I just wanted to take a few minutes and update you on where we are in the process of our cross-cultural journey. We have many more steps to go but we have come through a great deal of them in the past year. All through the process we have told God that if HE opens a door we will be faithful to walk through it. We desire to bring Him glory in our lives and through the work He places before us.
We took Perspectives last Spring and that is where God grew in us a desire to reach those around the world that have not yet heard or had the opportunity to hear. That class was approximately five months long. FBCA co-hosts one yearly. If you are interested in doing any type of cross-cultural work here or around the world this is a great first step.
We are almost finished with our training with GCPN. We started Panorama last August and we will complete it in June. It has been a wonderful process. We have been in the class with several other couples and a few singles. We have grown so close over the last year that it is more like family than anything else. We learn so much from each other every week and grow in our understanding of what we might encounter when we are on the field. The children have their own teacher while we meet. For the first half of our training they had a couple that taught them with the wife being from Germany. It was great for them to get to know someone from another country. For the second half of our training they have had a wonderful young lady who grew up in Africa as a missionary kid herself. It has given them a new insight on living overseas. The kids have grown close to all three of their teachers.
John got interested in water well drilling when someone from our church did training and brought it to the churches attention. God really grabbed hold of him and got him so excited about this type of ministry. In March the four of us, John, Terri and our two youngest kids, spent a week in West Texas training with Water for All International. It was a wonderful experience and we learned so much. It gave both of us a passion for this type of ministry. We feel so strongly about meeting peoples needs through this water ministry and then getting to share about Living Water. Check out these pictures of actual drilling in those countries and how happy the people are to get fresh clean water.
We have begun our evaluation process with our church. We are being evaluated in many areas, mental, relational, marital, and missions. The children will also undergo evaluations in an educational format to make sure they don't have any extreme educational needs that would be hard to meet overseas. We found out a plus in that area is that we have been homeschooling for a long time and that is one less thing for them to adjust to with a move. We are trying to prepare them as much as we can.
When we returned from our training we were approached by Equip Disciples about joining them on a trip to East Africa in June. They have a church conference for pastors and other church leaders. They have asked John to go to do the water well test drilling so that the church leaders and church planters can take that into the different villages that are so in need of clean water. Terri will be working with the children's Sunday School teachers and training them in areas like finding resources, simple crafts and building relationships with the families. The kids will even be a big part of the church conference. They will be leading a children's conference with the local kids there, doing a Bible lesson, a recreational time and craft time. We feel so blessed to be asked to go. Plus, it is a requirement that the church and other groups asked us to do before we could move forward in the process.
Since we needed a trip as a family this presented us with just that. A chance for the four of us to go overseas for longer than three weeks. We have ordered our passports. The kids have gotten their shots for the trip. We are scheduled to get ours next week. We are planning for our time in East Africa. We are raising money to cover the costs. And we are praying daily for the provisions to come in. We are also attending weekly planning sessions with Equip Disciples to prepare for the conference. We are doing a daily Bible study as a family to prepare our hearts and our minds for the trip. We are spending time in the Word allowing the Lord to fill us so that when we need it He can bring it to our minds.
The cost of the trip is a lot. But we know God can do all things great and small. We are having a couple of fundraising opportunities. One will be a yard sale on May 19, 20 and 21. We are accepting donations for items to sell and will also have a bucket to accept cash donations if someone wants to donate that way. Anyone can donate any amount, big or little. Even five dollars is welcome. It all adds up. Please pray about how God is leading you to give to sponsor us on this trip for HIM.
We have been taking one step at a time. Right now, we don't know what is after this trip to East Africa. But God knows. We trust Him to show us the next step when we get back. We will share that with all of you when we know what it is.
As always, please keep us in your prayers. Those are needed greatly. We love you all.
~Terri
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