Done!

Cleared for Takeoff

It was around 11:40 yesterday morning.  The phone rang.  It was an area code I didn't recognize, and I used to not answer a call if I didn't recognize the number.  A season of fundraising had changed that.  Calling pastors, leaving messages, leaving messages, and yep, you guessed it...leaving messages.  So now when the phone rang and I didn't care what the number was.  In fact, the unrecognizeable the area code the better.  Back to yesterday...a 417 area code pops up.  I answered and in a matter of seconds I went from a semi sleep deprived state to putting my head through the closed sunroof of our car.  It was our processor at Assemblies of God World Missions in Springfield, MO.  She was calling to let us know that we had financial clearance, and a few minutes later we had full clearance to purchase two one-way tickets to Kosovo.  Right now, we are scheduled to to leave Tuesday, February 2nd.

My heart as well as Lindsey's is completely overflowing with joy, grattitude, amazement at all God has accomplished in and through us through the prayers and faithful obedience of you all.  Listen...this is only the first leg of the race.  When we leave in a few short weeks we don't want to go alone.  We want every single one of you to come with us...if you don't mind of course...we'd like for you to come with us.  How, you ask?  In the very same way that those of you in Franklin, NC have travelled with us to Buxton, NC.  The very same way that those of you in Sanford, NC have travelled with us to Hickory, NC...through your prayers.  Now, we need all of you, through your prayers, encouragement, support to travel with us to Kosovo.

A Different Kind of Investing

For over six years, I've had the absolute pleasure and blessing to work at an investment firm in downtown Raleigh.  I simply would not have traded my time there for anything else.  The last few years there have been somewhat bittersweet.  It wasn't until November of this year that I finally let my boss know what would be taking place over the next few months.  I can remember pacing up and down the hallway near his office for nearly a minute before asking to speak with him for a minute.  We sat in that very same sun porch where a little more than two years before I had asked for three weeks of vacation to take part in a short term missions trip with Lindsey to Albania and Kosovo.  I had no idea where to begin....I mean come on, how do you start a conversation that you know the other person would never expect to be a part of?  Very calmly I told Tony that Lindsey and I were moving.  He asked where to, and I can't imagine what began racing through his mind when I answered, "Kosovo."

So, for almost the last month, I've been training my replacement who's first day on her own so to speak will be this coming Monday.  It was a somewhat tearful farewell to a group of individuals that I will always consider family to me.  Leaving the job was easy, leaving the people wasn't.  I still don't think it's fully set in only six hours later.

Lindsey told me something the other day that is most certainly true.  I've moved from one investment job to another.  Only this time, there is no risk of our investment losing value.  What we're investing, the Word of God, is eternal, and its return will be thirty, sixty, or a hundred-fold.

Where Do We Go From Here?

• Finally, our itineration is complete.
• We have one more church to speak at.
• Our commissioning service will be at our home church - Raleigh First Assembly on January 27th at 7PM.
• A bon voyage reception will be held on January 31st from 2-4PM, also at Raleigh First.  And of course any of you who would like to come are welcome to.
• We leave for Kosovo on February 2nd.  Stay tuned for more details.

Thank you again to all of you who have prayed, given, encouraged us, and continue to do those things.  We love you, and know that we also pray for you as the Lord lays you upon our hearts.

God bless you!