Thursday, February 16, 2012

Quick Update - Seattle

We are gearing up for a quick trip back to the Seattle area to speak in two churches and some small groups as well. Though our time will be short there, we are looking forward to seeing friends and family and will hopefully enjoy some down time too.

Here's some things that you can be praying for:


  • Please pray for health and safety as we travel.

  • Pray that God would use our stories to touch and encourage people as we share

  • Pray that Callie would sleep okay (she'll be in the closet off of our room) and that we get some sleep too. For those of you that know me (Ellie), I NEED my sleep!

  • Pray that God would use these opportunities to grow our prayer and financial team. We are still hoping to be at 80% of our monthly ministry support by August.

Thanks to those of you that have encouraged and supported us in this journey. If you have a church, small group, bible study, or any other venue that might like to hear us share, please let us know!

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Morning Surprises

Yesterday morning we awoke to about twenty piles of cat barf and a leaky hot water heater that had started to flood our downstairs laundry room, continuing a string of frustrating trials and setbacks. Before we even discovered these things I actually prayed, "Okay God, I don't know what is going to happen today and I pray that you take these trials away, but if they are going to continue, please help us through them!" Shortly after that we noticed the barf and the leak. Matt and I just looked at each other and had to laugh. "This is ridiculous!" In all of this however we are finding things to be thankful for even in the trials themselves, like how lucky it was that we discovered the leak before it flooded the entire basement!

We have begun to really identify with the verse in 2 Corinthians when Paul says "We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." Is this all a coincidence? I don't think so. We are getting ready to serve in a country in which the majority of the people do not know the love and freedom that can be found in Jesus. There is an enemy that wants to stop us and to discourage us, but we know and hold onto the truth that God has called us to serve the precious people of Indonesia and He is more powerful than any opposing force. I believe He has allowed these things to accomplish His purposes and we are being refined on a daily basis. There have been days of discouragement, frustration, and I have cried often, but we have grown so much! He has asked us to follow Him no matter what the cost. When I am reminded of the stories of lives that have been impacted in such incredible ways, it gives me a new perspective on our current troubles. Is it all worth it? You bet.

The culprit

Funny Big Brother


"This is what God the Lord says - he who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Isaiah 42:5-7