we are running on faith...but we are not running alone

More Than Words

2010-12-04T14:58:00.002-05:00

Greetings from cold and snowy England,

If there were a way to combine the deepest, truest, most meaningful definition of the words; appreciation, humbled, gratitude, blessed, and joy, it would still fall short of the overwhelming love we have felt these past 18 months. Time and time again God has chosen to prove Himself strong, and deliver the blessing of His provision through you. Your involvement, love, and support, have helped plant churches in places in desperate need for the Good News. You've helped train pastors, youth leaders, children's ministry workers, and more. You have provided our daily needs, and by doing so, have made it possible for us to be your eyes, ears, voices, hands, and feet, as we work across the continent of Europe.

Your emails, phone calls, Skype chats, Facebook messages, cards, and letters have lifted our spirits, warmed our hearts, and in some cases brought us to tears. Each point of contact helped make the thousands of miles between us and our families and friends seem a little less distant.

We offer a prayer, we raise a toast, and we lift your name as we give thanks to God for the gift our your relationship.

As we head into Christmas and the new year beyond, we are more certain than ever that we are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Paul and Mary

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com pjt@going4the1.com.

Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

We are also on Facebook and Skype.

PS. We will know next week where we are insofar as the funds needed for our visas. We'll keep you posted. Thx.

Immigration Man II

2010-11-22T16:03:00.000-05:00

In response to my last message, it has been brought to my attention that it would have been a good idea to include some options concerning where to send donations. DUH!!!!

Aside from asking people to make personal deliveries to us here in the UK, there are two other choices:

Paypal: http://www.going4the1.com/paypal.html

Or checks can be sent to:

Next Level International
P.O. Box 10148
South Bend IN
46680

Please make the checks payable to NLI and it is very important to put "Trillers" in the memo. Thank you.

Thanks for your prayers,emails, and facebook messages.

For those who may not have seen the message to which I am referring ...here it is:

It is a rare occasion we have had to ask for any kind of extraordinary" financial assistance but we face a bit of a year end crunch and could certainly use some help, both monetary and prayer. We need to renew our visas and the cost has almost doubled from what itwas just two years ago. On top of that the requirements are much more stringent.

We were prepared for what we expected the cost to be, but not this new amount (Just under $1000 US) (Correction it turns out it is about $1200 US..... each). If you are able to assist in helping us cover this expense, it would be a great blessing.

If we could also count on you for pray support as we go through the application process, we'd love to hear about that too.

Thanks in advance!!!

Paul and Mary

Let There Be More Light

2010-11-07T14:46:00.001-05:00

This update is going to be a trifle different. Today you get a glimpse into one of those "this is where is all started" moments. Just two weeks ago I was in Romania, I wasn't meant to be there at this time, how I ended up there is a story in itself. But, I digress, I had the opportunity to see something planted, to be there when first steps were taken, and to be a witness as some wonderful ideas were birthed.

The location was a converted bowling alley, now church/conference center, somewhere between Oradea and Cluj.

The event was an NLI partnered Organix Conference, a Leadership Development course offered for emerging leaders. Over the past 20 years conferences such as this have been the first step in the lives of many new church leaders and pastors.

But it isn't the where or when that really matters. It is what God did over those three days within a group of over 50 young men and women from all across Romania.

Want to hear more? Feel free to click here for the rest of the story> Enjoy

Mary and Paul

Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

We are also on Facebook and Skype.

Oh...we're thinking of doing a recap of 2010 for next month's newsletter. Is there anything in particular you want to know about? Send us an email! Contact Mary Contact Paul

It Keeps You Runnin'

2010-09-01T13:49:00.000-04:00

Have you ever heard the expression, “Weary not in well doing”? After multiple trips to Slovakia to help train pastors, specifically in the area of Kid’s Ministry, we weren’t sure how it would translate from training to action. All the preparation, travel, training, and weird food was starting to take its toll. Then we received some great news from Peter & Lucia our Church Plant Pastors in Brezno.

