Saturday, January 20, 2007

Debtor To All



As we finish packing, I came across a quote I had written down awhile back. I think it gives a good explanation as to why we would want to leave our comfortable home with its surrounding beauty and mild weather.

"When you are a starving man among starving people and you discover a banquet in the wilderness, you become a debtor to all. And the payment of that debt is delightful in proportion to the magnificence of the banquet."
-John Piper



Sunday, January 14, 2007

Senders



Go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20

For the past few days we have been telling people about our plans to move to Hungary and then on to Ukraine for long term missionary work. The response has been incredibly positive. Not once has anyone told us that it's a bad idea or acted like we were crazy for wanting to leave the warm coastal weather for sub zero climates. From friends and family to strangers, everyone has been so supportive.

Through it all, my parents have been the most supportive and encouraging. I can't say how much of a blessing they have been to us over the years and especially now. While we are being obedient to the Great Commission as "goers", they are serving as "senders". We couldn't be more thankful and proud of their response to our needs as we begin our journey. I know that they are making a huge sacrifice to send us, not just financially, but emotionally. Their only child, daughter-in-law, and two grandchildren will literally be on the other side of the world. We can’t just jump in the car anymore and go see them. They know this and are still willing to help us answer God’s call.

As we have shared with them about how our hearts break for the orphans of Ukraine, their own hearts have been touched. In fact, they are so moved by this that they are willing to send their only son to bring Hope to these children. That reminds me of another Father who was willing to send His Son far from home so that others might be saved.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

We’d like to thank everyone for their prayers and support that are helping to make all of this possible. And Mom and Dad, if you’re reading this, thank you for all that you have done and the life that you have given me. Most importantly, thank you for sharing the love of Christ with me as a child.


Saturday, January 13, 2007

Goodbye SLO


It is with both sorrow and Joy that we will be leaving our home, family, and friends. On February 2nd the four of us will be leaving for Vajta, Hungary. We will be attending Calvary Chapel Bible College Europe, Missions Training Program. From there, we plan on moving to Ukraine. We will miss all of our friends at Calvary SLO who have become family, but we know that God has a greater plan for us in Ukraine. I was born in San Luis Obispo as were Dominic and Joshua. Edna grew up in San Luis Obispo from a young age, so we all have deep roots in SLO. We will also miss my parents and the ranch where I grew up on in Visalia. As much as we would like to stay and be close to those we love and the places we know, we understand the greater Joy of being obedient to God's call.






And yes, it snows there.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Missions Conference



We just got back from four days at a missions conference at Calvary Chapel Bible College in Murrieta. The campus there was beautiful beyond our expectations. Everyone we met was so friendly and helpful. The messages that the various missionaries shared were amazing and extremely encouraging. We listened with tears in our eyes to the stories of how God is working around the world.

We expected to make new friends and bonds at the conference and we did, but some of the bonds were unexpected. Our children surprised us by making their own bonds. We thought that they might get tired of all the time they had to spend in classrooms, but it was just the opposite. We often had to drag them away from their new friends and had to listen to them beg to go hang out with them durring any free time. We felt so blessed to see our children become so interested and passionate about the missions field. They eagerly repeated the stories to us that they had heard from their friends about places like Brasil and Hungary. We were truly blessed in ways we had never expected.




Abraham and Joshua wanted to go everywhere together after they met in their class.




Dominic made several new friends who all spent hours together creating Lego empires.




The last night was the hardest when Joshua had to say goodbye to Abraham and his sister Bethany who had come up from Brasil.