Sunday, August 26, 2007

Information Dissemination


WE MADE THE SWITCH
I haven't really been able to figure out how I want to get information out about what is going on in Elaine's and my life. I finally decided that Blogger was the way to go. It is easy, simple and effective. (I really should get paid for this!) Anyway, for the past few weeks I have been working for Megan Evens at Cadence's home office. She has had me working on simplifying Blogger for missionaries in the field. I have been working on creating a site that is easy to use as well as writing operating instructions for all the missionaries who plan on using it. Needless to say I sold myself on the idea. Elaine and I will try our best to give out weekly updates so keep your eyes on the lookout for more information.

As far as this week goes please pray that we transition really well into the new school year. Elaine is starting her 16 hours and I am starting my first Moody class -- Church History -- this week. I am also taking Theology 202. (I just finished Theology 201 and got an A.) Pray we stay focused and still make plenty of time for one another.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Elaine's turn...


(Originally posted on our Web Site)

Yes, this is WesAuldridge.com and yes, Wes does make most of the updates on here for now. But this site really is meant to give you a look into our lives. So I figured I should speak up and post a little blurb in here too.

Summer in Chicago has been fun, and marriage a big adjustment. Most of what I’ve been up to involves domesticity, which I happen to like very much. I’ve made pie and cheesecake, several batches of cookies and strawberry shortcake, zucchini bread and one amazing fruit tart with berries from the Saturday Farmer’s Market. I also have plenty of time to read and sew (which won’t be the case in a couple of short weeks).

My internship through this school year will actually be on campus with the Residence Life department. I will be responsible for “Journey Together” which is a mentoring program for undergraduate women. We will pair students desiring a mentor with women of the MBI faculty, staff, and alumni (we have several branches of the institute other than the school, like publishing and broadcasting) who desire to spend time with a student in various mentoring relationships. More on this once the semester starts.

As far as regular occupation goes I’ve been baby-sitting once or twice a week for a nice little boy named Bennett. And I have started visiting an older woman named Judy to help with basic computer skills. She is in pretty poor health and needs quite a bit of help around the house. One good thing about college in the city: plenty of odd-job opportunities for the irregular schedule!

That’s all for now!

A Week in the Life of Wes


To make sure my friends and family feel they are completely in the loop on my life, here is a heads-up on what my life consists of each week.
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SUNDAY
8 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Sailors for Christ
(Currently I am leading various Foundational Ministry Courses to new Sailor Recruits at Great Lakes Naval Station for Campus Crusade. Cadence is lending me to SFC.)
3 to 7 p.m. - Cadence International Design and Media
(Yep, I am still working as a Cadence Missionary. I am doing research to find ways to make it easy for missionaries to communicate with their supporters via the internet.)

MONDAY
8 to 10 a.m. - Theology 202
(This is a my second Theology Class I am taking through Liberty University)
10 a.m. to Noon - Cadence Design and Media
2 to 7 p.m. - LifeWay Christian Store
(I work a cash register and stock shelves. And yes I do get a discount on books!)

TUESDAY
8 to 10 a.m. - Theology 202
10 a.m. to Noon - Cadence Design and Media
2 to 7 p.m. - LifeWay Christian Store

WEDNESDAY

8 to 10 a.m. - Theology 202
2 to 7 p.m. - LifeWay Christian Store
(This will change to an earlier shift on Aug. 29 when I begin my Church History Class through Moody Bible Institute. I will have 12 hours left until I receive my Bachelor’s Degree at the end of this semester!)

THURSDAY
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. - LifeWay Christian Store
3:30 to 10 p.m. - Sailors for Christ

FRIDAY
Day Off/Day of Rest/Sabbath/Breath of Fresh Air

SATURDAY
8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. - LifeWay Christian Store
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So as you can see I am a busy boy. Please pray I don’t get too stressed out and that God, Elaine and School are my top priorities. Also pray I keep them in that order.

Please e-mail me when you get a chance.
wes.auldridge@gmail.com

August 2007 Newsletter

It has been a while since I last updated everyone on our life, so I will try my best to be brief without leaving out any of the facts.

In May I left England for good (at least for a while) and headed back to the States. The Cadence Hospitality House was a wonderful experience and I miss all my friends and family over there. Leaving was one of the hardest things I had to do in my life but I definitely made the right choice.

On May 26, 2007 Elaine and I were married in Pennsylvania and went on our Honeymoon Cruise in the Caribbean. We then headed to Chicago and have been here since.

I hit the ground running. When I got to Chicago I began looking for some part-time work. I applied at a few places but the first to call me back was LifeWay Christian Store on the Moody Campus. (Elaine is a Moody Bible Institute Senior). So I have been working for LifeWay for about a month and a half now and love it. I work with some great folks and have a flexible schedule - which I need. Other things going on are -- Marriage/Cadence/School.

Marriage is amazing but no one told me it would be this much work (wink, wink). We love it and are already starting some good habits, like an evening devotional. Please pray for our marriage. We are so excited about our future but we understand we are only in the beginning. We know it’s going to be a lot of work.

Cadence has been absolutely amazing with my transition from England. Here is what I am doing: I am working with the new Recruits at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center north of Chicago. This is an amazing ministry and I will write more about what we are actually doing throughout the week. I can tell you this, this is a group of young people who are ripe to hear the Gospel. Please pray that God will use us to minister to the new Recruits, especially at this unique period of their lives.

I am also working for the design and media department of Cadence’s Home Office. Right now my supervisor is having me do research. Hopefully I will be finding new and creative ways for missionaries to communicate to all of their supporters. Please pray that I will find patience with working and learning. Technology moves fast and staying up to speed with what’s new can be a little complicated and frustrating.

Finally, I am taking classes and trying to finish my Bachelor's of Science in Religion by next summer. Elaine is graduating in May and I would like to have mine about the same time. Please pray I will stay focused and learn as much as possible. I am currently taking my first Theology course and loving it. God is really teaching me a lot and I can’t wait to teach others what I am learning.

Elaine will be doing an internship with the Residence Life department at MBI, primarily working on a mentoring program for female undergraduate students. There is a high demand for a program like this on campus and it provides exciting opportunity to minister to students.

Our life is really busy and we can certainly continue to use all of your support. I am still a Cadence missionary so to all of my financial supporters please continue to support us if you can. We are currently looking towards the future after graduation. The title “Missionary” is really sticking with us so now we have to figure out where to go. We are willing to go where the Lord sends us.

Thanks for reading and please continue to keep us in your prayers.

We're Up and Running



We just found a new Web site format that is easy and fits our life. So expect us to make more updates and keep everyone in the loop about our lives! Check back this week for a current newsletter.