people.

The night is ending... Springfield is hours from being over.

The trip that was once dreaded is now a bitter sweet reality that it is over. I will miss the people the most. The faces have become a friendly site to see every day. Two weeks gives just enough time to really realize you wish you had more time to be around those who you have so easily grown attached too. And there were quite a few you wish you had more time to be with.

I think Hannah and I just pray that we do well on keeping in touch with everyone we have meet.

To the friends of PFO, CS 07... It's been an honor to meet you all. I will do my best to keep in touch. Our paths will cross again. I promise ;)


love.

Time has gone very fast here at school of missions. I think it's going to be sad to go, we've made a lot of friends here and there has been many good conversations. The woman who is processing out stuff to go to Belgium is really young and we've connected some since I've been here, but last night we went out for coffee and it was just a refreshing time talking about all kinds of things and issues.

Tonight we went to a Mexican restaurant with some others that are here with us (two Brazilians) and there was a couple in a booth not too far from us. Our friend went over and started talking to them and he said something about being missionaries and the woman started saying how she has a demon of death inside of her and all this stuff. They prayed for them, but then they came over to us and said thank you and started talking again about her life and how she has two sisters, who are married to pastors, that don't talk to her... she's the black sheep she says. Eventually she started talking about anger towards God and depression, but she knows everything about God she says because she's gone to church for 10 years. It's so obvious that she's seeking for truth. Maybe she's become numb? Or maybe there is some bitterness towards her sisters? She was not open to changing. It's amazing how Satan can keep people in such tight bondage that they're afraid to leave it. That was an interesting night. Hopefully it planted some seeds for both of them. It's only God who can change someone.

Tomorrow we'll be commissioned. Then we leave 2am Saturday morning to take me to the airport.

Prep

We spent this last weekend visiting my cousin Stephanie, her husband Paul, their twin boys Gabe and Ben who are turning five in November, and their 2 year old Lib. It was so refreshing and relaxing being together with them for a couple of days. It's the part of my family that I have always wanted more time with but geographically strained to having more time. Paul is the senior pastor of a church and he gave us an opportunity to share with the church there about what we're doing and they took up an offering for us. Everything that has been given to us has been a huge blessing, so we're very thankful. Plus each time I speak I'm stretched a little more and I know that's good for me. The first service the video we wanted to share didn't work all the way through and so I was thrown off and nerves overtook my body and my speech. The second service was a lot smoother. It's all a learning experience.

I was talking to a friend today about what it's been like to be here at missions school, and what I find is that right now Nolan and I are completely focused on this call on our lives. There is NOTHING else that we're doing right now. So, even though it seems completely inconvenient to have to be here for two weeks, just being able to focus this hard on our call and mission, with absolutely no distractions, is worth it. We've been able to talk through a lot of things and individually think through a lot of things that are preparing us for what's ahead.

On top of that the people we are meeting here are incredible. If it wasn't for the fact that I can't bare to be away from the daycare kids much longer, I would actually love to be here for the whole five weeks, just to spend more time with some of these people. It's been cool to see who God has brought us into conversation with while being here. One of my biggest dreams is to start creating short term missions trips for around Europe. While being here I already know several places where we can take the trips to, and I found myself in a conversation with a guy yesterday who is doing exactly what I want to do for Europe, here in the US and he wants to take what he's doing to Europe, so it's just cool how God brings things together. I could go off on that dream forever, but I'll save it for a different post.

Pray for us while we're here, that God would continue to prepare us for what he's called us to do.

springfield. day06

Today has been very inspiring. Good teaching. Good people. Good times.

Tonight I meet some of the people here at Starbucks. It's been a REALLY long time since I have been in that type of environment where the conversation was about the Holy Spirit ;) I actually really enjoyed it too! It's been good to be here. Listening and watching has been very inspiring.

I really believe that the faith Hannah and I have had for raising our funds has expanded. We are wanting everyone to know that JAN08 is when we are wanting to be out of here! What does that mean for those that read this blog...??? We need your help in getting to Europe. Seriously, send us an email through this site if you would like to talk or ask questions. Hannah and I are more than excited and confident in what this next chapter is holding and we are learning to become more and more responsible for the call that has been given upon us and we need you to help us get back to Europe!

Check out some areas we are going to be updating. ( some areas are updated ) Take some time to just check out the Missions Status text and FAQS for our calling if you would like more information.

I wanted to share this video as well. Please pray about supporting Hannah and I.



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Springfield. day05

Nolan has been doing much of the talking thus far and I had a great night so I wanted to share a little bit...

