Learning Where to Place Our Focus

Update: November 14, 2009

*Pictures are coming*

So far this semester...3 out of 5 babies have been born, 7 new dating relationships have began (more are soon going to begin haha), and 7 students have left the school due to different circumstances. It's just a reminder to us that life is happening and it's going quick. Things can change within seconds, but God is still sovereign and we can turn to Him in everything. It's also really easy to "forget" God when time seems to fly by, but what benefit or value will it be to us if we ignore the most important Person in our life? I'm continuning to learn how to think eternally versus temporarily. This life is not mine...and what is 80 years of my life compared to the millions and millions of years I'll have in eternity with God? Isn't it crazy how this milimeter of time we have can have an amazing impact on our eternity? (Both in where we'll spend it and in the rewards we'll receive).

These past two weeks have been pretty crazy for us. There has been a ton of homework since the block is about to end (we're approaching our last block for the semester!!). Otherwise life has been pretty routine, though we did have Day of Prayer one day (which is when all the students pray pretty much all morning for different missionaries and friends/family instead of having classes), which was a very encouraging day for us. Last Saturday Lauren got to celebrate for an upcoming wedding at her friends' bridal shower. We're sooo happy for J&S who are tying the knot December 31st :)

Mark and I spent last Saturday at one of our friends' house. They just got married this summer but couldn't return to school, so we had a blast bowling with them and just catching up. We also went on an outing with one of the freshman couples at our school...it's so awesome to see how God works in our lives and how He is so faithful to us all.

Schoolwork is going pretty well, though we still have a book, an essay, and a test due by Monday heheh. We're studying the deep and sometimes-potentially-hairsplitting topics of Lordship Salvation, Free Grace, Justification by Faith, Calvinism, Armenialism, etc. It can be so confusing and so easy to be caught up in these topics...wondering which one we should be believing or being overwhelmed with how logical they can be. But we've had to constantly remind ourselves to keep our doctrine based on the Bible and not the words of influential and intelligent men. We've also really enjoyed those topics because they really make you think about your beliefs and why you believe what you believe.
We're about to end our Angelology/Satanology/Demonology class as well. I think the greatest truths we've learned from that is how, yes, Satan and demons are powerful, but they are still just created beings who are limited in what they can do, and that we have victory and power, through Christ, to overcome them. They cannot possess us as believers but they can greatly influence us through appealing to our flesh and feeding us perverted lies about what God's Word really says. So we definetly need to be steadfast in the Bible and place our faith in it and in nothing else.

For those who've been wanting to Skype, call, or hang out here's our schedule. We really want to talk to you, but we know that with different time zones or different working schedules it can be hard. But take a look at our schedule and just let us know when you're available and we can make a date! (also keep in mind that Lauren has her PCM every other day and we both have 3-6 hours of homework each day).

Our Schedule:
Mon.
8:00-11:45AM Classes
1:10-2:00PM New Age Movement elective
5:00-7:00PM Lauren works
5:00-9:00PM Mark works
7:00PM Food Cart

Tues.
8:00-11:45AM Classes
6:30-7:00PM Laundry Hour
9:00-10:15PM Green Letters sm. group

Wed.
8:00-11:45AM Classes
3:00-4:00PM Lauren's language helper session
5:00-7:00PM Lauren works
5:00-9:00PM Mark works

Th.
8:00-11:45AM Classes
7:00PM Food Cart

Fri.
8:00-11:45AM Classes
1:10-2:00PM New Age Movement elective
5:00-7:00PM Lauren works
5:00-9:00PM Mark works

Sat.
2:00-7:00PM Mark works (?)

Sun.
9:00-12:30PM Church
4:00-8:00PM Lauren works (? - depends on production)
9:00-10:00PM Mark's Volleyball

Prayer:

• Lauren's hours have been cut at work these past three weeks due to slow production at the plants (which means no need for cleaning)
• The health of students and family at school. There's been several cases of The Flu around, though everyone is recovering. Keep the school, especially the newborn babies and kids, in prayer this flu season that nothing will spread too quickly.
• Please continue to pray for Mark's Medicaid acceptance as well
  

Praise:

• We found a place to replace our back tires for under $150
• Thanksgiving is almost here!
• Two more precious babies have been born at NTBI
• Mark had and still has an awesome witnessing opportunity with a man he met at the mall - please be in prayer for that relationship

What I wrote instead of an update today...

Soteriology
Theological Review #1
Lauren Ducommun
November 10, 2009
Time: 3 hours

What is Justification?
Justification means, “to be declared legally righteous.” This is the free “gift” that God gives to believers the moment they put their trust in what Christ has done for them. “The final ground of justification is the completed, finished, sufficient work of Christ atoning for the sinner in His redeeming work on the cross” (Tenney 560). Faith is the “means or condition of justification...which rests upon the pure grace of God and is itself, therefore, His gift (Ephesians 2:8)” (Orr). No works. No rituals. No justification even if we died on the cross for ourselves. This is because man is a helpless sinner and as Romans 3:10 says, “None is righteous, no, not one.” Every man is associated with Adam and the original sin, and thus is born sinful. Since man is sinful nothing he produces will meet the standard that God requires (Romans 3:20). Because God is righteous and pure He must deal with sin, it is His nature which He will never compromise. Sin deserves judgment and will not go unpunished. This is why justification is necessary for a believer, to have fellowship with God and able to receive our inheritance.

How does it relate to one’s standing before God (or how does it effect our relationship with God?)
Through justification, our redemption through Jesus Christ, our standing before God changes from His enemy to His friend (Romans 5:1). God no longer sees our sins because He has judged them through Jesus’ death on the cross which means we are no longer guilty of our sins. “We are as righteous before God (positionally) as we will ever be (2 Corinthians 5:21)” (Keen 8). Not only are we at peace with God, but we also now have a favorable standing before God (Romans 5:2). We have be reconciled with God and are now able to “have positive interaction with” Him (Keen 7).

How does Justification relate to the Christian life/make it possible (by Christian life I mean our walk in newness of life - living the Christian life)?
First of all, justification gives Christians security. Every person who has put their faith in the person and work of Christ has been justified and thus been promised future glorification; eternal security (Romans 5:21, 8:30). Though we are promised eternal life and are positionally righteous before God, we still need to walk according to our calling (it doesn’t give us license to sin). Justification has made the Christian life possible because through it God has given to us the gift of the Holy Spirit who enables us to abide in Christ (Romans 6:3,4) and gives us a new life (Romans 8:10).

What is “identification”?
Identification with someone means “to be categorized or associated with that person” (Keen 9). Man can either be associated with Adam or with Christ. All men, when they are born, are associated with Adam because of original sin. “Sin came into the world through one man [Adam]” (Romans 5:12) and “by the one man’s [Adam’s] disobedience the many were made sinners” (Romans 5:19). When we put our faith in Christ and were justified as a result, our identity changed from with Adam to with Christ through our death, burial, and resurrection with Him. It wasn’t our obedience to God that saved us, but our identification with Christ whose obedience declared us righteous.

How does identification effect my relationship to sin? The law? God?
Now that believers are identified with Christ, we are no longer bound to sin. Because we have died with Christ on the cross we have been set free from sin (Romans 6:6-8). We are now “dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus” (Romans 6:11). Our relationship to law has changed to one of grace. Romans 15:6 says that we are “not under law but under grace” and Romans 7:4 tells us that we have “died to the law through the body of Christ so that [we] may be raised to...Him.” If we return to living under the law it is adultery because we are no longer bound to something that demands our performance; it is unnecessary because of what Christ has done for us.

How does identification relate to the Christian life/make it possible?
Again, because of our identification we have eternal security. Colossians 3:3,4 says, “For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.” Any person who has been justified has been identified with Christ, and everyone who is identified with Christ has been promised eternal life (2 Timothy 2:11).
Because we have been raised with Christ we have the ability to “walk in the power of His resurrection life” (Keen 9). Ephesians 2:6 says that we have been seated “in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Our identification with Christ has enabled Him to work in us and and manifest His life in us (Galatians 2:20). “Believers are no longer identified with the fallen world in which they live” (Keen 9).

