A letter from Jay and Nancy Adams in Germany
November 10, 2009
Friends,
Life at Black Forest Academy can be described from many different perspectives, like a reverse-angle camera in instant replay: Students, dorm staff and teachers all attend the same events but each has quite a different perspective.
Emotions run high as everyone attempts to juggle multiple aspects of life. As seniors complete college applications they have to stare into the reality of leaving the nest of friends they have at BFA. Tenth-graders try out for the play or for basketball for the first time and fear the rejection that comes from being cut. Middle school kids watch to get a sense of how popular they are from day to day. Obviously, chronic stress affects everyone.
If you check out the BFA website you’ll see lovable faces of many students and staff. Please select a few to pray for as you remember your own years of grades 1-12. Be sure to remember that the high school kids have the extra pressure of living away from home.
When I subbed for the “World Views” class on Friday so the regular teacher could attend the Girls Volleyball Tournament (BFA won and are European Champions of DoDDS — Department of Defense Dependents Schools), the 12th-graders brought up some current events related to rape, human trafficking, sex education and a few other hot topics. After a full day of five classes I was ready for some relative “peace and quiet” while doing a challenging work-out in the gym to some loud music from the BFA praise and worship band CD.
Bryce Rafferty broke his neck diving into shallow water two months ago.
Bryce is not a BFA student, but when Nancy and I heard about what happened to this college-age American doing a semester abroad without family or friends in Europe, we’ve been blessed to make multiple visits to care for and comfort Bryce and his parents in an area hospital. Pray the Lord would work to intervene and bring healing to Bryce. Please pray for physical healing and spiritual growth and for continued courage and hope that comes from the Lord to face the new life ahead for each family member. Right now Bryce is considered to be a quadriplegic.
The Lord gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
—Isaiah 41
Jay’s multi-faceted job
The special projects I’ve been involved in at BFA fall within a wide range — dealing with financial issues, solving staffing problems, doing housing contract negotiations, alumni relations and reunions, student enrollment strategy for mission agencies, and raising the visibility of BFA among the business community. As I shared some projected enrollment analysis with board members at the fall meeting, we agreed that significant future funding for the education of children of missionaries could come from recruiting students who are the children of business men and women. I appreciate your prayers in all of these complicated endeavors.
Family
Nancy has spent the fall working diligently on her grad studies both here and on the campus of the University of North Carolina. The real joy of her work, however, has been assisting Josh and Meagan in the care of our granddaughters, Molly, 4, and Anne, 2. Their new little guy, Owen Joshua Adams, was born seven weeks early. Nancy was delighted to be there to care for them all since Meagan had to run back and forth from home to the hospital NICU each day for four weeks. We praise God for the safe delivery for Meagan and the good health of Owen.
Luca Ellis Walker, Katie and John’s son is now out of his casting for clubfeet and has begun splints.
We praise God for Luca’s growth and development and for his precious smile. Pray for continued endurance and courage for all of them. They’re trusting God for some church members and friends in Seattle to come forward and help with Luca’s need for stretching exercises. They need many more helpful hands. Please pray that Luca would be able to walk and someday be able to use his arms and hands. Luca is being held in Katie’s arms.
Nancy and I are blessed to have friends like you who pray and partner with us to see the gospel proclaimed around the world. Thanks for your faithful prayers and your financial commitment to be steadfast partners in ministry together.
Hugs,
Jay and Nancy Adams
Jay and Nancy’s teen Bible camp used C.S. Lewis’ The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe as a theme last summer.
P.S. Also, please pray for the 60 German teens we lived with this summer in Bible camp. Nancy and I led two camps back to back. Each camp was fantastic. The kids and the staff were awesome. The theme was “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” Aslan was the perfect image and example of forgiveness and redemption and unconditional love. Many students told us they wanted to deepen their relationship with God. One precious and beautiful blessing was the unity in Christ of our staff from Germany, Switzerland and the United States (nine different states). Unglaublich! Unbelievable!
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 175
