We are one day shy of a full week here at Community First! Village. First off, praise God; He has made this transition as smooth as possible and has helped us to settle in and feel welcome. The first couple of nights in the RV were hard, but each day the Lord has just been so gracious and near. We have met many of our new neighbors and have been made to feel incredibly welcome. Life in a close community with animals and being outdoors is really a wonderful thing and has suited all of us well.
As I write, Truma is in her own bedroom sleeping peacefully for the 4th consecutive night in a row. I was even able to watch the National Championship in the living area last night. Of course, it didn’t end as I had hoped, but I probably needed a dose of humility anyways. What’s incredible in the post game interviews and news is hearing players and coaches talk about their faith in Christ. What an awesome platform for the Kingdom of God! Regardless of my beloved Tide losing, I am happy that it was to a team of classy and Christ-like men and that the win (loss) is being used to spread the Gospel. Roll Tide to that!
We had our orientation meeting with our Community Corps group yesterday and learned more about what we will be doing and had some time just to get to know our director and the other corps member. We had a group Bible study this afternoon which was a bit of a challenge because Truma decided to act like a banshee. We also had family dinner hosted by our program director and her husband this evening. Tomorrow morning we will all have breakfast together and officially start our serve duties.
Everyone has been incredibly accommodating of our unique family situation and they have assured us flexibility and grace as we figure out how to balance our schedules while caring for Truma. That said, there are definitely going to be some trial and error situations ahead as we work that out. Truma is a busy little girl and as most of you know, toddlers can display any number of emotions and behaviors at any given time; they are total wildcards. We know that it is all going to be fine and we will settle in to a rhythm but the next couple of days might be rough.
On Sunday we went to the St. John campus of Austin Stone, the church that has sent my brother and sister-in-law as missionaries to Southeast Asia. We were really in need of time to worship and to hear the word of God and it was a pretty emotional experience for both of us. The service began with the commissioning of 30 or so missionaries and a report from the missions conference in Barcelona that my brother and sister-in-law had just attended. In the report was an incredible story of how one family had seen representatives from SEVEN unreached people groups accept Christ. WOW praise God!
The topic of the sermon was why we need more missionaries, and why it is the mission of every single person, whether or not we are called to the nations, to share the Gospel and to live it out. I left there feeling so encouraged, and of course missing our family across the world. I felt like if I opened my eyes and looked down the row I would see them worshipping with me; they felt near even though they weren’t. It is amazing that with our home in Christ, none of us are really that far away; that God is not bound by time or space and we can all be together in Him. We know without a doubt that we have been called to be here and move towards replicating this concept in Midland. We keep reminding each other that there are no neutral moments and that we are on a mission. We have missed our family and friends back home, but we have felt your prayers and we are so excited to get back and share with you all of the amazing things God is already doing. Thank you for keeping up with us and for your faithful prayers. We love you all!
Prayers requests this week:
· Figuring out a schedule in which all three of us thrive.
· Our friend from CUTB in Midland that is trying to find a place to live.
· That we will get an offer on our house soon. The market is improving and we have had quite a few showings lately.
· Land for our village and provision to build it.
· Quick approval of our 501c3.
· Continued growth in our faith.
“13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!””
— Romans 10:13-15
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