Back in the USA

{ February 9, 2010 @ 7:56 pm } · { Update }
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Alright!  We’re breaking silence!  Let me try to bring you up to speed…

First of all, if you haven’t heard, the journey back to Vancouver and the transition back to Pacific time has gone very well.  Despite all our fears for the flight, Jude spent most of the ten and a half hours doing laps and making friends throughout the entire plane.  And after easily clearing customs we were greeted by such a great welcoming crew!

With the novelty of driving everywhere, the sheer size of things here, the pleasure of seeing Jude play with cousins (probably my favorite thing about being back in Vancouver) and with Taco Bell, Muchas Gracias, Burgerville, root beer and  a million other savory reminders all in agreement, we have almost come to terms with the fact that we are indeed back in America.
Cousins

For the present Kate, Jude, baby girl and I are all doing well.  Our agency (Worldventure) continues to be an avenue of provision and our family and friends are caring for and loving us very well.  As before, the most immediate step before us is the birth of our daughter, though we are also figuring out how we can best engage our senders in the next few weeks to reconnect and relate how we have seen God working in the past year.

I know that Kate and I both find ourselves constantly forcing ourselves to spend time in rest processing the events of the last 16 months before we come anywhere near engaging the steps God is laying before our feet.

Lastly, our most urgent plea is for people who would continue to pray for us  as we reflect during this period of furlough and preparation for what the Lord has ahead of us.

We are so thankful for everyone who supports us–individuals, our sending team, Worldventure (our awesome missions agency!) and our church.

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Updating Soon

{ February 5, 2010 @ 6:26 am } · { Update }
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Let me cut right to the chase.  As you may have guessed from the title, this post is somewhat of an unpost.  All I have to say is that now that we are back in the States safely, soundly and sanely (what a bonus!) I am looking forward to bringing you all up to speed on the happenings of the last week on in the as much of the future as we have to share.

A huge thank you to all who have been praying and encouraging us through this period.  We’re anticipating great things from the Lord!

Now, 24 since waking in the Netherlands, I lay me down to sleep!

Verge Conference 2010

{ February 4, 2010 @ 12:46 pm } · { Learning, Mission }
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Today through the sixth Verge: Missional Community Conference will be going on in Austin, Texas, featuring some great speakers aiming to “give you the tools to build gospel movements wherever you are.”  I’ll be putting links up later for those of you who are interested in listening to the session recordings that come out of the conference.  I’m looking forward to hearing from Alan Hirsch, Ed Stetzer, Jeff Vanderstelt and perhaps stumbling on to a few more thinkers/speakers.

If you’d like some preview of things to come check out the interviews of the speakers at verge2010.org

Coming Home

{ January 27, 2010 @ 9:33 pm } · { Holland, Update }
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How do I start and where should I begin?  First of all, a huge thank you to everyone who has expressed their concern for us and committment to pray for us!

No doubt many of you have heard by now that Kate, Jude, baby girl and I will be leaving Holland in the next week (probably Wednesday).  If its a shock to you, perhaps it is good for you to know you are not alone in that sentiment; our church’s board informed us of our dismissal only 48 hours ago.

The short story–in a very long story of both many ups and downs, twists and turns–is that Monday evening the leadership of Cross Culture (the church we’ve been serving) has expressed their satisfaction with the job we were invited here to do.  Specifically the task we were charged with included freeing the lead pastor up and raising up a new youth pastor.

Over the course of the last fifteen months I have been able to assist the lead pastor here in handful of ways, from leading the youth and teaching on Sundays and during the week, to working with him to c0-create the current expression of our church’s mission and means for engaging that mission (displayed in the church’s mid-week meeting area).

On the other side, though we have perhaps had less time than we’d have liked to disciple the youth leader who will taking our place, we are very excited to see how the Lord will work through him.  God is just beginning to do some exciting things here in Holland (see here and here), and I hope you will join me praying for the growth and continuation of these new ways in which Christ is being named where he has not been so before!

Looking Back

Looking back this year has been as much about learning as it has been about ministering.  Personally I feel my love for and relationship with Jesus has deepened as he has lifted our eyes from the what of his church’s doing (Acts 2:42-47) to the why (Acts 1:8).  He is the God who sends, and because he has come himself, I know that he is also going before us now.

Looking Forward

So where is he going before us?  To be completely honest, I’m not sure.  Of course our primary focus right now, aside from packing, is in looking forward to the arrival of baby girl in early March.  Beyond This we’re not really sure where the Lord is leading us.  You can be sure we will keep you posted as things become clear and the Lord paves the way forward–whether that path leads us to Vancouver or beyond.

Again, a huge thank you to those who have so faithfully supported us through email, Skype or Facebook, or in prayer or finances this past year!  You have carried us many times!

As to specifics, the four of us plan on leaving Holland in seven days–just two days before Kate is no longer allowed to fly!

Lastly, for those of you who know the Youngers, keep an eye on their blog or Facebook accounts for more information on their plans to return to Vancouver. (also, a huge thank you to Nathan and Anna for taking care of things here so that Kate, Jude and I are able to return all together!)

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