Sadness

We are all very sad that Miles sister passed away last Monday the 11th of April.  We had been visiting our children in San Diego when we heard the news.  I had just dropped Miles off at the airport and was on my way to Yuma AZ. to visit my parents.  The family is doing well even thoug it was a shock.  There will be a memorial service for her on april 29th.  Reminder to us all to stay plugged in to the only true source of strength,
"Jesus Christ".  When life gets too hard to stand, Get on your knees!

On a lighter side, my father is doing much better and is working hard at getting out of the nursing home in Yuma so that he can go home.  He looks much better than he did while visiting here at Christmas.  Our oldest son Josh spoke at a Calvary Chapel church in Alpine, CA while we were there on the topic of, "God's view of Sex and Abortion".  He did a great job.  God is doing a great work in his life.  His daughter Ainsley is at that cute stage where she is smiling in response to talking to her.  We had a great time getting to know her.  Her mother Allyl is doing fine after the birth and is looking forward to getting back to work.  We are very proud of both of them.  We also visited our youngest Trent and his wife Kristie.  They are in the procwss of a transition in their lives as Trent pursues his Masters degree.
Our praise is that we are at 54% of our total need for leaving.  If God has laid giving toward His ministry with us on your heart,  may I be so bold as to say that this would be a good time.The last half they say is the hardest to bring in.  To meet our August first leave date we have to have raised 100% of our need prior to that. 
Work Visas have to be applied for and are only good for 90 days once granted.  If we don't make the deadline then we have to start the visa process over again and re-schedule our training to not be able to leave until after the January 2012 training.  We have our passports, Visas allow us to come into a specific country and have to applied for individually.

God is in control of our leave date but we are moving forard trusting that August 1 will happen.  We cannot do it alone.  We have asked everyone that we know.  Would you be willing to invite a small group of friends into your home for a dessert or dinner that we could share with?  It is only through more folks hearing about what God is planning for us that we will be successful.  Romans 10: 14 says: ¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Many have asked me, "How can you go across the world to help when we have so many needs right here in our own backyards?" My answer to them is the same.  Not all are called to "The uttermost parts of the earth.  Our call to MAF has been clear.  Matthew 28:19-20 ¹⁹ Go therefore^[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We pray that those of you that have felt the Holy Spirit leading them to support us will take that step now so that plans can be completed.  To God be the glory for rasing the support so far and completing it in His time.