New Home

This weekend we finally moved into the house we will be renting for the next year or more. It feels good to be in a home! We are so excited about our house. It is perfect for us and the church. We will have plenty of room for our events and hospitality.

I am starting my third week of work. I have been getting more comfortable with the surroundings in the jail and courthouse. I visited the county animal control building (Don’t tell my kids… or I would have to bring one of the new puppies home!). I am eager to see how God can use the situation to reach many people through me.

God has really been taking care of everything. We feel so blessed in every way. Last week we got a flat tire and had to go in to get it replaced. The tire place ended up giving us a free tire just for being new to the area!
Matthew 13:10-12
The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them.

I could go off the deep end and say this has something to do with material things. It does not. I am thankful we are being given much right now in this way, but it will pass. This scripture really talks about the condition of the heart. I hope that everything we are being given, both material and spiritual, will just overflow from us to others. I hope they will see and understand instead of being blind and naked.

I met our first neighbors tonight, Raul and Laura. They have twin 5 year olds and an 11 year old. I will be praying about them and all the neighbors as we meet them. We hope they will find our house a haven, different from all other places. We hope to have them all here as much as possible. Please pray if you are reading this that we do not lose steam in our pursuit of the souls around us

Wild Fire

Ok, I neglected to finish our trip to Tri Cities. It has been a whirlwind of activity since driving into town.

The temperature on arrival to Washington's desert was 107. As we neared the city, we saw a large plume of smoke billowing across the sky. When we got closer we saw the whole countryside on fire; black smoldering hills stretched out of site. We arrived at the hotel and I got out to enter the building. A man from the hotel ran up and announced that the hotel doors were not working because the power was out to the building. He took me through an employee entrance to get to the front desk. Our room was very hot when we checked in. It took about an hour and a half to get power back. An hour and a half after that we realized that the air conditioner in our room was broken. We got another room and then my daughter spent the next 2 hours howling at the top of her lungs because her tooth hurt (which we had to get pulled the next day).

John 16:32-33
“A time is coming and in fact has come when you will be scattered, each to your own home. You will leave me all alone. Yet I am not alone, for my Father is with me.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

The past few days have been an extension of the trials that Satan has been throwing our way. I'm positive that he doesn't want any of us "disciples" here. I started a new job on Monday doing maintenance. It has been very challenging. I work for a courthouse and jail. I am working right next to high ranking officials, violent criminals, and so many things I have never fixed before...overwhelming. Day two and three got better and better though. I prayed for peace and to release my anxiety and God has once again amazed me. I am feeling much more confident that I can do his work there.

We are still living out of our suitcases even though we are in our own place for a bit. The end of our living situation is still on the horizon. We are looking at several locations to set up or home more permanently. Our desire is to live where we can be the most useful to our church family as well as reach out to our neighbors.

It has been a tiresome week (it's Wednesday). Perhaps by the weekend we will slow down a tad bit. If not, there's coffee and my emergency fuel - Monster.

Ephesians 3:20-21
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Day 5 & 6

Been staying with an amazing couple in Spokane. We have been amazed by the love they have shown to us. We truly feel like part of the family.

Romans 15 31-33
Pray that I may be kept safe from the unbelievers in Judea and that the contribution I take to Jerusalem may be favorably received by the Lord’s people there, so that I may come to you with joy, by God’s will, and in your company be refreshed. The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

It has really been refreshing to spend time with the DeWolfs. It is like an instant family. We have gained so much from being with them; parenting tips, life experience, and such a generous heart. It is inspiring and is really convicting too. We want to carry there hospitality on in Tri Cities.

The brothers and sisters here have collectively been so encouraging. The evidence of God's grace is strong. Praise Jesus all you saints!

Day Four

Made it to Washington! Stopping in Spokane for a few days to visit with the brothers and sisters there. We were all pretty "done" with driving. It has become a bit more challenging to be patient and loving with each other.

I felt the gravity of our move today; a whole city to evangelize. I don't even know half of the team yet and we are to become a unified family.

Leviticus 26:11-13
I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

This scripture came to mind as I thought of other people in the bible who needed reminding of who they were. I need to draw strength and confidence that God is with us. He said it of them and also of us.

We are his people and he will accomplish his great and perfect plan in Tri Cities.

Day Three

Missoula.  Favorite day so far. We only had to drive 5 and 1/2 hours. Mountains were beautiful! They even have good vegan friendly restaurants.

It has become more real; we really are moving to start a church. It will be a few weeks until we have a home. I have thought frequently about how men like Paul went from place to place not only planting churches, but creating loving families of disciples.

Matthew 8:20
Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”

Jesus spent his whole ministry going from place to place. I don't necessarily see us doing this, but I have a new perspective on my view of being a disciple. I think we needed this kind of change, challenge, and faith to continue being the new creation God intends for us all.

The kicker for me is that I believe more than ever that so many more of us should be living like this too. Not that we move far away (but maybe), but live like we have nothing except God's purpose to live out.

Day Two

Ended up in Billings MT tonight. It was our longest trek of our trip. The giant plains fire added an extra hour because we had to go around it. Kids actually did really well with our 12hr drive.

When my back is tight, eyes burning, and arms numb from gripping the wheel...it's hard to think about why we are doing this. I need to take little moments along the way to remember. Although we are excited about things personally, we are even more excited about what God is going to do when we get there.

One thing I am looking forward to is spending time with the disciples there.

Rom 1:11-12
I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong—that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.

I think the church will start well if we are unified and full of brotherly love from the start. See you all soon!

Day One

Left Madison today and finished our day in South Dakota. The highlight was the morning prayer and song time in the car. Low... 30 min of a hysterical child screaming during the drive.

Tomorrow I am excited to see the Corn Palace here in Mitchell SD. My inner Chevy Chase can't resist. We will also hit up Mt. Rushmore if possible.

Today I reflected on my heart and attitude leading up to our move. It's been all over the place. I had been a little sad about my friends being a bit scarce during this process.

Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

I have found myself to be falling quite short in emulating Christ in this way. I will continue to pray about this and would appreciate any if your prayers as well.