Ella in the Fall

We just started realizing that we are entering a time of "our last".  For example, early October we headed out to Iron's Fruit farm with some friends (an annual tradition), and realized that this would be our last fall for a while.  It was Ella's last Halloween for a while.  So we are trying hard to savor the moments and capture as much as we can in pictures.  

Fall Frenzy

It has been a busy fall for us, as you can probably tell my the lack of blogging.  In attempts to catch up I'm going to give a quick summary to bring everyone up to speed.  

Since the benefit concert we have been busy with small group meetings in people's homes, sharing about our ministry to Bolivia and raising a support team.  In October we did one every week!  In some ways I've found fundraising exactly what I expected it to be; lots of  hard work, time consuming, humbling.  But in other ways I've found a real joy in it.  We've come to learn that each time we share about Bolivia and our ministry there, we come away with a new excitement and uplifted spirits.   When people ask us questions and show a genuine interest in what we are doing, it is so encouraging to us.  As we build a team of prayer and financial supporters, we truly feel like a team.  We are the ones that will physically be in Bolivia, but we really feel like we are all in this together.  I somewhat expected to feel like we were alone in this crazy adventure, but am so glad that that's not the case!  God is truly surrounding us with wonderful people!   

Fundraising is also giving us a chance to see God in a real way as our provider.  Sometimes we feel like we are on a roller-coaster of emotions.  There are days when we feel like we will never reach our financial goals and never get to Bolivia.  But those feelings rarely last more than a day and the Lord will completely bless us through someone by a financial gift or a word of encouragement.  We are continually reminded that God is in control and we can trust Him!

Benefit Concert

I'm finally updating you all on our benefit concert from 2 weeks ago!  (My how time flies!)  We had a great time that Sunday evening.  The whole night was a wonderful blessing and huge boost of encouragement for us.  There were many people who helped to make this happen, from Jenn Weber-Sinclair and Brian Mease (our artists), to Chris Chilton and Dan Webel (our tech crew), to Pastor Gary Angstadt  (our MC that evening).  We are so thankful for their willingness to share their gifts and talents to help us with this endeavor. 

We are guessing there were 150-200 people at the concert.  For those of you who could make it we just want to say thank-you!  You have no idea how encouraging your very presence was to us.  I had been praying for us to make $600 from the concert.  Before I tell you how much money we did raise, I have to tell you about the sermon our pastor preached that very Sunday morning.  One of the key scriptures used was Ephesians 3: 20-21 

20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

God did do immeasurably more than what I was asking.  We raised $2,950!!!!  We were so shocked as we sat at our dinning room table counting the money.  You walk away from something like this so humbled.  

I think of all the people who were apart of this night and think "who are we that these people would come together and do something like this for us?"  But then I think about the last part of the verse in Ephesians and remember that the Lord does immeasurably more for each of us for HIS Glory!  It just had nothing to do with us.  While many of those people were drawn to that concert because of us, ultimately they are giving to the Lord and his ministry.  It's just a cherry on top that God allows us to be apart of his work and blesses us in the process.  

How Rich ARE you??

Some new friends of ours that will be serving in Bolivia with Food for the Hungry posted this link on their blog.  You all have to check out this website.  Type in your annual income and it will tell you how rich you are compared to the rest of the world.  It amazingly puts things into perspective and reminds us how thankful we should be for what we have!!

http://www.globalrichlist.com/

A meeting set by God!

I have been eagerly waiting to blog about this until it was official.  Now it is!  So here is the story...

In July we announced to the congregation of Hope church, our home church, our plans to serve with Food for the Hungry in Bolivia.  After the church service we met with many people who were interested in what we would be doing and just wanted to share their excitement with us.  Then, out of the corner of my eye I see this beautiful young woman anxiously waiting to speak with us.  With a huge smile on her face she excitedly begins to share her story with us.  Her name is Jenn Weber (now Jenn Weber Sinclair) and she is a Christian recording artist in Nashville, TN.  She was in Cincinnati visiting her family.  Her family does not normally attend Hope Church, but just happened to be visiting that Sunday.  Food for the Hungry has a program (The Artist Program) in which they partner with Christian artist to promote the plight of the poor around the world and connect them with ways they can help through Food for the Hungry.  So obviously Jenn is a huge advocate for Food for the Hungry and was so excited to hear that we would be working with FH as well.  After talking with Jenn for 5 minutes she immediately offered her musical talent to help us with our fundraising.  We have been working out the details and are thrilled to announce that Jenn will be doing a benefit concert for us on Sunday Oct 5th!  Our youth pastor, Brian Mease will be opening for her that evening.  

It has been a huge blessing to get to know Jenn and her music over the past two months.  We know that our meeting was not just a crazy coincidence, but an amazing blessing from the Lord!

Here are the links to her web-sites: http://www.jennweber.com/  and  http://www.myspace.com/jennweber

We highly recommend her new CD!!!

 

Last bit of Summer

We were blessed to be able to go on an end of the summer vacation with John's family to Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina.  It was a great week to spend time with family and relax on the beach.  Getting Ella and her cousin's all set up in the backseat of the van with the three carseats was quite a challange, but we came out victorious as you can see.  The girls enjoyed their "sleep-over" as we left town around 10pm and drove through the night.  

This was Ella's first time at the ocean and first experience with sand! 

 She didn't mind it as long as she had shoes on her feet!  Otherwise she refused to be put down!!  I think the feeling of sand between our toes is somewhat of an acquired luxury.  

We can't believe how quickly the summer flew by!  We are looking forward to the fall and preparing for the journey that lies ahead.  Hope you all had

 wonderful summers!