Off to outreach

We are done with our classroom training!!! We leave in a just a few short hours to the Dominican Republic for 2.5 weeks in outreach!! We will be working on projects with the local people and loving on them; developing relationship. (We will be north in Puerto Plata).

Please pray for our safety, health, and impact on others. We want to show them Jesus through our love. When we get back I will post pictures of our training from these last few weeks and the outreach :)

-h

heroes of the faith

We are so excited to share that we are fully supported for the next two years in our service with Mercy Ships!!

"I believe some of the heaviest crowns in Heaven will be worn by hardworking men and women who denied themselves the benefits that society said they deserved, in order to help finance the Great Commission. After all, we can get our reward from men now or from God later (Matthew 6:19-20). Missionaries usually get more recognition than the faithful Christians who support them.

We shouldn't show preference for any one role in our commission. We should hold everyone in high esteem who is fulfilling God's plan for his or her life and working to fulfill Christ's commission. We should point such individuals out to our children so that our children will grow up wanting to be like them. We must not forget that to reach the world with God's Word, it will take a combination of going and sending (Romans 10:14-15). Both actions are vitally important, and people in both capacities can be heroes of the faith."

Excerpt from The Great Omission by Steve Saint

We are so thankful for each one of you who are making our ministry possible by sending us with your finances and your prayers!! We need and rely on both! You are our heroes...true heroes of the faith!!

rejoicing!!

Two reasons:

1. We have renters for our house!!

2. We filled our gas tank for just under $40!! :)

Three words:

Praise the Lord!!

update

Wow, the time here is going by fast!! We've been here two weeks already! I thought we should let you know what we've been up to the last couple weeks. We just completed two of four weeks in classroom training (we are halfway done). We are in class from 8am to about 3 or 4pm depending on the day. The first week we focused on the character of God, prayer, and spiritual warfare. This last week was focused on ourselves and personal development, and learning to live in community. I am looking forward to this next week when we will learn about world view and cultural transformation, and working with the poor and needy. Several national leaders of Mercy Ships will be joining our class this next week too. We are able to get out on the weekends and enjoy activities off base with others. We've had a couple movie nights, BBQ, and a trip to the zoo.

We are also being stretched and challenged personally and sprititually. It is a very refreshing time of evaluation of the heart and rest of the spirit. Not to mention how wonderful and spoiled I am because I am not cooking or cleaning:) The food here is delicious by the way and we have met some of the neatest people! We are really enjoying the time together and experiencing all this with each other.

Tim and I find "the South" a cultural experience in itself :) So we came up with 12 things we thought were funny and unique to Texas that I will leave with you on this next post! :)

-h

you know you're in Texas when...

1. your legs and feet are covered with mosquito bites and fire ant bites

2. meat is served at lunch and dinner every day

3. you are referred to as "y'all"

4. you are passed by a pick-up truck that has a cow bell hanging off the back.

5. the texas state flag is flying at the same level as the American flag (and its ok).

6. there is Texan pride among the people, like its a separate country.

7. the country roads don't have names, just a bunch of numbers.

8. it's October and air-conditioning is still a must.

9. everybody greets you (literally)

10. there are churches specifically for cowboys ("the cowboy church").

11. its not what you know, but who you know.

12. you see the sun every day for at least two weeks (this is a big deal when you live in Portland, OR) :) :)

roadtrip Day 4 & 5

From Arizona we drove to New Mexico where we got to spend the night with some old friends from our Life group! They moved to New Mexico two years ago. We had fun catchin' up and laughing! Thanks Andrew and Jess!!

The following day we drove about 13 hours to our destination of Tyler/Lindale Texas!! We were sure glad to see the Texas state sign! :)

roadtrip Day 3 & 4--Happy Anniversary!!

While in Arizona we spent a day and a half at the Grand Canyon where we celebrated our 4-year wedding anniversary!! It was so majestic! These are just a few of the several we took, the pictures don't give it justice...

roadtrip Day 2

The next day we only drove 7 hours :) to Arizona through California's desert

Once in Arizona we drove to Williams, a small town outside of the Grand Canyon on Route 66 where we ate dinner and stayed the night.

roadtrip Day 1

We began our first day with the longest part of the trip, about 15 hours, to Simi Valley California where we stayed the night with Aunt Susanne and Uncle Irwin. Our time with them was sweetly special as we hadn't seen them since our wedding four years ago! We were so blessed by them and their generous hearts!! Thanks Aunt Susanne and Uncle Irwin!! We love you!!

Tim wearing the hat Uncle Irwin gave him :)
This photo is for you Dad A! :)

We miss you Kelly, Crystal, Grace, Faith, Luke, & baby Hope!!

...it's just not quite the same here without you!!

(it's too quiet and the pool is so empty :) )

We send our love & prayers for you as God is growing your family!!