Hello everyone, thanks for stopping in to read my December newsletter. It was a slightly slower month here at CMTS with the Christmas break and all, but a good one nonetheless. I worked in the mechanics shop this month and learned a ton. I spent a better part of the month working on one of the Righteous Rides vans, upon which was imparted new brake pads and rotors, rear shocks, front struts, front sway bar end links, a wheel hub assembly, a CV boot, and an oil change. The CV axle really tested my perseverance as rust inhibited the c clip from allowing the shaft to exit the housing. It took multiple days of hammering, prying, heating, and the help of Nick, Caleb, and Ray before it finally came out. I also replaced the water pump on Hannah’s car and managed to lose Nicks ¼’’ ratchet but he found it two weeks later at the back of the bottom drawer of his toolbox somehow. 

          The Christmas break was good, I got to spend time with friends and family and slept a lot. Sam was kind enough to drive me to the Philly airport at 1 am and I arrived in Vancouver after a layover in Minneapolis. My parents picked me up and we went to a little celebration for my friend’s baptism. I went with a boys bible study group that a couple of my friends are running to have a bonfire under a bridge. It was a lot of fun and a good time of fellowship. I was able to take the train that my dad works on to drive him home a few times because he has an hour-long commute back and he doesn’t like driving. The annual gingerbread competition happened this month, the teams were Caleb and Sam against Aidan and me. If you’re wondering about the outcome, you can read about it in the December Newsletter.

          In our Foundations class, Sam and I have begun studying the New Testament and will dive into the Harmony of The Gospels next week. We’ve started studying Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby for our Tuesday class, which is about knowing and doing God’s will. We also started reading Search for Significance this month, which is about finding identity, value, and fulfillment in our identity in Christ instead of our accomplishments and others’ approval.

          “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.” – Proverbs 18:10