Hey all!
We hope this new update finds each of you well! We’ve just officially passed the year mark since first arriving as staff on the Sunshine Coast, and we are more grateful than ever for your support, prayer, and encouragement! It’s a little bit hard to believe all that has happened and all that God has done in the last year, but we don’t want to take it for granted—it’s certainly been a miraculous year.
Speaking of miracles… we wanted to update you all on Sam’s back surgery. He had his surgery on June 12th, and has been healing ever since. Sam was able to have the surgery back in Milwaukee, and complete the first leg of his recovery at home with his parents, youngest brother (Anthony), and, for a surprise long weekend, Ben as well! It was a very special time of healing in the Giunta house. We are so thankful to have family and friends on both sides who go to all ends to be God’s comfort and provision in our lives. It’s hard to put words to the way it feels to be so well loved, and it is certainly impossible to pay back the kindnesses, but we will undoubtedly be carrying the grace God has given us through so many of you forward in all of our work.
Practically, though, the surgery was a huge success! It was surprisingly more serious than the specialists had thought, but everything that needed to be done, was done. Sam was able to immediately notice that the pain in his legs was gone. This pain has largely stayed away, though the nerves in his back have a six to twelve month healing process. Sam was on his feet right away, beginning to walk and even climbing stairs. Gradually, his range of motion and strength has been returning, and is now looking at making his first (very short) hike up Mt. Coolum. Sam will continue to work towards a full recovery, and start to embrace lifestyle changes that will help his back stay as healthy as possible for as long as possible. All of your prayer in this area has been greatly appreciated—we know that all this healing, in its many forms, has come from God and through all of our prayer.
When Sam arrived back home about 3.5 weeks ago, we were very happy to be back together again! We hopped right back into preparing for the upcoming school and have felt happy with our progress. We also had a big change, but first a little back story. When Sam and I began getting ready to move to Australia we originally planned on getting our own apartment right away, but one of the staff asked us if we would want to live in one of the rooms at the wave house (the old hostel YWAM Sunshine Coast purchased to house the students and some staff). As many of you know, when we prayed, we felt we were supposed to say yes to this even though it meant saying goodbye to certain privacies and space. So, we spent the last year living there, and the few times we wondered if we should move out, we felt God say to stay there until July--so we trusted that. A little while ago, we found out our dear friends that have been here on the coast for 5 years felt God was leading them to move to Germany for a season, and their apartment that was only a 3-minute walk away from the wave house was going to need new tenants in July. Although we were sad for these friends to leave, we were so excited to see God provide such a perfect place for us. On top of this, the landlord kept the weekly rent low for us, and made the switch over incredibly easy (this can be difficult when your application states you don’t have an income and live off of support). We were also able to keep some of the furniture and household appliances they left as well. So, for the first time in our 3 years of marriage we have our very own place! We want to give a massive “thank you” to all our supporters and those that have been praying for us--this would not be possible without you and we are feeling so incredibly blessed by the space.
Our last school graduated while Sam was in America and there is now a new DTS here but we do not have large roles with the school as we are school planning. We help with meals and such but don’t sit in lectures or have one on ones. We have kept busy with planning and the move as well as enjoying some moments of rest as starting in September it will be a very busy year.
On August 3rd, some of Karis’s family is coming to visit: her mum and dad, sister Jacquelyn and her husband, and our niece Violet who will be meeting her Auntie Karis for the first time! We are so excited to have them visit, show them around, and introduce them to our community here. Karis hasn’t seen them in a year and is anxious to have time together with family.
Family will leave August 15th and 3 days later we will start staff training for the September school, and on September 1st, 46 new students will arrive (the largest school our base has seen yet). We are so excited for these students to arrive and experience all that God has for them in that 5-month season. We would be lying if we didn’t admit we are a tad nervous for how large the school is with 17 staff for the school, but we believe God has called each of these students here and He will provide us with the strength and stamina for the season. We would greatly appreciate prayer for these students, as they get ready to come, that their fear and worries would fade, that finances would come through for them, and that their hearts would be ready for what God wants to teach them. Please also pray for all of our staff, as jumping from school to school can be really difficult—the staff of this current school will be saying goodbye to their students the day before ours arrive.
We miss you all, we’re so grateful for such an incredible community of friends and family, far and near. We have felt so supported our whole year here, but especially with Sam’s surgery we felt so cared for. Thank you for all the prayers, encouragements, and visits. We love all of you!
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