We are still here, plus one!

The past month since our last post has been eventful to say the least. On August 27th, we welcomed our newest family member to the world!! Ava Leigh Hicks was born at 1:38pm, weighing 7lbs 9oz. She is a beautiful, healthy baby girl with a head full of hair (just like her sister). We have been blessed beyond measure! Big Sister Olivia has been adjusting very well, and we are so thankful for that. It is for sure a HUGE change in her 2 1/2 year-old-world, but she is rolling with it so well.

On the 13th, Jeremy left with a team from First Baptist Church of Oceanway (where he is the Interim Worship Leader) for Costa Rica. The team had a wonderful first encounter with the people of Alajuelita, and I'm sure there will be at least one more post specifically about Jeremy's experiences on this particular trip. While they were there, he was also looking for a house for our family. We have found a home where our family will be living - this is a huge praise!! We also have set a move date for our family, and it is quickly approaching. We will be moving to Costa Rica on Saturday, November 13th. We would greatly appreciate your prayers as we move forward in faith. We feel like we are about to jump off a cliff! It's exhilirating to trust God like that, but incredibly scary at the same time.

Over the next six weeks we will be busy with moving preparations... packing the remaining bins of our belongings, getting medicines and check-ups, getting Ava's passport, and raising the rest of the support needed for our family to live and minister in Alajuelita. We are also hoping to see as many friends and family as possible before we go.

Would you please prayerfully consider supporting our family on a monthly basis? We need a total of $1,200 in monthly support to reach 100% of our family's budgeted needs. We need support partners of all shapes and sizes. You may be thinking that you can't give much, so why bother, but that is not the case. God can use any gift, and we have been blessed by gifts small and large. It is so amazing to see God providing a way for us to go and minister to the homeless, the widowed, the orphaned, the prostitutes - those who are hurting - through our friends and family. It is overwhelming the way He loves us! By "us", I mean all of us. We have already seen God provide in ways that we could not have imagined, and it is a constant reminder that He is capable of so much more than we ask.

We also need churches, small groups, even businesses that would want to join together and partner with us on a monthly basis. It's exciting to see Sunday School classes coming together to pray for the people of Alajuelita, for our family and then to give generously towards the ministry. We are also leaving time open to meet with your group or church to share the vision of 6:8 Ministries, and to paint a picture of the needs in Alajuelita, so please contact us if you are interested.

 

To be a monthly support partner, click on the link below and scroll down to our family to give. Or, if you would rather mail a check, the address is there for you as well. This is also the place where one time donations can be given as well. If you have any questions about this process, please feel free to email us (jeremy@68ministries.com). We are happy to answer any questions or concerns!

http://www.68ministries.org/  - Click on "Donate" and look for The Hicks Family near the bottom.

To mail a check:
6:8 Ministries
c/o Linda Swain
RE: Hicks Family
9 Genesee St.
Scottsville, NY 14546

Thank you for praying for our family and the people of Alajuelita. God is at work and He is allowing all of us to be a part of what He is doing in Costa Rica. What an awesome opportunity! We will be updating you again soon, letting you know more details about Jeremy's trip and all that GOD is doing!!