Update

I wanted to give you an update on the happenings with Philip over the past month or so.  The day after we got home from Thanksgiving, Philip totaled his car in an accident on his way to work.  He was not hurt, but as the accident was his fault, he lost his car – no insurance to cover a replacement.  In order to keep his job, Philip had to move back home – as his current job is a few blocks from where I work and we share similar hours.  Unfortunately, Philip had just put $1000 in repairs into his car just before Thanksgiving – and his accident was his first day driving it – so he lost any savings he had banked up – and then some!  Over the next few weeks, we had numerous talks with Philip about his life and future – and how God was trying to get his attention.  Backed into a corner with no other options, he finally had to stop and listen.  Over the next couple of weeks, he decided that he needed to return to college and get a degree that will enable him to get moving with his life.  As he had already been accepted as a student at Dordt, he was able to get back in with minimal paperwork – and he now plans to return with Caleb to start college this weekend.  He also found that if he maintains a 3.0 and takes 9 credits this summer, he will qualify for a football scholarship once again this fall and can play in the upcoming season.  We are tremendously relieved and excited for all these changes – as there has been some deep repentance and genuine change on his part.  We now ask your prayers for him – especially financial.  Because he does not qualify for his football scholarship until fall – and because his past mistakes have cost him the opportunity for any academic scholarships in the immediate future, he needs to come up with $2200 in the next week to make all this happen.  At this point, we have encouraged him to make all his preparations to go, and to expect that God will provide.  Please pray that God will provide – that the changes in his heart will deepen his faith – and that this quick transition into college life will be a good one for him.  Thanks for all your prayers for him to this point.

Alan