This September, we returned to the USA. With uncertainty in the air and a baby on the way, our LCMS team thought it best to give us a good cushion of time between our return and the due date. We are sad to be apart from our brothers and sisters in the faith who remain in Sri Lanka. But we are also excited to see what God has in store for our family as we near the end of seminary.

The church held a farewell ceremony for the Vanderhydes. It was the first time all the pastors and evangelists had been able to gather since February. Some of the youth sang and played the keyboard, demonstrating what they had learned in the music program.

We want you to know how much your prayers and support have meant to us over the past two years. This has been a really good thing. Vicarage is about preparing us for the ministry of a called and ordained pastor and his family. So as we return to the seminary and resume classes in January, know that you are in our hearts, sharing this journey in the ministry with us.

Vicar Benjamin and Grace Vanderhyde serve the Lord through The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod (LCMS) as missionaries in Sri Lanka. In his role as vicar, Benjamin trains up musicians to serve the Ceylon Evangelical Lutheran Church while assisting the other LCMS missionaries serving in Sri Lanka with their work and learning from them. You can read more about the Vanderhydes at www.lcms.org/vanderhyde.