6/15/10

Okay so it's been a WHILE

PLEASE EXCUSE THIS BLOG... THINGS HAVE CHANGED ALOT W/ BLOGGER SINCE I POSTED LAST & THINGS ARE NOT THE WAY I WANT THEM TO LOOK. THANKS

All at once life just happens really quickly and lots of things become neglected... such as this blog. Just to bring you up to date, we went to Kansas for some meetings and have been back home since Mother's Day even though my last post says otherwise! WOW, time flies when your busy!! Lots of exciting things have happened since we've been back home: we have all of our shipping container funds, our plane tickets are purchased, and we have half of our set up costs covered when we move to Croatia. We are praising the Lord for HIS goodness to us.

Our last official meeting is the first week in August at our home church. Our last official day in the USA is August the 5th! YIKES!! We are so excited to be making the move and taking this next BIG step of faith.

Pray for us that we:

* will finish our inventory of our storage unit in a timely manner.

*find housing in Croatia- can't ship our container without an address- our friends in Croatia are helping with that.

*will be faithful to HIM as he directs us in the PATH He has laid out for us.

OH, by the way... we were in VA.... but now we are in PA for a Wednesday night meeting! LOL The life of a missionary is always interesting to say the least.

4/19/10

I'm not in Virginia anymore!


We have followed the YELLOW BRICK ROAD all the way to Kansas for a few meetings through the month of April. God has already blessed us with one more church who has promised their support to help us reach Croatia for Christ! WELCOME aboard Hillcrest Bible Baptist Church in Ark City, Kansas!! *Praise the Lord* Although this road of deputation has been long and hard at times, He has been faithful to us and provided the churches He wants us to have. Our deputation trail has almost come to an end and for that I am most thankful. HOME in Croatia is calling our name.

Pray for us, for we still have much to do before we make our departure.

4/11/10

I"m a Bargain shopper

I can't pass up a bargain!!! Most of the time, if I see it and it is almost dirt cheap, I think that I must have it! Deputation has kind of changed me a little... bargain prices are a must, but our tiny car and budget can only allow so much.

About a month ago I started looking for winter clothing to put away for the kids to take to Croatia. Clothing there is so expensive and often cheaply made I have been told. So I started at the local kids consignment shop and boy am I glad I did!!

I found the BEST $1.00 rack in the whole world!!! There were tons of clothing on it from shirts to skirts and jeans to jackets. The best part of all is that everything was only $1.00. When it was all said and done, I only spent $23.00 and got so many great things for the kids. Many of the pants still had tags on them too. I even found a long jean skirt, which is very hard to come by. I was able to buy clothes in several sizes so they can grow into them. The Lord sure had me in the right place at the right time.

Since that day I have been able to find shirts and sweaters at Kohl's for really good prices as well. Thank you Lord for your blessings on me.


* I'm gonna have to post pics of my finds later.*

BUSY, Busy, busy!

I know it's been a while, but things have been so hectic around here! My last post left us in Texas, but since then we went home then up to Maryland, down to Texas AGAIN and then back HOME. My Honey did all of that crazy traveling while we caught up on a little school. That's the only thing about homeschooling... deputation really has a way of messing up your schedule!

Ohio came next on our list of to dos where we had two really great meetings both promising us support. This new support brings us up o 74%! YAY!! We are planning to leave at 75% so we can get there and begin learning the language and trusting the Lord to supply the rest when we get to the field. We have heard that some churches wait until the missionary gets there to begin support. I sure hope that is what they are waiting on. (:

We've been to Ohio and back home, then Georgia to visit family and now we are back in Ohio again. Is your head spinning yet?! It would be nice if we could work one state at a time, but most of the time that is not how it works out!): We had an unexpected meeting tonight which was a blessing! The church wants to take on more missionaries so please pray that we might be one of them.

The end of this part of our journey will take us to Kansas and finally Pennsylvania before we come home. Hopefully the first part of the summer we can devote to the daunting task of inventorying our storage unit so that we can ship it to Croatia. I have heard that it's so much FUN! JUST KIDDING!!! More like a thorn in your flesh, but I can't part with memories, so they must come with.

Who said missionaries lives were boring. Stick around us for too long and the Lord may call you as well..... we sure could use you in such a needy country! Can't wait to get there myself.

3/2/10

Use Your Imagination

This post only requires you to close your eyes and think. Imagine if our country never had a written language which would mean that we couldn't read, write, or have a copy of God's Word!

Our family just recently stayed at a Bible Institute in Texas that is training missionaries to go to countries where there is not a written language to eventually create a written language for them. After the language is written down with much preparation and study, they can then translate the Bible into that language! As you can tell, that is not easy task for anyone.

My heart was blessed by the dedication these missionaries have to take the Gospel to these "Bible less People Groups". One thing is for sure, most of them are giving up much more than the average missionary. Most of them go into the middle of nowhere, into the "bush" to work with these tribal people. The missionaries live almost like the natives for the sake of the Gospel.

Does this make them anymore spiritual or called... no. Each mission field is different, just as each missionary is different. However, it does mean that we should stop and think the next time we complain about things that really don't matter. My heart was stirred to not worry about what my eventual home would look like because some of those missionaries would be building their home from the ground up. Some will hike a day or two to get to where they are going.

I have realized that God is going to take care of even the smallest details for me. He doesn't want me to worry, but to TRUST.

2/26/10

Friday Flashback



I think every mama goes through a phase where she dresses her daughters the same or almost the same. Especially if she was never blessed with twins! My girls are twenty months apart from each other and are the best of friends (mostly). ;0)

This picture was taken when Erin was in First Grade and Ally in K4. Erin just lost both of her front teeth. I must say, they were looking exceptionally cute that day!

Today, they are still good friends and enjoy having each others company.

2/25/10

Bless His Heart (twice)


Every time Noah opens his mouth to speak, I'm always wondering what he's going say next. Lately He wants to know when we're going back to Nana's house (where we live when not on the road). Other questions include, "Is that Pastor going to get our house in Croatia?"; "Are we in Texas?"- "Yes Noah."- He says, "Oh, I like that town!"

The question/statement of the hour is, "When we get to Croatia, can they move our side beside Nana's house?" "I love Nana really a lot and Nana love me really a lot." How do you answer a question like that without feeling horrible?

Our only answer was that we would still see Nana, but not alot. We will talk on the phone and see her on the computer. =( The only life he knows is deputation, so he doesn't have his own room, home, fav seat at the table etc.

I know, I know.... I need to be strong for him and the girls. Sometimes it's hard and all I want to do is make things "normal" for them. Then.... I remember the Croatian people and how we must go and make a normal life for them there.

.....Pray for us that it won't be much longer!