Since moving back to Indiana, Scott and I have been attending Scott’s home church here in Anderson.  It has been amazing for me to get acquainted with his family friends and for us as a couple to meet new people.  Last Sunday, we had the opportunity to share with the church congregation about our journey and calling to the Dominican Republic and how we’ve gotten where we are today.  While I hope that God was able to use our little story to speak to others, our sharing actually helped me to reflect again on God’s faithfulness to our family as we continue in this waiting period.

We have crossed the 40% threshold in the support-raising process!  (Now, just 50% more to go before we can buy the one-way plane tickets to the Dominican.)  It’s easy for me to focus on the snail’s pace this part of life is taking.  I get frustrated and anxious and impatient when I look at our timeline of moving to the DR by late spring/early summer of this coming year.  Thankfully, we’ve got people praying and supporting and encouraging us along each step of the way – if we didn’t, I don’t know how I would keep pressing on.  But most importantly, I’m thankful for my ever-faithful Father who has provided the people and finances and other extra blessings so far.  We would absolutely love to make it to the 50% level by December (don’t forget – one of our current supporters will double their financial monthly gift if we reach that goal), but we know that God, in His time, will supply our needs.

Looking forward to the day we can update you all from the ground!

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On another note, it looks like October came and went without any sort of blog post from us!  We’ve been one busy family.  But I thought I’d include a few pictures of some of the “family stuff” we’ve been able to squeeze in between meetings this past month.

Reading books, stacking blocks, and walking have been among Noah’s favorite activities lately.  We’ve really been enjoying him as he learns new things to say and do almost daily.

Pumpkin carving was a new experience for the Noah-man as well!  He didn’t seem to care for the stickiness and seeds inside the pumpkin, but he was very curious about it all nonetheless.

We took Noah on his first trick-or-treat adventure this year (although last year he dressed up as a very cute little peapod).  He seemed to enjoy walking around the neighborhood more than taking candy from strangers.  But when it came to eating the goodies, he definitely had no problems.

We’ve been back for a week now from our 21-day trip to the Dominican, and I still haven’t written about our time there – partly because I take so long to process things and partly because I’ve been busy.  Overall, our family had an amazing and fulfilling month.  Scott and I learned a lot about what life will look like when we make the big move.  The trip made us even more eager to get to the field as soon as possible.  We’ve been in this waiting period for what seems like forever, so we loved getting a refreshed sense of our purpose and our roles in the Dominican.

Our biggest adjustment was dealing with Noah.  He was quite the fussy little man because he wanted to crawl, and I made him sit in his stroller all day due to the glass and trash on the ground in the villages.  But the kids loved him and treated him like their own little baby, handing him juice bottles and books and stealing kisses whenever they could.

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Even in the three short weeks we were there, we began building relationships with a few of the kids.   It was really cool to see the growth in some in just one month.  I was quickly reminded that these boys and girls are not unlike ones in the States – they want the love and attention that others can offer them; they’re learning about who they are as people; and they were born with those little sinful natures of theirs. Our time wasn’t all butterflies and roses.  We had to break up fights as kids quarreled and bickered.  Some would lie to us if it would benefit them in some way.  I’m just glad I saw that “other side” of ministry.  It gave me a fuller picture of what life will truly be like when we move to the DR in (hopefully!) the early months of next year.

Now we’re back home playing the waiting game again.  It’s so desperately hard to be patient for the support to come in.  Just clinging to the hope that there is a reason for this period in our lives and trusting that His plan is better than ours.

Whew.  (I literally just sighed.)  Scott and I are finally “home” from all our travels across the country.  (It still feels strange to call Anderson home since we really haven’t been here much in the last month, and because we plan on moving yet again as soon as support comes in.)  The past few weeks have been busy – weddings, moving, graduation parties, shopping, etc.  I do not want to know how many miles we put on our little green Mazda.  (I hope the strange noise it has started making isn’t anything too serious.)

God continues to provide.  We are currently at 33% pledged support.  We love our new little house – well, it’s new to us anyway.  (Noah in particular is fond of all the space he has to crawl around.)  We are enjoying being near family as well.  Pray with us in the coming weeks that we would be bold in presenting the ministry to people and that we would continue to trust that God’s plan and timing are perfect.  Looking forward to June!

Maybe it’s because it’s springtime, but I see a lot of change going on everywhere.  Most obviously, the weather is changing.  I don’t know what it is about this time of year, but I seem to be in a significantly better mood when the days turn warmer and longer.

