Covid; Calling; and Contentment

Hello Dear Friends!

How are you doing these days? It's been almost 3 months since our last prayer update! How time flies! As some of you may be joining us for the first time, we warmly welcome you to hearing about our life and perhaps feeling inspired to whisper a prayer for us. We want to stay connected with you because you're important to us!

Let us try to summarize the last 3 months with three titles:

Jonathan and Grandpa Doing Hay

Covid-19

We sent our sons Jonathan and David to their grandparents on the farm while we were preparing to move to Fort Erie in August. Melanie and I had lawyer visits, cleaning the new house, moving, and etc. The boys were at the farm for a week and during that time someone on the farm was identified as being positive for Covid-19. As such, we had the boys tested. Jonathan tested positive for Covid-19 and David tested negative. Therefore, Jonathan had to stay in isolation on the farm for 10 days. He had no obvious symptoms. He missed his family but grandpa kept him busy helping with hay on the farm (picture).

David doing a puzzle on his own to "pass the time."

Since David was in contact with a Covid positive person, he also had to isolate separately for 10 days. Melanie took a precaution Covid test and the results were negative for Covid-19 so she joined David in a trailer we are borrowing. That left me, Phil, staying in the new home alone. Near the end of the 10 days of isolation, Melanie and David went for their follow-up Covid-19 test and both tested positive for Covid-19. Hence, they are in isolation for another 10 days. David feels good but Melanie is suffering many symptoms including hardness of breathing, losing her taste and her ability to smell. Phil recently went for a test and was negative for Covid-19... Jonathan is now back home with Phil and has begun Grade 2 school this week (Sept 13). We should be reunited as a family this Sunday, September 19. We are deeply grateful that we have so many options to manage this Covid journey, but we would value any prayers you feel inspired to offer.

Calling

Phil started his new calling at First Baptist Church, Fort Erie on August 3rd, 2021! I am so enjoying the people and the wonderful team I get to work alongside! I love God's Church! To my absolute delight, this past week I got to hang out with some of the young people and my heart was deeply refreshed and rejuvenated! They are great young people! I can see that this may be a season of harvest at the church as we work together to build community and gatherings of hope and healing! Ah, it's invigorating! ❤️

Another area of ministry I am enjoying, is our partnership with the Matthew House Ministry to refugees! Our congregation has many refugees and they are some of the nicest and most gracious people I know! As such, I am planning to help with a fundraiser called "Ride for Refuge" on Saturday October 2, 2021. This is simply an update about our life but if you would want to join me in making a difference through a donation or participation you can check out more details by CLICKING HERE.

Contentment

In spite of all the unexpected twists and turns of life, we are content. We are so grateful that our family is together! We are thankful for a new church, a new school, new neighbours, and developing friendships. We are also grateful that we got a home in this crazy house market! The house requires upgrades and some work as our predecessors were smokers but we are deeply content. God has been kind to us. For your records, or for your next visit, our new home address is:

58 Riceland Ave.

Fort Erie, ON

L2A 1R3

Thank you so much for taking time to invest in our stories. We appreciate you and value your prayers! We speak life and blessings over you and your family! Be well!

Well, my 3 updates all started with the letter "C" and I conclude with a sentence that starts with a passionate desire... "Come, Lord Jesus!" 😍

Till we embrace again,

Phil, Melanie, Jonathan, and David Styles

At the Niagara Zoo (August 2021)