What is “adoption” (describe past and future aspects)?
Adoption means receiving a sonship that you didn’t have and in the future will receive privileges that came with that new position. When someone is adopted they can “no longer inherit from his natural father” (Tenney 17) and they are no longer under any debt that their former father had.

How does the concept of adoption further our understanding of the way we relate to God?
All believers were adopted by God “by birth through regeneration” (Keen 11) and adoption. Through adoption we have become His children and we have become heirs with Christ (Romans 8:14). Through our adoption we now have a loving relationship with God and have full access to approach Him with anything.

How does adoption relate to the Christian life/make it possible?
Once again, we have assurance of our salvation and eternity through our adoption. Romans 8:39 tells us that nothing “will be able to separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord,” and because we are heirs with Christ we have been promised future glorification with Him (Romans 8:17). Because of our adoption every believer has been given “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (1 Peter 1:4). God has given us the ability and the resources to live the Christian life, though this is a lifetime process of learning to appropriate these truths.

What is “regeneration”?
Regeneration is the “spiritual change wrought in people’s hearts by an act of God in which their inherently sinful nature is changed and by which they are enabled to respond to God in faith” (Tenney 851). It is the impartation of a new life in which we have received a new birth, a new creation, and a resurrection.

How does the concept of regeneration further our understanding of the way we relate to God?
It shows God’s mercy as He chose to, out of love, allow us to be regenerated. Through our new man we are now able partake of God’s divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). We can relate to God because part of us is righteous and holy.

How does regeneration relate to the Christian life/make it possible?
Regeneration relates to the Christian life because the new life (or new man) that results from it gives us the desire to do the will of God. “The indwelling Spirit enables us to do the good that the new man desires (Romans 7:18, 22)” (Keen 12). Regeneration also ensures eternal security, because those who believe Christ receive eternal life as their possession (John 5:24).

How does the indwelling Spirit relate to the Christian life/make it possible?
The indwelling Spirit “makes it possible to walk according to the desires of the new man” (Keen 13). If we didn’t have the Holy Spirit in us we would have a desire to do good but, because of our flesh, we would continue to fail in fulfilling that desire (Romans 7:18).

We are told that we have everything we need to live the Christian life (Eph. 1:3; 2nd Pet. 1:3-4). How does this relate to your growth in the Lord? Your confidence as you study the scriptures in order to grow?
We have every spiritual thing that we need to live the Christian life, and this has been given to every believer by God through the indwelling Spirit. “Life and godliness speaks of the time span between justification and glorification and what I need to function within that timeframe” (Keen 14). This helps us in our growth because we know that we have everything we need to grow and that it is now only a process of learning how to understand these spiritual blessings and appropriate them in our lives. It gives us confidence as believers studying the Scriptures in that whenever we are convicted in an area of our life, through abiding in Christ and His Word we can make godly choices and see growth.


Bibliography

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Wheaton: Good News, 2006.

Keen, Scot. Soteriology notes. Jackson: New Tribes Bible Institute, Fall 2009.

Orr, James. "Justification." The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia Online. 1939. Web. 9 Nov. 2009. .

Tenney, Merrill C., ed. New International Bible Dictionary. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1987.

Feels Like Winter Already

Update: November 2, 209

This is Jackson's public high school! Doesn't look like a university?

I'm beginning to think every week is passing by quicker and quicker. I remember back in high school, especially my sophomore year, when it seemed like I would never graduate, and now it seems I can barely slow down the time that I have or have enough of it!

Anyways, this week has been pretty fun and hard at the same time. Tuesday night Mark attended a karate class at our church while I helped a woman in our sunday school class at Albion College. She works with Intervarsity (a college outreach program which also hosts Urbana) and I helped her serve pancakes to a freshman and international student dorm building. It was so much fun, and was great to interact with believers outside of our bubble of a school. It was also a eye opener to how different it is between a Christian college and a secular college. I think we made around 100 pancakes that night haha.

Saturday night Mark had to work, but I dressed up as Waldo (like in Where's Waldo) and drove with a group of friends to Rives Baptist Church to Trunk or Treat. It was freezing cold but we had a blast seeing how everyone decorated their cars, eating candy, donuts and apple csider, and admiring everyones' costumes.

This truck went all out

Here are some girls that came from NTBI
(a cat, sleeping beauty, an eskimo, Goth girl and a snowman haha)

I love this time of year, and I'm really looking forward to Thanksgiving (my favorite holiday!). Classes are still great as ever! And are continually convicting me of my wrong worldview or growing me in areas I didn't know about. Lately in Soteriology we've been talking about what all happened the moment I believed. The moment I put my trust in Christ I was justified (declared legally righteous, became at peace with God, and now a friend of God), identified (no longer with Adam or this fallen world, but with Christ through His death, burial, and resurrection), positionally sanctified (given freedom and the right to live the Christian life, eternal security), adopted (I became God's child by birth through regeneration and his child by adoption, became an heir with Christ), regenerated (been imparted with eternal life through a new birth, a new creation, and resurrection), received the indwelling spirit (making it possible for me to do the will of God and has sealed me unto the day of redemption), and I have been given all spiritual blessings. This is the part I want to focus on.

The moment I believed I have been given everything I will ever need (spiritually) for my Christian life. There is nothing that remains for me to aquire in order to be able to do what God wants me to do! But still, I must remember that I can have everything I need, but not know how to use it. I need to be praying and asking God for wisdom and growth in the things He has already given me, remembering that growth and understanding in these blessings takes time. Before this class I remember that in my prayer life I would ask God, "Lord, please give me patience so I can be patient towards others" or something like that. But now I realize that through Christ I can produce spiritual fruit, like patience, and that it is something that I am capable of doing in my life. I don't need to ask God for patience, I just need to take God at His Word and recognize what He has provided in my life and walk in those truths. It basically comes down to my choice in my thinking and in my actions. Isn't it awesome that all believers are able to walk worthy of our calling in Christ!

"His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us to His own glory and excellence,
by which He has granted to us His precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire."
2 Peter 1:3,4

Medicaid update: I sent in some more verification paperwork to the Department of Health and Safety and to our medicaid advocate, which means Mark is still being processed (not denied!). It'll probably take a few months at the least till we know anything.

Prayer:

• That we can have a positive attitude with all of our reading that is due
• Continue to be praying for Medicaid - that it will cover Mark's medical bills
• For cooperation with all the doctor's offices with our minimal payment plans
  
• One lady gave birth to Octavia last week and the baby in ICU, please be praying for them both. Also, another pregnant lady on our floor went to the hospital last night, pray for safety and a easy delivery!

Praise:

• Through working and with the help of others, we have paid off the rest of the school's bill for the semester and are still not in the hole for this month. Thanks everyone who have helped us out financially!
• Union Gospel Church had a food bank for married couples at NTBI, so Mark and I received two boxes of canned and boxed food - such a blessing and an encouragement!
• Mark is on snow crew this week - and it hasn't snowed yet :) No waking up at 5:45am ... yet haha
  

Happy Harvest (or All Saints' Day)!

Update: November 1, 2009

So we’ve started into our fourth block here at NTBI and I have to say, we’re both loving it. Our new classes are amazing! We’ve been studying Angelology, Pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit), and Soteriology (the study of salvation). I’m also taking an elective called Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, which has been very good. Lauren’s been doing very good, though it’s easy to see that there’s a lot of stress with our schedule right now.

