Maria's Lesson On Abandoning Self

Aaron and I spent the day speaking to classes from K5 to 6th grade about missions and Kenya. We walked through what a day in the life of an African child would be like, showed them Kenyan drums and toys, taught them some swahili, and answered a lot of questions...seriously, a LOT of questions! We also took time to share the need with each class. Whenever speaking with children, we take caution in not sharing too heavy of subjects. We share stories of the need in Africa, but keep it simple and at child-level. Children are often so sensitive to the needs of others. These kids asked so many questions and were so excited to hear about God's plan for missions. It was during the 5th grade class that we met a little girl (or pre-teen, as they notified me they are called these days) named Maria.

Later in the evening we got to attend a special art show put on by these students. During the art show, Maria approached us. "I have been saving since my birthday and Christmas to get an ipod touch. While I was listening to you speak today, God really touched my heart. I decided later that I wanted to give the money to Kenya that I have saved for my ipod." She placed $100 in our hands.

Obviously tears flowed down my face as I listened to the heart of this little girl (pre-teen). What an incredible sacrifice she made. It got me thinking if I would be willing to make such a sacrifice for others? Even as a missionary, who has surrendered my life to the Lord's work, would I be so willing to give of my finances so dedicatedly saved?

Maria did more than just give money to our ministry. She reminded us that God wants all of His children, both young and old, to make such radical sacrifices. So I had to ask myself (because I am a 2nd generation over-analyzer and seeker of spiritualizing everything....thanks Dad) ...what is the "ipod touch" in my life? What in my life is God calling me to surrender to Him? Any dream, desire, goal that I am holding on to so tightly that I am not willing to give it up, like Maria did with her ipod?

"We are settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves." David Platt

Bahama Breeze comes in with a sting

Last night a wonderful family took us to Bahama Breeze Restaurant. They brought along their granddaughter, who wants to be a missionary. They were very excited to hear about our ministry and asked us a lot of questions. They asked a pretty simple question: What is the hardest thing about deputation (deputation is the process of missionaries raising support to get to the field). Besides the obviously missing family and a consistent home for our children, I answered honestly: "I think the hardest thing about it is just waiting. Knowing where God has called us and not being able to be there is so hard." The conversation moved on, but my answer bothered me. Why did it bother me so much?
Am I much like the Israelites who were literally given food from heaven, Manna. That blessing from heaven wasn't good enough. They wanted their food they had tasted in Egypt. I was just like an Israelite complainer...getting incredibly blessed by God to be used by Him to minister and share His news right here in the states, yet wanting Kenya more.
God has called every believer to step out by faith and follow Him. I was focusing so much on our ministry "tomorrow" that I am missing the blessing and opportunities of today. Yes, our hearts are in Kenya. Does that mean that I am not willing to be used by God until then? If I can't have a content spirit now, what makes me think I will ever have one in Kenya? Life is full of false promises of what tomorrow will bring. I am deeply persuaded to stop doing this! If I died today, would God say..."Steph, if you just could have made it to Kenya, you could have done great things for me." NO! I am accountable for each and every moment I live on this earth! I need to stop yearning for tomorrow and seize every moment of today. That means, not complaining in Bahama Breeze about how much I want to get to Kenya. Instead, invest in that little girl who was sitting next to me feeling God has called her to be a missionary. Encourage her, love her, pray for her. Letting go of my ambitions and serving others.
I know exactly why we are not in Kenya yet. God doesn't want us there yet. So I rest in Him and His will for our lives, taking every moment on this "deputation" process to glorify the God who graciously saved me.

We got this from a college-aged preachers daughter a couple weeks ago...after a long and very tiring month.

"...You guys probably get this a lot, but your heart for God is so obvious, and it's so great to see a couple that has so much going for them, getting so serious about the Lord!! Abi and I have been talking about you guys almost nonstop since yesterday, haha, and Dad had a testimony time last night for the church to talk about how you guys had impacted them. Many people said that your obvious compassion and burden for the people of Kenya was inspiring, and that they were very touched by your presentation. Thank you again for coming, and for confirming many things for me that God had been working on lately. I praise Him that I have a clearer direction now than I think i ever have before, and I wanted to encourage you in that, as I know deputation is hard and fast and many times one feels like they aren't making a dent or a difference. You are!!! :D Thanks again, and we will continue to pray for you as God brings in the rest of your support."

First of all, to the person who wrote this: (you know who you are) thank you for taking the time to let God use you to encourage us!

We have said this from the beginning; we don't see our ministry as starting in Kenya. It is here and now while God has us traveling all over the states, often tired and homesick, but sharing our burden for Kenya and for God's plan for missions. This sweet letter was used as a reminder and encouragement to keep pressing on. We are anxious to get to Kenya, but want to have hearts that are focusing on honoring God where He has us right now....even if it entails spending hundreds of hours more in the car with 3 children than I ever wanted. :)

I Am Going Stop Being a Grief Forecaster…

I Am Going Stop Being a Grief Forecaster…

As we traveled ALL around the states I have had a very hidden fear. This is a fear that only my husband and God have known about…until now. I have a, sometimes paralyzing, fear of my family being killed in a car crash. I am ashamed to admit how much this fear has consumed my mind.

