Connecting the Dots!

What a wonderful time we had at Dobbins UMC's Mission Fair this weekend! It is so amazing how connected we are to people we've never met! We were connecting lots of dots this weekend as we met people who know people we love! This church is very connected to Delanco Camp- where we know Andy Bowen, Tim Bock, Jason Costomiris, the Bryski's, and many more! And then at the missions fair we met a guy who went to PBU with Josh, and Kenny Kinter's aunt and uncle, and Mark Amey (son of dear friends of my grandparents)! Plus a woman was there from Kids Alley- where we are quite connected through Josh's mom, and my aunt, and grandmother! Wow! Such a small world!

And we spoke in their worship service the next day and were so warmly received by their loving congregation! Connecting dots again... but this time the connection was our bond in Christ. It is such a blessing to worship with our brothers and sisters- whether we know one another or not! We were blessed to meet such a sister- Rose Jenkins (missions chair person) who does a fabulous job at keeping the world close to the heartbeat of their church! It was so neat to hear her passion for the lost, and her heart for the world come through as she introduced us and orchestrated the entire Missions Fair!

We are only just beginning our HMA, but we are already so encouraged that the Lord knows exactly what we need, and that He delights in providing it! It won't always be easy, but we know that the God who calls us is faithful!

Stay Tuned: Our trip to North Carolina begins Wednesday, April 1-7! Please pray for safe travels and good sleep as we share tight quarters!

4 Generations Under One Roof!

Spring is here, and with it comes a season of change! The old is passing away, and new life is taking its place- there is new grass peeking through the hardened soil, tiny leaves budding on the trees, and a few brave flowers blossoming (only to get a little snow shower this morning due to crazy Jersey weather)! In the Spring change is good- we are all tired of colds, and scraping our windshields of ice, and wearing so many layers... and we are ready for warmth and flowers, and sunshine! We are embarking on our own season of change...

In June we will be leaving our home of five years, and moving in with Josh's parents (his grandmother also lives with them). And while we know it is exactly where Jesus wants us, we know it won't be easy all the time. Please be praying for our transition- that everyone involved would have the patience, good humor, and grace needed to blend four generations into one home.

I have just finished reading a great book, that has really helped prepare my heart to make a new home for my family in someone else's home. It is called "Dwelling: Living Fully from the Space you Call Home" by Mary Beth Lagerborg. Here is a summary quote from the last chapter:

"The home our souls long for here provides a place where we're accepted as we are. It contains beauty and the comfort of favorite things, and it is a safe and stimulating place to work and to express creativity. We are nourished at the table with food and conversation and we enjoy healthy life rhythms of play and rest. At home we have the opportunity to take care of things entrusted to us and to grow in spiritual understanding. We enjoy the legacy of generations and family celebrations. We treasure a place to build friendships and a base from which we can venture into the larger world and return. We will never have home just right this side of heaven, but we can keep changing and remodeling it through life and circumstances. There's no work more rewarding."

I am excited about the challenge to create home wherever we are (definitely a good skill to have as a missionary!), to incorporate the comfort of our favorite things into our new home, and to enjoy the legacy of generations on a daily basis (having family so close is not a luxury we will have in Uganda). I truly believe that our hard work will be rewarded!

So today, thank God for the place you call home, and all those who are family! They stretch us and bless us and keep us close to the Father's heart!

-Kelly

Fatherhood

Monday was an unseasonably warm day here in Jersey so Caleb and I ventured outside to wash the van. While Kelly and Seth watched from a safe distance I taught Caleb how to spray the water on the car and then taught him how to clean the car with the sponge. Caleb only lasted a couple seconds in the actual washing of the car but he became a huge fan of the hose (surprise!). As he ran around spraying the hose, or running from me spraying the hose; I kept thinking that one of these times he was going to grab the hose and spray either himself right in the face or spray me while my back was turned. I was prepared! Suddenly I heard him crying only to turn around and see his face absolutely soaked and water just pouring off his head. At least he didn't get me! I took him inside to Kelly, who had decided to take cover in the house with Seth, and let her dry him off and change his clothes.

I share that story just so you can get a glimpse of what our days are like. Having a 2 year old and a 8 month old is tiring but no day is dull that is for sure. Last night we took a walk around the block and Seth just sat in his stroller as good as can be taking in all the sights and sounds. Caleb walked very slowly touching and picking up everything he could. He came home with a new "walking stick" and a pine cone to add to his collection. I could have made that walk in 5 minutes but it took us 45 minutes. I wouldn't trade those 45 minutes for anything!