Keeping a positive attitude about everything has been a little tougher than before, because we, once again, have been given a huge slice of homework pizza. It reminds me of what an old teacher used to tell me, “You can eat an elephant if you just do it one bite at a time” only we’re being forced to eat it all at once haha. Despite the difficulty of the work we are learning so much. I’m so happy to have Angelology, I’ve been looking forward to this class since freshmen semester so it’s nice to finally get into it. Romans is over and WOW! It’s almost like the answer book of the Bible. I’m amazed to see how that book has influenced our lives. I’ve also been really challenged by Ecclesiastes. When I first read it I honestly wondered whether or not Solomon was on medication or severely depressed when he wrote it, but after going through it with Rich Bruce, our teacher, I’m seeing what he actually is talking about. It’s cool to see how Solomon had everything and yet he can say that it all is vanity. It has really challenged my worldview and helped me to look for joy only in Christ and not in possessions and such.

I’ve been having a fun time with Lauren, we’ve really been goofing off a lot with each other. The other night, for example, I came back from work around 9pm and I knew that Lauren was in the computer room working on some homework. So instead of letting her know where I was, I stood just inside the door to the house with a rather scary look on my face and waited. She FINALLY came out of the computer room, looked at me, and started screaming. She ran away and it must have taken me at least 10 minutes to convince her not to be scared.

Lauren went Trunk or Treat-ing last night at a church near here and so we’ve been sitting around ruining our teeth with sugar haha. This morning at FBC Albion we heard a pretty encouraging message about world evangelism. It’s really good to hear others getting so encouraged about evangelism and world missions.

I’ve also been really blessed this past month by family and friends. We’ve been so overwhelmed with medical bills that keep piling in and I just wanted to say in closing that it’s been a constant blessing being married to Lauren and being part of this new family unit. We’ve been constantly encouraged from all of our family and it’s just causing us so much peace. Thank you all so very much, and God bless,

Mark and Lauren Ducommun
New Tribes Bible Institute
Jackson, MI

A Tough and Growing Week

Update: October 26, 2009

What a week! It feels like we are given less and less time to work around, especially with time change happening soon...the fall backwards always messes me up. Block Three of our semester has ended and we are now entering Block Four tomorrow morning! Our new classes will be Pneumatology (the study of the Holy Spirit), Angelogy (study of angels haha), and Soteriology (the study of salvation). It's the first time we've had only classes about doctrine; we're moving forward in our chronological teaching. We are both so excited to learn more about these three difficult topics, especially soteriology which will cover Calvinism and Arminism, etc.

Though we spend the majority of our time finishing up papers and studying for tests, we also were able to fellowship with some awesome people. Friday night was the marrieds' game night, where all the married couples and staff couples were invited to play games till midnight in one of the classrooms. Not many of the staff couples showed up, but below is a picture of the extreme competiveness between the men and women during a game of Pictionary.


Also on Friday night, our best friend Cara and her boyfriend from PA hung out with us late into the night. She left school the next morning due to her health problems so it was a bittersweet moment for us, not knowing when we'll ever see her again. We love her so much and she has been such an encouragement to us since we met at the beginning of our freshman semester.

Mark "Buck", Cara, and Lauren

Saturday night Josh and Shannah, an engaged couple at our school, ate dinner with us. It was great to catch up with them and hear about their wedding plans for New Years day. So exciting! Afterwards, a group of us went to Walmart and bought ice cream and then came back to our apartment to make sundaes and watch a movie. I can't believe how we managed to stuff twelve people in our tiny living area haha. It was a blast!

The view of downtown Jackson, and the hospital from our window.
(This is the hospital Mark had his surgery in...the helicopter pad is off to the right)

Please continue to pray for Mark and I for financial wisdom and that we won't be anxious about anything. We received three more bills this week...it seems like they don't stop coming and it's crazy to understand how much work goes into a surgery and how many people are involved in it! A verse in 1 Peter stood out to me this week as our class winded down. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you" (1 Peter 5:6,7). This verse has been such an encouragement to me and a reminder to evaluate my attitude. It's so full of truth that speaks to our situation, too. Though in context Peter is talking about suffering from persecution, he also mentions suffering from living in a fallen world. Suffering is a normal and expected aspect of a believer's daily life and can easily bring us down, yet all throughout Scripture is an exhortation to rejoice and not worry about anything. God knows that He is doing and He extremely cares for us! I need to humble myself through the trials of life and allow Him to transform me to the image of His Son and to direct me on whatever path He leads. I am so independent but I need to allow Him to take care of me rather than try to take care of myself. So please be praying that we will follow the will of God for our lives, making wise decisions and casting our anxieties on Him.

Romans class has also ended today, it has been such a life-changing class. This week one of the truths that have impacted Mark and me is in Romans 12:1 where Paul write to us saying "to present [our] bodies as a living sacrifice." I've never really understood this part of the passage before, but there is such a great meaning there. How am I to be a living sacrifice? I should be living as though I was slain. I have surrendered my rights to God and I want to please Him through my life. Through being a living sacrifice I am able to lay aside my personal desires or needs and serve others. I am a bondservant, which means that I also should not seek revenge but love others (Romans 12), submit to govermental authority (Romans 13), and not be a stumbling block to believers through my liberty and rights (Romans 14).

Alright, that's probably enough for now. Time for bed!

Prayer:

• Continuing to trust God's provision and cast our anxieties on Him
• Getting out of our comfort zone to iniate relationships in the community
• For a desire to be in the Word, apart from our homework and studies
  
• For the different outreaches at churches in the community during Halloween, especially at FBC Albion and Rives Baptist Church
  

Praise:

• Lauren has been trained at Alro Steel Corporation (through her janitorial work) so that she can fill in for workers who are sick...which means more hours!
• Medicaid is still being processed, which means Mark hasn't been denied
• One of the staff ladies here at school gave Lauren an awesome hair cut for free

Let us know how we can be praying for you and encouraging you!
Email us at leducommun@gmail.com

Daapoi Won't Stop Talking About God

Taken from the NTM website. October 7, 2009.

(The first Dao believers, Daapoi and Wikipai)

"How can you sit there and tell me that you know for sure these things will happen in the future!" Magabeotoma shouted at his younger Dao brother, Daapoi.

"How can you sit here and speak so confidently about what will happen to our spirits! I am sick of hearing about it! All you do is talk about the things you have been reading about in your books and I don’t want to hear these things anymore!"

"These are not my words older brother," Daapoi said. "They are the Creator’s words. That is how I know these things will happen. And I will never stop talking about the Creator and His message."

Magabeotoma hit his bursting point. He couldn’t believe what he was hearing! He grabbed the closest good-sized piece of wood that he could find and started towards his younger brother Daapoi with his arm raised ready to strike a blow that he expected would settle the issue for good.

"Go ahead and hit me! It would be no worse than what happened to Stephen in the book of Acts when he was stoned for preaching the Word of God," Daapoi yelled as Magabeotoma angrily walked toward him, club in hand and threats flowing from his mouth. "It would be no worse than what happened to Paul and the other ones that spoke God’s Word and were beaten for it."

Upon hearing these words, Magabeotoma decided there could only be one solution to this problem. He dropped the club and went for his bow and arrows. Within seconds he had an arrow pulled back in his bow, pointed directly at Daapoi.

"I will not just strike you younger brother! I will kill you!" Magabeotoma yelled.

With a sharp bamboo tipped arrow pointed directly at his chest from only a few feet away, Daapoi gave one final reply. "I cannot and will not stop preaching God’s word. I do not fear death and what you are doing right now to me is no different from what happened between Abel and his older brother Cain.

"You are my older brother and you, like Cain, have chosen not to follow God. I am like Abel and I have chosen to follow and believe the Creator’s words and so you want to kill me. So go ahead and shoot! In the future when you and I are both dead and gone and are standing before the Creator, you will see then that His words are true!"

Daapoi thought those moments were his last.

"I would have been shot in the chest right then and there if it wasn’t for a man that ran in from the side and grabbed the arms of my older brother so that he couldn’t release the arrow," Daapoi told missionaries Scott and Jennie Phillips.

Daapoi, keeping true to his word, is not backing down. He and his pregnant wife, Otopina, along with their little daughter will leave Friday to continue an outreach in a distant Dao village, taking the place of Wikipai and Moipi who had to return to their home village for health reasons.

