How excited we are to know where (more than likely) we will be spending the first two years of our time with AIM. God has confirmed to us in so many VERY unique ways, that Tanzania is where He wants us! He has used dreams, chance encounters, a night with no electricty, the opinion of many dear brothers and sisters in Christ, and a couple of slaps upside this stubborn head of mine. I think it takes longer to sink in when you don't have any hair to help it along.
Here are just a few of the questions we have either been asked by others or asked ourselves.
Q: Now that you know where you are going, when will you be leaving?
A: We don't know.....yet. While we have committed to the Tanzania TIMO team there are still many details to work out. The team leaders are still in the process of praying through some of the unreached people groups of South Tanzania to see where God would lead this team. Once that is decided, there is still much survey work to be done. All of that to say, we believe the earliest we will leave will be January 2009. There is always a chance that it could be earlier OR it could be later. As soon as we know, we will let you know.
Q: Do you have any other details about the team?
A: Not many, but we'll share what we know at this time. We know that more than likely we will be working along the coast or possibly on an island just off the coast. We know that it will be a rural team. We know the team leaders are a young couple like us (no wisecracks here - we're still young at heart) and have three young children. We know that they have spent time as missionaries in Sudan. That is about all the details we know. We'll fill you in as we learn more.
Q: How big is Tanzania?
A: Over twice as big as California with room to spare. For all of you Texans, if you took Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana and made one big state, that would be roughly the size of Tanzania.
Please continue to pray with us as God prepares us....
...pray for Reid and Sandy, our team leaders. Pray that God will give them wisdom and clarity as they try to determine where He wants to place this team. Pray that God will put His hand of protection around them and their children as they travel to Kenya in June to begin the planning stages of TIMO and to see how TIMO works first hand.
...pray for fertile soil in the hearts of the people group we will be going to. Pray that God would already begin to prepare their hearts to receive the gospel. Pray that God would begin granting us wisdom, even now, on how to reach these men, women, and children, who so desperately need a Savior.
...pray that we would be patient as we wait to find out when. Until now, we always thought we knew the timing and were waiting on the place. Now we seem to know the place and are waiting on the timing.
...pray that we would have wisdom regarding our house. We are fairly certain we will sell the house before we leave. Pray for the right timing for this and for the transition period for Dara and Dade. This is the only "home" they have known and it tends to put them on edge when we talk about moving. I guess they have always assumed that someday we would come back to our house in Texas.
Thanks to each of you who so faithfully pray for us. We could not be doing this without each of you interceeding for our family. We love you!
Friday, May 11, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
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.
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.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Hypocrisy
How often do you hear that word thrown around? Maybe there are Christians you know who have been offended by the hypocrisy of other believers. Maybe there are friends and family members who have distanced themselves from God due to the hypocrisy they see in the church. Maybe there are strangers that are reluctant to believe in Jesus Christ due to what they perceive as hypocrisy of the faith. I have heard this word a lot lately. It makes me sad that we as believers allow ourselves to be hypocrites in a world that is looking for answers and struggling with their eternal destination.
Hypocrisy is defined as "the false assumption of an appearance." Interstingly enough, when you look at the original greek, it is the "act of playing a part on the stage." Another definition from the greek is a "pretender." What a great illustration for us! In simple terms, it's faking it - acting a certain way or playing a part because it's what we're supposed to do.
In Matthew 7:5 and again in Luke 6:42, Jesus gives us this harsh rebuke. "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
How many of the problems caused by hypocrisy would be resolved if we followed His Word? I had a communication professor in college who taught me a principle that has stuck with me to this day. In any communication breakdown, 51% of the responsibility rests with yourself. In other words, there is always something you could have done differently to change the situation. Sounds like a biblical principle to me! If we truly remove the plank from our eye (51%) instead of focusing on the speck (49%) in other people's eyes, we might reach a resolution much quicker.
I admit that I'm a slow learner. In hindsight, I wonder how many times, God will have to teach me the same lesson over and over. And then.....I'm reminded of the Israelites and their journey out of Egypt. God parts the Red Sea and they want to complain about being abandoned. God lets Moses see His glory and they build idols. God gives them manna and they want steak. God provided in every way for them and they don't want to go fight the "giants" in their promised land. Don't we do the same thing? Think about it. I know for myself, I want to remove the times of pretending from my life and replace them with times of complete reliance on Him. What about you?
