An Awesome Present

Hands down, I'd have to say the best earthly present I've ever received is my family. But tonight's birthday present was a pretty awesome one too.

Yup, that's right! We've finally got our PNG visas!!!

We are so excited to see how God has brought each detail together on this journey so far. It's hard to believe we're actually about to go to PNG. It's been a dream for so long. But as I looked tonight at our visas attached to our passports, it really hit home. We're really going!!!

It's not going to be an easy road ahead. Language learning is going to be tough. Culture shock is always difficult. Our stress levels are going to increase.

Yet through it all, we're so excited to have this opportunity to take the Gospel where it hasn't gone. And we know God is faithful and is strong when we are weak. He has done such amazing things already!

Approved and Amazed!

Attention ladies and gents! We have a very important and exciting announcement to make!

We have reached our required financial support level (they say we're at about 79%), and we are officially approved by New Tribes Mission for going to Papua New Guinea in July!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We are absolutely thrilled with this news (in case you can't tell)!!! :) One (giant) step closer to being able to take the Gospel to people who haven't been able to hear it!

So as soon as we receive our visas (our passports are on their way to the embassy as I write this), we will purchase our plane tickets, hopefully by the first week of July!

Thank you all SOOOOOOOO much for your prayers!!!! It's so surreal... we almost can't believe it's really happening... we're really going! Praise God!!!

Thank You!

About 34 days until we leave! Time is flying!

As we start to wrap things up here in the States, I wanted to take some time to thank all those who have stood behind us in so many ways. I can't even begin to say how much it's meant to us!!

Thank you to all those who are standing with us in prayer! We know there are so many who faithfully pray for us. It's so comforting and encouraging to know this, especially when times get tough. Thank you!!!

Thank you to all those who are supporting us financially! We recognize that financial giving is a sacrifice, and we are so humbled and grateful for your desire to stand behind us in this way. Thank you!!!

Thank you to all those who have given gifts! It has been such a blessing to receive some of the items we would like to take overseas with us. Below is a picture of just a few of the items we've received (and yes, that is homemade goat's milk soap in the box! Amazing!!). Thank you!!!

A HUGE thank you as well to the elderly lady who is allowing us to live in her fully-furnished home for free while we are here in Oregon! What an incredible blessing it has been to us! Clint has been able to log on the property and sell firewood to cover our living expenses. We've been able to keep two horses here while we waited to sell them. And it's in a beautiful location with a bit of land. So thankful!!!

As Paul puts it in 2 Corinthians 9:12-13: "This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else."

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

Goodbyes

There's one thing about missionary life that no amount of training can ever prepare you for. When it hits, it hits you hard. And it hurts. Bad.

Goodbye. I hate the word, yet it's a reality of life, especially for a missionary.

We had to say goodbye to my family today, and it hurt. Even though we don't leave for Papua New Guinea until the end of July, we probably won't get another chance to get back to Georgia again.

It hurts. I've left part of my heart in Georgia, and I know they've left some of theirs with us. It hurts knowing that Kyler isn't going to grow up knowing his extended family very well, and they are going to miss seeing the precious little moments in his life.

It hurts! And yet I'm reminded of the truth that to hurt is precious because it means you love a lot. If I didn't love, it wouldn't hurt, and that would be far worse.

One day, God is going to remove that hurt forever. It will be so, so worth it all in the end. So thankful for that beautiful hope!

Worth a Thousand Words

A few pictures from our time in Georgia so far. Loving this little baby!