Merry Christmas

Adore Thee:Black Christmas Cards
Check out our collection of Christmas cards and holiday cards.

Thanks to Our Adopt A Student Sponsors

We were notified today that all of our Adopt A Student Sponsors from last year are going to continue supporting us through the 2012-2013 school year.  We are truly blessed to have ongoing relationships with these sponsors (most of whom are not people we have previous relationships with).  We look forward to traveling back to TX this spring/summer and hope to be able to thank our sponsors in person during these trips (perhaps we will be able to make a return trip to Homer as well as we finish up Seminary)

 Our sponsors for 2012-2013 so far are:

• Mr. Gorlyn Bronstad (Sherman, TX)
• Timothy and Karen Brinkmann (McKinney, TX)
• Mr and Mrs. Herbert Michael (Freeport, TX)
• Faith Lutheran Church (Homer, AK)

We have many different types of sponsors and this just highlights one of the ways that we are supported by God's Family.  We will continue to list needs in terms of prayers and financial/material gifts on this blog. If you are interested in hearing more about sponsorship opportunities OR would like to know more about seminary funding and costs please let us know. We would be glad to talk with you.

In addition, please know that your gifts of encouragement, prayers, and letters mean the world.  It is easy to question whether or not we should be here but we continually see God providing and his people affirming this journey. 

Love and Blessings,

The Walstons

 The Adopt A Student Program is a donor matching program through Concordia Seminary St. Louis that allows donors to establish ongoing relationships with the students they support.  Please read more about this program below:

Adopt-A-Student sponsors give $500 or more annually which may be given as a one-time gift or throughout the year through several gifts. Adopt-A-Student gifts are used to prepare future pastors and missionaries, or you may also designate your gift for the preparation of international, deaconess, Center for Hispanic Studies (CHS) or Ethnic Immigrant Institute of Theology (EIIT) students.

Standing together, students and sponsors overcome the single greatest obstacle to students coming to the Seminary — affording it! By overcoming this challenge you are making an eternal difference as the students you prepare now will proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ today and for decades to come. In faith, these seminarians have come to Concordia Seminary. Now you can encourage them with your prayers and make their preparation financially possible.

As an Adopt-A-Student sponsor, you can expect to hear from your student frequently! While students wishing to receive Adopt-A-Student funds are required to write their sponsors every academic quarter, they are encouraged  to stay in touch with their sponsors even more frequently during the school year.

To enroll, or for more information, please contact Seminary Advancement at 1-800-822-5287 oradoptastudent@csl.edu

Its a GIRL and other September News

As tradition would have it, our biggest news from September is that it looks as though Baby #3 will also be a GIRL!  We are excited to welcome her into the mix this winter and glad that she is looking healthy and average sized at this point.  Angie is now going into the doctor every other week and will begin weekly visits next month.  This, of course, adds more to-do on our schedule but also gives us the unique opportunity to get to check in on our little one more often than most people experience.  We ask for continued prayers for the health of the baby and for Angie in this second half of the pregnancy.


Our schedule has shown no signs of letting up this fall as September came and went with the blink of an eye.  Bobby has had the opportunity to assist in the leadership of the Students in Mission organization- a subset of seminary students who are interested in the mission field through church planting, revitalization, overseas missions, and other non-tradiitonal settings.   We hosted a "party" at the beginning of the month and had a great turn out.  It is wonderful to see God moving in so many lives and in the church body....there is a refreshing vibe on campus right now.

We also had the opportunity to host a Texas District BBQ and connect with the leadership and other students from TX.  It was wonderful to hear about what is going on in our "home" district and to receive encouragement from them (we also enjoyed some Shiner and Blue Bell).   The Mid-South District was also on campus this month and we were able to see our friend Josh Woodrow who is currently called to the Mid-South as a church planter.  It was great to reconnect and again and here from another district that is actively pursuing ministry and outreach to "the least of these".

Maddie has been enjoying school, although she is TIRED by the end of the week.  She has a wonderful teacher who is handling her sensory challenges with ease.  We are very glad to have found this program for her.  She is continuing with Occupational Therapy once a week and we are seeing her catching up in her body awareness, coordination, and fine motor skills.  We are truly Blessed!

As we continue to get back into a routine, prayers and support are always appreciated.  Thank you all for your love and encouragement!

The Walstons

Fall Begins Again_Blogging Returns

To our friends, family and supporters,

We apologize for the extended absence from our blog.  The Spring and Summer flew by with Bobby's trip to Uganda, Angie and the girls in Texas, an extended family trip to AZ in August and a quick trip to Southern CA thanks to some gifted tickets and hotel accommodation at Disney.  All this along with classes, teaching, working, and, of course, a new baby on the way!  We will be back to posting once a month.

