Oside Update: September 2014

Wow, so much has happened over the past couple of months. We are finally beginning to feel somewhat settled into our new home and are getting into the rhythm of daily life here in Oside. Trevor, Taralyn and Trent have all started school. Trent is a fourth grader at Empresa Elementary and this is his first time in “real school” (as he calls it). Previously, Krystal was homeschooling him. Before we moved to Oside, Trent asked us if he could go to public school, feeling it would be a good place for him to meet new friends. This has turned out to be true for Trent, and Krystal and I as well. Although to Trent, the best thing about “real school” is being able to play football during lunch break.

Taralyn has started her junior year at Vista High School and will be celebrating her 16th birthday on August 30. She’s turned out to be the bravest of us all, starting a new school without knowing anyone. She has been able to connect with the girls on the water polo team as they have started pre-season practice (girl’s water polo is a winter sport here in North San Diego County). Trevor also started a new chapter in his life. On August 20, he moved out of the house and into the dorms at California Baptist University. He has already begun to practice with the water polo team and his classes will begin the 2nd of September.
     
        We are all working hard at connecting and forming relationships with the people we come in contact with and our neighborhood is no exception. We love the neighborhood God brought us to because of all the activity. By activity we mean people walking, kids riding bikes and skateboards, and people just generally being outside. Last week, we invited our immediate neighbors over to have root beer floats in our front yard.

Krystal came up with a creative invitation and we were able to meet and get to know many of the people on our block. We have begun inviting neighbors over for dinner, further building community while getting to know them. Joining organizations such the Oceanside Museum of Art, the California Surf Museum and the YMCA in our neighborhood have been great connecting points with both the people and social culture of our city. And I can’t fail to mention the beach as an awesome place to meet people. One other thing we have noticed, and it has become more obvious the longer we are here, is that Oside is a military town. The Marine culture is deeply rooted and woven into the social fabric of Oside and across all of North County. Soldiers both active and inactive along with their families will be part of our faith community.

        Besides the relational part of church planting we are working on the structural aspects too. Our family is part of a missional small group with three other families that meets on a weekly basis over dinner. On Sunday’s we worship at Infusion San Marcos. Scott has begun to network with fellow church planters and other local pastors in the North County area. He also has regular scheduled meetings with pastors from the Infusion network of churches—Josh Stuhlmiller (San Marcos), Matt Ortiz (Escondido) and his leadership team. The planting process also requires a mentor and denominational oversight, which is provided by John Alwood. Krystal is actively looking for a part-time job with the city or county to help supplement our income. Scott will begin refereeing boy’s water polo in a couple of weeks to help as well.

This is what has been going on in the month and it’s a very condensed version. Again, we want to say thank you for your continued prayer and support. God is and always will be faithful. We know this to be true because it has been made evidently clear by your joining us in God’s mission by providing for our needs. Besides continued support, prayer is most needed at this time. Please pray for Trent, Taralyn and Trevor as they transition into their new schools. Pray for our family’s physical health and spiritual wellbeing. And join us as we pray that God would bring together five people who feel called to enter into a discipleship relationship with Scott and who will, in time, each disciple a handful of individuals that will eventually make up the core leadership of Infusion Church Oceanside.

May the God of peace,
who brought back the great shepherd of the sheep,
our Lord Jesus,
from the dead by the blood of the eternal covenant,  
equip you with every good thing to do his will,
by developing in us what pleases him through Jesus Christ.
To him be the glory forever and always. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20 & 21