Please pray that Daapoi and his family will stay encouraged and strong in their faith as they face these hard and trying situations. Pray that God will protect them from the various tropical diseases they will be encountering in this outreach area.

Continue to pray also for Wikipai. He has still not recovered from his sickness and his two children are also sick.

Pray too for Magabeotoma, that God will change his heart and that he will be transformed into a lover of God and His Word.

Half-Way There!

Update: October 19, 2009

Well, we are now more than half way though our junior semester at New Tribes Bible Institute. Time is flying by and it seems like times of rest are few yet very longed after. This week has been crazy, and Mark and I are both exhausted. So please be praying for us both in that area. Mark has started up a new elective, Ruth/Ecclesiastes/Song of Solomon, which is three days a week for a month. I'm looking forward to seeing what he'll be learning from that class. We both met with the marrieds' dean, Benjamin, on Tuesday and had a great conversation with him. We are so blessed to have godly men and women whose ministry is to invest in and evaluate our lives. We are so blessed, especially as a newly married couple to be around so many godly married couples.

Mark had a doctor check-up on Thursday, and has been allowed to start up running again. Tomorrow he is able to begin working out/lifting weights again, which he is thrilled about, but starting yesterday he hasn't been feeling too well so he decided to wait a bit. Hopefully he won't be getting sick. So please pray for his health especially as he recovers from surgery.

We received a lovely surprise on Friday...our hospital and radiology bill. And it is a great deal larger than we expected, but it makes sense since Mark doesn't have health insurance for the States. This is the greatest area we need prayer for in our lives right now. Trying to figure out how we will pay, or God will provide, in this circumstance, and trusting in His sovereign provision for us. Medicaid is the biggest factor, and if Mark qualifies and is accepted we might not have to pay anything. I talked to the cashier at the hospital today and on Friday afternoon, she said that Mark most likely won't be accepted for Medicaid, but we do have a Medicaid advocate which increases his acceptance. Also she is going to try to bill his Ontario Health Insurance, though I don't think they will cover much either.

"Cast Away" themed dorm

Friday night was our school's Open Dorm Night. The theme was movies, so each dorm decorated their dorms according to that theme. I think one of our favorite's were The Nightmare Before Christmas dorm, but we also liked the Madagascar and Bill and Ted's Great Adventure dorms.

"Legally Blonde" themed dorm-person

Saturday night we hosted Cara's, one of our best friends, birthday party. She is turning 20 in December, but we're celebrating now while everyone is still together. It was a blast. We had a pineapple upside-down cake and an ice cream sundae bar, played Apples to Apples, and watched Dan in Real Life. We really enjoyed hanging out with everyone. Then after the party, around 10pm, we went to our neighbor's house where they had a group of people sharing testimonies, eating homemade pumpkin pie, and singing songs. It was a wonderful time of fellowship that went on past midnight.

Pray:

• For wise time management, and energy and endurance to make it though this last half of the semester.
• Pray for Mark's health as he recovers
• For God's provision with our medical bills
• For Cara's health, doctors not knowing what is wrong, etc.
• For James, a guy Mark is witnessing to
  

Praise:

• A great and friendly hospital right next door
• For an awesome and all-knowing Jehovah Jireh
• Lauren's younger sister is coming to visit for Thanksgiving

Wedding Photos!

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Autumn is Here!

Update: October 12, 2009

The first frost has come yesterday morning, the leaves are turning beautiful shades of red and yellow, and the school has turned on the boiler.


Yesterday was Mark’s first day without walking around with his cane. People have told him that he should keep it because it makes him look more sophisticated. Mark is still sore and limited in his mobility, but is still recovering well. He should be seeing the doctor sometime this week for a check up. Please pray for a quick recovery so that Mark can start up work again next week. Also, please continue to be praying for Mark’s Medicaid application to be accepted, and that his Ontario Health Insurance will be able to cover some of the bills as well.

This week has gone by extremely fast, for Mark it’s probably cause he only had two full days of school. We have both caught up on our homework, and now it’s mainly catching up on housework. We were able to keep our dinner date with Rex and Linda Gutwein. Rex is the president of NTBI and Linda works in the business office. Rex did our premarital counseling and has been a tremendous help and challenger in our relationship. We are so thankful for their ministry here with all the students.

Half the students and staff at the school drove to Waukesha (our sister school in Wisconsin) for the weekend to compete in the Fall 2009 Tribal Cup Tournament. Sadly, we did not take home the Cup this year, but we did win Men’s Soccer and Men’s Ultimate Frisbee. Since the school was almost vacant, Mark and I went on a date to Ann Arbor and had a wonderful relaxing day. We explored the large Salvation Army, bought some Honey Crisp Apples (I love fall!) and went to the dollar theater.

I think that this past week has been both challenging and extremely enjoyable. It was awesome to see how God could take a “bad” circumstance and use it for His good. Through Mark’s surgery we were able to be a witness to the staff at the hospital, grow in our relationship with each other, apply positional truths to our situation, be embraced by the encouraging and prayerful body of Christ, and be put in a place that we could rely and put our faith in God. I’m so thankful that God is faithful to transform us and work in us, through everything and especially through trials and difficult times. Today is Thanksgiving Day for Canada, and it is such a great reminder that we should be thankful and give praises to God for everything.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18

It is so encouraging to know that God “who began a good work in you [or us] will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). God is working in us for the ultimate goal of transforming us to the image of His Son. No matter where we are, God can do this, and He knows what or where the best place would be for us to grow. Whether that be through Mark’s appendectomy, Mark’s good health, taking a semester off school, or continuing on at NTBI; He is faithful and we should trust Him to guide us where He wants us to be. It’s not about our plans for our lives and what we want to do, or trusting that God will allow us to continue with our plan. It’s just the daily choice to be in His Word, abiding in His Son, so that we can be transformed by His word, and trusting that God will use some dumpy clay pots for His glory.

I can not say again how thankful we are for all of your prayers and encouragement! We love you all and hope in turn we can be an encouragement to you, too!

Prayer:

• For Mark's health and recovery
• That Medicaid and OHIP will aid us financially
• Jon & Kristin (a couple from church) are having difficulties in their adoption process
• Lauren - learning to be content with spiritual growth, housework, etc.
  
• Mark - to have the heart of a servant
• That we both can be witnesses at our work
  

Praise:

• Mark is doing great! (for a man who had surgery last week haha)
• We have new neighbors, a couple transferred from off campus housing to our floor
• The abundance of food in our house
• Our awesome classes and teachers!
  

Update from Mark

Hello everyone,

Well, we've had a pretty interesting week so far. For all of you who don't know, on Monday I had a laparoscopic appendectomy and I figured I should let everyone know how it all happened so here it is. Sunday was a normal day, I went to church, hung out and did some homework, worked out then played volleyball around 9 o' clock. I was feeling a little tired but didn't think much of it because it was later in the day and I'd had a pretty busy day. Monday morning we woke up at 7:20 am and I mentioned to Lauren that I was feeling kind of crummy, but we decided to just go to class anyways. By chapel hour (9-10) I started to get pretty intense cramps in my stomach so I decided to go to the apartment and try to get some sleep, I didn't get much though because by 12pm I was in more pain then I'd ever been in before. We decided to go to a local doctor who treats New Tribes students for free. Lauren drove us there and by the end of the two minute drive I was in so much pain that I threw up on the sidewalk. We had to wait for about 1 hour (what to me felt like eternity) and during that time I threw up another two times. We finally got to talk to the doctor, and he told me my white blood cell count was through the roof. We went immediately to the ER and two hours later they finally got some morphine pumped into me. After a CT scan and a lot of tests they decided that I needed my appendix removed. So within the course of 12 hours I went from feeling almost fine to having one less body part. Sufficely to say, I'm very sore, though I have vicodin to make me feel better. I'm also on two antibiotics and I get to walk with a cane! haha.

