Isaiah 26:3

You keep him in perfect

Gifted With the Journey
peace whose mind is Volume 6, Issue 1 - August 2019
stayed on you, because he
trusts in you.
Another school year has been completed, 69 students graduated, and
the student body scattered across the globe for the summer. The seniors
asked for one of our Bible teachers to give the commencement address, Josh’s Highlight
and then we all celebrated with the students as they were called forward
and a tribute was read for each of them. In just two more years, that While the relaxation this summer
Prayer - Praises & Requests
 will include the Junior class that we are sponsors of and our two small and our anniversary trip were
groups of students! Oh, that will be a day, but for now we will enjoy the certainly highlights, I also found a
Praises time we have with them and pray that the Lord uses us in their lives and
particular joy in closing the school
- A restful summer them in ours - to draw and point us all to Him….the Good Shepherd.
Oh, we are all such sheep. Do I hear an “Amen”?
 year with the IT Department being
- A good 5th Anniversary trip to well under budget. It’s been a goal
Belgium I, Katie, read a book that has revolutionized how I am looking at my
schedule. I would highly recommend it. It’s called “The Best Yes” by to both improve the quality of
- Staff that God has provided for
Lysa Terkeurst. Basically the book says when opportunities arise, most service while reducing costs, so it
Black Forest Academy this year
- Students that God has given to Black of us ask “does it fit in my schedule?” or “do I have the ability to do it?” was a pleasure to be able to close
Forest Academy this year and sometimes we pray about it. However, in praying about it and the year feeling like both were
Requests seeking the Lord when opportunities arise there are more things to accomplished. While there’s
- That all staff would be growing to be consider - not just does it fit in my schedule, do I have the ability to do always more ways to improve, it’s
more like Jesus as we minister to the it or do I desire to do it, but….If I say Yes to this opportunity, how will a good feeling that we’re able to
students, to each other and in the it affect what I can give to everything else I’m already committed to?
run a lean (and still effective!)
community For instance, how will it affect my family, my job, other ministries? Do
I have the resources that it requires: physically, financially, emotionally? ship!
- For safety of the incoming staff and
students as they return, or come for the I, Katie, have been feeling the Lord calling me into a season of more
first time, to Black Forest Academy for quietness and this book only added to that and helped me ask some
the 2019-2020 school year more practical questions. All of the things I have been doing are good,
glorifying to God even, but I have been given feedback that I’m not Katie’s Highlight

- That it will be a rich year of ministry
coming across the way that I would desire to. I desire to always be kind, It has been a great, refreshing,
here for Josh and I….and a year of joy

- Renewal of visas, end August 2nd approachable…but I am coming across a little more stressed or uptight relaxing summer. We are feeling
and quick or harsh. For all of these reasons, I have decided to step back ready to start fully back to work
from a few things, which is hard to do, but I am doing this out of with more energy and strength. It
Calendar
 obedience, the desire to come across in a more God-honoring way and was great to not need to ride on any
August 7th - New staff orientation to have room for the things He wants me to say Yes to…the Best Yeses. planes this summer or live out of
begins at BFA
 All of this to say, even though I think that they are terribly important, I
suitcases for anything but our
August 12th - All Staff Conference am stepping back from coordinating the nursery (so important for
parents to be able to attend the church service and have a break for a bit) vacation to celebrate our 5th
begins at BFA
 wedding anniversary to Belgium
August 18th - Leading Worship 
 and AWANA (so important for the little ones to be hiding God’s Word in
their hearts). With these changes I will be able to be more devoted to for a few days. It’s been nice to
August 28th - BFA Opening have more time together this
Worship Team and not responsible in two different areas on a Sunday
Ceremony for the morning. Also, my small group of Junior girls meets on Tuesday nights. summer, which is more than we
2019-2020 school year
 AWANA meets on Tuesdays after school. This makes Tuesdays very normally have during the year,
September 5-9 Community busy, a little frantic and I feel that quitting AWANA will help me give a when Josh is studying for his
Budenfest
 better quality small group time to my Junior ladies. So, this was tough. I Masters. It’s been fun to train for
September 15 - Triathlon Day!!!
 hope my story helps you as you evaluate your schedules and your Best the triathlon together and get things
September 16 - 20 High School Yeses. Please let me know if it does…I’ll just say Good Job in advance!

a little more organized at home and
Spiritual Emphasis Week Address: Bahnhofstrasse 19/6, 79400 Kandern, GERMANY 

Phone: 1 - 904-701-3129; +49 (0)7626 9745363
 school before the 19-20 school year
with a Worship Night
 starts. 19-20 = wow!

