Slow and Steady Wins the Race....

I think the tortoise and hare story has been one I've been drawn to the most these past few months... along with key Scripture verses that God has drawn me towards while teaching me the "art" of developing patience.  I can truly, truly say that I think I've come to a place where I have embraced what God's been wanting to teach me through the process.  Granted, we are not yet quite there at where we need to be for our monthly commitments, but as I said... I feel I have embraced the fact that I have to remain patient in waiting on HIS TIMING.  He will make all things come together for HIS purpose.

Speaking of "coming together for His purpose"...we have secured a renter to cover our entire mortgage... and we are in such "awe" of how God made it all work out!  We are completely at ease and at peace and know our place will be in superb hands! It's God's house anyways, so we always knew all would work out.  It's just really cool to be on this side of things now- meeting the individual who we had been praying for and always knew God had planned all along anyways!

So- I feel like there's light at the end of this tunnel.  We only have a few short weeks to finish our packing and having the house all in order as we will be back in the Midwest in June.  The girls finish school next week! Unreal!  There's a sense of excitement building....

Thank you all for walking this journey with us!

on and on...

I've added some more email subscriptions to the blog.... so I extend our sincere... "welcome" and thanks for partnering with us in Poland (even though we're not quite there yet!!).  We just purchased our tickets and are set to leave on July 27th!

I just want to post that I have been extremely humbled by God's personal love for my family through many of you... right when I need some "assurance" from Him- He's there using you.  I wasn't able to make it through Sunday's church service without the flowing of tears for many reasons, either.  One being that I just learned that good friends of ours were going to partner with us financially and they were going to start much earlier than we had asked in our letter.  This was incredibly touching to me because of just the tough year we've had with our vehicles and extra expenses and to have that extra support those few months early will help absorb some of our upfront costs (like the girls' passports--- that we have to renew because they expire next year and international insurance).  I was so touched and humbled with God's generosity for us personally.

Secondly, because I witnessed our church declare its intent to move forward with an amazing opportunity to reach more people in our community. We have been hearing about this and working up to this moment where the rubber meets the road, you know what I mean?  And to witness dozens upon dozens of people, and of all ages, walk up front to drop their pledge cards for the campaign was just so (again) humbling to be witness of and to be a part of.  I pray "big" for "others" and our church, but find myself, if I'm honest, resorting to a "but who am I to think God would do that for me" mentality. I've just been more aware that it's not the "getting" the provision met, but the awareness of WHO HE IS.  

Yes, I am saddened to be stepping away from being a part of our local church's work here for the next year and not "seeing" His handiwork, but I also know that what God is calling us to is just as important. I have no idea what He's been orchestrating behind the scenes, but I'm catching some glimpses that it's pretty awesome and I can't help but feel that somehow the work in Poland and here will be connected in a way I would've never imagined.  It's just... well, just so humbling to know God personally, to be loved by Him personally, and to see and feel His lovingkindness through His people.  What more can I say?!

So- in a nutshell, that's why I couldn't make it through church service without shedding "some" tears.

Gone Public!

Got the "official" letter from my school district accepting my leave of absence.  It was as official as you can get prior to the letter, without it being "official" if you know what I mean...but now it can become "public" knowledge in terms of my being able to share it with my staff at school, etc.  Been getting many encouraging words and I started to share it with some of my classes.  With the position I have at my school, I often have students every year for their middle school years... so we become like a family.  A few of my 6th graders had a tough time, but I think it made them feel a little bit better that I'll be back for their 8th grade year.  I had to do a better job (visual pictures and using a calendar) to explain to one new student who is new to the language... I have no one to translate for her as she speaks Arabic!  I think her tears were from the heaviness she is going through right now and thought I was leaving soon and not coming back.  She calmed down when I went a different way about trying to explain it to her.  :)  If you wouldn't mind praying for whomever will be subbing for me for the year, I'd appreciate it... it's a tough position to take on and I pray the person I'm hoping can fill in for me will get the position.

Well- that's the "latest" and looking forward to a quiet Friday evening!

Test Run?!!!

This is my attempt at a "test run" for those emails I've entered in to be "followers" of our blog.  So.... here it goes!!!

Some passing thoughts....

I knew the next few months would be incredible. Incredibly trying while I "wait"on His provisions and pieces of the puzzle that must be placed only in His time. And incredibly awesome and humbling to be deemed chosen for this task! For those who know me well, patience is something I continually have to develop. In fact, if I'm honest with myself, I try NOT to pray for it as I know I'll then have to be placed in a situation that I'll actually have to "develop" the patience. Not sure if that's the best thing to admit, but I do know that through various life experiences in "waiting on Him" I've definitely come along way. This whole entire process and journey is developing it, so I'm thinking I don't have to ask for more... if you get what I mean. :)

We have been cleaning the house and going through things to determine if it'll be "worthy" of making it to a suitcase. We are not planning on shipping anything and I'm fairly confidant we'll be able to bring all we need in suitcases. I may be completely oblivious at this stage in the game, but it's at least "freeing" for now! We are still looking for renters as our first prospects fell through. We've had inquiries, but we've had to turn down some due to pets. Pets just won't work, unfortunately, so I continue to "wait" on Him providing just the right people!

So thankful for those who have already expressed their intent to partner with us and I've been so humbled by His goodness. I love the picture of a woven tapestry... that's our lives, don't you think? I love how He continually weaves His purposes for our lives together just at the right times of our lives... and it's all so that He can be glorified. I love that.

I will close with a heart full of appreciation... may this day find you filled with the same.

Another New Beginning....

Last year around this time, we began making plans to return to Poland for the summer. Unfortunately, we had to set those plans aside due to some conflicts in summer schedules and such. Little did we know that God knew quite well what was up.... for THIS year. We made it well known that we would be returning to Poland this summer, but had no idea that God would be calling us to extend our time for an entire year!

About a month ago we were approached by ProEm ministries to come work and serve alongside them for a year. After much thought, consideration and prayer, we knew that our next step included going for the year. To basically sum up the last week prior to the day of our final decision... it was soul wrenching! When you are confronted with all your fears, it is tough to relinquish them, even though you know that the best thing you can do is give them up to Him! In our own separate ways, we had to wrestle over our decision and go before Him. In the end, we both walked away with knowing 100% that God was calling us to go.

Sharing the news with family and friends has been for the most part a blessing. We've received words of encouragement and support and many responses of "I was just waiting for this to happen!"

At the moment, most are unaware that I've started this blog up again. In time, word will spread and all can join us in the journey through the blog once again. I figured it made most sense to just pick up where we had left off!!!

Blessings...

Rumblings....

There are God rumblings... and we are excited to see what will come of these rumblings! Will post more later!!!