Taking Caleb and Seth to Africa will be a challenge in many areas. However, seeing them get to know a totally different culture and probably turn out more "African" than "American" is exciting to me. To have kids who have a grasp of different cultures in our world excites me. I pray Caleb and Seth will continue to be so intrigued with their surroundings. I pray that they will jump right in and learn new things. I pray that they would come to understand what Jesus has done for them and that they would share that with everyone they see. I pray that I would be the best father to my boys that I possibly can! I pray that my days never become dull!!!

- Josh

Modest Fashion Week at SAH Missionary!

If you are interested in fashion- and presenting a modest look at the same time check out this blog- she is doing a series on modesty and fashion. And is also having a great giveaway! Enjoy!

When reality crashes through...

...and dreams become reality! Wow- ever since I was thirteen I knew I wanted to be a missionary. And I even had a particular interest in Africa. And yes, we have filled out pages of applications, and spent a weekend in interviews, and completed our Support Raising training, and gotten our table display, but it wasn't until yesterday when our prayer cards arrived that the weight of reality began to sink in. Actually holding my very own prayer card in my hand brought tears to my eyes... could it really be true? Could we finally be going back to the land that has captured my heart and gotten in my blood?!

There is no greater thrill in life than doing exactly what you are created to do! God has a purpose and a particular role for each of us to play in building His Kingdom. For some of us that role is to go... for others it is to raise children who may go... and still others need to provide the finances necessary for others to go... but all of us are called to pray and all of us are called to bless the nations in our particular way!

Praying that you would know the inexplicable joy in being exactly who you were created to be!

Photo courtesy of: http://www.landloversafaris.co.za/en/welcome.html

Prayer Cards are HERE!

Introducing myself at the Blog Party!

Welcome to our little corner of the web! I am very happy to invite everyone who is stopping by from the titus 2 blog party into our lives for the week- and hopefully longer!

The picture above is my happy little family at Christmas time. Josh and I have been married for four years. Caleb is two, and Seth is 8 months old. And Jesus is the one who holds all of our hearts together as one!

If you were here I would offer you some coffee or tea, and something warm right out of the oven (today its peach muffins, very unseasonal- but I was craving a taste of summer!). And I'm sure we would chat about your family, and my family- what the Lord has been teaching you and where He is leading you. Whenever that happens, I get excited to share how He is teaching me about His school of prayer- and how He is leading us as we become missionaries to Uganda, East Africa. We are at the very beginning of our fundraising year and very green!

I spent the first year out of college teaching at a Christian International School in Kampala Uganda, and fell in love with the people there and the slow pace of the african culture! My heart was burdened for the Missionary Kids and other Third Culture Kids and as we head back to Uganda in the Spring of 2010 we will be serving as the Campus Pastor for the International School where I taught in 2002-2003! We will also spend time discipling students at Kampala International University. We are excited about the ministries God has in store for us there- but I view my primary ministry as wife, mother and keeper of our home!

A little about me personally- I love to scrapbook, read and write. My favorite color is lime green. I love finding fun things to do with my boys. I really enjoy a good cup of coffee and deep conversation with someone dear (yes, this definitely includes my husband). I am not the best communicator when it comes to my friends- but they know this and extend me lots of grace! Being the wife of a youth pastor, I love spending time with my senior high girls- laughing with them and challenging them to fall more deeply in love with our Savior. One of my favorite moments of the day is when I snuggle my two year old down to sleep as we pray for the people we love.

Through my blog I hope to use my love of writing to encourage people to find their role in God's Kingdom- whether that be in their comfy home surrounded by little ones, or in the marketplace, or in a hut in africa! And I hope to savor each moment with my family as I take time to reflect on the sweet and not so sweet moments in our journey. This blog is used for devotional thoughts, keeping family and friends up to date with our journey, and encouraging new friends to join His kingdom work around the world! Come with us as we seek to bless the nations!

Blog Party!

It's a party! So pour yourself a cup of tea and come get acquainted!

I've just discovered a new blog through another blog... you know how that goes... It's so true that we are all so inter-connected and it is a blessing to "meet" new friends on this global web :) I am excited to expand my sphere of influence, and likewise open myself up to new influences!

Starting tomorrow there is a "blog party" going on, and I would encourage you to check it out! Just click the button to the left. Find new friends and be encouraged on your journey. It should be a blast! Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of flickr creative commons