Here’s Lucia’s story…A few weeks ago three ladies from NLI come to our town to help us with the kids club. To our surprise more kids than usual came that day and there was a group of gypsy kids among them. The gypsies really enjoyed the clubs and started to come regularly. There were many opportunities to talk to them about God and they were really listening. They were so pleased anyone would spend time with them. Most of them are dirty and smelly, but we still like them. Sadly, their parents do not take proper care of them. They do not: wash their clothes properly, teach them basic hygiene, how to speak proper Slovak, about going to school regularly, and because of these, and other things, there are racism problems in our town.

In our hearts we knew there has to be some way to help. One day we visited the town hall and to our surprise social workers from all Brezno communities were in the middle of a meeting, but they were very keen to know what we needed. We explained we are a church working with kids and we came because we work with some gypsies as well and would like to help in some practical ways.

Since that visit, the partnership of the church and town government officials has grown. In mere months children that have been left behind are receiving attention:

-With the help of the church, the social workers have now started some new projects with the gypsies. There are now 2 social workers and a young teacher assigned to this community. The teacher works with preschool kids and teaches them basic things, including hygiene, speaking Slovak, drawing, counting, colors, all needed if they are ever to attend school.

-Classes were being held outdoors, twice a week, in a meadow to play and learn. The church realized the need for a proper meeting place, so they have offered their church building.

Although this is just a beginning, we are very excited about the future. Peter and Lucia were asked to help in other communities in the area. They have been praying to God to show them how to reach out to their town and to fulfill the many needs. Lucia sums it up like this, ”This is a great need and we really want to be a part of it’s accomplishment. Please pray for us and this new ministry of ours. We need God’s leading, wisdom and strength in this hard work. We want to be a light to this people and to bring them the Gospel as well. A very encouraging thing is that the social workers know we are Christians and they have permitted us to talk to gypsies about the Biblical truth and how Jesus Christ can change life completely.”

This is just one story of what is currently happening in Europe. Peter and Lucia are giving all they have for their community just as you are giving to be a part of the new stories in places like Brezno and beyond. Paul and I want to thank you for your prayers, your encouragement, and your financial support so we can be a part of these lives. Stories like these continue to explain why we are here, why we were called, and why all of you are so necessary to be part of the solutions, adventures, and the blessings. God bless you all and thanks from the bottom of our and Peter and Lucia’s hearts!

Mary and Paul

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com.

Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

We are also on Facebook and Skype.

Isn't It Nice To Be Home Again?

2010-08-01T15:25:00.001-04:00

Sorry for this one being a trifle delayed. With being home only three days between 7 June and 12 July there has been a bit of catching up to do.

Well, the Magical Mystery Tour is finished. But what a great trip. It all started with an evening of prayer and fellowship in Pembroke Pines (you know who you are), then onto Fort Myers to connect with our church family at Next Level Church (great name or what?). Then some family time with Mary's dad and her step-mom before a 4 day whirlwind tour of Central Florida. "Thank You" to our two hosts in Seminole County. Thank you to everyone who was able to share some of their busy schedules with us. Thank you for every cup of coffee, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and those precious times of prayer, and knitting too.

From Florida to Georgia and 3 days and nights of some great Southern Hospitality and more blessings and prayer. To those of you in Baxley, we'll be back. It was fun to spend Independence Day in Decatur GA. To the Fusion Church family now in Atlanta, we'll be back. Oh yeah...we have Georgia on our minds.

North now and onto Tennessee, and time to reconnect with some friends we knew from Orlando, back in the day. More love, blessing, and friendship. Trust me, it was diffucult to leave every place we stopped.

The last 3 days were almost 100% family time in Lake George, New York celebrating Mom's 85th. It isn't often I get a chance to spend time with all 11 of my siblings. With something like 70 plus in attendance, it was quite the event. Yes, I did get a chance to do some bass fishing.

We didn't dare keep track of how many miles we flew or drove, how many meals we ate out, the number of people we met with, the number of people we missed, or how many times we had to say, "It has been great seeing you, but we really have to go." But we cherish every hug, every prayer, every laugh, and every tear.

The afternoon of 11 July came far too soon but the flight to Birmingham UK awaited us. With a bit of tan and some much needed American food items (Hey I happen to really like Miracle Whip) stowed in the luggage, we were ready to go..... home.

