Family on Mission - Part 2

 Photo credit: DailytimewithGod.com

Part 1 of this 5 part series (which you can read HERE) shared a little bit about the calling we feel to go on this mission trip. I would like to share more about why we are going as a family.

Most mission trips are made up of independent individuals, unrelated people coming together to form an eclectic group to go somewhere for a week in order to evangelize 1 on 1 about Christ. They connect when opportunities arise, of course. And yes, most of the time they live their lives in front of them in a Christ like manner, but they are individuals living life in their own way. Women might connect with some women, and men to men. But the best connections are when they can see how you operate on all levels in front of them. By this I mean as a wife, as a mom, and as a woman. Going somewhere as a family on missions opens up all of these aspects of my life without me even having to open my mouth. Living life is now a transparent thing and breaks down walls and opens up conversations quicker than you can imagine!

Going on missions as a husband and wife together...
How many trips do spouses go on together? Not many. Most of the time someone has to stay behind to work in order to pay the bills, or take care of the kids, or it is just not financially feasible in their mind. But a lot can be shown as an example of Christ by how a husband loves his wife. And how a wife respects her husband. We can speak without words by simple actions in front of them. If we act in selflessness, we are different. Different in ALL cultures (including America for that matter). We raise questions that we can then answer. It opens doors, and it opens hearts!

Going on missions as a parent with our children...

How many mission trips do parents take their children on with them? Not many. Especially not out of the country! As a mom, I don't ever want to put my children at risk. Traveling out of the country, much less to a place where not a lot of people visit does not seem like the place children should travel to. However, by taking my most precious gifts with me, I am telling the people that I trust them with my children. That I think they are worthy enough to meet some of my most valuable processions! I also get the chance to relate to them. I get to talk about being a mom and a wife. The struggles, the joys, the ways the Lord has provided. I have the chance to model what a selfless mom does for their children (or tries to do....this will need some extra prayer y'all!). I will have the opportunity to model what building my children up looks like and how we laugh, play and love as a whole family! And I get to show them true obedience by following God's instructions for us to go on this trip - no matter what fear I might have.

Be strong and courageous. 
Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, 
for the LORD your God goes with you; 
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
-Deuteronomy 31:6
 
And lastly, I get to share what adoption looks like and means first hand. A concept that they have never heard of, nor can fathom. The PERFECT example of God's love for us! And I get to share that when they ask questions because they are curious. We will get to answer questions about how God has forever changed our hearts and lives through obedience! And that He can do the same for them! We will get go show them how we love our children unconditionally just as if we birthed them. And that our Lord loves us the same way!

Family ministry is something most of us only have the chance to do if it is local. God has impressed upon our hearts that the need is GREAT for us to do this in the hardest to reach places of this world He created.
Psalms 72:17 states that "All nations will be blessed through Him and they will call him Blessed."

But we have to say YES and then GO or support sending others!
 
"And he said to them, 'Go into all the world 
and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" -Mark 16:15

None of us are exempt from this command. Our obedience will look different depending on how the Holy Spirit speaks to us.

Our family will be leaving in the Fall to go on this 8 day journey. If you would like to partner with us, you can do so in 1 (or more) of 4 ways:
 
FIRST...
You can pray for our family and our team. We are a small team of 15 traveling to this undisclosed location. We would greatly appreciate your prayers!
More specifically, you can pray that we can get Kiir's citizenship status complete by the time we need to get his Visa!
 
SECOND...
You can support our church missions garage sale! We will start taking donations in our church gym on Monday, June 30 (9am) - Thursday, July 3 (5pm). Clean out your house of everything you don't need.
THEN, come shop on July 4th at the garage sale 
to fill your house back full of stuff!!! :)

THIRD...
You can purchase a t-shirt and the proceeds will go towards our team traveling funds. They will go on sale starting NEXT WEEK! 

If you would like to pre-order a shirt, please let me know ASAP!
Here is a picture in case you wanted to know what it will look like. The awesomely talented Chuck Pope and I worked on the design together. On a side note, it will be on really soft charcoal grey t-shirt material.
You can purchase one for $25.
(but you can always donate more)!

 
FOURTH...
You can give financially! Flying a family of 4 across an ocean is not a cheap endeavor. While we set aside money we have saved, it doesn't cover all of it by any means. If you would like to help us fund the rest of this trip, you can donate through our YouCaring account HERE (the link is on the side of our blog as well.) If we raise more money than we need for our family, the rest will go toward helping fund others going on the trip, along with gifts we will take to the people we will be visiting.

Stay tuned for Part 3 to come soon! :)