Website: www.giftedwiththejourney.com / E-Mail: jknathan14@gmail.com
September 27 - Fall Party


Local Culture
 Circle of Friends


What we are learning:
 The group of German ladies I go I, Katie, was reminded on 

out with monthly told me that I our trip to Brussels of the fast 

- You need to assume the best about 
 am the only English speaker that camaraderie I feel with people who 

everyone….check yourself first 
 are Americans. We met eight other

they talk with on a regular basis. people on a bike tour of Brussels. We 

(knowing it is one thing, doing it is
I, Katie, have been studying rode bikes around the city seeing sights

another)


 German more this summer, for four hours. In the short time we 

- It is more important how you are doing while we’ve had more time. exchanged names, encouraged each 

the things you are doing, than how 
 other, helped each other, looked out

Pray for opportunities to speak for each other. We said bye and 

much you are doing. Is “how”

with them about God and I had tears in my eyes from 

you are doing things 

glorifying God?
 eternal matters. the experience. Home 

sick?
 PRAYER CALENDAR

Prayers for the Month of August 2019

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Churches BFA School Ministry Marriage/ BFA Staff/ Evangelism Germany

Family Students
1 - Pray for the 2 - Pray for His 3 - Pray for the
new staff as they love for everyone. German
will be coming and His perspective government to
starting orientation and heart for each come into
in the next few person we come alignment with
days. in contact with. godly principles.

4 - Please pray for 5 - Pray the new 6 - Pray for all our 7 - We have the 8 - Pray for the 9 - Pray for 10 - We have
the partnership staff who do yet interactions to be desire for a family. returning staff as contacts in the families who
and teamwork of have their support pointing others to Pray the Lord will they will be German minister to
several churches raised…that the Him. Pray that we give us the coming in to start community to refugees weekly.
in our area. We Lord would would be children He wants meetings for this come to know Pray that the
can go farther if provide for what fragrances of Him us to have and school year on the Christ as their refugees would
we go together. He wants them to - keeping eternity enjoy “our 12th. For safety, Savior. come to receive
We can reach do and that they and His Kingdom kids” (our for unity, for God’s Christ as their
farther….for Him. would have peace. in mind. students) for now. hand to be on us. Savior.

11 - Pray that 12 - Our staff 13 - Pray for 14 - Our marriage 15 - Pray for the 16 - Pray for our 17 - Pray for
churches will orientation begins various friendships would be healthy, new students, students as they Germany to set a
preach God in all today. Pray for all that we have with growing, and families and staff are packing and good example, as
His fullness and the staff as we are colleagues, focused on the who are preparing preparing to leave they are a country
His Word - not just regathering from Germans, Lord. That our to come to BFA - their families until that other
their favorite part, around the globe neighbors…that relationship would that the Lord Christmas and countries look to
but a true and getting on the we would be reflect Him… would be providing return to BFA for leadership and
representation of same page before pointing them all Christ and His and affirming His within the next two aid.
His love/justice - we take off for the toward the Lord church. will and preparing weeks.
truth - redemption. year in two weeks. through our lives. their hearts.

18 - Josh and 19 - Pray for those 20 - Pray for our 21 - Pray that we 22 - Pray for BFA 23 - Pray for 24 - Pray for the
Katie are in leadership adult small group, would keep “That to stay it’s course opportunities to German
participating in the positions…our that we would All May Know in global ministry - speak the truth, for government. Pray
worship ministry at headmaster, our continue in the Him”, as the grid keeping boldness and the that the Lord’s
church. They both principals…that study of the Word, through which we missionaries on right words…that people will be
really enjoy this. the would be and exhortation of run all our the field, sharing they might be not elected. Pray for
Praise the Lord for seeking the Lord each other. Pray decisions, and “He Christ through just heard, but revival.
this blessing! in all of their for wisdom for must increase, we teaching and their received.
decisions. next year as we must decrease, as graduates.
prepare next year. our motto”.

25 - Pray for our 26 - Pray for 27 - Pray for 28 - Pray all our 29 - Pray that the 30 - Pray for us to 31 - Pray for
pastor and his Opening wisdom as we are ministry would be teachers will have focus on the America….for our
family. He is being Ceremony which making decisions pouring over from insight into the matters that are leaders, that the
faithful in is on Wednesday. about involvement our own hearts of their eternal as we work Lord would stir
preaching the All of the students, this year. Pray for relationships with students even as in I.T., the music their hearts to
Word of God staff, parents will us to take our best Him. Pray for they meet them. department and follow Him and
accurately. Pray be present. Pray yeses - the ones faithfulness in the Pray for truth to be interact in the steer their
for protection for for parents/ that He wants us Word, in prayer, taught and Jesus community, and decisions in
him, his family and students who are to take. and fellowship. to be glorified and that we would use obedience to Him.
his marriage. saying goodbye exemplified. every moment we
until Christmas. have intentionally.
1 - Katie’s Three Bands this year - 5th, Intermediate and High School

2- Graduation - Katie with mentee from this year and alumnus from ’15

3 - Katie’s Sign Team, Small Group & Department Team

4 - Fun on the home front….new recipes, playing with the birds, having company, a German friend’s wedding

5 - 5th Anniversary Trip in Belgium - don’t be alarmed by the faces, we were just having fun