Yes we really consider England to be home, for now. With the work of the ministry expanding all across Europe, who knows where we might end up next? It is also becoming more and more evident our initial three year agreement will easily become five or six or seven or eight or... you get the idea. It is humbling God could use us for this purpose. It is encouraging how many wonderful people help make this a reality. We are blessed beyond comprehension. We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Paul and Mary

Another Time, Another Place

2010-06-23T16:36:00.000-04:00

Wow...what a year...what a month...what a past two weeks. Just got back from a two week, three country trip which included Romania, Moldova, and Slovenia. We lost track of how many kilometers we flew and/or drove, but what an experience.

C'mon , think about it, don't countries with names like Moldova and Slovenia just sound intriguing? Can you find either of them on a map? Last year my answer would have been "no". Can you pronounce Ljubljana or Chişinău? Truthfully I couldn't until just a few weeks ago. Oh yeah and there was Romania too, one of the few places in Europe you can still see shepherds.

Where to start? What to share? What story to tell?

> Do you want to hear about the church started in Slovenia during the Communist occupation, by a woman with nothing more than her prayers and a Bible?

> Do you want to hear about the passion of the Messianic Jews we met with in Moldova?

> Do you want to hear about how a Turkish Muslim in Romania is turning a small group that meets in his house into a church?

> Do you want to hear about people so passionate to learn more about how they can best serve Jesus they are willing to risk their jobs just to attend a training conference?

> Do you want to hear about how you can be involved? Make a difference? Be part of the solution? Become part of the story yourself?

Where it might be impossible to sit down with everyone reading this and share these stories, it is possible to get together with many of you on our trip back to the US. We will be landing in Fort Lauderdale on 25 June and leaving from Albany NY on 11 July. We'll be in Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, and New York before heading home. We are arranging some "Open House" get-togethers in Central Florida, keep an eye on your email for the invitations. We'd love to meet up with as many of you as possible. If you are somewhere along (or near) our path, drop us a line, we'll do our best to spend some "face time" together. The stories are worth it.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Paul and Mary

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com.

Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

We are also on Facebook and Skype.

...and the flowers bloom like madness in the Spring....

2010-04-08T07:42:00.000-04:00

We have jokingly told people we moved to the UK from Florida for the weather...and have yet to be disappointed. We're a few weeks into Spring, the tulips and daffodils are everywhere...mowed the lawn this weekend past...getting a small veg garden ready...why then oh why did I have to scrape frost off the windscreen this morning!!!????

Into the Great Wide Open

2010-03-16T18:05:00.000-04:00

Here we are eight months into this adventure, and still loving it. Much has happened, and much of what we're doing has evolved into new areas of growth, learning, and a healthy dash of " and now for something completely different." We surely feel like clay in the hands of the Potter. But what better place to be? Each day truly brings something new.

Past updates have been stories of things in the works, or recent trips, or coming plans. This month things are a trifle different. Would you allow us to use this update for some prayer request? Thank you.

First: Your prayers for Next level Int'l would be appreciated. With the goal of being in all nations of Europe by the year 2020 before them, it will take more than just well-laid plans to make it a reality. Please pray for the staff, current and future, the church partner relationships, and wisdom, as NLI moves into new nations.

Second: On a personal note: Mary and I would also be most thankful for your prayers. We find ourselves being stretched and tested; physically, spiritually, and mentally. Mary is moving into some new areas of responsibility within the Kid's Ministry, and I am helping develop processes and ideas to help expand the ministry's reach into places like Moldova, Slovenia, and Albania.

Third: Outside of our work with the ministry, would you pray for our continued health, happiness, and marital stability. There are times where being away from family and friends can be a strain. We are happy, and we are still very much in love. But we are also only human.

If you are able to lift any of these requests in prayer, would you please let us know? And please let us know how we can join you in prayer for the needs in your lives.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

The journey continues.

Paul and Mary

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com.

Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

We are also on Facebook and Skype.

PS. We'll be headed to the US in late June. We are looking forward to seeing as many of you as we can.

Darkness on the Edge of Town

2010-02-19T13:39:00.001-05:00

During the reign of a certain regime a number of government "pro-natal" programs were implemented in an effort to increase the population of a certain country. From the mid-1960's through the 1980's, women in this nation, regardless of their economic situation, were expected to have at least 5 children. These laws resulted in the birth of hundreds of thousands of children which the parents could not afford to feed. With no other choice, many parents were forced to abandon their children. So over the decades the governmental orphanages swelled to overcapacity.

