6 is the new 8

I'm biting the bullet. I've been wanting to do this for awhile now, but just haven't had the gumption to do it. Kayleigh helped jump start me this morning, so I figured, "Ok, today is the day." Today is the day that I (begin) to become a morning person. I say "begin" because I know this is going to be a process, a transformation if you will. See I am definitely not a morning person, but neither am I a late night owl... I guess you could say I'm more of a mid-morning/afternoon person. Lately my alarm clock has been my daughter, and she's been waking up about 8 am. And just about every night before I get in bed, I think about the things that didn't get done that day. An intriguing thought or a fun experience that didn't get blogged about, a chapter of a book that didn't get read, laundry that didn't get washed, a prayer time that got cut short, and some days a shower that didn't get taken.

I probably won't be jumping out of bed and getting the laundry going or typing up an inspiring blog entry... but I will take the time to get myself ready for the day. Physically ready for what God has in store. Spiritually ready so that I can know what that is.

So my 8 is now 6. I'm going to become a morning person. It won't be easy... in fact I'm sure that some mornings I will put up a very weak fight, turn the alarm off and roll over in my bed. But hopefully I'll grow more accustomed to 6. Hopefully I'll like how 6 changes me and that will be my morning motivation.

When/where you can see us...

June 5th FCC Beardstown

June 12th Madison Park Christian Church-Quincy

June 13th MPCC’s DayFest

June 26th Virginia Church of Christ

June 26-Jul 1 LaMoine Christian Service Camp (Junior 1)

July 2 LaMoine Christian Service Camp (Day Camp)

July 3 FCC Beardstown

Filling up

Filling up our gas tank is something we all do quite frequently. It seems like we are doing it more this home assignment because we are traveling more. But one thing we’ve learned is that this is exactly what home assignment is all about--filling up our tanks. It’s not about our gas tank, but about our spiritual, relational and emotional tanks.

Living in a different culture, speaking a difficult language, attempting to minister to lost souls while maintaining your own can be draining. When we arrived on United States soil, we felt like we were running on fumes. Two months into our home assignment though, we are noticing the gauge on our tanks is steadily rising.

Invitations to play a round of frisbee golf or homerun derby, going to playgroups, sharing meals with family, shopping with the girls, seeing grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins all play with Kayleigh, going to baseball games and watching the NBA finals with friends (even if our teams always lose) have all helped fill our tanks.

Recently, we have been filled up through our presentations. So far we’ve had the opportunity to share with some of our supporters, elders/staff at Maryland Community Church, Beardstown Christian Academy, and a small group. Each meeting has revived us and given us more passion to see Taiwanese people come to the Lord. Many have asked questions about our life and ministry in Taiwan and even spoken some encouraging words that have been a fuel our souls needed.

We can’t begin to thank the Lord enough for the ways that we have been encouraged the past two months. We know that when August 30th rolls around and we board the plane bound for Taiwan, our tanks will be overflowing. Because the Lord has used you to encourage us and excite us about our next term in Taiwan.