http://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0848AEA92CAB9-helping
Here is a signup list for those interested in helping us paint and sale off some thing.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Decisions... Decisions...
This is Joshua checking in. It's been awhile, and apparently I am no longer an official "writer" for the blog. I think user error is to blame as I inadvertantly deleted myself and can not figure out how to be added in. Ah well, on to the important stuff. I'll sort it some time.
I spent this weekend in a wilderness survival lecture. It was great to spend some time in some other things that are of interest to me. I got a great overview of many topics that I look forward to trying in the safety and confines of our next camping trip. Now I'm gathering my thoughts to share on what's been going on with us. It's long overdue. About 2 years over due. There has been so much going on in our world lately, it's hard to know where to start, or even which parts to share. Even those of you around us in person, are only getting snippits of it all! We've been making a lot of decisions in the last several months. Big ones, small ones, and yes even changing our minds on things we thought were set. This is all in an effort to align ourselves with the Lord's will for our family's future and calling. Lately, just when I think we have something settled, He closes the door, and sometimes quite evidently. We are becoming familiar with the characteristics of "closed doors" and at a lesser rate, the characteristics of "open doors." There is forward progression, and I would say with all the closings, the Lord is funneling us into something specific. It is exciting!
We thought we were going to join YWAM Tyler this year in June, or at the latest January of 2014. Our lives revolved around getting us there, including house preparations, prayer, and planning what should happen each month that gets us more ready for June physically, spiritually, mentally and so on. It's definitely a process. You do not just go into full time missions "next week." A lot of preparation is involved and much of that is preparation of the heart. We are talking about leaving the American dream and lifestyle, all we have known and doing something completely different in everyway. It is diving into where God is and what He is doing worldwide. It means FULLY relying on Him, and ridding those little inklings of "well I have this savings account or that medical insurance" and so on. This dramatic of a change is still our vision and hope for the future. Our route there seems to be changing a bit.
We are no longer considering YWAM Tyler for June or even January at this point. It has nothing to do with YWAM the organization; I hope we will join them in the future according to the Lord's will. It is a fantastic ministry! Veronica and I came to realize that missions on your own is one thing, missions as a married couple is another, and missions as a family with children is yet another. One size does not fit all here, and each person is in a different place readiness wise. For now, we are slowing down our jump into full time missions. While Veronica and I feel completely ready to leap, the Lord says there's a few things to work on. We've only had 2 weeks abroad on missions, and that was without our boys. We realize we could benefit from more experience with longer durations on the field that also include them. We are considering such a thing with the ministry we've previously worked with in Haiti, except now we would be on the leading side of it as we host other American churches on their short term trip there for 1-2 weeks. Our total time there could be up to 10 weeks, serving multiple teams from the US over the course of this summer. It's a neat opportunity that will grow us immensely and our missions experience while continuing to help the Haitian Church flourish and reach their own, as well as get the word out to American Christians the necessity for short and long term missions not only in Haiti, but all over the world. God is on the move, and is inviting His people to join Him!
We will keep you posted on this opportunity as it develops. For now, the plans remain to work toward full time missions. Our house still needs work, including interior painting which we hope to check off the list with a painting party in late February. We also have a bunch of stuff that needs new homes and we will have garage sales. Fundraising is still needed for the future mission, as well as a possible 10 week trip (that is 10 weeks of no income although life continues back home afterwards). And of course, the heart preparation continues. That is to be part of the Christian life anyway!
We are seeking the Lord on this new opportunity and hope that after this experience, our next step will be clearer including open doors. Everything is in His timing, not ours, and we're excited to see Him move. Again, this post seems only to describe a glimpse of all the Lord is doing in our family, but it is at least the gist of it! Please continue to pray for all this, but more importantly for the hearts of those we will reach at different times and places. God is to be known in all lands, and glorified by all peoples! This is why we go.
Love to all family and friends!
Joshua
I spent this weekend in a wilderness survival lecture. It was great to spend some time in some other things that are of interest to me. I got a great overview of many topics that I look forward to trying in the safety and confines of our next camping trip. Now I'm gathering my thoughts to share on what's been going on with us. It's long overdue. About 2 years over due. There has been so much going on in our world lately, it's hard to know where to start, or even which parts to share. Even those of you around us in person, are only getting snippits of it all! We've been making a lot of decisions in the last several months. Big ones, small ones, and yes even changing our minds on things we thought were set. This is all in an effort to align ourselves with the Lord's will for our family's future and calling. Lately, just when I think we have something settled, He closes the door, and sometimes quite evidently. We are becoming familiar with the characteristics of "closed doors" and at a lesser rate, the characteristics of "open doors." There is forward progression, and I would say with all the closings, the Lord is funneling us into something specific. It is exciting!
We thought we were going to join YWAM Tyler this year in June, or at the latest January of 2014. Our lives revolved around getting us there, including house preparations, prayer, and planning what should happen each month that gets us more ready for June physically, spiritually, mentally and so on. It's definitely a process. You do not just go into full time missions "next week." A lot of preparation is involved and much of that is preparation of the heart. We are talking about leaving the American dream and lifestyle, all we have known and doing something completely different in everyway. It is diving into where God is and what He is doing worldwide. It means FULLY relying on Him, and ridding those little inklings of "well I have this savings account or that medical insurance" and so on. This dramatic of a change is still our vision and hope for the future. Our route there seems to be changing a bit.
