Kirby Family Update -- June 2025
We are new to San Antonio. Hear about how it has been going so far.
Hey friends, family, and supporters,
We have been in San Antonio for three weeks, so I thought I would provide a quick update about how things have been since we left Houston, and give you some ways to actively support and pray for us.
The Good
So far, we are loving being in San Antonio! The pace is noticeably slower than in Houston.
Nathaniel is enjoying his new school and the training in the Pews program at Redeemer. We were concerned that he would have difficulty adjusting to both of these new settings, and while it has been challenging, he has been thriving. Furthermore, we celebrated his fifth birthday on Sunday!
Living close to Anna’s parents has also been a big blessing. After school, Anna and Nat often go to their house to eat lunch and swim in the neighbor’s pool. Being near Anna’s parents was one of the catalysts in our decision to come to San Antonio, and we have already felt the value of that proximity.
We have enjoyed our house and the neighborhood we are in. We are a 3-minute drive from a vast park with playgrounds and nature trails that we have begun utilizing regularly. Nathaniel got to follow an armadillo around in the woods and see a couple of deer earlier this week, which was new for our city-slicking youngster. We have also been able to start getting to know the family next door, which has been fun.
I have felt really thankful for the connections I have made over the past two years here in San Antonio, especially with other pastors and ministry workers. I have had the opportunity to have coffee and lunch with a number of people here in the city who I expect will be valuable friends, colleagues, and partners in the ministry of the Gospel here for years to come. We have also connected with old friends, which has been fun. This includes both former Sojourners and some people that Anna grew up with.
Finally, we have enjoyed Redeemer. I have been able to spend time with their pastors, and Anna has been able to go to multiple women’s events. The people have been warm and welcoming, and the worship has been edifying and enjoyable. I’ve also been invited to lead a teaching session they are doing for some summer interns in August.
The Hard
The hardest part of the transition has been our lack of deep and established friendships here. This is accentuated by the reality that summer is a time when so many people are in and out of town, and thus hard to get time with. Redeemer doesn’t do their community groups during the summer, so we haven’t had a natural place to plug in with church members to develop friendships. So, while we have not been without connection to other humans, we have yet to begin to find community in the sense that we are hoping to. We are hopeful that the Lord will continue to prepare our way and establish our steps, and that our efforts to connect will not be fruitless.
I am also in the most brutal stretch of school that I expect to have before my graduation in February (that is the target date at this point). I am currently taking Hebrew III and Greek I, along with two other courses. So, the workload is honestly conducive to a guy without many friends and social engagements.
The only other real challenge has been that a pack of black-haired canines previously occupied our rental home. I’m not sure the house was ever cleaned a single time in the past few years, since dogs are not known for their disciplined housekeeping habits. So, turning this house into a home has ruthlessly taxed our vacuum, cleaning supplies, and patience.
The Needs
Two Primary Prayer Requests:
As discussed in the “hard” section, connecting with folks at Redeemer has been slow. So, we ask that you pray that we make friends and develop a solid community that we can bless and be blessed by.
As we are starting to feel settled, we have realized that it would be easy to look at the next six months or so as primarily about preparing for the next season and about our needs to be connected and find our place in the city while neglecting the missionary calling we moved here to be faithful to. So, pray that we will be intentional and faithful missionaries in our neighborhood. Pray that we will develop more relationships with neighbors and have creative and effective ideas on how to reach and build relationships with our neighbors. The short-term nature of our current living situation is another excuse we can employ to slip into laziness on this front. Still, we want you to pray for the Spirit to empower, convict, and use us for the advancement of the Kingdom of the Son and to the glory of the Father.
Financial Support:
We continue to pray for and actively seek out the financial support we will need for the next few years in ministry, and God has been faithful in beginning to provide it already. We are currently 20% of the way toward our monthly support goal, which is amazing! We hope to be at 75% by the end of the year. We need to establish a team of 60 households supporting at an average of $125 per month. If you can set up a recurring monthly gift, you can do so here.
Please complete this form if you want more information on what financial support will accomplish or would like me to contact you personally. I’ll get in touch with you!
Finally, we would love to hear from you. Drop us a line, and we would love to catch up!
In the peace of Christ,
The Kirby Family