I sit in the passengers seat and watch each semi-truck and think “at any moment this truck could come over and crush us.” I even play out in my mind what the chain reaction of that blow from the semi would be…”would we swerve into the other lane and be struck by the Suburban behind us?” “If we go into the ditch…would our car flip?” “If the car catches fire…could we get all of our girls out in time?” The list goes on and on. I know…I’m a morbid thinker! I never realized how much I had been dwelling on and consumed by this fear until last week.

We were driving from a church on Sunday afternoon. Our speedometer and gages have been messed up for about a month or so now. It pretty much says we are always going 10 mph. (Don’t worry, we have our gps that gages our actual speed limit). Anyway, we didn’t realize that this was affecting another part of our dash…the gas gage. Needless to say, we ran out of gas. On a busy highway. My biggest fear was unveiling itself. I thought…”this is it…we are about to get slammed into by one of these semi-trucks zooming by us at 70 mph.” I would be ashamed if anyone had a window into how I reacted! It was appalling…just ask my husband. On second thought, don’t ask him.

As God’s extraordinary grace works…he exposed my heart right then and there. The very same God that I have surrendered my life to, my time to, my family to, I wasn’t trusting. I’m an African missionary for crying out loud…where is my faith???

“If my life is once surrendered, all is well. Let me not grab it back, as though it were in peril in His hand but would be safer in mine” Ellizabeth Elliot

Why do I think it is my business to pry into what God has for tomorrow…or even in the next moments. It is not. My future, the safety of my family, my health, my time on earth is all in the hands of our sovereign and loving God. I will choose to stop my attempt to grab a hold of what never belonged to me…tomorrow.

READ Matthew 6:25-34 and think about what you are trying to grab back from God. Repent. Receive Grace. Choose radical reliance on God.

From Ricky Martin (3rd grade)

The Call to Ministry

Charles Spurgeon wrote in "Lectures to My Students"

"Do not enter the ministry if you can help it...If any student in this room could be content to be a newspaper editor or a grocer or a farmer or a doctor or a lawyer or a senator or a king, in the name of heaven and earth, let him go his way; he is not the man in whom dwells the Spirit of God in its fullness, for man so filled with God would utterly weary of any pursuit but that for which his inmost soul pants. If on the other hand, you can say that for all the wealth of both the Indies you could not and dare not espouse any other calling so as to be put aside from preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ, then, depend upon it, if other things be equally satisfactory, you have the signs of this apostleship. We must feel that woe is unto us if we preach not the gospel; the Word of God must be unto us as fire in our bones, otherwise, if we undertake the ministry, we shall be unhappy in it, shall be unable to bear the self-denials incident to it, and shall be of little service to those among whom we minister..."
As Aaron and I were driving home from a church visit a few weeks ago, we discussed this very thing. Would we abandoned our calling if we were offered immeasurable wealth, assurance of health and safety, and guarantee of a life of ease and comfort. We both sat quietly for a few moments and then simultaneously blurted out, "absolutely not!" The deepest of desires has been placed in our hearts, one that can only be placed by our loving God, to minister and share His gospel message. No other life would touch the one we know He has called us to. Nothing would satisfy the longing that God has placed in our heart, short of accomplishing His call to ministry in Kenya. We echo the words of Paul to the Thessalonian believers... Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. (I Thess. 2:8)
On all of this we know that our God is Sovereignly in control of our lives and our calling. This is why we press on into the life that God has called us, but with open hands. He has the right, at any moment to end our journey, call us elsewhere or even call us home to heaven. What great peace and comfort there is knowing that the same God that created Heaven and Earth, extends His grace and mercy to sinful humans, and then allows us to be used as His instruments in sharing His love! Wow...that is a life worth living or dying for!

50%

We are so blessed to have family, friends and churches that are partnering with us to get us to 50% of our support needed to get to Kenya. This may not seem huge for some, but it means SO much to us. We are now in the LAST half of our support raising and that much closer to our ministry in Kenya. It is extra motivation knowing that we could be in Kenya by next year. We are praying that God continues to bring in supporters so we can move to Mombasa by fall of 2011.
Our family has had a wonderful time traveling together this fall! Elliot has been such a great traveler and her older sisters help out so much. We have gotten to experience a lot of great things and have met some incredible people. We feel blessed and humbled to share God's call in our life with so many churches. Our prayer during this time is that God would use us to encourage other believers to pursue His will on their life.
Highlights:
Elliot is 6 months old
Claire turns 4 this month
The girls got to swim in Lake Cumberland and ride on Sea-do's
Kennedy and Claire loved going to Incredible Pizza in Iowa
Aaron and I celebrated 7 years of marriage at the end of September
We are over 50% of our support needed
Got to meet some incredible people from several great churches

Books we are reading (and recommend)
-Instruments in the Redeemer's Hands
-The Unlikely Disciple
-Spectacular Sins and Their Global Purpose in the Glory of Christ
-"The Lamb" We are reading through this with our girls-It is the redemptive story from the Genesis-Revelation!