Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the Lord has helped us.”

1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)

For the last several years, it has seemed good to draw up a list of specific ways that God has helped us, as we reflect back on the ups and downs of a year drawing to a close. Some years we have needed that because we needed to see past all the more obvious and difficult things, and remind ourselves of the providence of God working all to Good, as we looked past the pain of each moment to the longer perspective. And many of those points have been more private than publishable, either because we’re not sure we wanted to lay those pains open to the whole of cyberspace, or else because the point of the joy probably just wouldn’t make sense if you weren’t there for the pain as well.

But this year, there have been many joys, and many of those joys are shareable, so it seemed right to do so, and give God glory for what has has done for us this last year (the following list us, as the secondary agents; God is the primary agent working the good out in us):

At the UT Arlington:

1. I took Statistics, and learned R (a statistics computer program).
2. I finished formal syntax, formal phonology, and formal semantics requirements, completing my coursework requirements for the doctoral degree.
3. I Presented the Mbo language (of D.R.Congo) at three different conferences in Feb-Mar: the UTA Student Conference in Linguistics and TESOL (UTASCILT), and the UTA Annual Celebration of Excellence in Students (ACES), and the Annual Conference on African Linguistics (ACAL)
4. I won an award for my presentation at ACES, talking about the integration of linguistic work and community development.
5. I had an awesome time at ACAL, reconnecting with some scholars, and meeting new ones, including people whose work I am building on.
6. My academic advisor took a job elsewhere, and I made a smooth transition to another advisor, with whom I’m getting along very well.
7. I presented the Ndaka language (of D.R.Congo) at UTA Linguistics department Graduate Student Showcase and the Metroplex Linguistics Conference.
8. I got broad departmental affirmation for my Metroplex talk.
9. I submitted an abstract (on Ndaka) for ACAL 47 in March 2016, which was accepted.
10. I fully drafted my dissertation proposal, and sent it to my committee for review.

In Personal health:

1. I spent far too much money on doctors and tests to find out that I needed to loose weight (which I already knew).
2. I lost 60 pounds, and I’ve kept it off.
3. I withdrew from teaching at church to focus more on our marriage.
4. I got back into teaching at church.
5. I got to enjoy some Christmas preparation.
6. I got to see Kim enjoy me enjoying some Christmas preparation.
7. I finished the fall term well, early, and in peace with myself, God and Kim.

In the Family:

1. We prepared and executed a trip to Oregon
2. We set up a website, and integrated it with Mailchimp, our blog, and our give page at Wycliffe.
3. We started leading a homegroup.
4. We celebrated James’ 13th birthday.
5. We got to see each of our children take major strides in trusting Christ.
6. We got to see each of our children excel in particular ways at school.
7. We got solar panels installed on our house.
8. We made lots of progress in our marriage, both in and out of therapy.
9. We successfully got each of our cars out of the shop (multiple times each).

Other ministry opportunities:

1. I got to lead a small group of constantly changing group of fifth graders every other week in Sunday school, where I get to teach a bit and pray for each of them.
2. I got to lead a boy to Christ in the 5th/6th grade class.
3. I have continued to pursue relationships at church and homegroup that do not respond as positively as I would like.
4. I finished CORPS (a training course at our local church) answering questions well on the final exam (incl some potentially divisive ones). I received a particular commendation on my respectful demeanour from our senior pastor, who lead the course (those who have interacted with me over the years may sense how much of a blessing this was to hear!).
5. Kim has helped make 10+ quilts, and through this ministry continues to raise up prayer for missionaries.
6. Kim started as a BSF group leader, leading 13 women (including non- and new believers) through a study of Revelation.

So odds are some of the above doesn’t make sense.  That’s OK; maybe it’s more personal than I thought it was.  Anyway, God has carried us through a lot this year, both in terms of things to bear, and things to enjoy. So it just seemed right to ring in the new year giving him the credit. To God be the glory, from whom all blessings flow!

Grace,

Kent