Scott and I are working on packing up our lives in the next 4 days.  Last night, we made our big master “to do” list of all the loose ends that need tied up before we leave.  (And we’re still looking for two $25/month partners to get us to our 30% goal!)  I’m a little nervous about our big drive with kid and belongings in tow, but I’m sure everything will work out.  This particular change is definitely bittersweet for us as we leave friends but excitedly move on with this calling that God has given to us.

Other changes are taking place too.  This is apparently the season for all of my friends to have babies!  🙂  I know at least four girls who are (supposed to be) giving birth this week!  When I stop to think about it, the miracle/growth process of babies is so completely amazing.  It’s hard for me not to give God praise when I see a new little life has entered the world.

This week, there have been some sad changes in my little corner of the world as well.  I recently found out that three students from my high school (who were on their missions trip to Costa Rica) drowned as a riptide pulled them out into the ocean while they were swimming.  Unbelievable.  Talk about some serious change.  The other students in that class (and the families even more so) are going to be coping with this horrible tragedy for quite some time.  In my humanness, how do I not question everything about this situation?  I shake my head and think to myself, “These were good kids!  They were on a trip serving their Jesus!  Their entire lives were ahead of them.”  It’s just really hard to wrap my mind around it.

I often hear people use the phrase, “Some things never change.”  When I say those words, it’s usually in a sarcastic or negative way.  For example, I may use the phrase (in reference to my husband’s ridiculous competitive streak) when Scott hurts himself doing something stupid in a football game.   Or I might say those words (in reference to my forgetfulness) when I can’t figure out where I put my keys.  But there is one instance when I can say “Some things never change” with a smile on my face.  And that’s in regard to my Jesus.

There are a lot of changes in life which are exhilarating.  Other changes can shake us to the very core.  When I’m overwhelmed with the way God has blessed me, I can look to my changeless Father in heaven and thank Him for His provision.  And when I don’t know how I’m going to make it one more step, I can reach out to that same unchanging Savior and lean on Him for strength and peace to go on.

Circumstances change daily.  But not my Jesus.  His love and truth and holiness and justice and grace and mercy and comfort are not void because something didn’t go the way I thought it should.  I am constantly being drawn to the fact that this life is not about me but about how I can glorify Him in and through every single change, good or bad, that comes my way.

I the Lord do not change….  – Malachi 3:6

More than anything else in the world, I’m thankful that my precious Jesus never changes.

So I just finished reading Exodus a little while ago.  Not going to lie – when I get to the part where God gives Moses all the instructions and regulations for how to make the tabernacle out there in the middle of the desert, I kinda skim over it.  But a few nights back when I was lying in bed unable to sleep, God pretty much plopped this little nugget of awesomeness right in my lap.

Exodus 35-36… (It’s worth it to read the chapters in their entirety)

⁴ Moses said to the whole Israelite community, “This is what the LORD has commanded: ⁵ From what you have, take an offering for the LORD. Everyone who is willing is to bring to the LORD an offering of gold, silver and bronze….

²⁰ Then the whole Israelite community withdrew from Moses’ presence, ²¹ and everyone who was willing and whose heart moved them came and brought an offering to the LORD for the work on the tent of meeting, for all its service, and for the sacred garments….

² Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the LORD had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. ³ They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. ⁴ So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing ⁵ and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the LORD commanded to be done.”

⁶ Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, ⁷ because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

I never really remember reading about this whole scenario ever before.  Pretty crazy, though!  The Israelites brought so many talents and supplies and gifts to use for the building of the Tabernacle that Moses had to tell them to QUIT bringing stuff?!  A-mazing!

I’ve always found it easy to dog on the Israelites for their complaining and selfish attitude, but in this instance the people were not only obedient, but they came with willing and giving hearts to be used of God however they could.  Oh man.  I know this probably isn’t as exciting/convicting for anybody else, but for me… Wow.  I just want God to be able to take me and use me – all of me – for whatever He wants.

This little passage also made me think about all of you out there who are currently supporting us!  Guys, you really have NO idea what a blessing you are to Scott and I personally.  Your giving hearts and continual prayers have done so much to encourage us and keep us moving in this direction.  I know that for many of you, it is a huge sacrifice to support us financially, and every day I think about every one of you.  It’s so hard for me, because sometimes I’m afraid our thank-you’s all sound like a bunch of put-together words in our emails and updates.  But you mean so very much to us, and we’re happy that you are believing with us that God’s got a plan – for us, for the Dominican Republic, for His glory.