Endings and Beginnings

We spent a few weeks mid July in Montana settling our stuff and ourselves. Our stuff made into a storage shed at Mandy's parents place and we were able to settle in and enjoy some family time and make some new friendships with families from the area. The boys needed to have that time to adjust and build relationships instead of thinking of saying good bye to all they know stateside. Jeff and I are so thankful that the Lord sees and knows our boys so well that he provides what they need- when they need it. 

                           

Drove across the border to Salmon Idaho for the day and found these 2 ready to pose for a photo.

A hail storm came through and pounded our roofs. We looked outside to see golf ball size hail balls coming down.

We finished July with camping and time in Portland. Our family camp this year was an opportunity to be present and enjoy the time with family all together knowing we won't be here next summer. The boys paddled the river like experts and enjoyed jumping off rocks with their cousins. 

The mornings were slow and we started our day worshiping together and hearing a devotion from the book of Phillipians. By the end of the week, my brother in law- the pastor, asked if there was anyone who would like to be baptized and 5 responded. I guess I should also include that other campers had joined our morning time together and the lord was using it to draw us and others to Himself. What was exciting, was Jedidiah, our oldest responded to that invitation too, and asked to be baptized in the Rogue River. We included the photos below along with my nefew, Jeff's mom, being baptized. They were joined by a few others too!

We officially cleaned out our house this last week and moved our stuff to store in Montana at Mandy’s parent’s. August 2019 is about closing one chapter and opening another. As we’ve been leaning into the Lord and trusting Him with all these new decisions, we’re getting a bigger glimpse into the story He is writing in our lives. We are so thankful for relationships, old and new, those who have encouraged us and those who are serving alongside us in this new adventure.

An empty house. Seems strange but this brings to mind the day we moved in where we prayed the Lord would use this house for his glory and as a place to offer rest for those who would come over. It has. Now, 11 years later, we are stepping into another chapter with a prayer that the Lord would use us and whatever we have to brig Him and His name glory by telling others of His love.

A part of leaving is remembering. We went on a trail that was put in shortly after we bought the yellow house. A trail we have walked over a 100 times. It holds so many memories. The boys grew up climbing and adventuring on the Tickle Creek Trail. We went walking to remember the time the Lrod gave us here and to take photos to mark this time of endings. 

Eli at the measuring tree.

Jed at the measuring tree.

Ben at the measuring tree.

Our house in Sandy will close just 2 weeks before we leave for Kenya and Lord has been so kind to help us schedule all the appointments we need in preparation to go. We are still planning on leaving October 7^th, 2019 with our final funding deadline is September 18^th quickly approaching. We are seeing God do extraordinary things in preparation and provision. He deserves all the glory in everything that’s coming together to make this journey possible.  He is doing something that would be impossible for Jeff and I in our own strength. We are thankful to Him for how He is perfectly working out all the details.