Remember this post and this one and this one?
Oh, and this one?
I know I was vague and suddenly stopped talking about everything that the Lord was/has/is doing in our life. Sorry about that. There were multiple reasons for delaying those posts. Now, however, we are ready to make it public. And suddenly, I don't really know how to tell you just all that God is laying before us. So instead, I'm going to share with you a modified excerpt of an email I sent out to our close friends and family. I will ask you that if you know the specific dates that we will be out of town, would you please keep that private and not share that in the comments. I was going to wait until we've returned to tell you what was going on, but truthfully, I need your prayers. I need you to pray over every aspect of this trip, what we will be hearing, seeing and living.
As you feel led, would you please pray over our family as we prepare, plan, travel and seek the Lord's will for our family.
So it's with excitement, much prayer and some fear that we tell you about our trip this November to African Inland Mission's Candidate Week. Yeah, missions. It's scary and exciting and overwhelming all at once. We have felt the Lord prompting us toward missions for about 4 years now. However, neither of us chose to recognize the Holy Spirit drawing our attention to the details that God was clearly placing in front of us until the last 18-24 months. So with much prayer and Biblical guidance we chose to step out and interview with Africa Inland Mission (AIM). That interview lasted 5 hours on July 15th. We found out more details about AIM and realized that for a family our size, going on the mission field through an organization like AIM just makes sense rather than trying to go at it solo. AIM has been sending missionaries to Africa for over 100 years so they are equipped and have much experience with the things that may not even show up on our radar. Plus, they have experience with sending large families to Africa.
Why Africa? Honestly, we are not sure. We've wrestled, prayed and cried many tears over the possibility of our lives being lived so far from our friends and family. No, neither of us has ever been to Africa, neither of us knows what's in store. But here's the best way we can explain the yearning we have for Africa in our hearts:
It's the same yearning a barren woman has for her unborn children. It's the same longing a person who desires marriage has for their unmet spouse. It's inexplicable as to why we ache for the peoples of Africa, yet we do. A woman need not experience motherhood to know she longs for children. A man need not experience marriage to know he desires a wife. The same is true for us and our heart's longing for Africa.
Why missionaries? Well, the Bible is clear (Romans 10:13-17 plus several others) in commanding us to make disciples of all nations and share the saving power of the gospel. For us, obedience to that command looks like missions to Africa. For you it can and will look different.
We are so excited to see how God is going to show up and work in the coming year as we gain knowledge, support and funds to head to whatever mission field God is preparing for us. We pray that you will come along side us and see how God will take our family from the impossible to a reality. We pray you will ask us tough questions, pray for our discernment, be excited with us when God works majestically and mourn with us over the heartaches we will surely face. Mostly though, we ask for you to pray for us as we step into a lot of unknowns. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps." No scripture could be truer for our season of life right now. As we plan and prepare ourselves we leave each step open to the direction of God. He has been so faithful in leading us to this point, we are certain He will not forsake us now.
This wasn't easy to write and I'm sure for some of you it hasn't been easy to read. My prayer is that you will receive this season of our lives for what it is. A family desperate to seek the will of God for our lives, knowing that our calling can and will look much, much different than someone else's. Not for one second do we believe that we are "better Christians" or "holier than you" because God has called us to such a challenge. Truly we ask you each to examine your own walks with the Lord through prayer and Biblical study. We feel confident that in doing so you will see just where God is calling you to a challenge so that only His name can receive glory, if He's not already doing so! Trust us when we say that we are NOT choosing this path for our own glorification but solely to make the name of Jesus known to all nations. If it were self glorification we desired we can think of MUCH EASIER ways to obtain it.
Finally, if you have questions please ask them. If you are concerned, please express it to us. You can email us at any point. I can promise you we will hear every word and prayerfully consider every concern and question. If you believe that we are radically throwing our safety and livelihood and that of our children into a pit then we beg you to pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede and change the desires of our hearts. Trust me when I say that I (Jessica) have prayed many prayers asking God to call us someplace else, to a completely different ministry where we can stay within the comfort of our normal lives. However, for this season of our lives, God is calling us to explore missions.
We'd jump at the opportunity to tell you more about how the Lord has led us to this place so if you want to know just ask. But be ready to spend some time with us because it won't be a quick conversation! This is a long time coming and not a decision we've made flippantly or in the last several weeks.
Obviously, we will know many more details after Candidate Week.
For more information about Africa Inland Mission you can visit their website at: http://www.aimint.org/
Thank you friends for your ever present encouragement, your constant love and your prayers.
Oh, and this one?