Thank you all for your many forms of support, financial gifts, prayers, care packages and words of encouragement.  We are so very grateful to be surrounded by a family who walks with us on this journey.  As year 2 begins, please continue your prayers for diligence, patience, clarity, and frugality along with prayers of health for Angie and the baby.

Here is a brief update on fall:

Bobby’s Schedule

This Fall Bobby will be busy taking 15 hours (5 Classes) including:  Homiletics I, Systematics I, Theology of Missions, Pastor as Counselor, and Synoptic Gospels.   He is excited to begin official preaching duties at our field work church and hopes to visit some of our sponsor churches over the next year to share a message and meet you all in person (after the baby comes :).   He will also be participating in a year long class called Mission and Ministry that involves three out of state trips to mission planting churches in KS, IA, TN and AR.  Bobby has also accepted a part time position at our new field work church Reliant Church (www.reliantchurch.org) as the Community Groups coordinator.  This church is a newer plant in St. Louis and provides some wonderful hands on experience. He is filling the rest of his time assisting with Students in Mission, serving as an Intramural Captain, and providing childcare while Angie works :). 

Angie’s Teaching and Consulting

Angie also has a busy semester teaching three psychology classes at Maryville University, continuing her grant writing and online class development for The Parenting Center (check out her online parenting classes at  www.theparentingcenter.org) , and, of course, caring for the girls along with growing our new baby :).  She has also been able to start doing some parenting classes at local churches and schools and hopes to continue to expand this as the baby comes in January.  So far, she and the new baby are healthy and the Drs. are optimistic that this high risk pregnancy is being managed well.

Maddie and Cady

With mom and dad back at school/work, we have been excited to find a wonderful Sem Wife childcare provider on campus again this year.  The girls are with this family on Mondays and Fridays and Wednesday is “daddy day”. Maddie has also started preschool at Christ Community Lutheran School on Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Cady will be joining her for a “new 2s” class in January.  We are making some new friends and enjoying fall in St. Louis as the cooler weather arrives.  We anticipate finding out the gender of the new baby in mid-September.

Uganda Trip Summary

Blessings in Uganda

At the end of May I had the incredible opportunity to travel to Central Uganda with two friends and brothers from Seminary on a two week mission.  While in country we were able to build relationships with the people of the Ntutti and surrounding tribes, work with and train local pastors and church elders, work with the students training at African Hospitality Institute (AHI), repair water wells, mud homes and schools, and enjoy the beauty and culture of the “Pearl of Africa”.  It was encouraging to see the ministry which is ongoing in that region long after the three of us came home but it was equally encouraging to know that the partnership opportunity is long term.  Quality pastoral training is a real need in this remote area of the country and the pastors there are eager for us to return.  

Below you can read more about the region and the ministries which we partnered with during our time there.  Words cannot express my gratitude and thanks for everyones support and encouragement for this mission.  Please know that the people there are incredibly grateful for the gifts which we were able to share and send many thanks and prayers for their brothers and sisters in Christ back in the United States.      

Ekitangaala Ranch: African Hospitality Institute

Nine million Ugandans live on less than $1 a day, and most of these belong to households depending on subsistence agriculture.  Uganda is also plagued by health problems including high rates of malaria, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malnutrition and infant and maternal mortality.  African Hospitality Institute Vocational Training and Guesthouse is located 70 miles north of Kampala on Ekitangaala Ranch, a working dairy ranch owned and operated by Cornerstone Development Uganda.  AHI was created in 2002 to provide vocational training to chronically poor and vulnerable youth; preparing them for employment in the growing tourism and hospitality industries in East Africa.  Students are admitted without regard to race, gender, or religion.  Tuition and salaries are sponsored by generous donations of individuals and organizations.  While at AHI students experience unity and teamwork in a caring community, build hope for the future by learning valuable restaurant, hotel and domestic skills, develop practical communication and leadership skills, and receive assistance in securing future employment.  AHI is a restorative community committed to following Jesus; bringing hope and opportunity through the sacred practice and vocational training of hospitality skills.  AHI promotes the dignity of man, respect for individuals and the freedom to make life choices in a community of trust, grace and peace.   

Green Means Go...

Thank you all for your ongoing prayers during our recent Church Planter Assessment Center (CPAC) process.  It was a very busy month filled with some wonderful opportunities for connection, self reflection, and encouragement.  Many of you know that as we pondering making this transition to Seminary we have had a strong feeling that we were being called to a church planting ministry.  Although this type of ministry is very rewarding, the challenges and sacrifices that it takes to start a new church can take a toll on the ministry staff, as such, the LCMS is very intentional about screening potential candidates and providing them support and training prior to entering the mission field.  Participating in CPAC was our first step in joining this track at the seminary.