We are no longer considering YWAM Tyler for June or even January at this point. It has nothing to do with YWAM the organization; I hope we will join them in the future according to the Lord's will. It is a fantastic ministry! Veronica and I came to realize that missions on your own is one thing, missions as a married couple is another, and missions as a family with children is yet another. One size does not fit all here, and each person is in a different place readiness wise. For now, we are slowing down our jump into full time missions. While Veronica and I feel completely ready to leap, the Lord says there's a few things to work on. We've only had 2 weeks abroad on missions, and that was without our boys. We realize we could benefit from more experience with longer durations on the field that also include them. We are considering such a thing with the ministry we've previously worked with in Haiti, except now we would be on the leading side of it as we host other American churches on their short term trip there for 1-2 weeks. Our total time there could be up to 10 weeks, serving multiple teams from the US over the course of this summer. It's a neat opportunity that will grow us immensely and our missions experience while continuing to help the Haitian Church flourish and reach their own, as well as get the word out to American Christians the necessity for short and long term missions not only in Haiti, but all over the world. God is on the move, and is inviting His people to join Him!
We will keep you posted on this opportunity as it develops. For now, the plans remain to work toward full time missions. Our house still needs work, including interior painting which we hope to check off the list with a painting party in late February. We also have a bunch of stuff that needs new homes and we will have garage sales. Fundraising is still needed for the future mission, as well as a possible 10 week trip (that is 10 weeks of no income although life continues back home afterwards). And of course, the heart preparation continues. That is to be part of the Christian life anyway!
We are seeking the Lord on this new opportunity and hope that after this experience, our next step will be clearer including open doors. Everything is in His timing, not ours, and we're excited to see Him move. Again, this post seems only to describe a glimpse of all the Lord is doing in our family, but it is at least the gist of it! Please continue to pray for all this, but more importantly for the hearts of those we will reach at different times and places. God is to be known in all lands, and glorified by all peoples! This is why we go.
Love to all family and friends!
Joshua
Monday, January 21, 2013
Revival of the Blog
Hi friends and family,
It is finally time to revive the poor neglected blog. With the arrival of Facebook, blogging hasn't seemed as much of a priority but I realize that not everyone is on Facebook nor do they want to be and a blog is a nice compromise.
Since my last update on here we are into our 3rd year of homeschooling and doing great. The extra time with the boys is such a blessing and you can't beat the flexibility it offers a family. Josh is the main teacher and I substitute and am on the planning, ciriculum and field trip/social committee. As you can see we are very serious about what we do. Caleb is in second grade and trying to master multiplication and writing his own sentances. Ben is in Kindergarden and learning to read and add. They are both so smart and really do a great job.
I am still working in the emergency room at Seton Medical Center. I really love the people I work with and the teamwork across the board. I learn new stuff all the time and have had the privledge of orienting new nurses more this year. It is a new challenge and it is fun to help people gain more confidence.
As I mentioned above, Josh has been the primary teacher for homeschool this year. It is pretty awesome that the boys get their own certified teacher! He really is great with them and they have learned so much. He also has been doing so many projects around the house! He has finished painting the exterior, painted the kitchen cabinits, fixed leaks, put in a new fence and is currently taking a college course called Perspectives in World Missions. It is a great course, but there is a ton of reading. He has also managed to grow a pretty impressive beard and long hair.
In other news, we are considering/praying about/planning for quite a big change for our family. We have felt the call to missions for a few years now and it seems lately that everything is falling into place. We are hoping to join a Youth With a Mission training program called Crossroads Discipleship Training School in the very near future. Maybe as soon as June of this year! It is a 5 month program broken into a classroom time followed by an outreach time. Current classes are doing their outreach in India. You can check it out at www.ywamtyler.org.
We were able to visit the campus in Tyler, TX on our way to visit family in Oklahoma for Thanksgiving.
Isn't it beautiful! The people we met were amazing and we are very excited about this possible new venture. As you can imagine there is so much to be done to get from here to there. We are in the process of getting our house ready to sell and have a garage sale and painting party scheduled for February.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and thanks for reading!
Veronica (and Josh, Caleb and Benjamin)
It is finally time to revive the poor neglected blog. With the arrival of Facebook, blogging hasn't seemed as much of a priority but I realize that not everyone is on Facebook nor do they want to be and a blog is a nice compromise.
As I mentioned above, Josh has been the primary teacher for homeschool this year. It is pretty awesome that the boys get their own certified teacher! He really is great with them and they have learned so much. He also has been doing so many projects around the house! He has finished painting the exterior, painted the kitchen cabinits, fixed leaks, put in a new fence and is currently taking a college course called Perspectives in World Missions. It is a great course, but there is a ton of reading. He has also managed to grow a pretty impressive beard and long hair.
We were able to visit the campus in Tyler, TX on our way to visit family in Oklahoma for Thanksgiving.
Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers and thanks for reading!
Veronica (and Josh, Caleb and Benjamin)
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