Saturday we drive to PA! I don't think we will be getting rid of the boxes too soon...

Graduation

My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
Colossians 2:6-7, The Message.

Caroline and I are reading through The Message in our quiet times this year. So far I would give the translation mixed reviews. This passage in particular stood out to me in our reading this morning. As someone who grew up in the Church, and who can't really even remember a time when I wasn't somehow aware of God, I feel like this passage is speaking to me.

I've received Christ Jesus. I do want to trust him to lead me in my life decisions. Over the last twenty-nine years, I've learned from many different spiritual leaders and mentors, including my parents. I've pursued a relationship with Christ for many of these years through hearing, reading, studying, occasionally memorizing, and meditating on Scripture, spending time in prayer, worshiping God through music and service to others. Some of that was on my own, and some of that was carried out in community with others. I have some roots, and I hope some are deep. I know my way around the faith. And now I must do what I've been taught.

I've learned a lot over the years, and I've experienced a lot. But I am challenged by the seeming urgency of this phrase: “Now do what you've been taught.” I've put in a lot of study time, and I've often made excuses about not living it. I do want to be a life-long learner, but what good is it to only learn and never put into practice?

My feelings of inadequacy ebb and flow, but sometimes I know that I have something to offer—something to contribute. Following Jesus continues to impact my life, and I think people need a chance to know and follow him, too.

Enough sitting around already. Let's start living!