Another thing happened on Sunday, a good friend of ours, YuJung, was baptized in the pool here at school by Rex! It was very cool to be a part of and it was very encouraging to see that our school is like a big family. During my stay in the hospital, Lauren and I felt more peace then we ever have. We went into the hospital and before an hour had gone by the phone was off the hook with texts and calls from people praying for us. The whole school prayed for us and has been so helpful, we came home to a fridge full of food and I think that everyone here has offered "anything". We truly feel like God has blessed and taught us so much through this trial. I know for me I've learned so much about Lauren, she's been so wonderful, staying up all night with me, and helping me with my books and everything. I really feel cared for and loved. I'm pretty sure Lauren gave you the nutshell version of our week on the blog so I just thought I'd write to fill in the blanks. If there are any questions please write back we love hearing from you all. Thanks to everyone for praying for us and encouraging us during this difficult time.

God bless you all,
Mark Ducommun

P.S. I know this is going to be really off topic (and that's largely due to the vicodin, because I'm finding it really hard to concentrate on anything for very long while I'm on it), but I know I always follow these up with a verse and one that's really been on my mind lately is from Proverbs, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend". One of my very close friends just had to leave school this month due to a personal issue. I was disappointed that I hadn't been more involved with his life and able to maybe help him with his problem before he went as far as he did. The whole situation really reminded me of how we need to be in each others lives (as a body of believers) not in a nosy way but in a loving and caring way. So I really want to exhort you all to keep in touch with one another I know how hard it gets with our busy lives, but it's a really important part of what we are as a body of believers. Thanks again. Love you all.

Update - October 7, 2009

Mark and I are now back at home. We were discharged from the hospital around 4pm yesterday. Mark went into surgery 10:30pm Monday night and came out of surgery around 12:15 Tuesday morning. It was so hilarious to watch Mark as he was waking up from the anesthesia. He entertained the two other nurses and I as he said goofy stuff like "Why are we all floating around in space". Oh boy, it was so fun and he barely remembers anything. They moved us from the recovery room to a hospital room around 1:30am where they would come in every 3o minutes to an hour to check his vitals and give him medication. Around 6:30am the doctor came to check up on him, and after that different people came in to visit. Dr. Jennings, the head doctor from the family clinic we went to yesterday, came to see how Mark was doing. A lady came in and said she was going to help us because we didn't have any insurance. She introduced us to a medicaid advocate and helped us find inexpensive places to fill our prescriptions. Mark's prescriptions for three medications only cost us $4! Isn't that incredible. Our medicaid advocate said that since I was accepted for medicaid that most likely Mark will be, and any medical bills from now to December would be covered by it, if the State accepts us. This was such a great encouragement to us and also knowing that Mark's Ontario Health Insurance might help us out as well (since it was an emergency procedure). So please be in prayer that Mark will be accepted for Medicaid.

It was interesting to see how many people knew about New Tribes. Our ER nurse actually graduated from New Tribes Bible Institute in 1993. The surgery-prep nurse grew up near the New Tribes Mission base in Florida. Our anesthetist went on trips to Guatemala with a couple from New Tribes, who he met at the Bible school because he was looking for someone to teach him Spanish. One of the nurses in the recovery room worked with a NTBI graduate, Trinace, and Trinace's brother-in-law, Brandon, was our nurse in our hospital room. I didn't realize how familiar people were with NTM. It was a great conversation starter and people would ask us what we were studying and where we wanted to go after we graduated.

Mark was able to eat a good lunch yesterday and didn't need necessarily morphine anymore. We picked up our prescriptions and went home. He is using a cane to walk around and is still in great pain, mainly from the gas that the doctors put inside him during surgery. He wasn't able to lay down because of the excrutiating pain from it, but finally late last night found a position he was able to sleep in, and he is still sleeping.

It has been so encourgaing to both of us to be surrounded by such a loving and caring "family". People have called us and left us messages non-stop about how they are praying for us (from California, Texas, Canada, Michigan, etc.). It's also amazing at what a great peace that Mark and I have had during this whole time. Mark was not nervous at all before the surgery, and neither of us were or are worried at all about finances. God has provided for us in so many ways. Our neighbors took care of our bunny. We came home to a fridge full of food, which I have no idea where it came from. Thanks to everyone who helped out in that! We are so thankful to be at this school, with a great and helpful staff, and some awesome and serving students.

Besides all the pain, Mark and I have grown in so many ways through this situation. Definitely is proof of how God can use any situation for His good if we rely on Him and trust His sovereignty.

Mark and I, Trekkies for Nerd Day on Monday morning

Update - Ocotber 5, 2009

Well, the plan for the day has greatly changed. Originally I was hoping to write a decent update after lunch, but instead I took Mark to the doctor. Mark is currently in surgery to remove his appendix woohoo! He woke up this morning and mentioned that his stomach was sore, and went back to the house to sleep during our second class. He couldn't sleep, though, because of pain and when I came up he was having waves of sharp upper abdominal pain. At 2pm we went to a local doctor who takes NTBI student walk-ins for free. He did a blood test on Mark and saw that his white blood cell count was high and transfered us over to the hospital next door to the school. Mark was in tremendous pain, vomitting after the car ride because of it. We went to the ER and then were admitted to a room around 4pm. They finally gave him morphine about an hour or so later and his pain level went from a 12 to a 3. He also became a little giggly. They took a CT Scan and it revealed a dialated and slightly inflammed appendix, and now many hours later he is now in surgery. It should only take an hour or two so I will post tomorrow on how it went. But we can not thank you all enough for every one of your prayers! We have definitely felt them and have been greatly blessed by your encouragement, and giving and caring hearts.

Throughout this whole situation it's been such a great reminder at how great and loving our God is. It is so comforting to be able to trust God, and know that He is the great Physician and is sovereign over any situation. It brings great peace to know that. To know that, unlike unbelievers, we have no fear over sickness, or death, because we can rest in the truth that if anything happens we have eternal life with God. Hallelujah! I think one of my greatest fears in all of this is how will we handle this financially and if we can still remain at school. But God is sovereign and if He wants Mark and I to remain at school He'll provide for us a way, and if He wants us to take a semester off to raise money for school then we will, and I am okay with that.

Please continue to keep Mark and I in your prayers, either tonight as he is in surgery or the next week as he recovers.

Our short update for the week:

These are the muffins I made for our Sunday school class this week: cranberry-lemon and chocolate cappucino muffins. Yum!

This week we were able to eat dinner with the McMasters (Amanda was my dean last year and Chris is a teacher) and the Keens (April works in the office and Scot is currently teaching Romans class). We a great and wonderful time with both couples, the McMasters from Texas and the Keens from Kentucky. We were really encouraged by them and had some great conversations.

I unpacked my winter clothes from our storage locker this week because it has been in the 50s-60s almost all week. Winter is just around the corner! Mark and I have also both managed to break four glasses this week, but thanks to the local secondhand store we are now the owners of four thick glasses.

The Richards family came down to visit their daughter at school, they came from Durham, Ontario so Mark's parents sent along with them a box and bag of food for us! Mark and I were so excited to get some more of his mum's canned salsa (along with other great food items). I took a picture of several of them, so the non-Canadians can see what Canadian packaged food looks like. Because of Quebec all the labels have both English and French on them. Great for language learning, but annoying when you're trying to figure out what it is sometimes.

Our new classes have started off great. Lots of reading material in Family Relations (on marriage and parenting...Mark doesn't know why we'll need the later pffft). Below is the paper I was using to write my outline for I & II Peter class. We have to write an outline for I Peter and read it 5 times.


Spirit week has begun today! I will post pictures tomorrow of our nerdy costume. Oh and to see an awesome video of two of our teachers go too this link and scroll down till you see the video. We have chapels every day and once or twice a month we have Evangelism chapel led by RCG (Really Cool Guy, aka Chris Darland). He intros each evangelism chapel with a short song, and this time it was in the style of a country square dance song featuring Scot Keen on the banjo. Enjoy!

