Waiting

Many of you have asked us, "Do you know where you are going yet?" The answer is no, but we do know where we are not going. Some of you are aware that we had previously committed to go to Nairobi as part of a TIMO team with Africa Inland Mission. The final confirmation was the departure date. We recently found out that it leaves 6 months earlier than we had hoped. With out going into great details here (many of you know the story), we knew this was God closing the door. The morning I received that email, I was heartbroken (as was Jill). While we had not yet left Texas, our hearts were already in Nairobi as we prayed for the people group we would be working with. Yet, through the sadness, we have an overwhelming peace about God's will and His wonderful, AWESOME plan for our lives. We know He has hand picked our home. We know our hearts will soon yearn for a new people group in a new country.

As we pray for His will, let us share some possible assignments with you, so you can join with us in prayer. We have learned that a team will be heading to South Sudan in July of 2008. This will be working with an unreached people group in a very rural, mountainous area. We have a very good friend, that is currently serving on another team in the same area so we have been able to see glimpses of what God is doing in that area of Sudan. Two other possibilites (although leaving later than we would like) are south Tanzania (rural) and Madagascar (urban). While we don't know many details about either team at this time we are faithfully praying for His direction. Both of these teams are estimated as a 2009 departures at this time.

Please pray....

...that we would not get so hung up on leaving in 2008, that we become blinded to His leading to one of these other teams (we have learned that 6 months in not a long time when you are trying to fit everything you need for two years, into two bags per family member).
...for our team leaders (whoever they might be), that God would work in their lives as they prepare for us and our other team members. Pray for their families. We have learned a little about the leaders for the Sudan and Tanzania teams. One couple has grown children with one young teenager still at home, while the other couple has three small children. Pray that God would lead them as they continue survey work and planning for the TIMO team.
...for the people group we will be working with and living among. Pray that their hearts would be ferile soil for God's Word. Pray that even now, God would be working on their hearts, preparing them for the harvest.
...that He would provide friends for all of us in Africa. Pray specifically that God would provide accountability partners for both of us in Africa and that He would provide friends for Dara and Dade.
...for wisdom as we continue the support raising process. We are currently at about 65% of our outgoing expenses and about 25% of our monthly target (that could change with a new assignment). Pray that God would lead us to people who are willing to partner with us financially, but more importantly in prayer.

Yes......we are waiting once again, but that has certainly been God's theme throughout this journey. In fact, on Tuesday, during our quiet times, God gave Jill verses on peace and gave me verses on patience. How fitting!!!! His will is perfect and we rest in that.