Hypocrisy is defined as "the false assumption of an appearance." Interstingly enough, when you look at the original greek, it is the "act of playing a part on the stage." Another definition from the greek is a "pretender." What a great illustration for us! In simple terms, it's faking it - acting a certain way or playing a part because it's what we're supposed to do.
In Matthew 7:5 and again in Luke 6:42, Jesus gives us this harsh rebuke. "You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye."
How many of the problems caused by hypocrisy would be resolved if we followed His Word? I had a communication professor in college who taught me a principle that has stuck with me to this day. In any communication breakdown, 51% of the responsibility rests with yourself. In other words, there is always something you could have done differently to change the situation. Sounds like a biblical principle to me! If we truly remove the plank from our eye (51%) instead of focusing on the speck (49%) in other people's eyes, we might reach a resolution much quicker.
I admit that I'm a slow learner. In hindsight, I wonder how many times, God will have to teach me the same lesson over and over. And then.....I'm reminded of the Israelites and their journey out of Egypt. God parts the Red Sea and they want to complain about being abandoned. God lets Moses see His glory and they build idols. God gives them manna and they want steak. God provided in every way for them and they don't want to go fight the "giants" in their promised land. Don't we do the same thing? Think about it. I know for myself, I want to remove the times of pretending from my life and replace them with times of complete reliance on Him. What about you?
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Obedience
Obedient...
...submissive to the will of another
...implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority
...implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance
I had recently read the following quote from an article by Steve Saint regarding his dad, Nate Saint, who was martyred in Ecuador along with Jim Elliott, Pete Flemming, Roger Yoderain, and Ed McCully.
"I have trouble distinguishing what I actually "remember" of him and what I have been told. But I do know that he left me a legacy, and the challenge now is for me to pass it on to my children. Dad strove to find out what life really is. He found identity, purpose, and fulfillment in being obedient to God's call. He tried it, tested it, and committed himself to it. I know that the risk he took, which resulted in his death and consequently his separation from his family, he took not to satisfy his own need for adventure or fame, but in obedience to what he believed was God's directive to him. I suppose he is best known because he died for his faith, but the legacy he left his children was his willingness first to live for his faith."
How many of us live with an obedience that provides us the identity, purpose, and fulfillment we need for life? How many of us would put aside fame and adventure for a life of obedience? How many of us would go share our faith if death was the prerequisite to being obedient in this call on our lives?
In Every Man's Battle my favorite chapter is the one that deals with excellence versus obedience. The premise is that we can strive for excellence or obedience. If we choose excellence, then we fall short of God's standard. If we choose obedience we are choosing the life God intended for each of us.
I believe if you look at the life of Job, you will see a great example of obedience. In Job 1:1, Job is called blameless. In Job 1:8 and again in Job 2:3, God, Himself, calls Job blameless. In the original Hebrew the words used are perfect and upright. I have to believe the only way that the Creator can describe you as perfect and upright is if you are living a life of complete obedience to God. My prayer each morning is that somehow I will live my life in a way that will allow God to call me blameless. I pray that I will be obedient: to share my faith, to pray for those that I have committed to pray for daily, to live my life in a way that leaves no doubt as to who I serve, to have a listening ear to what He wants to tell me today, to spend more time with Him today than I did yesterday. What does obedeince look like to you? More importantly, what does obedience look like to God? Search His Word and find out.
...submissive to the will of another
...implies compliance with the demands or requests of one in authority
...implies a predisposition to submit readily to control or guidance
I had recently read the following quote from an article by Steve Saint regarding his dad, Nate Saint, who was martyred in Ecuador along with Jim Elliott, Pete Flemming, Roger Yoderain, and Ed McCully.
