He gives and takes away......

As many of you know we are coming to a close in our second term in Swaziland! We depart May 21st for the states for furlough (raising support at home in order to go back). A few weeks back the Lord started speaking...

Doug went with our National Superintendent to some meetings/services. There, in the Tuesday evening service the Lord began to once again speak to and break Doug's heart. He has an amazing journal entry that pretty much sums it all up (I will have to get it to share).

He came home Thursday evening, to me leaving Friday morning to a Ladies Retreat I was leading. God began speaking to me similar things through our speaker and a dear friend.

As we came back together on Saturday evening and sharing with each other what was going on (til 1am), we came to the conclusion that God was moving us, our time in our beloved Swaziland is coming to a close! God began and is still continuing to confirm over and over of what He is asking of us. Love how He confirms through worship, as I sat in service the following day, tears streaked my face as we sang songs of obedience, sacrifice and how "He gives and takes away...my heart will choose to say, Lord blessed be your name"! Gave a vision to a friend Doug was praying with, who had no idea of what was going on, and many other confirmations.

The burden, lost people.... who, the unreached..... where, good question! At this point we do not know where this call is to, but we know out of obedience we need to answer with a "Yes, we will go!" I have an amazing peace about this whole transition. We are in the process of selling pretty much everything we brought here in a container 8 years ago. God has been so amazingly faithful though in so many details with that already!

At this point we are looking forward to our time home for furlough, though we will not be in our "home" at "home" Issaquah (the term home, has such a different meaning for us now and those of you in missions totally understand. Just ask an MK (missionary kid) where home is, you will probably confuse them :). God has provided a home in Newberg, OR which we now look at and see God all over it. The thought of selling all here, not knowing where we will end up, but having the peace that state side all is sorted for us bring such amazing peace to this first born girl personality.

So, we are in transition! Walking out with our kids Obedience! God has given me amazing peace through it all though. The kids were so excited to go State side for furlough, knowing we were coming back, which was the intention. But now that things have changed, there have been a few tears and we have started our good-byes.

Doing a bible study with my ladies on David: a heat like his. She talks about how obedience is better than sacrifice..... or, as I feel know in this season God has us in "OBEDIENCE IS THE SACRIFICE"
please continue to pray with us as transition is hard, no matter the circumstances, for direction of where this move is to (still feel as though we will be on African soil, just not sure where), and our kids!