"Big B"

So many of you have asked if we were able to find a teacher for Stephen for next year. So, the short answer to the question is a delighted "YES!!" The longer version is that God answered our prayers in keeping with His character, loving us and amazing us yet again with "doing immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine".

Beverly Estes(affectionately dubbed "Big B" by Rodger) is from Scandia, Kansas. She has been teaching at the Christian Academy in Mozambique for the last 3 years. We did not approach Beverly about teaching Stephen nor even talk to her about the need. She is on our e-mail list, though, and one day she read our blog about the need for a teacher. She then told us the story of when she visited our house for the first time. She came with a friend to bring a meal on one of our "move in" days last March. She said that as she stood in our living room, she felt God telling her that she would somehow be involved in what was about to go on here. When she read our blog, she sought direction from the Lord and responded in obedience.

You would have to know Beverly to know the gift that this is to our family! She is an artist and has already encouraged and nurtured Stephen in his abilities. You can just see his confidence level growing!

When we first met Beverly and heard her talk about what the Lord has "told" her, at first we looked at her skeptically. The more time we have spent with her, observing her life and the impact she has on her students, the more we see that Beverly is "real" in every way. She listens to His voice and walks by faith and not by sight. I(Lynne) can't tell you how, just in the last 2 weeks, she has hit the "hit the nail on the head" in things she has said to me, without my even opening my mouth to tell her circumstances going on in my life!

So, we've found a teacher for Stephen...or should I say she will be "teaching" the whole Schmidt family. She already has!