6 weeks left....

Am I excited about heading back to Mozambique in 6 weeks? Absolutely!

Am I ready? Not exactly!

Thank God we have 6 weeks left to get ready!

I got back to Iowa today after having spent the last 6 days saying my goodbyes to family and friends in NY. It was a great trip, but I have to admit it feels good to be back home.

While there I had the opportunity to......

~ catch up with a few people I have not seen in a very long time.

~ have lunch with my dear dear friend.

~ enjoy my step son's music at a Benefit for Hospice in memory of his dad.

~ love on my grandson Ben!

~ be blessed with time alone with each of my daughters.

~ have lunch with my son and got to meet his friend.

~ got to read and play with my grandson!

~ have time to share with my uncle and cousin about God and His love and work in my life.

~ have coffee with my aunt, and dinner with my brother and his wife.

~ talk about Mozambique at St Luke's Pot luck supper.

~ have coffee with a Godly young women that God has allowed to be a part of my life.

~ to share my testimony and build relationship with my daughter's church in Binghamton.

All that in 6 days.....no telling what God has planned for these next 6 weeks!!!

Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through HIm who gives me strength...

Thank you Jesus, and thank you all for your prayers...I need them!!

7 Weeks left!!

Oh my word... I can hardly believe that we return to Mozambique in just 7 weeks!

We have been busy buying things that we know we need to take back with us.

Plus, picking up things to bring back to our friends and family in Dondo.

It's so fabulous thinking about returning and what God has planned for us this year.

God is so good to bless us with life here in the states and then to allow us to experience life in a country with so very little.

We have been looking at videos and photos from Mozambique as we prepare for church presentations and things, and it has made us even more excited and anxious to get back.

I trust that most of you know when I use the term 'we' I am referring to Kathy and I.

Let me remind you who Kathy is...

Kathy is my colleague. She too spends 6 months out of the year in Mozambique with me.

She of course is more than just my colleague, she is my dear friend who I trust with my life. Then God made it so in my heart....that I would do absolutely anything for her as well.

She claims she 'can't do her job without me', but I know that God put us together because I could not have done what He has asked me to do these past 2 years without her!!!!

God has given us both an equal passion for the people of Mozambique. That's really the point, it's not about us, actually it has nothing to do with us, but everything to do with HIM.

He blessed each of us with a unique set of gifts and skills, then He wove our lives together in a Christ centered friendship and asked us to walk along this path.

Our path has us ministering to people both here in Iowa and in Dondo. Amazing!

We are just a couple of nobodies....that God decided to bless ( abundantly) and use for His glory. Thank you Jesus!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work. If one falls down his friend can pick him up. But pity the man who falls has no one to help him up.

God always has the perfect plan in place....I pray that you all have come to accept this simple truth. God Bless you all

Vertical Blessings

Well, I did it, I survived Boot Camp!

Yes, yes, thank you all very much.

Seriously, it was intense, and extensive, a long 2 day seminar but well worth it!

In the 30+ self study hours I logged in prior to attending the seminar the most significant thing happen.

I came to accept that it's truly biblical to raise support.

If, in fact, I believe that God has called me to share the gospel with His children in Mozambique, then I must also believe that He has called me to raise support to accomplish this.

Where ever Paul traveled, spreading the gospel, he was 'assisted on his journey' (Romans 15:24)

'and then to have you send me on my way to Judea' (2 Corinthians 1:16)

There are numerous references in both the Old and New Testament which make this point clear.

What impressed me was the idea that my support is really from God!

It's a 'vertical blessing'.

Yes, people actually support the vision and the ministry that the Lord has called me to, but they are giving as God has called them to give.

They are giving out of obedience to God.

As God blesses my ministry in Dondo, He also blesses each one who has listened to the Lord and given sacrificially.

Don't you just love the way He has this all worked out for us?

So my job now is to continue to pray and seek His will as I step forward in His strength to accomplish this next step on my journey. To ASK for help!

James 4:2 'we have not because we ask not'