What was once an ill-conceived government plan is now a living nightmare. At age 18 these children are now considered to be adults, and no longer responsibility of the government. With no life experience but that gained within the walls of a government-run orphanage, many of these now young men and women, are homeless, addicted to drugs, and living in empty derelict buildings and in underground sewers. Abandoned by their families, turned out onto the streets by their government, shunned by society, they are almost non-persons.

Yes, the story of this lost generation a tragic tale. But it is only one of so many, many stories. We could talk about a group of people, who are considered to be a scourge on society and so shunned, their true numbers are unknown. We could talk of the ethnic tension between between more than just neighbouring nations, but between neighbouring cities, and the neighbours next door. We could talk about the atrocities of ethnic cleansing and ancient hatreds. We could talk about not just decades of repression, more than just centuries replete with bloodshed, but millennia of tumultuous history, and yet just scratch the surface of what this area and its people are all about.

All these stories are from Southeastern Europe, or what is also called the Balkans. The lost generation belongs to Romania. The "scourge" is the Roma people, or gypsies, who could number from 4-14 million. The ethnic tension is between your choice of Albanians, Croats, Serbs, Romanians, Muslims, Eastern Orthodox, Western Orthodox, new order, old order, take your pick. As to the history of the region, you could blame today's problems on the Communists, The Ottoman Turks, The Hapsburgs, The Romans, The Slavs, or any other invader and/or occupier of this part of the world. You could point the finger for the regions political instability at the numerous treaties made and broken during any of the Balkan Wars, or the World Wars.

This would be a perfect place to quote some statistics, or cut and paste some poignant personal testimonies, all in an attempt to pluck your heart strings. But my intent isn't to create an emotional response, complete with some temporary guilt. I don't even want to use the desperation of this situation to subtlety ask for any kind of support. My only goal today was to open your eyes. To show you part of the world in where I now work. To do more than just identify the problems, but to share the potential for a mighty move of God.

There might be a shadow hanging over the Balkans, a darkness on the edge of town, but if this area was important enough for visits from Paul the Apostle, then God has something wonderful in mind. You now have a front row seat.

"That night Paul had a dream: A Macedonian stood on the far shore and called across the sea, "Come over to Macedonia and help us!" The dream gave Paul his map. We went to work at once getting things ready to cross over to Macedonia. All the pieces had come together. We knew now for sure that God had called us to preach the good news to the Europeans." Acts 16:9 (The Message)

The journey continues.
Paul and Mary
Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com.
We are also on Facebook and Skype. We'd love to hear from you.
Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

Brothers in Arms

2010-01-20T16:44:00.003-05:00

14 January 2010
0345...why is my alarm clock going off? Oh yeah, need to get showered and dressed, riding to the airport at 0400. Who's idea was this?
0450...at BHX waiting for flight to Amsterdam. Thankfully Burger King is opening soon. I wonder if they have Dr Pepper?
0610...off the ground and on our way.
0800...waiting in AMS for flight to OTP. No great deals in the duty free store.
1215...in the air and cruising towards Bucharest, Romania. It is going to be a long day...but full of potential.
1345...safely in Romania, but we have a 5 hour wait until our next flight. A ride from the airport to a Lebanese restaurant is arranged, very nice.
2030...one more flight. Should be Oradea in about 2 hours. I need a hot shower and a pillow.
2315...at the hotel. Awake now for almost 17 hours. No Dr Pepper. Why am I here?

Oh yeah, because about 18 years ago four teenage guys were acting as translators for someone from the UK. This person was traveling through some of the former Soviet nations searching for opportunities to help people either start or rebuild a relationship with Jesus.

That person was Ian Green, founder of NLI, and those 4 guys are now a pastoral team. Through knowing Ian, and the training available through NLI, they now lead an independent church of about 300 members here in Oradea. The church is about 6 years old and the pastors realise they are ready for some new challenges and growth. But they have an uphill battle. Communism may have fallen, but the mentality lingers. Life is ruled, decisions are made for you. This mindset is affecting their church and they seek to bring the freedom of Christ. They want church to be something you do, not just somewhere you go. They want church to be involved in the day-to-day lives of friends, co-workers, and neighbours. They want to be the kind of church that would missed by the community if they left. They want to be the church as Jesus intended.

