Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas and happy new year! I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior. I’m writing to you from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the United States of America! It seems like this post has been a long time in coming and I know many of you have prayed for us over these past several weeks as we’ve transitioned from the UK to the US. Thank you! Your prayers have been so needed and felt.
There is a lot to tell and probably no good way to tell it all. But here’s our best attempt!
We left Cambridge in the beginning of November with hearts of gratitude, excitement, and sorrow; eager for all that was to come and also sad to be leaving a place that had come to feel so much like home to us. The last few weeks of our time there were filled with the chaos of an international move – which of course we expected – and lots of goodbyes to dear friends. We praise God for the many people He brought into our life in Cambridge and will miss them all very much!
In the course of those last few weeks, in Cambridge Will was also studying for his ordination examinations. He’s been pursuing ordination in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) ever since he began seminary (in 2010!) and things are now moving towards an end. It doesn’t usually take this long to complete the process, but that’s what four years abroad in a country with no PCA churches will do! As of this past week, he’s taken all his exams, most of which he studied for and took in our last two months in England, and he’ll be examined by the Central Carolina Presbytery here in just a few weeks. Please pray for Will’s successful completion of this challenging ordination process! (Not ideal to do during an international move, but hey . . . )
Our days stateside began in Philadelphia, where we camped out for three weeks to visit Will’s family and gather our things that we’d left behind there four years ago. We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving in the US again (!) and also have some help while Will was in Denver for the annual SBL/ETS biblical studies conferences. While in Denver, Will – in usual fashion – pulled off a massive milestone by successfully passing his viva voce (the oral defense of his dissertation). That means that, except for “minor corrections” to his work, which means some spelling mistakes, Will is now finished with his Cambridge doctoral degree!
Our life seems to crowd out Will’s accomplishments by smooshing together big noteworthy moments into small segments of time and thus making it harder to actually note what’s happened!! So I wanted to just say that I’m so proud of him and amazed at his ability to juggle so many, many things at once. The Lord has truly gifted him not only academically but also with a work ethic that goes above and beyond. I am truly thankful for all that the Lord has allowed Will to accomplish despite the struggles along the way!!
After Thanksgiving, we loaded up our things and made our way to our new home in Charlotte, NC. We have a great house – which we had arranged to rent beforehand from England – with a wonderful fenced in back garden that the boys have loved exploring. It’s been a bit of a slow start getting settled and acclimated, as our things still haven’t arrived from England (by ship!). But even still, we’ve managed to buy two cars, get new NC licenses, and start gathering furnishings for our new home. We can already tell that it’s going to be a slow process addressing all the details of putting our home and “normal” life back together in a new city, but we are thankful. Please pray especially for us as we begin the search for a church home and for community and friendships in this new place.
Of course, we moved here for a good reason! Will starts teaching at Reformed Theological Seminary here in Charlotte very soon after the new year, so he’s already been very busy getting ready for classes! It’s going to be a deep dive head-first into the world of teaching and I know he’ll do a great job. We are still pinching ourselves and praising God that he has been given this opportunity. Please pray for Will to prepare and teach effectively to equip ministers in the church!
Amos and the other boys continue to do well! We are very thankful for the flexibility and friendship they share that has allowed this transition to be easier on them than it might otherwise be. They are amazing little travelers! They have expressed missing Cambridge in some amusing ways. When we first arrived and I was driving them all to the playground, Luke marveled, “Mommy, I didn’t know you could drive!” The boys have similarly asked where all the museums are, why no one is out walking on the sidewalks, and why there’s not been a Christingle service at church. All sweet reminders of our life in Cambridge . . . and the adjustments we’re making here!
Looking ahead, Amos and I (Kelli) will be traveling to California for a scan on the 28th of January. If that scan goes well, Lord willing, Amos will be able to move to an every-6-month scan schedule. The rest of his care will transition to here in NC. With that in mind:
Aside from the things above, please Pray….
- For the upcoming scan on the 28th, that it would show no recurrence of cancer.
- That Amos would continue to make progress in his rehab.
- For us as we look for local healthcare providers for Amos and all of us! But specifically that we would find some great therapists who work well with Amos and are also convenient to our location and schedule.
- That our things in transit from Cambridge would arrive quickly and without additional charges for customs inspection.
If you would like our new contact information (address, phone numbers, etc.), please email us at AmosRossUpdates@gmail.com and we’ll happily give it to you.
Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,
to dwell in your courts!
We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,
the holiness of your temple! (Psalm 65:4)
Happy New Year and Love from the Ross family,
Kelli, Will, Amos, Luke, and Sam
Amos Ross Updates 
Kelli, this is Jerry Morris. I dont email you two very much as you have enough emails to respond to without putting up with me. Welcome back to America and pray the process is rewarding going from point A to B, getting settled in and back to routine in Charlotte. Sort of welcome home as I know Cambridge was home also.