And keep us in your prayers!
Love you all!

Another Nephew!

Ezekiel Julian Murphy was born to Carrianne (Mark's sister) and Julian Murphy this morning at 8:30 AM. Weight: 9lbs, 5 oz. Length: 21.5”

Now Mark and I have two newborn nephews to see when we visit during Thanksgiving! We can't wait :)

Video: Awayo

In the remote corners of the world, people groups have existed for generations.
They live in fear of the spirits. They die without hope.
This is Awayo's story.

Monthly Update: September 30, 2009

Well, block number two is coming to an end and new classes are about to start up. Lauren and I are excited to get into 1 and 2 Peter and Family Relations. I've been learning a lot about Lauren (and maybe even more about myself) over the past block. I've been struggling under the business (for example, the other day Lauren and I were not able to even begin our homework until some time after 10 pm.), but through it we're really seeing God's grace and feeling the sufficiency of it in our lives.

One thing that hit me with particular strength were the last few chapters of Romans 8. God tells us how nothing, not even ourselves, not even the world, not even angelic powers or any created being can separate us from God. That really encouraged me personally and I know, from all the questions she's been asking, that the truths of Romans are really playing on her heart as well.

Though things are going good, we (along with almost every other married couple) are really feeling the perpetual burn of this race we run. We really need the endurance (patience), that is talked about in Hebrews, in everything that's going on here. It doesn't surprise me to hear other couples talk about taking a semester off in order to "take back their marriages" because it really is crazy hard here. Married chapel never ends without several couples (and many times every couple) asking the group to be praying for them to have the energy to simply do their homework, and it is this request that I make to all of you. I need prayer, even on my "days off" (when I have hardly any homework) I feel as though I'm rushing just to get everything done. We're also really trying to get into a habit of spending time in the word together as devotions, not including the 7+hours we spend studying the Bible for classes and homework. We could also use prayer as we face the daily struggle of learning to be united to each other, in purpose, and spirit, and mind. It's a tough thing to do for sure, and it's something I believe that will take many years to even comprehend, but nevertheless, it's something we greatly desire. We've been meeting with Rex Gutwein (the president of NTBI Jackson) and he has encouraged us, in so many ways, to express love to one another in a personalized way that is suitable to each other. One thing I'm daily amazed by is the complexity of Lauren's mind, I mean I knew girls thought differently then guys, but I didn't think it'd be that different.

Oh man, another thing that definitely could use some prayer, is for the coming snow! Yes, it's getting really cold and we just know that one of these mornings we're going to wake up to a white world! Please pray for us, that we'd be able to adapt to that, me having to do snow crew, and Lauren having to learn to wear shoes instead of flip flops haha!

I also have a lot of praises also. Firstly, I'm so blessed to be married to Lauren, I know your all thinking that I have to say that and all, but no! It really is true! I don't know how I'd be doing it without her. So that's something that is worthy of praise. Also, praise God that Jon and Shanelle (my brother and sister-in-law, for all of you who don't know) had little Elliot without much trouble (Can you say that having a baby isn't much trouble? I don't know, maybe I should re-word it?). Ok, so praise God that Jon and Shanelle had their baby! (That's better). He's such a cute little guy, and, by the look of him, he's probably going to turn out just like his dad. Also pray for Carrianne and Julian (my sister and brother-in-law), as they are expecting another little bouncing baby. We've also been blessed multiple times from the other marrieds here with food and other things. Lastly praise God that we're soon going to be parents...NO I'm kidding we're not pregnant (though honestly I never will be pregnant so I don't know why people always say "We are pregnant"?). Sorry I know it's a bad joke, but call it a early April's fools. Anyways I could go on forever with different things we're thankful for but I really should be going, (we have yet another test to take tomorrow and I've barely studied for it at all). So with that I say goodbye and God bless.

Romans 8:38,39 "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, or height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." What a beautiful end to a beautiful chapter, in such a beautiful book, eh?

Talk to you all soon, love you all so much!

In God: Mark and Lauren Ducommun

Update - September 28, 2009

Hello Everyone! Another week has passed here at New Tribe Bible Institute. The weather is getting chilly and last night we had a loud and crackling thunderstorm! Mark and I have finally finalized our prayer cards and are now available upon request. We have also reapplied for Food Stamps, so please be in prayer that we'll be accepted for the program, since food is running a little bit scarce haha. I didn't realize how much more a man almost twice the size of me ate! I've been branching out on my cooking lately: I have successfully baked zucchini-carrot bread (recipe borrowed from Jinnah), cranberry muffins, and I used my skill and turned the leftovers from food cart into a tasty Tex-Mex fiesta meal! I am also learning to remain content in that I cannot be the perfect chef in a short amount of time, for example, Mark has had to help me make tuna.

Please also be in prayer as Mark and I make decisions about my becoming a Canadian citizen. Citizenship would help us gain access to more countries (as missionaries) and Canada gives free health care to missionaries no matter what country they live in! Isn't that a blessing! The downside is that this will cost several thousand dollars and will take over 4 years. Mark's sponsorship application has to be accepted first, then my permanent residency paperwork, after that's accepted I have to live in Canada for three years before I can apply for citizenship. Somewhere in there I also have to apply for a work visa. So it's a little frustrating at how much time and effort will be going into this whole process. Mark and I received a monetary gift in the mail so I did manage to apply for a new passport this week, new name and all. Woohoo!

My younger sister, Jordann, will be visiting Mark and I during our Thanksgiving break. She'll come for a few days while class is still in session, and when classes end on the 25th we'll skidaddle out of Jackson and drive to Durham, Ontario to visit Mark's family. We're so excited for her to visit!

Our classes for the second block are about to end. Our current classes are Missions in Church History, Romans, and Hebrews and the classes for the third block are 1 & 11 Peter, Romans (still), and Family Relationships. Mark's elective on Financial Management has ended and he is now taking Acts and the Romans World. Soon I will join him in the Ruth/Song of Solomon/Ecclesiastes elective.

This past week has been overwhelming because of all the amazing truths being taught to us. We finished chapter 6 of Romans with the knowledge that we can choose not to yield to sin anymore, and that we are now slaves to righteousness. Going through chapter 7 has been beneficial to understand that we have also died and are no longer bound to the Law through Christ's death. We learned how the Law reveals and increases our sin which produces death. In Romans 7:18, Paul is in agony because of the conflict between his new nature and his sin nature (his flesh). He now has a desire to do good and wants to, but continues to give into his flesh (notice how many times he says "I" and "me"). He finally comes to the end of himself and cries "Oh wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?" (Romans 7:24). But the next verse immediately explains how only God, the Deliverer, can deliver us, and He has and will! It has been such a relief and encouragement to come to the understanding that God comes into me and overcomes sin as I yield to Him. Though I am positionally delivered from sin, since my flesh still remains I have to continue every moment walking according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4).

Wow, I cannot continue to write how much I am learning through our classes. I wish everyone is able to come to NTBI and take this class. I guess just one more encouraging verse would be Romans 8:28, "And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Knowing that this verse is true for me, a believer (one who is called and who loves God), is amazing! No matter what happens in my life, whether good or bad in my eyes, God can take it and turn my lemon into lemonade! His good is to use circumstances in life to conform us to the image of His Son. So during times of suffering or difficulty I can remember that God is just and sovereign and He has promised this to me.

Alright, Mark says I need to get back to homework.

Prayer:

• To give thanks to God in every circumstance
• That we would allow ourselves to be transparent so others can disciple us
• That we can be good stewards of God's time
  

Praise:

• Mark and I went on a lovely date to the dollar theater (to watch Up!) and Culver's ice cream
• (Lauren's praise) for rain and thunderstorms!
• Random gifts of food (from moose meat to pork chops and frozen berries)
  

Update - September 21, 2009

Wow, another week has flown by! It's incredible how quickly time passes when our days are packed with activities and homework. It's been both a blessing and a trial to manage our time, so prayer is always welcomed for this area in our lives.

