Spring '09 Newsletter

Our Family's Last Newsletter from the States....

The days seem to be racing by. Time is precious and it seems that we are being pressed from every side lately. Now the time has come that we begin to clean out and pack up for the big D-day which is June 2nd. Passports have arrived, plane tickets are purchased, visas are applied for and the anticipation in our home is definitely rising. This will be our last newsletter written from the states. The next time we sit down to write all of you it will be from Chiang Mai, Thailand, where we are going first for language and cultural acquisition training.

Our latest news is that yes we are expecting a new baby in late August‘09. We have already contacted and aligned an OB doctor in Thailand. Our current state side OB says that Lacy and baby are fine. He also says, “that he has no concerns about Lacy delivering in Thailand, since they have babies there everyday”. God has given us an overwhelming amount of grace and peace about traveling and giving birth in Thailand and the potential benefits for delivering there could prove to be great.

Our family was shocked to hear about the new addition but now can not wait to hold the new blessing God is giving us. God has used this time also to further our dependence on Him in so many ways. We are full time raising support and I had to stop working yet God has more than provided our needs. One example is how He used a small church in Peytonsville, TN, who gave so sacrificially that their gift provided for our families needs for an entire month. We are so humbled to see God moving in so many ways, everyday.

As we are continuing to raise monthly support and make new contacts we are reminded that God is in control and he provides as he sees fit. We are very thankful for the provisions and blessings that He provides through all of you. Thank you so much for your care and support for our family.

The Widow's Penny: Faithful Recession-Proof Giving

Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all those who are contributing to the treasury. For all of them have contributed out of their abundance; but she out of her poverty has put in everything she had, all she had to live on. Mark 12:43-44

We only share with you these thoughts because God allowed us to experienced “the Widows mite” in a gift that we recently received. So this New Testament story became alive to us in a way that only God could reveal. There was a single parent mother who came up to us and wrote out check/love gift for what we found out later was all that she had left in her bank account at that time. You want to talk about feeling small yet blessed and honored. Yet, the lesson God taught us through this divine appointment was that it doesn’t matter what is going on in our countries economy or the world around us we are living under GODS ECONOMIC PLAN and that still includes sending us going to the other side of the world and he will use people that we least expect to help us accomplish the task of the “Great Commission”.

Even though she gave "all she had to live on," the widow somehow trusted that it would not mean the end of her. She knew that what you give away comes back (in unexpected ways, sometimes multiplied), and that what you receive is not yours finally to keep. It all gets deposited into and disbursed from God's "treasury" for the good of all. It seems that, for generous people like the poor widow, helping others doesn't depend on how much or how little they think they have to spare. They have a strong sense of Gods economy and His faithfulness so giving isn't painful because they know that their gift will reap eternal returns. One of the greatest lessons we have learned and are still daily learning is that abundance comes from one source, which is God. It's up to us to let it flow through and not dam it up.

We are asking and need you to help us with the last final push to leave June 2nd (that’s just 7 short weeks away). We are still about $1200 short per month. We are looking for people to contact their home churches and see if we could present our ministry and if the church is supporting new missionaries at this time or in the near future. If we can get 15 new churches to support us we should be ready to leave when June roles around. It takes one or two phone calls for you or hundreds for us alone. If this is a way you can help please send us a quick email and let us know. We are thankful for your partnership in prayer, so also we are thankful that many of you have been able to partner in our financial support. We are grateful for the support we have been given, to be able to serve the Lord is this way.