Reflecting Via a Burger Craving!

After picking up our visas at the Slovenian embassy I headed to a few D.C. museums and then searched for a spot in the city to have a good burger (a craving I get frequently!). I ended up at a sports bar directly next to a Starbucks (the other craving I get). My point is not to talk food, although the burger was good! Rather, the important piece of info was I was able to watch some of the Euro Cup 2012. I was interested in the game, but I suddenly realized the last time I watched the Euro Cup was in 2008, next to Mikaela’s bedside in the hospital as she fought pneumonia. Our family was in the process of praying through the possibility of life and ministry in Slovenia and Ashley was pregnant with the boys. God had much He wanted to teach us and I believe it was in preparation for the call to Slovenia. We thank Him for sustaining grace and I thank Him He helped me remember through my hamburger craving!

Commissioned

As I write I am sitting on an airplane headed back from our nation’s capital with our family’s residence permits (visas)! I am reflecting on the year our family has experienced and it is amazing for me to think we are coming up on one year since I resigned from the police force and upped the intensity on support development. Although we had hoped to be in Slovenia by now, we are 100% sure God’s timing is perfect and we have seen His sustaining and gracious hand on our family this last year.

We have experienced love and sacrifice in so many forms and from so many people. It has been overwhelming and at the same time reassuring of God’s call on our lives. God has deepened relationships, deepened our faith, deepened our understanding and prepared us in unimaginable ways for what He has for us in the years to come.

On May 27th we were commissioned by our home and sending church, Community Bible Church at Sunriver. It has been a wonderful privilege to call this home and we felt truly honored to be sent out from their midst.

Next week we will have the shipping container on its way and we hope to have the green light from Josiah Venture to purchase one-way tickets to Slovenia!

The Joy of Waiting

Since applying for our visas at the Slovenian embassy in D.C. we have been in a waiting game! We have had a few responsibilities along the way, but for the most part we have been able to enjoy time as family, enjoy visiting with family and friends, and plan for the many logistics that lie ahead.

This morning we received word from the embassy that our visas have been issued! We won't be able to get them for several weeks yet, but we know now the ball is rolling on the actual departure to Slovenia, and we praise God for His quick timing.

One of the amazing provisions of God in the last year has been the gracious use of a guest cabin of some close friends of ours. We have been able to enjoy this as our home since October and this stay has allowed us to grow deeper in relationship with them while also allowing us to take advantage of the wonderful property they live on.

On the property are several ponds and in these ponds are a number of elusive bass. I love fishing. I love the splendor and peacefulness of creation, and I love the competition (man vs. fish) that occurs. In the last few weeks I have taken some moments to fish with the sole goal of hooking some of the bass in the pond. As I have worked to trick the fish into taking the bait, I was reminded that patience is a key to fishing. Many people despise fishing because of how boring it can be, but I love the reward of waiting.

We live in such a fast-paced society in which there is a high demand for immediate gratification. However, in this attitude we often miss what we could be learning in patience. God has impressed upon us the beauty there can be in waiting as we grow in further dependence on Him. God's timing is perfect, but it doesn't always make sense to us. Never-the-less, we can trust that He has ordered it in a way which will allow Him to receive the most glory and in this we can be the most joyous!

I have no idea why fish take the bait sometimes and at other times turn their head away. However, I do know if I fail in patience then I will surely miss out on the biggest fish story ever. I wouldn't want to miss the big one and we surely don't want to miss the lessons God is teaching us - so we remain fixed upon His timing and will patiently wait for the last details to fall into place.