The week began with three papers due and a test, and then the homework level slowly decreased. Mark and I are continually learning from our classes. Romans class has been amazing and life-changing as well. We are now in chapter 6 and 7 which is dealing with sanctification. It's an awesome truth to hear that we are "dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Romans 6:11). This means that death no longer has any dominion or authority over us. We don't have any obligation to our sin nature and we can say "no" to sin! Though sin is still present in our lives (and still can reign if we allow it to), through Christ we have been freed from sin and given the power to yield to Spirit and not to our sin nature. It's so encouraging to be "in Christ" and learn about our positional truths (Romans 5).

So what has our life been outside of school? A great adventure! Mark and I both work 3-4 nights a week, about 10 hours each. Every student has an assigned Student Work Program (SWP): Mark is in charge of the chemical room and I clean one of the public girl's restrooms, his SWP is daily and mine is every other day. Mark and I have joined a weekly study group (Green Letters) which has initiated great discussion and learning opportunities within our group. I am continuing to be a language helper with one of the South Korean ladies, who is continuing on to the MTC (Missionary Training Center) this January. We have an assigned laundry hour once a week, so our laundry begins to pile up haha. Mark is attending a self-defense class at our church and enjoying the fellowship there. I have joined a crochet group with several students here at school, and Mark has joined a volleyball team. Mark and I have also been able to meet with different deans and staff members throughout the week for both one-on-one investment and investment as a couple. He really appreciate how amazing the staff at NTBI is. They're hospitable, honest, and very wise.

This Saturday was our All-School Picnic which took place at a Christian campground about 20 minutes away. Mark was finally able to fish again, though he didn't catch much. We also ate lots and lots of candy and s'mores as we played games and sports, sang songs, and talked with most of the students.


Then on Sunday was our church's Open House, and after the worship service we ate a 250lb pig and other potluck goodies. I made and brought some of Mark's mom's double-chocolate cookies :)

Jamal is a very happy bunny now, as we have purchased a huge and inexpensive rabbit cage for him off Craigslist. And on our way to pick it up in a nearby town, our poor car had a flat. But I have an awesome husband :)

Prayer:

• That we won't allow our circumstances to hinder us
• That we would be a witness to our community
• That we continue to let people invest in and evaluate our lives
  

Praise:

• That we found a friendly mechanic who helped fix our tires for an inexpensive price
• Food cart for it's awesome microwavable (and free) leftovers!
  

New Nephew :)

Elliot James Ducommun was born to Jon (Mark's brother) and Shanelle this morning at 7:24am.

Congrats you guys! Mark and I can't wait to see him!

Update - September 14, 2009

Well, I know I say this in every update I send, but this update is definitely overdue. Lauren and I have been learning so much. It seems like every day we're presented with another piece of spiritual truth that we have to digest. We've just finished a massive paper in Corinthians class focusing on: law versus grace in performance, man as clay pots and working life in others, biblical giving, and conflict. We are also currently writing an outline of Romans 3:21-5:21 where Paul talks about "Righteousness Provided: Justification".

I'm finding that my comprehension rate this year, as a married man, is much higher then it has been in previous semesters. I think it's because I'm able to see the truths about marriage, conflict, and sincerity in a much more applicable light (I find myself agreeing so much more with all the teachers then l ever did in previous semesters). All in all, growth and change have been going on, and I look forward to seeing the Lord work at changing my life. As Paul would say, "Death in me works life in others" (2 Cor 4:12).

I think, for me, this has been one of the most life changing truths that we have learned thus far: the identification of ourselves as dead with Christ, and consequently dead to sin. It has been very life changing as I notice the legalistic and performance based theology that I previously held. It's very freeing to realize that, through my death in Christ, I no longer have to suffer the whims of my flesh, nor does my flesh have any true power over me.

Life as a married man has been a constant lesson of grace and love. I'm finding, more often then not, that I have so much to learn from Lauren. She's been a constant encouragement for me in changing my perspective on studying. I tend to approach learning with the idea that grades count more then what understanding you take out of the class, and, although grades do count, I'm trying to learn that my grades should reflect what I have learned.

Work is going well, though sometimes it’s hard to be cheerful and diligent with long hours and getting over a dreadful cold. I'm praying that I can learn to be content and joyful as I work and that my attitude towards work would change from: a way to get cash, to: a way to shine the fruits of the Spirit to those that I work with.

Lauren and I have been excited to be able to be more involved, both with the teachers, and with our fellow students, especially the new (and less sociable) freshman class. We have been able to have teachers and students over for meals, games, and general fellowship. Our humble little apartment is also the meeting area during chapel hour for a small group with two other married couples. I’m preparing to teach one of the upcoming married men's chapels which is a very daunting prospect seeing as I'm the youngest of all the married men (and one of the newest marrieds). Nevertheless, I'm looking for God's strength, guidance, and words to work through me to provide at least some spiritual encouragement to my fellow married men. Another great opportunity we’ve had is in joining a weekly small group at our teacher’s house, going through the book The Complete Green Letters.

Jamal, the bunny, is beginning to obtain quite the little personality as he discovers new and more dastardly ways to escape his confines. Despite his constant desire for freedom, he seems to be enjoying his little fluffy life here at the school in Jackson.

Regardless the business of our schedules, Lauren and I have been attempting to become more involved with our church (First Baptist Church of Albion). We absolutely adore the people there, and are very thankful that God has placed us in a church that is so encouraging and biblical in their teaching. On Labor Day we went to a bonfire at the pastor’s house, and we have a BBQ potluck at the church this Sunday. I'm also getting involved with a martial arts program at the church, and I even saw God's hand at work in that, I went to the first class and the teacher offered me with free lessons.

In closing I'd like to thank you all for your prayers and love. We've really needed them! Life here is vastly more challenging then expected, but it's also proving to be so beneficial to us and our new marriage. We're seeing God bless us in so many ways:

Praise:

• We've both been blessed with flexible jobs and Christian bosses.
• We’ve been provided free meals through the food cart here at school.
• We also found out today that Lauren was accepted for Medicare in the state of Michigan (which is great because we can’t afford health insurance haha).

God keeps showing us time and time again that "His grace is sufficient".

Prayers:

• That our food stamps application will be accepted.
• That we can build relationships and find ways to serve at our church.
• That we can build relationships with staff and teachers and allow them to invest in us.
• That we would be thankful and joyful with the jobs God has provided us.
• That we continue to trust God with finances.
• That both of us would grow a heart of a learner.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers as we head into what I believe will be a very challenging term. Thanks again. God bless.

P.S. Though there is no way I could possibly share everything I've learned here thusfar I found this verse to be one of the most encouraging that I have ever read.

"And he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.' Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecution, with difficulties, for Christ's sake;
for when I am weak, then I am strong."
2 Corinthians 12: 13

Sincerely yours, Mark and Lauren Ducommun.

Labor Day Bonfire

We celebrated Labor Day with our Michigan church, FBC Albion. We had a bonfire, made s'mores, played ladder ball and sang songs around the fire. It was a great time and we got to hang out with some awesome people and their kids.

Here we are gathered around the bonfire in our pastor's backyard.

Soon it will be "winter" and this is probably the last get-together we'll have outside haha.

Warren Dunes trip

A group of us from New Tribes drove to Warren Dunes State Park at Lake Michigan yesterday. This is the place that Mark and I started dating last year.

Mark and I

One of our students has actually gone tribal!

YuJung, from South Korea, and the Mathew family in the background.

Cassie brought her tight roping equipment and we all tried it out - it was hilarious to watch people fall (or flip) off.

Look at my strong & handsome husband :)

Me, Emma & Jenn buried Tom and turned him into a mermaid haha

Josie makes a lot prettier mermaid

The guys went jumping and flipping off the sand dune (there's Mark above)

(Preston doing a flip over a pensive Steve)

It was a fun trip (though two hours away) and the water was clear and cold. Please be praying for us we use these next two days to finish our homework for the weekend and build relationships with the new freshmen.

