On being a sender

I've told myself that even short blog posts are worthy of this space. That's true, right?

With that said....

I recognize that not everyone is called to go to a foreign country and be a missionary. Some people cannot because of health reasons. Some can't because of family responsibilities. Some cannot because of situations beyond their control. Some cannot because they are scared to tears of flying.

The point is, not everyone can physically go. But the truth is, everyone can go in some capacity. Romans 10:13-15 is scripture very close to my heart.


For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” (ESV, emphasis mine)


You see, we can all go in some capacity. Some of us go physically but the vast majority of people will not go full time. And that's okay. In fact, dare I say, that's how God designed it!

After all, Romans is clear, it takes each step, each person, each team member to get the gospel into all the nations, to the very ends of the Earth.

Some are sent. Some are senders. My dear friends, it is no more important to be one that is sent than it is to be a sender. The truth is, the sent can't go without the senders.

As I sat here tonight figuring up what our monthly and outgoing support needs are, I realized something.

I have around 830 facebook friends. If HALF of the people I'm friends with on facbook committed to partnering with us in the amount equivalent to ONE FAMILY MEAL of fast food per MONTH we'd go from being at 18% to 100% of our monthly support goal!

ONE family meal out per MONTH. One.

And I'm not talking Chick-fil-a. I'm talking McDonald's. For the cost of about 3 value meals per month, pledged by about 400 people we'd be fully funded. Take that down to 200 people and it's becomes the cost of a mediocre sit down meal for your family (or still fast food for a family the size of ours!).

I've heard people say several times, "Oh, we could only give just a tiny bit per month. Not even enough to make a difference."


Can I challenge you on that?

I promise you, every amount makes a difference to the people in Kenya who have NEVER heard the name of Jesus Christ.

Won't you go with us? Even if not in the flesh, will you live out Romans 10:13-15 and be the sender? We'll never get there without you.

If you'd like to go with us, you can start by clicking here.

Busy, Blessed, Active ...Did I mention busy?

My blog has been so silent lately but that's not because my life is that way! Things are busy, busy around here and it doesn't look like a slower pace is anywhere on the horizon.

Luke and I are staying busy with normal work and parenting duties plus we're diligently working on our Bible Training Requirement for Africa Inland Mission. We're also working on filling out all the paperwork that goes along with moving your family of NINE to another country in approximately 8 months. (Yikes!) Tonight, I snapped this picture of Abigail so that we can go apply for her passport soon.


It cracks me up that she'll be four when we come back and yet her passport photo will still look like this. So funny.

Lucas and Ashlee are talking nearly non-stop about their birthday that is in 29 days (but who's counting?), Elizabeth is reading everything she can get her hands on, Aaron is moving from little kid to big kid, ditching naps for good now, staying dry all night long and actually being able to make some jokes. Olivia is busy doing all the things that pesty little sisters do when they are 3.5 years old and at the same time doing all the things amazing big sister helpers do when they're 3.5 years old. Ella is peeing in the potty and wearing undies exclusively during the day (oh YES SHE IS!) and Abigail is busy sleeping and growing and giving her Momma amazingly long stretches of sleep at night (like 4.5 hours!). Did I leave anyone out?

I've been working on a more in depth post about what each of the kids are up to (and I started before Abigail was born) and I'm hoping to have that done soon.

For now, we're pressing ahead with school (only 6 more weeks!), living life at full throttle and soaking up all the smiles, coos and goodness that our sweet, littlest girl is newly offering.

Life is good. Life is busy. Life is sometimes stressful. Life is blessed, indeed.

How are things with you all? I miss reading your blogs! I've got lots to catch up on. Leave me a note and let me know how you are. :) Now, I'm off to bathe, feed and swaddle my littlest love. Ahhh...the smell of a freshly washed baby head. Nothing quite compares, does it?