Ok this is it...my first attempt at a blog! Our family has experienced quite a few firsts the past couple of months. Our first time selling a house...our first time officially resigning from our jobs...our first time stepping out in faith for a major life-changing event.
Mike and I have been passionate for missions since we were married. Different parts of our little family have served on short-term mission trips that have taken us to Peru, Japan, Ukraine, Brazil, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. Ella's first mission trip was to Japan while I was still pregnant with her. At almost two, she learned how to say "Konichiwa" to new Japanese friends. Then along came Liam and we got to watch our little buddy play with "his boys" in Peru without a word spoken.
And though our hearts have always craved to do God's work, we never realized how much more God would want for us. During the past year, Mike and I began to feel a call towards something more. There was an aching that both of us experienced. Something in our lives was missing. As we began to pray and search, we began to hear God's voice. We needed to depend on Him more.
After a weekend spent at the International Conference of Missions, our family had an awakening. It was time to become closer to our amazing Father and to dive deeper in the love He showed us through His son. We began to seek for a way to serve God in a place where we could be right at the center of His will and in complete dependence of His grace and provision. And that's when we contacted South America Mission.
Mike and I have never been church-planters. Our gift has always been teaching. Through some contacts in the organization we learned that South America Mission has English, Christian schools that are in need of teachers. As we prayed and studied together, we knew God was leading us to put our trust in Him and use our teaching skills in South America.
We have completed our application and really stretched and grown through the process. We await our Candidate Orientation in June which will be where we are prayerfully appointed as members of SAM.
As we began this journey, I struggled with the idea that I am not at all qualified to be part of such an amazing group of people who serve God daily on the field. But then I saw a church sign that completely changed my perspective. It said "God takes you where you are, and puts you where you need to be." I don't need to be perfect...I just need to be willing. And our family is willing.
We are willing to put ourselves in the hand of God and be transformed into who He wants us to be. If that means we are teachers in South America being a service to others on the field, we will be. If it means something more, we are willing. Through all these things, I pray that God will increase our faith and allow our entire family to grow incredibly closer to Him.
Sooooo....I hope you will stick with us on this journey. Its going to be amazing!
Please consider partnering with us in prayer.
Prayer needs:
~Candidate Orientation...that it may be blessed time for our family and we may truly meet God and worship Him during this time
~The right family to purchase our house
~A peaceful end to our school year as we say "good-bye" to our school families
~An opening at the ICC July session so that we may attend this training prior to Ella and Liam enrolling in school
~That we may continue to rely on God and grow closer to Him each day