It gets better. Have you ever been involved in a community outreach with your church? Did it involve seeking out the lost and lonely who live in the sewers and abandoned buildings of your city? Did it involve dealing with a group of people despised and mistrusted by almost everyone? You see, after the trip to Oradea we headed back to Bucharest and reconnected with one ministry who works with teens and another who works specifically with the Roma (gypsy) peoples. Two vibrant, blessed ministries, also looking for partnership to help increase their reach, not for their own glory, but for the Kingdom.

So, to answer my first question, this was God's idea, and I'm blessed to part of the ongoing work here in Romania. Yes there are logistics and funding and travel and processes involved. Yes there are staff members both here and across the world. But it all balances on the quality and depth of relationships. We are in this together, whether you are a financial supporter, a prayer partner, or a cheerleader, you are part of this. You share in the victories and the blessings. We've said it before, and we'll say it again....we're running on faith, but we're not running alone.

Stay true,
Paul and Mary.

And so this is Christmas

2009-12-20T09:38:00.012-05:00

Happy Christmas to everyone. In the midst of all the travel, shopping, more shopping, cooking, visiting, even more shopping, and the occasional Christmas Party that must be attended, we hope you have the time to reflect on the real reason for this day. (Subliminal suggestion: Turn off the phone, the computers, the game consoles, and make some popcorn, then gather as much of your family as you can and watch " A Charlie Brown Christmas")

So how is everyone doing out there? How has this year been for you? What's new on your planet? How have these past few months been? What are you planning for the next year as 2010 looms closer and closer? Have you been naughty or nice?

These last two months have been an interesting mix of work, life, and new discovery.

Mary and the kid's ministry team successfully hosted Kidshaper 2009. This is an NLI sponsored event created to share exciting and innovative ideas for kids ministry. Over 150 delegates, from England, Scotland, Wales,Ireland, and Australia, came together for 3 days to learn, share, and be encouraged. Kid's ministry is so sorely needed, this current generation has had the least exposure to the Word, and thus, the least knowledge of their purpose and the source of their hope.

I've been on a near vertical learning curve regarding the creation of plans to help expand the ministry's reach into a number of new nations. This is whole new ground for myself, and for NLI. Your prayers would be appreciated as we seek new contacts in such places as Moldova, Slovenia, and Kosovo. Plus, to keep me from going completely insane, I'm assisting with the production of NLI's yearly publication "The Dream". Needless to say, I'm not bored.

Looking forward to 2010;
Mary will be in Slovakia for Boost Tour, a two week,four city, traveling kid's ministry production. Not just a "flash in the pan" show, but a mix of preaching, fun, music, play,and prayer, held in conjunction with the local churches, as a way to reach kid's who have yet to hear The Good News of Jesus Christ. So if you're looking for something exciting to do next summer, contact Mary: mary.triller@nlieurope.com

Paul is in the midst of creating an Advocacy Programme to help raise awareness of the great need in the Balkans Region. This area is comprised mostly of nations carved from what was once Yugoslavia. Centuries of ethnic struggle and decades of Communist rule have left the current population stripped of identity, uncertain of the future, and nearly void of any knowledge of Christ. If you want to hear more about the Balkans, and how you can help, feel free to drop me an email: paul.triller@nlieurope.com

On the home front, we brought a little bit of America to the UK when we celebrated Thanksgiving Day with our neighbours. Mary actually found a small shop in Coventry that carries American products. Trust me on this, after what we paid for 2 cans of Libby's Pumpkin, those pies were great!!!!
We had the opportunity to visit Megan, Wayne, Alison, and Emily, in Nicaragua a few weeks ago. Megan had a great itinerary planned. We hit the beach, caught barracuda, went horseback riding, enjoyed a hike to a waterfall, saw countless fireworks, and enjoyed some wonderful grand daughter hugs and kisses. For those of you who don't know, Megan (our favourite eldest daughter) and her amazing husband are missionaries to Nicaragua. If you have a heart for the lost in Nicaragua I suggest you check out their website.

