Getting Ready...Or Am I?

So, it seems like our family moving on to continue our "Adventures in Missions" in Canada is becoming a reality.  The reason I know this is because I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by all the things popping up that need to get done before we go. 

I'm actually grateful to tie up loose ends that should have already been tied up.  Things like getting rid of all the extra's we've accumulated over the years, updating our snail mail/email lists, finalizing life insurance policies, and getting the kids' Canadian citizenship cards.  That is just the tip of the iceberg of course, but it does feel good to at least start there.

I know so many who have been where we are, and they managed to get to the mission field in one piece, so I know it can be done.  I just don't want to ignore life/ministry/kids/husband in the process of "getting ready".  Sometimes I feel like that is exactly what is happening though.

I can relate to the disciples, when they were rebuking the people who were bringing children to Jesus so He could bless them.  We're not told what their heart's intention was in refusing the kids, but it probably was in an effort to do other, "more important" ministry.

I confess I do that with my kids sometimes.  I do other "more important" ministry things, instead of engaging with them.  So they end up watching something mindless on netflix for the wii, or wandering around the house, not sure what to do, probably thinking, "Is this the best there is?"

I can't believe I just confessed that.  But you probably already knew that about me.  You might even be like me in some way.  As I'm typing, I'm listening to Pandora Radio, and Jeremy Camp is singing "Holy fire, burn away, my desire, for anything, that is not of you, and is of me, I want more of you, and less of me."  I really do want to get rid of the things in my life that are not of Him. 

The list might be lengthy...

Things are moving along...

As usual, it's been too long since we've given an update.  I keep hoping we'll get better at this, but so far...not so much.  In any case, we do have an update, and want to share what's going on with us.

On Monday the 12th, we received the actual "official" acceptance letter from New Tribes Mission (NTM).  In the same packet was the paperwork for Bill's visa to study in Canada.  Needless to say that got us a little more excited about going.

Today I the kids drove into Tampa, to get pictures taken for their applications for a Canadian citizenship card.  They are automatically dual citizens because I'm a Canadian, but they need the documents to prove it.  I have a feeling this is only the beginning of paperwork/visas/passports due to missions!

Speaking of missions, our 3 oldest are going on a little missions trip at the end of this month.  ALL of our kids wanted to go with Teen Missions Int'l (TMI) again this year, but we just didn't see how we could raise their support, as well as support for our family to start training.  So they were really excited when an opportunity arose for them to still serve.

Most of you will remember that Hurricane Katrina devastated parts of the gulf coast back in 2005.  All the camera crews and news media have long since gone, but believe it or not, MANY are still without permanent housing.  It is to a small town called Lakeshore, Mississippi that our kids, along with others from our church, will be going to, and serving. 

They will be involved in a variety of ways.  They will knock down walls of buildings that were destroyed in the hurricane and haul away debris and garbage for future and current construction sites, clean the bunkhouse and other buildings at the church camp, and help cook meals for the teams who come.  They will also spend time learning from the Bible, praying and singing together, as well as going to Lakeshore Baptist Church on Sunday morning.

They have already worked to help raise funds for the trip.  They participated in a car wash, and have spent the last 2 days baking a variety of cookies for a bake sale that will be held tomorrow.  Please join us in prayer for Bronia, Simon, and Liam. 

    *Pray that they would first seek the Lord and His kingdom. 
   
    *Pray that they would be a blessing not only to the people they will be ministering to in MS, but also to their team.

    *Pray for safety as they drive to MS.

    *Pray that the team would be able to raise all the money they need to go.

Thank you for being a part of our lives, and for continuing to support our family in different ways.  We'd also like to hear what God is doing in your lives, so please feel free to drop us a note:)

NEW TRIBES MISSION (NTM), HERE WE COME...

As you all know, we have desired to go back into full-time missions for a long time now.  Basically since we left TMI 15 years ago.  We are so happy to tell you that we are finally beginning the next chapter of our lives.  We will be moving in August to Durham, Ontario, Canada to begin our training with New Tribes Mission (NTM).

Our application was accepted early in 2011, and we are beginning preparations to leave.  As you can imagine, it will be a lot of work to a move a family of seven to another country.  Planning, paperwork and packing are in store for us for the next seven months, and we truly covet your prayers.

As exciting as this time is for us, we know it is the beginning of permanent changes for our family.  We have talked and prayed about this for so long it hardly seems real to us.  Yet we also know that our time to leave will be here before we know it.  We sure have a mixture of emotions right now, but we feel we are obeying the Lord, and are trusting His leading.

