A Look Back and A Look Ahead

Well, summer is officially over and the fun filled fall months have begun. For those of us in youth ministry the summer months are always filled with camps, trips, mission projects and other fun stuff that keeps us very busy.
This past summer was no exception for us and our students. We spent our summer attending our yearly church camp, going on a mission's trip to New York, and of course the typically Cedar Point trip. We also did some things this summer with our students that we fun such as bowling, golfing, going to the movies and other things. One of the most meaningful things that I saw was the heart that our students have for serving. We took three days this summer to do service work for those in our community. We went to the rescue mission, an elderly adult facility, and to a place that provides tutoring for underprivileged children. Our students performed a variety of tasks all of which were worthwhile and wonderfully done. I am so encouraged by their love for serving others and their willingness to get their hands dirty.
As we look back on what was done and where we have been we are eagerly looking ahead to where we are going. This fall should be amazing for our student ministry. We are planning on making some major changing to our programming, which still needs prayer by the way, and moving forward with ministry. While we already have our calendar mapped out we know that there are still a number of things that will come up. We are also aware of the number of issues that our students are facing and will face during this upcoming school year which will mean that we will have our hands covered in the dirt of their lives by the time the end of this school year gets here, which is fine.
Our family has been very busy as well, running to see each other and also spending time with little Corban. He is a wonderful blessing to our lives and we love having him around. He truly does bless our lives and in just seven days he will be four months old! We are truly blessed and love what we are doing.

The Last Two Months

Well today our little guy, Corban turns two months old. It seems like only yesterday that we were going through all the challenges of getting ready for his arrival. After our challenging month in the NICU I must say that we are stronger people however, it did not come easily. During our little guys two months of life we have faced challenges and difficulties which include our son being in the hospital for nearly a month, feelings of inadequacy as parents (as I'm sure all parents experience), and a variety of other things. During this past two months I also had to undergo one of the most painful things that I have done which was to leave my wife and son for a week while I was at camp with our students from the church. While this was a wonderful experience and I'm glad that I was able to go, it was also very challenging because this was the longest that I have been away from my wife during our three year marriage. The hard part is that we know we are going to do it all over again next week went I am taking our students to New York on a mission's trip. This will be another challenging but wonderful experience, I'm sure. Leaving your wife and son is never easy but especially with everything that we have went through and the hurt that has been recalled. You see also in this past two months we relived the loss of our daughter a year ago (June 29th). This was another piece of the puzzle in our lives but we are continuing to move forward and make progress. We appreciate your prayers as we deal with the variety of issues that we are facing.

Plans

After the chaos that has been our lives for the past month things are starting to get into a "normal" routine again. I have been able to come back to work at the church consistently, which is good because the summer is one of our busiest times. It's hard though to leave my little guy though, much more so than I ever imagined but mom is taking great care of him and loving on him all the time so he's alright.
However, over these past few days Mindy and I have been diving into a conversation that seems to always come back to a similar theme. That theme is plans. Throughout both of our lives we have been planners. We schedule details, plan ahead, and work to have all of our ducks in a row. With the birth of our son, we had our plans laid out that he would be born on Friday morning and be in our arms in a matter of hours. However, someone had other plans. That someone would be our Heavenly Father and Divine Creator, God. As we went through the process of waiting three weeks and six days to get our boy home we were unable to see the big picture that God was teaching us. However, now as we look back on things we are able to see His hand that we knew was there but many times couldn't see. His hand was upon all three of us and in hindsight was teaching us that our plans are not really that important unless they are His plans. After looking back on everything we went through we have come to realize that God's plan is so much better because we not only have a son now, who even the nurses didn't think would make it at first, but he is healthy and active. This process has shown us the importance of God's plan and our need not to be so stuck in our own plans that may lead us off course. Just some food for thought and this will be a sermon I'm sure with a little more work and time. Thank you again to everyone who prayed for is loving on our son. We love you all!

Final Update on Corban

Yesterday was an amazing day. We were able to bring our little boy home. It was one day shy of a month in the NICU. A song that we have been listening to a lot lately has really been stuck in my (this is Mindy) mind. It is called Waters Gone By and is based on Job 11:13-20. I would encourage you to read these verses but I am going to write the words of the song.