"I have trouble distinguishing what I actually "remember" of him and what I have been told. But I do know that he left me a legacy, and the challenge now is for me to pass it on to my children. Dad strove to find out what life really is. He found identity, purpose, and fulfillment in being obedient to God's call. He tried it, tested it, and committed himself to it. I know that the risk he took, which resulted in his death and consequently his separation from his family, he took not to satisfy his own need for adventure or fame, but in obedience to what he believed was God's directive to him. I suppose he is best known because he died for his faith, but the legacy he left his children was his willingness first to live for his faith."
How many of us live with an obedience that provides us the identity, purpose, and fulfillment we need for life? How many of us would put aside fame and adventure for a life of obedience? How many of us would go share our faith if death was the prerequisite to being obedient in this call on our lives?
In Every Man's Battle my favorite chapter is the one that deals with excellence versus obedience. The premise is that we can strive for excellence or obedience. If we choose excellence, then we fall short of God's standard. If we choose obedience we are choosing the life God intended for each of us.
I believe if you look at the life of Job, you will see a great example of obedience. In Job 1:1, Job is called blameless. In Job 1:8 and again in Job 2:3, God, Himself, calls Job blameless. In the original Hebrew the words used are perfect and upright. I have to believe the only way that the Creator can describe you as perfect and upright is if you are living a life of complete obedience to God. My prayer each morning is that somehow I will live my life in a way that will allow God to call me blameless. I pray that I will be obedient: to share my faith, to pray for those that I have committed to pray for daily, to live my life in a way that leaves no doubt as to who I serve, to have a listening ear to what He wants to tell me today, to spend more time with Him today than I did yesterday. What does obedeince look like to you? More importantly, what does obedience look like to God? Search His Word and find out.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
A Simple Song
Throughout my life I have always been able to relate how I'm feeling to different songs I hear on the radio. Back in 7th grade, Chicago was the popular group, especially when it came to parties and dances. If you're like me, you can still sing every word to "You're The Inspiration" or "Hard Habit To Break." Lately, there have been several infomercials on TV - you might have seen them (but I'm guessing your spouse wishes you hadn't). There is one for music from the 70's and another for love songs. Jill will sit patiently with me as I sing along to each song that they play. How I remember these songs I'll never know. They have stuck with me through the years. And yet, somehow I can't remember what I'm supposed to do tomorrow! However, lately, it's not so much the music as the lyrics that impact me. I used to turn the station if the music didn't fit my mood. Now, I'll listen to what the song actually says before I change stations. There are songs that I have listened to for a long time - and now I'm hearing them for the first time (makes you wonder why you ever liked some of them!).
Now.....think of God's Word as the songs of your life. Don't stop reading it because it doesn't suit your tastes. Don't pick up another book because the guitar rifts in the middle of the song don't sound like you think they should. Concentrate as hard on memorizing God's Word as you did trying to figure out the words to "Summer of '69" back in high school. Really listen......as if you are hearing it for the first time.
In our walks, we have found that the neatest part of being in God's Word is how fresh and new it is each time we read it. If you will listen to the lyrics, you will experience the same thing. It's the simple songs from God's Word that are providing us with the patience to wait on His timing to reveal where in Africa we are going. It's the simple songs of God's Word that sustains us when the storms rage around us and the busyness of life is closing in. It's the simple songs of God's Word that keep us on the same page in our marriage and our parenting and makes both such a joy. Pray that we will continue to be in His Word daily - what a difference it makes!
Now.....think of God's Word as the songs of your life. Don't stop reading it because it doesn't suit your tastes. Don't pick up another book because the guitar rifts in the middle of the song don't sound like you think they should. Concentrate as hard on memorizing God's Word as you did trying to figure out the words to "Summer of '69" back in high school. Really listen......as if you are hearing it for the first time.
In our walks, we have found that the neatest part of being in God's Word is how fresh and new it is each time we read it. If you will listen to the lyrics, you will experience the same thing. It's the simple songs from God's Word that are providing us with the patience to wait on His timing to reveal where in Africa we are going. It's the simple songs of God's Word that sustains us when the storms rage around us and the busyness of life is closing in. It's the simple songs of God's Word that keep us on the same page in our marriage and our parenting and makes both such a joy. Pray that we will continue to be in His Word daily - what a difference it makes!
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