We know full well we won't get to the mission field by ourselves.  It always takes a team; people who desire to come alongside and support those being sent.  Everyone in the church should have a part in the spreading the Gospel, whether they are senders or goers.  We believe we are to be goers, and are praying that God will raise up senders for us; partners who desire to come alongside us and support us as we go.  Please pray that God would provide that for us.

We are excited to see what God will do in this next year.  He has been so faithful to us, and we are so grateful for His love and care towards us.

A few specific prayer requests to keep in mind.

*     That we would use our time wisely.  We have many responsibilities right now, and want to end our time here well.

*     That we would be able to find a larger vehicle to accomodate our growing kids, as well as for much trael in the coming months.

*     That as our initial newsletter goes out, many who read it would desire to partner prayerfully and financially with us.

We feel so blessed and privileged to be able to serve the Lord as a family in this way.  So many have blessed and supported us over the years, and we are so incredibly grateful for you.  Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!

Our Kids' Summer (part 2)

Liam

I too went on a summer missions trip this past summer, also going to Scotland.  Boot Camp was hard for me.  I fell in the slough almost every day during the OC, but I persevered because of Miss Barb's (Boot Camp cook) cooking.  I also learned how to do some balloon art like a cross, and Jonah and the whale.

Then it was off to Scotland.  I pretty much  liked everything about it, especially the evangelizing playground.  That was a playground where we went almost every day, to evangelize.  We used the wordless bracelet and tracts to share the Gospel.  We also went to Edinborough to sight see, shop, and play on an amazing playground.

We finished our landscaping project, which included pulling weeds, planting shrubs and bushes.  We even got our picture in the local newspaper.

I learned how to evangelize, and memorized many verses.  My favorite is 1 Cor. 10:13.  "There hath no temptation taken you, but such as is common to man.  But God is faithful, and will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able.  But will, with the temptation, also make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it."

Simon

This past summer, for my birthday, my parents bought me a plane ticket to visit my best friend Micah in New Hampshire for 2 weeks.  It was a pretty awesome time.  I swam in a canal, fished by a dam, went blueberry picking and camping.

I'm excited about moving to Canada, because I'll be able to make new friends, as I will be going to school.  I'm also looking forward to the snow!

Bronia

This past year, mom has been teaching me to cook, and I've made whole meals for my family.  I'm really enjoying it, and looking forward to doing it more.  I've also been learning to draw.  I received a sketch book and instruction book as gifts, and I'm enjoying learning.

I've also been going to tutoring and learning how to spell better.  I've really enjoyed my lessons.

I had a chance this past summer to go to North Florida and spend a week with my best friend Hannah.  We rode a zipline her dad had set up in their back yard, went to a tea party at their church, and went to the beach.  I very much enjoyed my visit, and will really miss her when I move  to Canada with my family.

Our Kids' summer (part 1)

Here are Ethan and Eli's summer updates.

I (Ethan) was happy that I got to go to TMI this past summer.  I got to make new friends, and have fun with some friends on my team that I already knew.  I liked the food and the obstacle course.  I liked my tent partner, Spicer, and all of my leaders.  I learned the Roman Road, which are verses found in the book of Romans, in the Bible that show you how to become a Christian.  I also enjoyed being in the pool with all of my friends.

Our project was to make cookies and bring them to a sheriff's office and a fire station.  We sang songs and shared Jesus with them.  I also memorized Bible verses, and my favorite is Romans 6:23.  "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

                                                Me learning puppets.

                   My team and I getting ready to bake a batch of cookies.

                                    My cute self (my mom wrote this).

This past summer, I (Eli) got to go to Scotland on a missions trip with TMI.  My parents and older brother and sister had gone on teams, and I have wanted to go for a few years.  Before I got to Scotland, I had to go to boot camp.  For the most part I liked it, with the food being my favorite.  The worst were the mosquitoes, which all the staff said was the worst ever.  And that's saying a lot.  I also liked the Obstacle Course (OC), because it got me active.  I learned to persevere at Boot Camp.

Then it was off to Scotland.  Our project was to landscape a Christian camp.  The work was sometimes hard, but I enjoyed it.  We were glad that we finished our project.

While we were on our team, we had to memorize verses, and my favorite is I Cor. 13:11.  "When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things."

My team and I getting ready to run the Obstacle course.  We ran this at 5:30 every morning.

                                          Landscaping in Scotland.

                                My adorable self (my mom wrote that).

I just want to thank all of my supporters for helping me go on the trip.  I couldn't have gone without your support.

Bill and I also want to thank all those who gave and prayed for our family this past year.  We know that God works through the prayers of His people, and we are so glad He does!!

Is it 2012 already?!?!?

Where to begin?  We have had quite the eventful year, and we just wrote a letter to send out via snail mail, which is now posted here on our blog.  We hope you enjoy reading what God has done in our lives, and pray that you'll be encouraged.

