Well, a lot has gone on since our acceptance with TEAM International in July! Angel and I have been going in so many different directions with our "double-lives" (missionaries + teacher/mom & CEO) that the getting to sit down and update everyone totally fell off of our plates! God is doing cool things for our family and I get to brag about that almost daily. There is so much to be grateful for and I don't use that phrase lightly. At the same time God continues to bring us into that humbled relationship WE need and reluctantly ask Him for in our time of communication.
October has been a good month for us as we have really started to make strides in fundraising. We have had people stepping up and committing to be a part of what God has for our family in Barranquilla. At last check our funding was 40% complete which is huge! These gifts have allowed us to move up our timeline from August to May in order to hit the earlier trimester of language school. There have been challenging moments as no one really likes asking for money but at the same time, it has been great to see God move through people in ways we don't feel worthy. I was reminded of this verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:24,
The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
Another big thing coming up that you can see in our important dates on the 12 Degrees North website is our Colombia trip. We are less than 9 days away from our first 'vision' trip down to Barranquilla. Angel and I are so pumped with anticipation as this is a big step in answering a lot of questions about our future home. Our TEAM Missions Area Leader (MAL) and our Bridge senior pastor will be joining us which will add a lot of great opportunities to create a unified group in our ministry. What is a vision trip you ask? Well, it is a lot rolled into one trip. This is the chance we have to not only meet our ministry partner in Barranquilla at the church we will be ministering through, but it is also a focused time for us to look at schooling for our girls, find housing, check car costs and compare those living expenses from what we are used to here in the States.
People have been asking how they can be praying for our family during this time and we appreciate it so much. Our pray partners are truly a big deal to us more than you will know. There are a few things we need prayer for right now:
1. Safety and patience as we travel to Colombia. Pray we remember that God is in control and everything is in his timing guidance.
2. Prayers for new ministry partners/donors to come along and be a part of our ministry. Language school is 6 months away. We will not leave until we have raised 100% of our support.
3. Pray for us to continue to be humbled in this process. We know that God has "allowed" us to be a part of what He is doing in the world but at the same time in our own human way we can take on the pride of ownership we do NOT deserve.
4. Prayers for our kids. They are doing really well and have even surprised us with how well they have taken to moving to a foreign country. Angel and I both know it won't be that easy once the transition occurs for sure. Praying that God will surround those three little beauties and keep the enemy away is so appreciated.
Thank you so much for taking the time to allow us to be a part of your lives. We feel honored and privileged you visit our website and check out what is going on in our journey. God Bless!