I know I was vague and suddenly stopped talking about everything that the Lord was/has/is doing in our life. Sorry about that. There were multiple reasons for delaying those posts. Now, however, we are ready to make it public. And suddenly, I don't really know how to tell you just all that God is laying before us. So instead, I'm going to share with you a modified excerpt of an email I sent out to our close friends and family. I will ask you that if you know the specific dates that we will be out of town, would you please keep that private and not share that in the comments. I was going to wait until we've returned to tell you what was going on, but truthfully, I need your prayers. I need you to pray over every aspect of this trip, what we will be hearing, seeing and living.
As you feel led, would you please pray over our family as we prepare, plan, travel and seek the Lord's will for our family.
So it's with excitement, much prayer and some fear that we tell you about our trip this November to African Inland Mission's Candidate Week. Yeah, missions. It's scary and exciting and overwhelming all at once. We have felt the Lord prompting us toward missions for about 4 years now. However, neither of us chose to recognize the Holy Spirit drawing our attention to the details that God was clearly placing in front of us until the last 18-24 months. So with much prayer and Biblical guidance we chose to step out and interview with Africa Inland Mission (AIM). That interview lasted 5 hours on July 15th. We found out more details about AIM and realized that for a family our size, going on the mission field through an organization like AIM just makes sense rather than trying to go at it solo. AIM has been sending missionaries to Africa for over 100 years so they are equipped and have much experience with the things that may not even show up on our radar. Plus, they have experience with sending large families to Africa.
Why Africa? Honestly, we are not sure. We've wrestled, prayed and cried many tears over the possibility of our lives being lived so far from our friends and family. No, neither of us has ever been to Africa, neither of us knows what's in store. But here's the best way we can explain the yearning we have for Africa in our hearts:
It's the same yearning a barren woman has for her unborn children. It's the same longing a person who desires marriage has for their unmet spouse. It's inexplicable as to why we ache for the peoples of Africa, yet we do. A woman need not experience motherhood to know she longs for children. A man need not experience marriage to know he desires a wife. The same is true for us and our heart's longing for Africa.
Why missionaries? Well, the Bible is clear (Romans 10:13-17 plus several others) in commanding us to make disciples of all nations and share the saving power of the gospel. For us, obedience to that command looks like missions to Africa. For you it can and will look different.
We are so excited to see how God is going to show up and work in the coming year as we gain knowledge, support and funds to head to whatever mission field God is preparing for us. We pray that you will come along side us and see how God will take our family from the impossible to a reality. We pray you will ask us tough questions, pray for our discernment, be excited with us when God works majestically and mourn with us over the heartaches we will surely face. Mostly though, we ask for you to pray for us as we step into a lot of unknowns. Proverbs 16:9 says, "The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps." No scripture could be truer for our season of life right now. As we plan and prepare ourselves we leave each step open to the direction of God. He has been so faithful in leading us to this point, we are certain He will not forsake us now.
This wasn't easy to write and I'm sure for some of you it hasn't been easy to read. My prayer is that you will receive this season of our lives for what it is. A family desperate to seek the will of God for our lives, knowing that our calling can and will look much, much different than someone else's. Not for one second do we believe that we are "better Christians" or "holier than you" because God has called us to such a challenge. Truly we ask you each to examine your own walks with the Lord through prayer and Biblical study. We feel confident that in doing so you will see just where God is calling you to a challenge so that only His name can receive glory, if He's not already doing so! Trust us when we say that we are NOT choosing this path for our own glorification but solely to make the name of Jesus known to all nations. If it were self glorification we desired we can think of MUCH EASIER ways to obtain it.
Finally, if you have questions please ask them. If you are concerned, please express it to us. You can email us at any point. I can promise you we will hear every word and prayerfully consider every concern and question. If you believe that we are radically throwing our safety and livelihood and that of our children into a pit then we beg you to pray for the Holy Spirit to intercede and change the desires of our hearts. Trust me when I say that I (Jessica) have prayed many prayers asking God to call us someplace else, to a completely different ministry where we can stay within the comfort of our normal lives. However, for this season of our lives, God is calling us to explore missions.
We'd jump at the opportunity to tell you more about how the Lord has led us to this place so if you want to know just ask. But be ready to spend some time with us because it won't be a quick conversation! This is a long time coming and not a decision we've made flippantly or in the last several weeks.
Obviously, we will know many more details after Candidate Week.
For more information about Africa Inland Mission you can visit their website at: http://www.aimint.org/
Thank you friends for your ever present encouragement, your constant love and your prayers.