Hafa adai from AZ!

This is the e-note sent to our supporters this evening

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Warm greetings from Phoenix, where we're thankful for the 92° fall
weather. People start to come alive here as summer wanes and things
cool off.

We want to update you on our progress -- transitioning from ministry
in the Western Pacific to ministry in the Phoenix area. So much has
happened! Mostly, though, we want to thank you all again for your
faithful support during our three years on Guam. Some of you have even
been able to continue helping us catch up on the expenses incurred
while we were serving as Covenant project missionaries.

Here is the latest:

• Even though we are no longer on Guam we are still connected with
Pacific Islands University (formerly Pacific Islands Bible College)
and enthusiastic about the ministry there. The office seems to contact
Cheryl almost every week with questions about accounts and procedures.
Brad will be teaching a PIU class through online distance education
this spring. The current plan is that he will be teaching Spiritual
Formation for groups of students at the extension sites in Chuuk and
Palau -- and perhaps a few from the Guam campus will join the class.

• We purchased a house in Laveen, a village within the city of
Phoenix. It's on the southwest side of the city right up against South
Mountain and the Estrella Mountains. It's a great house but we were
able to get it because of the distressed market. The previous owners
had walked away from it -- taking with them the light fixtures, shower
heads, closet rods, kitchen appliances, and kitchen sink. During the
two years in which it sat empty thieves stole the air conditioning
unit for the copper tubing. So, we've had our work cut out for us
putting things back together. But it's starting to look good and feel
comfortable.

• We had our second VP (vision and prayer) gathering for MasterPiece
Church last Sunday evening. We're really very excited about two
families who prayed for an opportunity to start a new Evangelical
Covenant Church in the Laveen area. Even though we are starting from
scratch -- so to speak -- having families of this caliber instills
confidence and hope. Because everyone was busy inviting friends and
neighbors we had 18 people at the second gathering!

• Laveen is an interesting village -- formerly a farm community, the
suburban sprawl rapidly expanded into the area about seven years ago.
But the population is more urban in character. Most of our neighbors
are African-American and/or Hispanic. We'd definitely like to see
MasterPiece Church take on a multi-cultural character. A few weeks ago
Brad got to talking in the market with a Chamorro man from Guam and
discovered that there are many islanders living in the area, too. We
think that there are between 25,000 - 30,000 people living in Laveen
(it's so chaotic with the rapid growth and then the foreclosure crisis
that no one has an accurate count right now). There are only eight
churches here, six of which are so new that they're meeting in
schools.

• Daisy Ho arrived from California yesterday. We met Daisy on Guam
when she was the pastor of Guam United Methodist Church. She is
relocating to the area to help with our church plant and will serve a
Pastoral Residency in Church Planting with Brad. She is hoping to
learn the ins and outs of new church development so she can eventually
plant a church on her own. Daisy is originally from Hong Kong and
should be able to help us build some bridges with the Asian community,
too. She is staying with us while she house hunts.

• Please pray for us. Our third VP gathering is scheduled for Sunday
evening October 25th.

• Also, continue to pray for our job hunts. Cheryl has put in dozens
of applications for an office job but nothing has panned out, yet.
Since we are doing this church plant as a bi-vocational ministry Brad
has been looking for part-time work, too. None of the online college
teaching positions for which he has applied have yet landed him a job.
We are grateful that the Pacific Southwest Conference has jumped in
and offered to pay for our health insurance. That helps a lot.

• This morning the orthopedic surgeon put a bright pink(!) cast on
Cheryl's left wrist. (Check Brad's blog for a picture) She fell about two

weeks ago and broke it. Up to this point it has been in a splint and

it seems to be healing well.

So, we thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and support. While
this transition hasn't been easy we've never felt alone or overly
anxious. The Department of World Mission has been great! The church
planting leadership team from the Pacific Southwest Conference has
been very supportive. Our colleagues from Guam have continued to stay
in close touch. And you, all of you who have supported us over the
past four years, have gone above and beyond the call of duty in so
many ways. God has blessed us through you and we hope we can be a
blessing to many because of you.

Keep in touch!

Brad & Cheryl Boydston

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B R A D & C H E R Y L B O Y D S T O N
• Brad's email: brad@boydston.us
• Cheryl's email: cheryl@boydston.us
• Brad's blog: www.boydston.us
• MasterPiece Church web: MasterPieceChurch.org
• Cheryl's music: CaminoMercedMusic.com
• Brad's phone # is 602-903-5085.
• Cheryl's phone # is 602-820-8948
• Our mailing address -- PO Box 1113, Laveen, AZ 85339-1113 USA