Keeping On

We've been in California now for just under two months. Our support raising has definitely been fruitful here. God continues to show us that He is Lord of all. No matter how many hours we work, whether we rise early or stay up late, He is the one who continues to bring people along side of us. At this moment, we are at 57% of the needed $6,300 per month and 87% of the needed $29,300 for our outgoing expenses. One of our supporting churches has commited to paying the rest of our ougoing expense come July. We are eager to see how the Lord will bring about the other 43% of our need before we head for Indonesia.

Our upcoming schedule is a little crazy for us. We are headed back to Ohio on July 6th. We'll be there until the 27th, then off to Idaho for security training with MAF. This is supposed to be a rather intense time of learning how to deal with government interigation, terrorist abductions along with simple strategies to not bring unneccessary attention to yourself in a foreign land. On the 30th, we're planning on going back to California for the month of August. Not sure what happens after that. We just know that we'll have to be back in Idaho in October for 2 1/2 months of more training. So that puts us back in Ohio in the middle of December. Somewhere along the way, we have to build crates and pack, attend a special turbine engine seminar (another week or so), get all of our visa stuff in order among about three hundred other things. Busy time.

I cannot help but think, what a waste this would all be if the Gospel were not true. For many, this looks absolutely ridiculous. I don't blame them. In most of their minds, this whole "Jesus thing" seems like a joke. How foolish for somebody to uproot their family, drag them all over the country, seeking supporters to share the "love of Jesus" with Muslims in an impoverished country. Yes, if the Gospel weren't true this would be absolutely crazy. These last couple years haven't exactly been easy. It hasn't been horrible but there have been many trials, testing our commitment to moving forward in world missions. God continues to reveal His goodness to us which time and time again proves (along with a million other things) that this Gospel is true. We do this because we love the Gospel. It has radically transformed our lives and we want nothing more than for others to experience this life of abundance. Not abundant cars, houses, toys, gadgets, boats or other material type things. But abundance in joy. There is no greater joy than to live for what you were made for. God re-created us. We are new creations and we are made to worship God and to proclaim His excellencies among all peoples, so that they too may find the greatest treasure that can be found; Christ.