May 2010 be blessed beyond your wildest imagination.
Thank you for your friendship, support, and prayers. We miss all of you.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Stay true,
Paul and Mary.

Stay in touch via email:
paul@going4the1.com or mary@going4the1.com.

We are also on Facebook and Skype. We'd love to hear from you.
Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

The Two of Us

2009-11-19T18:28:00.002-05:00

So here we are four months into this adventure, and a number of people have been asking the same question; some via email, or Skype, or over the phone, or even on Facebook. Regardless of the way it is asked, or how it is worded, it comes down to this, "How are you guys "really" doing?". It appears these updates have focused mostly on the what , or where or why, but too little on just us. (This might just be the most difficult update we've ever written) Here we go.

Paul: Can I just say "I'm fine" and be done with it? Because the truth is, I am fine. Is everything here 100% what I expected? Is this whole gig some Never Never Land experience? No and No. Yes, I miss our daughters and their families. Yes, it hurts to watch Alison, Emily, and Penny growing up via pictures and video chats. Yes, I miss Wing Night with the guys from Fusion Church. Yes, I miss bass fishing. I even miss driving on the right side of the road. But this is where I belong. This is where I need to be.

Please understand I am not trying to tout myself as some selfless hero. I'm just a man in a funny red sheet. I knew coming into this there would be a price to be paid. I knew there would be sacrifices. But at the end of the day I go to sleep with a peace like I've never known. I am here through the grace and support of so many wonderful people. I know there are prayers being said for me like never before. I'm happy. I'm challenged. I'm stretched. I spend every day with the love of my life.
I'm OK. Thanks for asking.

Mary: A simple question yet so difficult to answer. These last four months have been full of changes and growth. All of this could be very scary at my age or at any age really, but with God's Word to guide me, the fear is removed from every situation. I rely on the Lord to give me strength, boldness, creativity and whatever else I need for the day now more than ever. God has placed some great people in our path and it has softened the changes. Also, surprises such as finding out our container had arrived early, filled me with joy as I anticipated unpacking so many memories I thought I would be okay without, their arrival helped complete the feeling of home. And I do feel like I am home and I am so happy to say so.

I've been so blessed with the experiences in my life ; being a mom, a Nana, a daughter, a friend, a sister and a sister in Christ, and now He is doing something greater and He has chosen to let me be a part. I keep praying every day that I am willing to be available for what He has in mind as well as keeping me from missing all my loved ones. In the meantime, I do ask you to continue praying for our transition especially as we enter the holiday season being so far away from the ones we love. Technology keeps us close, but hugs on Skype only take you so far. Thanks for being there for us and I hope you know we are praying for you and thank God for you each day. Love and miss you all!

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Stay true,
Paul and Mary.

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com.
We are also on Facebook and Skype. We'd love to hear from you.
Paul and Mary Triller 202 Hospital Lane Bedworth UK CV120JY

Life in a Northern Town

2009-10-19T16:25:00.002-04:00

Wow...after almost 20 years we're experiencing "cold" weather. We actually need to remember to turn on the heat, and close the windows and doors. We might have used the heater in our cars in Florida two or three times a year. Now it's every day!!! C'mon Spring!!!!

On the Threshold of a Dream

2009-10-13T12:45:00.001-04:00

Would you agree the best dreams are those shared? It holds so true for our marriages, families, friends, and all the most important facets of our lives. There is something about connecting and contributing to a goal, a vision, a dream. More often than not, our future pivots upon the dreams in which we believe.

NLI is going through a metamorphosis. They are birthing a new dream. After 18 years of work primarily in Eastern and Central Europe, the ministry has now set their sights on expanding into all the nations of Europe. Yes, all 48 of them at current count. This dream is well worth sharing and well worth being part of.

This dream is too big for any one ministry. It will take partnerships from the UK, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, across the borders of Europe, and from every other corner of the world. Last week, this new dream was unveiled at Eurosummit 2009, a conference hosted by NLI. We watched as over 100 delegates from over 15 nations not only heard the vision, but started to connect with how they could contribute and be part of the change!