We took a small trip to the Target around here, which is a little lacking because they have 6 Walmarts and I guess the people prefer that to Target, anyway... when we got back to the campus our contact person to the assemblies of God, Joani, was sitting outside and we started talking and it turned into a very in depth conversation about what we're learning at this point in our lives. One thing I value most is the ability to be open and honest in conversation and through talking to her she was able to point out God's hand in our lives and me in hers as well. I just love those conversations that are edifying and that's what it was. It makes me wonder why it doesn't happen more often. I think I tend to, when I'm being open, become negative and that takes away from the uplifting experience when you're sharing with someone. It's important to find that balance of being honest yet being uplifting at the same time. It's conversations that recognize the things God is doing and are able to build our faith in a way that we cannot do on our own. It's the great part of being in a community of believers.

springfield. day04

• Last night it was hard to fall asleep. While Hannah was in the dorm area for the evening I was playing volleyball outside for 3 hours. During those 3 hours I exposed myself to multiple beatings by the other team, especially one of the girls who served rather hard! My arms are still sore!
• Today was had sessions on taxes and insurance! We must say the taxes information was a little over my head! Too many terms I had no clue what they meant. Hannah said that it made her sick to her stomach listening to it all, a little overwhelming!!!
• Hannah is excited that tomorrow she is having breakfast with the first speaker we had this morning. This lady had lived in Brussels for 12 years with her family and she was speaking on inter-cultural "stuff" ;) and it was right up Hannah road! So she is pretty excited.
• Tonight my dad and I purchased the MLB.TV subscription so we could watch the Cleveland Indians anytime we wanted. Tonight they did us a favor by winning!!!
• Ran out of our Krispy Kreme dozen box! Serious issue there!!! ;)

Missions UPDATES ;)

• On the right hand side here you can see we added a quick links to supporting Hannah and I. As we are receiving new ways of being able to support us we would like to share that.
• On a support note, we have updated our MA Status page and you can see how things are going. We are so thankful for those who have supported us already and we would be honored if you would join with us in helping us reach Europe with the hope that we are sharing.

springfield. day03

Today was our first regular session you could say. When we received our schedule they were telling us how this year they were trying to give more free time to everyone to get to know each other and all. Well, we sure did have a lot of sessions still ;) Lots of information today! And I think it's only going to get heavier! But, I must admit that it's been really good to hear.

Hannah even mentioned today that the common age of those attending this thing has been pretty young. I am amazed at how many are going overseas to serve for a year or two. Everyone hear is pretty darn passionate too about going to their places to start serving. We've been talking to a few people today and it's just great listening to what people are saying. Refreshing you could say.

Tonight we were able to play some volleyball outside the room here and even Hannah played, which was amazing for those who know her, she really isn't the get dirty-competitive type, but she was out there playing hard ;)

For those who are reading this that our supporting us or are going to, I really want to share gratitude to you all. Right now Hannah and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for your being apart of this journey together with us. Listening to peoples stories and hearing the speaking today just makes us want to get back to Europe. I truly hope we will be able to share with you everything that God is doing. It's such a priviledge to be able to be able to take part of it.

Sorry that there are no pictures, but silly me left the camera battery at the house. Thankfully it is in the air now and should arrive soon so we can post some pictures ;)

springfield. day01

We made it to the HQ of the AG, here in Springfield, MO. We stopped last night to break the trip up a little, so todays drive was about 6 hours.
Our roomates next door are going to northern China to teach English. They graduated South Eastern some years ago and they actually knew Jebeles and a few other friends from Chicago area, so it was nice talking with them at dinner tonight.

Hannah and I drove the strip here where the school is located and made it to Krispy Kreme! I am so excited!!! We also took a little stop by the mall to get some "more" clothes for Hannah ;)

Not sure where we will go for church tomorrow, but we would really like to go to Lamberts. I hear it's the place to go!

Sturgis this week, Springfield next two weeks.

Full report from Hannah coming soon....

Highlights:
Wedding
Friends
New Friends
San Fransisco
Baseball Game
Muir Woods
Good Laughs
Bad Traffic
Decent Gas Prices
Amazing Scenery


Trip Details:

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Our trip was so enjoyable. The wedding was absolutely beautiful, up in the mountains with nothing else around, and you could see the stars at night. I'm so thankful we had the opportunity to be there and support this couple who is very special to me. It was also special because Nolan got to get to know some people who have been very important to me and the journey God has taken me on, so now these two worlds have collided a little bit and that is a great experience. Words can't express what I feel, but the pastor said a few things during the rehearsal and ceremony about how marriage is about having the privilege to serve the other first.

After the wedding we got to spend a day in San Francis, which is a place I have always wanted to visit, and Nolan as well. It was so beautiful and a wonderful day to go, it was just really cold in the city. First we went hiking through the redwoods and got a view of the mountains. Then we took a tour around the city and saw the golden gate bridge. There were just so many places where you could see a birds eye view of everything. We feel very grateful for all we've experienced on this trip. To be honest I didn't want to leave at all, but that's being selfish. I have to just trust God on where he leads us.

Califorinia Here We Come

Well, we are off to wedding #1 in California this summer. It's 3:44 in the morning and everything is about in its place. Abe is not sure why we are up so early. I really wish we could take him. Now a two hour drive to the airport!!! And that reminds me I need to go get some more directions!

Well... we will post pictures soon! We are back in the mid west again early Monday morning! We sure took the early/late flight, but you can't beat that for less than 2 bills roundtrips. I guess we won't complain too much ;)

Miss everyone!