We started 2011 with the annual visit from my (Debby's) parents.  It's the fifth year already that they have come down, and we all enjoy their visit.  Mostly because there's at least one steak dinner in it for Bill!

The previous December, we celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary (where did THAT time go?), and Bill surprised me with a Christian marriage cruise, which took place in February.  We cruised to Nassau in the Bahamas, where we went on our honeymoon.  It was a lovely, relaxing time for both of us, as our kids were well taken care of between both sets of grandparents and our friends, the Lowe's.

                                                                                  

As spring came, so did the busyness of getting support raised for Liam, Eli, and Ethan, for their mission trips with Teen Missions International (TMI).  After patiently waiting, it was their turn to go on a trip, with Liam and Eli going to Scotland, and Ethan serving locally in Merritt Island.  They'll have their chance to share about their trip, but we just wanted to share one thing with you.

For whatever reason, Liam & Eli's support didn't come in as quickly as it had the year before, for Bronia and Simon.  We were asked to make a decision at the end of May, as to whether we would in faith continue raising support for them both, or use what had already come in, and send only one boy.  We had a weekend to pray about it.

At the end of the weekend,, Liam came to us, and said that he would give up his spot for Eli could go.  We both were blown away by his selflessness, but told him that as their parents, we still had to make the final decision.  After praying about it, we felt like we should still move forward, as if both were still going.  That decision took a lot of faith, as we still have over $1100 to raise, with less than a month until they left.

Well, exactly a week before we were to drop them off for boot camp, we got a call asking exactly what they owed.  Then, later that day, we received a cheque for the full amount!  It was amazing for our family to see God provide in this most miraculous, and eleventh hour way.  How faithful He is!!

So off they were, serving the Lord for the summer.  In the meantime, BIll and I had decided that we really needed to get our health in order, and start losing some weight.  (I've already blogged a bit about this)  We watched a documentary called "Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead", and decided that juicing fruit and vegetables was the way to start that journey.  So we bought a juicer and started.  We have both lost and maintained some weight, and plan to lose more in 2012.

In August, we were thrilled when we found out we were once again expecting a baby.  I felt very good, walking regularly, and striving to maintain a healthier diet, including juicing.  However, in my 12th week, I miscarried, and we once again faced losing a very-much-wanted baby.  Our children were devastated, as were we.  But again, the Lord gave us an opportunity to talk about His sovereignty, and perfect plan for our lives.  Only God knows how He'll use our testimony of losing 3children; for our good and for His glory.

We will write more in the coming days, to share about the boys' trips, and to let you know what is coming up for us in this new year.

                                                                                                                                                                   




                                                                              

Bill's story...

I have known for a long time that I need to do something about my health.  But like most people, I suspect, I didn't know where to begin, so I did nothing.   As my hip got worse and worse, I was compelled to figure out a way to begin.

Back in early April, after a bar-b-que of all things, a dear brother confronted me about my health.  His words stung my pride, yet I knew all of it to be true.  We had heard that others had had some success with a "soup diet", (no, not the cabbage soup diet) and after the confrontation, I asked Debby to get the ingredients and make it. 

I started the diet on April 19th, and my weight that morning was 298.4 lbs.  The first week I lost 11.2 lbs.  I was so encouraged that I decided to try the diet again for another 7 days.  This time however, I only lost 3.4 lbs.  That "diet" ended.  I pretty much went back to our normal eating habits, but this time, oddly enough, I did not gain it back.  I managed to maintain it, but I was not satisfied with my weight.

When I got home from work on Tuesday, July 5th, Debby said she had a documentary she thought we should watch.  It's called "Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead".  We did watch it, and ordered our juicer that night.  I knew that I could do this.  I knew that this would be a healthy way to lose more weight and jump start a healthy lifestyle.  And I hoped that losing the weight would take care of my hip issue, allowing me to begin some physical exercise.

Well, after 2 1/2 weeks of the fast and 13.4 lbs lost, my hip was NOT getting better.  I FINALLY listened to my wife :) and went to a chiroptactor.  After x-rays and a consult, the diagnosis is that I have some calcification on some vertabraes, and a pinched sciatica and another nerve.  That's the bad news.   The good news is that I am not beyond repair.  I'm going for adjustments 3 times a week for now.  I call it my "pretzel time".  It hurts alot, but I am starting to already regain some mobility.

As far as weight loss from juicing, as of this morning, day 27, I have lost 22.2 lbs, for a total of 38.6 lbs since April 19th.  I'm feeling pretty good, although still limping quite heavily.  That will change.  Please pray that I will be consistent with my stretches and exercises. 

My dream is to run along the beach like Matt Damon in "Bourne Supremacy".  I'll get there.