I will give you a short overview of the process.  First, both Angie and I were asked to complete an extensive battery of personality and "gifting" inventories.  This was fun as Angie, of course, enjoys them! After the "at home" portion, we also participated in two in depth interviews (one "behavioral" and one "psychological").  We had some really wonderful assessors and although we were "under the microscope" greatly enjoyed their company and look forward to continue our connection with them beyond CPAC.   Our favorite part of the process was being paired with two other GREAT couples and given a demographic profile of an area where a church plant is being proposed.  It was our team job to develop an in depth proposal and present during the CPAC weekend.  We were so blessed by the process and really loved our team members....it would be a joy to work with any of them again in the future.

The weekend itself was short but full.  I was asked to preach two short sermons, we heard others presentations, and had some great networking time with church planters and mission executives from across the country.  There are some incredible things going on....we can't wait to join in.  The final step of the assessment was a feedback session.  During our session we were affirmed and encouraged in our calling and given the green light to continue on in the missionary development track with the intention of church planting upon the completion of our time here.  We are looking forward to continuing relationships with the people we met and doing some more intentional training in church planting.

We are so grateful again for you all, our extended family and friends.  During the CPAC process so many of the stories we shared involved many of you and all the lessons we have learned.  Thank you for your investment in our lives and the knowledge and love we have gained through our relationship with you all.  We would not be able to be doing this without you all.  Please know that we send our love, prayers, and thanks!

And remember....we are all called to GO and make disciples...where is God calling you today?

Here's to a New Year!

The 2011 Holiday Season came and went for the Walston family in a flash.  We were blessed to spend time with family and friends across the country and have traveled our fair share of miles both driven and flown over the past six weeks.  Along with the holiday bustle we have had some time to reflect on the incredible blessings we have received during our short time here at Seminary.

We began our holiday season with a drive to Iowa City for Thanksgiving.  We met Angie's mom and sisters at her Uncle David's beautiful home and had a weekend of catching up and fun.  David and Noreen were more than gracious hosts providing excellent accommodations, food, drink and entertainment.  The highlight of the trip was probably the creation of the "next big sport" coined Roller Hoop....it involves a hula hoop roll, may rules and point system.  It was our first break from St. Louis and seminary life as Bobby was on his quarter break.

We returned home to a quick start to Bobby's quarter (Hebrew in the morning and Greek readings in the afternoon) and Angie's end of the semester (lots of grading).  With the intensity of Bobby's study and class schedule it was decided that he would take a break this quarter from his on campus job while Angie increased her work hours at The Parenting Center providing grant writing and the development online parenting classes.  Bobby was also trained for the "snow removal team" in case of ice and snow (of which we have seen none yet...but I'm sure it is coming).  Bobby's brother Mark joined us for our last week in St. Louis, helped watch the girls while Angie finished up work responsibilities, and entertained us all.  We finally did the Budweiser tour during his trip here, it was shockingly interesting and historical!  We will bring you when you come visit.  It was a fast two weeks.

Christmas break provided us the opportunity to go home to Texas much to Maddie's delight.  We drove to Fort Worth as soon as Bobby finished classes and were able to spend 10 days at his parent's house (with one night at our friends Missy and Ben's).  It was a great return trip, and though we both shared some anxiety about heading home and wishing we haven't left, during our time there we continued to be affirmed that it had been time to leave and we had made the right decision.  Don't get me wrong, we miss Texas.  Our licenses and plates remain loyal, but it is clear that God has been leading us here.

We wrapped up our time in Fort Worth on Christmas Day and drove back to St. Louis.  We spent only two hours in our apartment switching out luggage and headed to catch a flight to Phoenix.  We enjoyed the dessert weather and getting to see family as well as our dog Kali, who Angie's mom has been graciously keeping while we are in student housing.  Maddie had missed her terribly and enjoyed following her around (though Kali may have had enough).  It was fun to see Angie's sister Shaina looking pregnant (baby Joshua is due May 16th) and spend time with her mom and sisters again.  Maddie enjoyed time with her Aunties in a special made princess tuladoo (tent/fort).  It was a special time.

We returned to St. Louis on January 1st, Bobby returned to class, Angie began prepping for the semester and we were blessed to find out that just as occurred last quarter, we received enough last minute Adopt-A-Student funds to cover our tuition and living expenses.  God is so GOOD!  One of our donors gave a very generous amount anonymously....if you are a reader of our blog please know that we came to tears with the news...you have been an answer to prayers.  These gifts allow us to remain taking out the minimum amount of loans, God continues to confirm how he works through the body to provide for his people.  Thank all of you for your prayers, words of affirmation and support, and financial gifts.  

As we embark on the next few months keep us in your prayers.  We will begin the CPAC (Church Planter Assessment Center) process next week with a set of psychological interviews and participate in the "retreat" the weekend of the 20th.  We pray for God's leading and guidance in this process.  Also, Bobby will be traveling to Austin the last week of February to attend the VERGE conference on church planting and missional communities, keep he and his fellow 8 students who are going on the trip in your prayers.  

Peace and Blessings and Happy New Year!

The Walstons