Let there continue to be many blessing in the Ross household and continued success for Amos.
God Bless,
Jerry Morris
Sent from my iPad
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Very happy for this new and exciting chapter in your life. Glad everyone is doing well. Congrats to Will for hard work / achievements.
Joe
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Thanks for the update! Many praises for sure and will be praying for your requests. Love all the pictures of your beautiful family and life together. Love and miss you all 🤗❤️
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So, so, so lovely to hear from you and see all those wonderful pictures – I LOVE the one of Amos and Luke asleep the day before you left. Well actually I love all of them, and miss you all very much! Lots of love to you all, and prayers for 2019 to be filled with opportunities to enjoy God’s grace and love for you as a family xx
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We miss you so much, Katherine! Much love to you all xxx
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It’s been so wonderful following your journey these last few years and I just wanted to write and let you know how much I appreciate your letters and updates. You are an inspiration to me in so many ways, but especially because of the way you let your faith and the Lord guide all that you do. How wonderful to hear that your kids are transitioning well and remaining flexible, and that you have a home with a lovely backyard. Those things feel so huge! We are excited about this opportunity for Will and definitely feel the Lord arranged it. Please do keep updating and send us any updated contact info. Your family is lovely and it’s so fun to watch the kids grow and see their little personalities come out from afar. You are a wonderful wife and mom—thanks for allowing us to take part!
-Dezi and Todd and fam
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks so much, Dezi!! Your encouragement is so precious. I hope you guys are doing well! Thanks so much for following along…Happy New Year! xx
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Your pics and update made us smile, laugh and cry! We could not have imagined the adventures you all have had when we first met in 2011. So very excited for you all. Hope we will have an opportunity to meet up together in 2019! Happy New Year dear friends! Love to you all!
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I hope you noticed Emma in at least a few of those pictures! Happy New Year to you and Dave. We miss you both so much! The only thing that would have made this move sweeter would be having you both next door again!! Hoping for a visit in 2019….Love you! xx
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So happy to hear that you are back on this side of the pond, although I know you must miss Cambridge a good deal! What an adventure you have had! Please come to Atlanta to visit- I would love to hear about how you enjoyed England.
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Thank you so much for the invite!! We would love a trip to ATL to see you guys! Much love and happy 2019! xx
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Hello Kelli and Will,
Congratulations to you on the move back to the states, continued good health news and the Doctoral completion! It has been good to get these updates. Youâve been in my prayers.
When you have a moment, would you mind sharing your new contact info? We still have you living in Cambridge with old employment too!
Will -what is your final degree? Iâd like to note that â as future students love to know where our alumni go after they leave Grove City.
Blessings to you and your beautiful family.
Melissa
Melissa (Trifaro â96) MacLeod
Senior Director of Alumni and College Relations
mamacleod@gcc.edu
Because faith and freedom matter
[cid:image002.png@01D4388F.5A9C2B90]
100 Campus Drive | Grove City, PA 16127-2104
o. (724) 458-2050 | f. (724) 458-3334 | Toll-free 888-GCC-GRAD
http://www.alumni.gcc.edu | http://www.giving.gcc.edu
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Wonderful news all around. Hope your possessions have all arrived by now😀😀. Congratulations to Will for all he has done and accomplished so much. Thank you so much for taking the time to keep us on board with all your news … all of Amos news for all this time and now finally with you back in the US. God does work in amazing ways 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 We will wait to keep up with your activities until you have the time to post again. Until that time in Gods speed
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Thanks so much for always following along with prayers and encouragement! Happy 2019 to you all! xx
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ju st looked at photos they are so real!! For few years I was the office mate of Linda Ross – so I followed your life from the time you were here in Abington schools. God always provides, as the mother of 5 grown children aged 58 to 45 and 10 grandchildren I have seen that hand of God that you have seen. His grace is truly sufficient if we remember to just live in it. You are both wonderful loving Christian parents. Just keep in His grace and life will continue to be blessed even when difficult. Prayers for all of you continue. Fondly Jane Kroll
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Hi Kelli,
I saw Will when you guys were here but missed seeing the rest of the family. Glad you’re back stateside and hope to see the clan when you visit Philly next time!
Our phone numbers are: Sam: 267-559-6653 Sarah: 267-414-8455
What are yours?
Praying that Amos’ scan is a good one!
On Mon, Dec 31, 2018 at 8:25 AM Amos Ross Updates wrote:
> kelliross103 posted: “Dear Friends and Family, Merry Christmas and happy > new year! I hope you’ve all had a great Christmas celebrating the birth of > our Savior. I’m writing to you from Charlotte, North Carolina, in the > United States of America! It seems like this post has been” >
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