Its hard to believe that I haven't posted anything since Memorial Day, but the proof, as they say, is in the pudding! Can't say I have been too busy, I was unemployed from February through August with only a few speaking appointments during all those months. I did have the opportunity to do some preaching at the church we have been attending in July as well as the privilege to serve as the chapel speaker at Camp Lakeside in Maine. But being unemployed is now a thing of the past.
Beginning September 1st, I joined the ministry staff of the Windsor Locks Congregational Church as the Director of Adult Life Groups. In this capacity I have responsibility for recruiting, training and supporting the leaders of the 21 Life Groups sponsored by the church. It is so exciting for me to be able to work with these wonderful people who sense the importance of Christians being in community for personal spiritual growth and ministry. This is a part time position and I am paid a stipend to spend 10-15 hours a week doing this and a few other things as well.
Just a couple of weeks later I began a second part time job as an Individual Support Instructor working with some autistic men one on one. This has proved a very challenging and rewarding venture and has begun to fill my weeks with responsibilities. I will be spending 20-30 hours a week working with 3 men in this capacity.
As far as our church involvement goes, I am teaching an adult Sunday School class on Bill Hull's book, "Choose the Life", and Barb and I are leading a Life Group in our home and using the Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Tim Grissom book, "Seeking Him" as the our resource book. This group is composed of 8 wonderful people who are together hoping to experience the joy of personal revival. We meet every other week and are forming some wonderful friendships.
Our son Shawn is now a senior at Windsor Locks High School and is playing on the soccer team again this year. He is carrying a very challenging course load and spends hours doing homework every night. He is not working now but did work at Six Flags during the summer where he earned enough money to order the parts and, with the help of his cousin Stephen, to build his own computer. Barb is still working at the hospital where she has worked now for over 5 years.
The other big change since I last posted is that our granddaughter who we went to see in China in April, is now crawling and sitting up on her own. We enjoy seeing her weekly via Skype and marvel at her growth and personality development. Oh yes, we enjoy chatting with her parents too! Here are a couple of more recent pictures of Sarah Grace Dean.
I hope I will be able to do a better job of keeping the blog updated than in recent months, you'll just have to check back to see how I'm doing. Bye for now!
