How It All Began

Some of you have asked for us to post this, so here it is! Our family remembers Christmas 2005 to be rather unusual. While many people spent the holiday season acquiring gifts, we spent a cold December weekend hosting a garage sale, selling practically everything we own.

We are preparing for a major life-changing journey to Africa, for our first thirty month mission assignment.

We will work with Serving in Mission (www.sim.org), a 100+ year old international ministry that sends missionaries to more than 35 countries in the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia. We will be stationed at a mission school, teaching and ministering to children of missionaries, ex-patriates and dignitaries.

Our family’s journey, however, does not begin when we leave. It actually began in the summer of 2005, when friends alerted us to the need of mission schools in Africa. Fully staffed mission schools allow missionaries to be able to pursue their calling without the concerns of their children’s education. However, some of the mission schools are in great need of teachers. This need eventually became our call.

We both graduated from Christian international boarding high schools in N.C. and TN. Our classmates were from dozens of countries outside of the U.S. while others were children of missionaries. This experience, along with mission trips, provided a breeding ground of compassion in our hearts for missionary children.

After being made aware of the need for workers, each day and night, Africa constantly invaded our minds until we could no longer deny the Holy Spirit’s calling. During this time, we know that the Holy Spirit provided a “blessed unrest.” Finally, on one Sunday afternoon after much prayer, Jon prayed, “We are willing to go as long as You, Father, open the doors.” Jon admits that we both “felt such peace once we surrendered to His calling.”

Over the next few months, our family experienced events that we believe to be the open doors that provided the assurance of our calling onto the mission field.

A three-day seminar in Charlotte, N.C. that involved a series of interviews, exams and psychological evaluations began the process of becoming a missionary with SIM, During this weekend, our calling was confirmed and we were accepted by the mission.

Selling Jon’s lawn-care and landscaping business was one of the first big steps in preparing the family to make the move to Africa. The final papers of this transaction were signed one Friday afternoon in October, and an hour later, we departed for N.C. with our three children, Lauren, 15, Mattie Grace, 11, and Naomi, 9. Here we went through a two-week training program that included intensive courses on prayer, contextualization, Bible study, support-raising, survival techniques and more with fellow missionaries.

While in NC, our family began the required immunizations which consisted of about 10-15 shots/pills for each family member. Although only one of us passed out during these shots, we are thankful that those series are now complete. Antimalarial will be the only medication needed while on the mission field.

However, between now and the moment of departure for Africa, much still must be done. We continue to raise funds for our stay, which will cost an estimated $2,600 per month and $25,000 in one-time expenses. We are also in the process of selling our house and finding storage for a few keepsakes. We must buy supplies that we cannot get in Africa. These include everyday household items, extra clothing, and plenty of sunscreen!

We admit that our lives have already changed even before we head onto the field. We are just beginning to realize what is truly important in life. We pray that we will each be able to say with confidence that, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:3.

Higher Ways

“‘My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,’ saith the Lord. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’” Isaiah 55:8-9

The above verses have been going through our minds for the last few weeks. The assurance of this scripture has helped us be able to say, “We are so thankful that our house hasn’t sold!” Surprised to hear that? The Lord’s timing is perfect and we are just beginning to see how His ways are so far above our own. During this time of waiting for the house to sell, the Lord has redirected our path. Through much prayer, counsel and reflection, we have responded to this redirection and will be serving in Nigeria at Hillcrest Academy instead of Ethiopia. Our call to minister in a mission school in Africa remains the same. Although we will dearly miss serving side-by-side with our old and new friends in Ethiopia, we make this transition in full confidence.

Hillcrest Academy http://www.hillcrestschool.net/ is a mission school serving about 400 children of missionaries, expatriates, and Nigerians located in Jos, Nigeria. Although Hillcrest is a day school, five hostels are set up by various mission agencies to house students and teachers. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups. Located in West Africa, between Benin and Cameroon, south of Niger, Nigeria is slightly larger than twice the size of California. Jon will take on the roll of Administrative and Service Manager for the SIM Office along with teaching an 11th grade Bible class at Hillcrest. Julie will work at Hillcrest full time as a middle school English teacher. We can clearly see how past jobs have been stepping stones of experiences for these positions. We all look forward to what the Lord has in store…..knowing that His ways are higher than our own.


Praises:
Clear direction to Nigeria.

Healthy and happy family.

School’s out!! Both students and teacher (Mom) are ready for a change of pace.

Prayer Requests:
Sale of house (we are VERY ready to go now!) We still have a contingency contract on our house.

Patience as we wait on the Lord’s perfect timing.

Adequate funds for change of ministry site (we’ll need a vehicle, antimalarial meds, etc.)

Continued work for Jon while in the States.


We are so blessed to have each of you as partners in this ministry. Thank you for all the ways you have shown support. We look forward to serving on the fields of Nigeria very soon and sharing with you how the Lord is working in Africa.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions, prayer requests or comments you have.

"Best Day of My Life"

After a day of holding the 5 1/2 foot snake we found on our front porch, Naomi told us that today was the best day of her life!