Please pray with us,

 

When we began our Adventure in Availability, we said Any time, Any thing, Any place.

It seems as though God is beginning to focus our hearts toward a specific region of a specific continent, and we are thrilled at this idea!!  To begin to have more clarity on location and people group will be huge in our ability to prepare specifically, pray for wisdom with regard to reaching specific people groups and working alongside others who are ministering there.  

While we were at our conference in Florida, we were approached by several folks who pointed out the needs in Western Africa.  Some specifically recommended we consider this region.  Because we don't believe in coincidence, we have been praying for and about all of 'Western Africa' since returning home! We have had great dialog with missionaries in 2 different regions in Africa, sharing our hearts, and how God has directed us so far, and listening to what God is doing in these places.  Some doors have been opened and we are asking God to show us how to proceed!  Thank you for praying with us!

We are asking God to bind our hearts to a people group and/or ministry.  Specifically, there are 3  opportunities that we are asking God to reveal His purposes and our role in: Benin, Burkina Faso and Uganda. 

Because I am still my tentative self, I must put in the caveat that these may not be the places and ministries for our family... but at the same time- THIS COULD BE IT!! The work that needs to be done is immense, the need is overwhelming and the challenges are only surmountable by God's Grace.

Time Flies!

 Look who turned 14!  Jana has been such a gift to us, and we can't believe that 14 years ago the nurse handed me this 9 pound 9 ounce baby and allowed us young ding-dongs to take her home!  The Lord was with us every step of the way!  Our first morning home from the hospital, we were worried about her breathing.  In all of our extensive reading and childbirth/child raising preparation, NO ONE told us how LOUD newborns are!!!  We phoned the hospital in the wee hours of the morning, fearing that she was having trouble breathing...they talked us down from the 'ledge' and hung up the phone telling us it was normal.  Still feeling unequipped, we did what affluent young Americans do.  Aaron drove 30 minutes to the nearest store and purchased over $100.00 worth of pharmacy items that we thought would surely save our child's life...humidifier, nasal drops, suction thingies, and on, and on!!  Thankfully my mom came over once the sun came up, and gave insight and calm to our panic!!! We loved our tiny, helpless, precious baby girl and thought that 'stuff' would help us to parent her well!
... as if Osco drug store could sell parenthood preparedness for a hundred bucks!

Family birthday party before we left for the conference

Afternoon at the farm~ a beautiful place to celebrate her birthday!

50's diner for her birthday dinner, they sang and made it special for us all!

Oh, how we love our little girl.  We're so thankful that God has allowed us to be a part of her life and share in what He is doing with this young lady!  She has taught us so much and we continue to learn and persevere together...First born children don't have it easy!!

What a blessing it was!

 We so enjoyed our time at ECHO this week.  We learned about things that we didn't even know that we didn't know!  We learned that sitting for long periods of time is much better if there are consistent snack times of fruit and pastries at 10:30 am and cookies and brownies at 7:00 pm!   Folks will sit and listen for exceptional lengths of time when snack time is on the horizon! 

 On the second-to-the-last day we met a family who also had children there!  The kids enjoyed some time of fellowship and fun!  It was so nice to see their smiles increase and to hear the laughter and giggles flow.

Got Gator??

On our first trip to Florida, we had to try gator...

The waitress said it tastes like chicken, but chewier. 

She was exactly right!!! I'll stick with chicken, thank you very much! 

We're at the Conference!

Starfruit Tree!

Banana Tree!

We are enjoying our mornings in conference halls, and the afternoon on the global farm.  The farm is doing research and development on farming/agricultural techniques for the benefit of global missions workers.  They do trials on different plants and animals and provide training for people in all phases of ministry training.  We are definitely 'green' in comparison to the majority of the other attendees, but we are meeting many wonderful people, hearing of many ways that God is using people to minister all around the world, and we are being encouraged in a huge way!

We "wanna-be's"  are learning about sustainable agricultural techniques, applied technologies, (using tools/equipment that are available and usable by people in developing countries) and lots of other interesting lectures and hands-on lessons on tree grafting, seed sprouting, and first hand accounts of how the gospel is being lived out and people are being fed spiritually and physically around the world. 

More Preparation!

We laughingly call any obstacle, challenge or trial, "preparation for what is to come". 
I have a dear friend who asked one of the kids, "If your mother refers to one more thing as "Preparation" don't you think you'll just puke?" The child slowly smiled and stayed silent...smart girl!
I realize that it's getting annoying to everyone around me, but I am so thankful that I am able to see these situations that feel difficult, with proper perspective.  Hebrews 2:13 tells of when Jesus said, "I will put my trust in Him, and again, behold, I and the children whom God has given me."  If Christ can make such a statement, I know that I, as one of those children He was referring to, can too!

Never more than now have I been thankful be living in Atlanta and not Montana.
Our heater has stopped working in this cute little house (which is in great need of an overhaul), so we have been without heat for 2 days!  Brrrrr!

We are so rarely truly hungry for food.  We are almost never truly thirsty for clean water.  We are not very often so uncomfortable that we have to cry out to the Lord for physical comfort. SO~ much to Holly's chagrin, I will say that waking up in a 52 degree house is certainly preparing us for something...

We attend a conference in Florida next week where we will be able to learn about the current events in global agricultural missions, and hear from people who are working in this arena from all around the world.  We are praying for divine appointments and open minds as we take in new information and fellowship with new friends!
The Christmas tree is up, the Christmas music is playing, and the Peppermint Mocha coffee creamer is being poured!!  Merry Christmas.