One Year Anniversary (of togetherness)

(Mark & Lauren at Warren Dunes celebrating Labor Day on Sept. 1, 2008)

A year ago today is when Mark and I began dating. And so far we have celebrated it by a tornado drill, a Romans test, and a Hebrews test :) Actually we celebrated by eating at Outback Steakhouse on Sunday night with a gift card from our wedding. But wow I can't believe how quickly the year has gone by and how much we have progressed in our relationship hahaha (from dating to engagement to married!).

Love you so much Mark! Looking forward to spend years and years with you!

Here is the picture that my parents received as an introduction to Mark haha.

Prayer and Praise: Jobs!

Today Mark and I have both started working again. He is still working at Burger King and I have left Mancino's Pizza and now work with Wolverine Cleaning Resources. I had my first shift of work tonight and not only is my boss a Christian woman, but also the other three ladies I work with. We clean offices, break rooms, lobbies/hallways, and bathrooms for different companies. It's a praise because it has a twenty cents higher pay haha and I work the same shifts each week (no more calling the day of to find out what time I work).

Please be praying for Mark and I as we now are full-time students, newlyweds, and part-time workers. Please pray that we won't become stressed with the time-crunch, but that we'll continue to trust God each day and rely on Him for our strength. Also pray that Mark and I will be bold in opportunities that we have with our coworkers - to share with them the gospel or encourage them in Christ.

Alright, gotta go study for our first tests tomorrow!

Love,
Lauren

Why reach the unreached?

We are currently in Romans class, and this is one of the topics we are discussing. I thought I'd share what I have been learning and how it ties in with my passion and desire for missions.

Are the heathen lost?

Who are the heathen? In the New Testament heathen is interchangeable with Gentiles (non-Jews) or "nations". Today we refer to the heathen as "those who have never been given an adequate opportunity to hear the Gospel". For example, a tribal people group hidden deep in the Amazon rainforest.

Though tribal people may not have God's Word or the gospel in their language. God has made Himself evident to them through His Creation. Romans 1:19 says that "for what can be known about God (his eternal power and divine nature) is plain to them, because God has shown it to them". But instead of receiving that witness, they "exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creator rather than the Creator" (Rom. 1:23). They placed their object of faith in creation - animism (belief in numerous spiritual beings, both human and non-human in origin, who possess power) and idolatry.

God also gave every man, a conscience (my own belief of what is right and wrong - not necessarily the biblical definition of right and wrong). Romans 2:14 says "For when Gentiles (or tribal people), who do not have the law, by nature (their conscience) does what the law requires (or does right), they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law". So here we are shown that every man is condemned by his own conscience - by sinning against it/doing what they know is wrong.

We can now understand that though tribal people are without God's Word, they are still without any excuse because by the product of their own choosing they have rejected God's testimony and thus God's wrath is against them.

Romans 3:9,10 tells us that "All, both Jews and Greeks (or Gentiles/heathen/tribal people), are under sin, as it is written: 'None is righteous, no, not one.' " All men are under the authority and due condemnation of sin, and man is only saved through the preaching of God's grace: Romans 3:23, 24 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Tribal people cannot be made righteous through the faith they place in creation (by believing that there is a creator), or by doing good works through following their conscience. They cannot seek God and have no desire to because Romans 3:11 says that "no one seeks for God". Though they "appear" to be seeking God, they cannot. God is the initiator and people respond to Him (through the workings of the Holy Spirit). "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19:10). "I have been found by those who did not seek me" (Romans 10:20).

Unsaved tribal people are dying each day and are going to hell. They have never heard the name of Jesus and do not know that grace is their only hope!

Romans 10:13-15
"'For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.' But how are they to call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without some preaching?"

Our theme this year at New Tribes is "BE THE VOICE"

I've also been taking the Intro to New Tribes Missions class and have learned a lot about the organization through that.

"New Tribe Mission exists to assist the local church through the mobilizing, equipping, and coordinating of missionaries to evangelize unreached people groups."

Their class verse is Mark 16:15
"Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."

Please be praying for Mark and I as we continue in our training with NTM with the goal of reaching the unreached with the gospel.

Nick Vujicic's Testimony

Here is an encouraging video that we watched during one of our classes.

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Our Prayer Card

Our Apartment - update pics

Here are the pictures of are almost finished house. Only a few more projects left (pillows, curtain, and hanging the pictures).

Here is our living room

Here's the view from the living room into the kitchen (and a peak of the office).

Our lovely kitchen (and the front door)

Our bedroom

The office is a mess...it's turned into a storage room and Jamal's room. So no picture as of right now :)

Newest Addition to Our Family

My beta fish, Galito, passed away from the old age of 1 year on Sunday. So Mark surprised me with a trip to the local pet store to purchase the pet that we've talked about getting for a while. Here is our new family member:

Jamal Abdul Ducommun

5 week old Mini-Lop Rabbit

Isn't he adorable!

Here is a lovely pic of Mark and Jamal

He loved hopping outside and enjoyed the tasty grass

Here Jamal is shown nibbling "eating" my homework haha

Update - August 21, 2009

An update from the newest Ducommun family:

Hello everyone!

Firstly I wanted to say that Lauren and I both love and miss you all very much! School has officially started and we are as busy as can be expected from classes all morning (and a bit of the afternoon) and homework for the rest of the day. We are trying to get everything settled in to our cozy new apartment and so far it's all gone well. Life as a newly married man has been wonderful. I can't speak for us both on this issue of course but I'm definitely seeing God's hand in our relationship. I'm seeing things in Lauren's personality that I've never seen before, and I'm falling in love with her more and more each day. We're really connecting with a lot of the married couples here as well as with many of the singles. On Tuesday night we had a few people over for games and it went surprisingly well given the size of our apartment. I hope and pray that Lauren and I can really become a family of support and encouragement to our fellow students and, so far, it looks like that's exactly what's happening. It's fun to learn to discover each other in every aspect of our shared life. I've learned many different things about Lauren (such as her desire to know and trust God in every aspect of her life) and I've really been encouraged by her endurance and steadfast labor to make our apartment a home. Please pray for me as I strive to be a husband worthy of such an amazing woman. I'm really seeking out the teachers and councilers this semester, I went to one teacher yesterday with several questions and was thoroughly encouraged by the council he gave me. I gues what I'm saying in so many words is that life's going well. presenting us with many struggles but of course God always provides the stength to endure and through struggles we find encouragement and the ability to better encourage others.

I ask for prayer as Lauren and I engage in our studies. It looks like it's going to be a very testing semester for us. We are putting in at least 5 hours of schoolwork and no less then 5 hours of homework a day. Obviously this brings a lot of stress into our lives and we could definitely use everyone's prayers. We both plan to begin working soon and, although It'll be interesting to see how that affects our ability to study, I'm trusting God with provision, and I was thoroughly encouraged today in my newest elective "Financial management" in which we looked at several verses in the Bible expressing God's ownership of everything. It's encouraging to see in Gen 1:1, Job 1:21, Ps 24:1, 89:11, 50:10-12, and numerous other verses that God owns and sustains everything. We discussed the provision of God and it just brought a lot of peace to my heart to know that God is truly in control of both our lives and our finances.

Please pray for us in the sence that I'm already feeling change in my own life and actions. It's just as Paul says in Romans about God molding us like His clay, it's good to know that God uses these different aspects of our lives to turn us into something that will bring Him glory. God's also really showing me what true love is and I strive to mirror that through Him to others around me, particularly to Lauren. I wish I had longer to write to you but I have many hours of homework ahead of me today and I really should get back to it. As Paul would say, "Grace and peace to you from our God and Father the Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 8: 28- "And we know that all things work out for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

God bless
Sincerely
Mark and Lauren Ducommun

Our New Apartment

Our apartment: the living room/kitchen








the office

the bedroom

the bedroom












A couple of people from school (and Mark's parents) helped us move in.