You will lift up your face without shame

You will firmly stand with no fear inside

You will surely forget your troubles and pain

Recalling them only as waters gone by

If you put away the sin in your hand

And allow no evil to dwell

If you devote your heart

And stretch out your hands to Him

You'll be secure for there is hope

And you will safely take your rest

You will lie down

With no one to make you afraid

But the eyes of the wicked will fail

Darkness gives way to morning's light

Life will be brighter than noon day

As the waters go by into the night

I will lift up my face without shame

I will firmly stand with no fear inside

I will surely forget my troubles and pian

Recalling them only as waters gone by

As waters gone by

-Shawn Lewis-Glory Revealed CD

As Matt and I have recalled over the last few days the journey that Corban has taken in his month of life we are reminded of how far God has brought him. I don't know what God has planned for his life but I am sure that it is going to be amazing. He has an incredible story to tell. The past is "waters gone by". I hope that this has been an encouragement to anyone that is going through troubled waters. He will bring you through and "life will be brighter than noon day." Trust me....I've lived it.

Thank you for all your prayers and support during this difficult time. We appreciate it and know that God heard and answered each one.

Update on Corban - June 1, 2008

I know that it has been a few days since our last post about our little boy and honestly it's been because things have been really crazy. Corban is continuing to move forward and has been off of an oxygen support at all since Wednesday or Thursday of last week. His medicine ends on Wednesday, which is great since it was on a twenty one day cycle. Finally, his feedings have been a struggling point, but he seems to be getting the hang of it now. For a while he was stuck around 30 cc's but this afternoon he seems to have cracked that barrier with a little help from mom & dad. We realized that he just needs a little more time, sometimes a break, and occasionally a diaper change to get him through the feeding. We are willing to take whatever steps are necessary to get our boy home. We are in the process of doing the discharge stuff and are hoping to be home by the end of the week with our boy. Please continue to pray for little Corban so that he can get his feedings up to where they want them so he can go home. Also, if you all could say a special prayer for Mindy and I as we are getting worn down and tired of living out of a suitcase. If you would pray for these things it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much and we love you all.

In His Name,
Matt, Mindy, & Corban

Update on Corban-May 29, 2008

Corban sure is a tough little guy. We called to check on him this morning when we woke up and the nurse told us that he had pulled his feeding tube out and they were going to try to let him keep it out. We got to the hospital a short time later for a feeding and he was doing fairly well but at his next feeding they had to put it back in because he was slowing down a bit. He still has some work to do in this area but he has been pushed so much the last few days that we are confident he will get the hang of it! It just might take some time.

He really is a sweet little baby. Not that we are partial or anything, but he really is! He was quite alert and awake this morning so we were able to just take him in some more. It is kind of funny but some of the nurses actually fight over who gets to take care of him. It is a good feeling knowing the level and quality of care he is receiving. We also are being told usually at least once a day how amazed everyone is at his improvement. We know that this is not anyone's doing but God's. There is no way that Corban would be where he is today if it were not for the faithful prayers that have been prayed on his behalf. Thank you for all of your continued support.

In Him-

Matt, Mindy & Corban

Update on Corban - May 28, 2008

Yesterday was another good day for our son. He is continuing to show progress while Mindy and I are able to be more involved in his life. Yesterday we were able to feed him multiple times and change diapers, hold him and just love on our boy. They are continuing to wean him off of things and we are getting closer and closer to bringing our boy home. We don't know exactly when but basically we still have to clear three hurdles before it can happen.
First, is the breathing issue. Corban is on the lowest setting on the lowest machine and may be coming off of it as early as today.
Second, are his feedings. He has to continue to get his feedings down and increase them as they are getting close to where they want them but are not there yet. This would also let the umbilical lines come out which would allow us to hold him without gloves.
Third, is the anti-viral medicine that he is on which will run its cycle on June 4th.
Please continue to pray for our little guy who has overcome so much in his short three weeks of life already as we desire to get him home. Thanks so much for your love, support, and prayers and we love you all.

-Matt, Mindy, & Corban