Waves

by Val

Last week we took a "vacation". Funny how our home is perfectly situated for such a thing. We had such an intense time during the beginning of summer with our training in CO and our meetings with people in AZ, I was completely peopled-out when we got back home to San Diego. I pretty much just curled up for the week and relished in my introvert side. However, a couple high points of the week was our trip to the beach, a half-day with Jesus at a coffee shop, and a trip to an amazing farmers market.

Ryan and I love just staring out at the beach. For me, I love watching any moving body of water. The tranquility and serenity of it...it's amazing. But the ocean especially, it kinda just washes over me and my worries. When staring at the ocean it's almost impossible NOT to think of how big God really is. A God so huge he can hold this mighty ocean in the palm of his hand...So powerful he spoke the very waters into existence.

Jer 5:22
Should you not fear me?" declares the LORD. "Should you not tremble in my presence? I made the sand a boundary for the sea, an everlasting barrier it cannot cross. The waves may roll, but they cannot prevail; they may roar, but they cannot cross it.

Is 40:12
Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?

As many of you know, Ryan and I will be in AZ most of the summer, funding and looking for summer jobs. However, though we may be very far from the ocean, this summer I'm praying that both myself and the students at SDSU will not forget tlook at the ocean. To look and remember how great and powerful our God is. We know that he keeps the ocean waves from prevailing, so why don't we trust him keep our personal troubles from prevailing. I worry so much and I know I need to discipline myself to trust God with my worries. To know that yes, the waves will roll...but they will not ultimately prevail.

New Path

Well, today we have to forge a new path for our summer. The previous path for our summer was to...
1) Go to Colorado for a week of training.
2) Go to Arizona to spend a couple weeks updating partners and thanking them for their support.
3)Go to California to help train students at a summer training program (STP) on relationships.
4)Go back to Arizona to meet with potential partners.

Well...our number 3 got blown out of the water.

Today we learned that the number of students attending the STP was far lower then expected. Also, our funding has been a difficult journey and never quite made it to 100% for the year. Because of that, our salary for a month or so has been cut back quite significantly to offset holes in our budget from last year. Because of these two factors we decided instead to go straight back to Arizona to find summer jobs and also to possibly meet with new people to share our vision and need.

This was an incredibly hard decision for both of us. However, we are praying that in the long run this decision will help free us up financially in the fall so we can be completly available to the students at SDSU.

We are completely financially dependent on the financial gifts of family and friends to allow us to minister full time on the campus. Their gifts enable us to be completely available to the students at SDSU with our time and resources. Without their gifts one or both of us will have to take a step back from the ministry in order to get part-time jobs. There is nothing wrong with an outside job, but we know from experience how draining it is on a person, a marriage and a ministry when one's time is pulled between work, marriage, community, and ministry.

We are praying for 38 new monthly partners this summer. Monthly commitments ranging from $10-$500, whatever God lays on one's heart. Would you consider partnering financially with us in the endeavor to proclaim Christ to this next generation? Please click on this link or email us at rpbuss@gmail.com.

Please free us to proclaim Christ to the students at SDSU without financial hindrances!

Please pray for us as we look for temporary summer jobs until we are freed up financially to minister full time with the students at SDSU!