We are SUPER excited about the next stages in our journey to meet our Echelon team in Uganda and then South Sudan. We have a more definite timeline now since we have been officially job matched with our team. We await the meeting of the IMB (International Mission Board) trustees in March. Please pray that God will grant us favor in this final stage of the whole applicatin process that we need with our sending agency. Our appointment service will be May 23rd where we'll be commissioned.
Pray for wisdom for us as we are intentional about our final year in America-with our families, ministry, jobs, and everything that has to be done to prepare to go. The reality is truly sinking in now and it is of course somewhat bittersweet as we will be preparing to say goodbye to those whom we love so dearly. Please pray God will give us His continued peace that surpasses all understanding.
It is our prayer that when people commend us for our sacrifice that we are able to testify that it is NOT us. God has called us and we are just trying to be faithful and obey. We are NOT super Christians or extra holy or ANYTHING like that. We love God, He has called us to Africa, and if we truly love and trust Him we will follow. We realize that by worldly standards we are foolish in the eyes of the culture-we have great jobs with promising futures, we are surrounded by an incredible family who showers love on us, a community of friends who are so faithful, and a church family who has genuinely supported us and sacrifically loved us over the years. We feel so blessed and humbled that God has surrounded us with you as our cloud of witnesses over the past several years.
Yet as believers we are not called to stay where we are comfortable. We must be ready at all times to follow in obedience to where God is leading next. For us, He is calling us to the unreached, unengaged people groups of South Sudan. Who are we to tell God no? We are trusting that He has our best in mind. We know the TRUTH- that it is only Jesus who can save souls and the way to eternal life. It is His command that we go and tell this GOOD NEWS to those who have never heard-for us this means the beautiful people of Uganda and South Sudan. So we step out on faith, trusting and believing with all of our hearts that God will hide us in the shelter of His wings and fill us with His Holy Spirit as we journey to Africa!
"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him." Hebrews 11:6
