Two Days and Counting...

Fifteen months ago we said "yes God."  We said it with an exclamation mark behind it, a question mark at the end, a comma after it, and many times that week we even just said "God."  We knew without a doubt we were surrendering everything in us, about us and around us for God's greater plan.  We believed wholeheartedly God was calling us to be international missionaries.  We knew we were beginning a new phase of our Christian journey and had no idea where it would take us.

The journey took turns and curves and ups and downs and fast forwards and rewinds.  There were even some times of bumpy roads and huge holes.  At times the journey was straight and smooth.  But throughout the entire journey - we have known that God is there.  That we were walking with God and following Him. 

We have felt the pain of holding on and the pain of surrendering (and know that there is a lot more of this to come).  We continue to learn about God's timing and how when done in His perfect way things work out so much better.  We have experienced the excitement of seeing pieces of the puzzle fit together and we have felt the pain of trying to force pieces together that didn't fit.

But today we are experiencing the excitement that comes from waiting on His timing and His perfect plan.   In two days we will be leaving for Michigan.  We will be one step closer to stepping foot in the country of Spain.  In fact, the excitement makes the preparation a little difficult.  I'd rather just get in the car and go than to do all the planning, but that would be a bad idea.

Our children will not be going with us so there is a lot of planning to do to get them ready.  Thank you to every friend who is helping out.  I can not imagine how people make it through life without the support of a loving church.  I truly consider myself blessed and loved.

We will be gone for 15 days so there is a lot of work to be done at our jobs to be gone for that long.  Again, as I think of the members who will step up and make sure things get done while I am gone I am reminded that I am blessed. 

Will you pray for us over the next two weeks?  Here are some of our specific requests:

• Pray for us between now and Friday night to get all the details of being gone accomplished and without stress
• Pray about the sell of the house - yes, we still own a house.  I have prayed all along that God would sell the house before we left for Michigan, but it does not appear to be in God's timing.  Pray that I do not let emotions shade the way I see God's answer.  We will leave the house in showing order when we leave Friday, but the kids will be in and out while we are gone.
• We will begin the drive after Scott gets off work on Friday evening.  We will be traveling just a few hours that night and then go on to Adrian, Michigan on Saturday.  We have planned to see some friends that we haven't seen in 13 years.  They are traveling home today or tomorrow from Florida from her father's death.  Pray for them as they travel.  Pray that we will be a sweet blessing to them and that we have a refreshing visit.
• Sunday we will drive the last 2 hours to Farmington, Michigan.  We must arrive at SEND's headquarters between 3 and 5 on Sunday.
• Pray for Hannah and Alex as they deal with the stress of parents being gone for two weeks.
• Prat for Zach as he started a new college this week.

I am hoping to be able to keep the blog up to date while we are gone.  Check back often.  These next two weeks are gonna be great!  We hope you will join us in this stretch of the "ride of a lifetime."