Over the course of four days the vision took wing, and the dream grew. I sat at a table and helped a group of Youth Leaders from Bulgaria start planning a training schedule with pastors from across the border in Albania. Another connection was made by Church Planters in Romania wanting to reach out into neighbouring Moldavia. Our Kids' Ministry Team got invitations to work with churches in four new nations. Hearts opened to ideas to reach the gypsy population. Tears formed as the plight of the lost generations were shared. Prayers were offered to rekindle the Light of the World in Europe. These are but a few examples of who knows how many connections, conversations over coffee, and commitments.

It doesn't stop here. This past week was merely the overture. Many hours of planning, praying, traveling and implementing lie ahead. What a great place to be!!

We are humbled by the fact God saw us worthy of being a part of this. We are thankful so many others saw us deserving of prayers and support. We stand on the threshold of a dream and you are invited to join us.

The Long and Winding Road

2009-09-11T16:19:00.004-04:00

The title of this month's update could be symbolic in so many ways. It could be describing our personal journey from husband/wife and mom/dad to missionaries. It could be a visual of the path taken to make all the arrangements to move from the US to the UK. It definitely is indicative of how we get most places around here. But regardless of the route, we're not only here, but have actively begun our duties with the ministry. When I say "we" that includes all who are part of this adventure, regardless of what form your support takes; moral/physical/financial/spiritual. Our success, victories, and triumphs are also yours. Thank you, from deep in our hearts.

To date our messages have been mentioning what we'll be doing once we got to the UK. Now we can report in "real-time". Mary is currently in Slovakia with two other members of the Kids' Ministry Team.They are meeting with a number of local pastors and providing training about how to integrate kid's ministry into the fabric of their own ministry.Think about this for a moment; those of you who know Mary understand that she loves children. Her heart beats for children, as evidenced by her relationship with our own children, our own grand children, and countless babies she has hugged, kissed, sung to, cuddled and loved-on around the world. Now she gets to share that love across Europe.

Some day in the near future some children in a small town or city in Europe will be attending a crazy outdoor event. There will be clowns, music, balloons, and more. In the midst of it all this a little girl will be getting her face painted. Not too uncommon a sight at a event like this. But this time there is a major difference. This time something will be happening for the first time in her precious life, the person painting her face will be praying over her, or maybe praying with her. This may be the first time this child has ever heard about Jesus. Hopefully it will not be the last. This event will be just one of many put together by NLI aimed specifically for children, and Mary is an integral part of that team. If you listen close to the music you'll hear Mary's heartbeat. If you look closely you will see her smile on the face of a clown . If you stand still for a moment you'll feel her hugs in the air. I don't call her "NaNa to the Nations" for nothing.

Thank you for being part of what Mary's doing for kids in Europe. We never forget that we would not be here if it weren't for the team that made it all possible.

On the home front, we still have boxes to empty, but there are fewer every day. The weather has been beautiful (if not just a tad cooler than Florida) these past few days, and we are looking forward to seeing the colourful splendor of autumn in England. We have phone service, internet, water, electricity, and library cards!! Somewhere between now and next July we need to get UK driver's licenses.

Prayer request: We are still looking for a home church. Not just some place to attend, but somewhere to serve, be challenged, and stretched.

We miss all our family and friends. Fortunately our NLI family and our neighbours have been here to keep us from getting too lonely.
Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4th1.com paul@going4the1.com.
We are also on Facebook and Skype. We'd love to hear from you.

Country Road

2009-09-07T05:53:00.002-04:00

Somehow or other between acclimating to a new home, starting our jobs with NLI, unpacking our shipping crate, and the oh-too-variable weather we were able to take a few hours on Sunday and go for a "ramble". We found our way to a local county park and with walking sticks in hand, started out across some of the most beautiful countryside we've ever seen. Rolling hills, green meadows, and occasionally some squishy organic stuff on the trail.
A very simple time to get some fresh air and revel in God's creation. But more than that it was some quiet time where we could stop along the way and chat ( as we caught our breath) about our new lives here and how much blessing has been mixed into every moment.
The coming weeks are going to be quite busy; Mary heads to Slovakia next week, I'll be in Romania the week after, we're both in Spain in October, and hopefully we'll be taking a personal trip to Nicaragua before the year is out. As crazy as it all sounds, this is just what we signed up for...and we're loving every minute!
Our mmonnthly newsletter is in the works....stay tuned

Roundabout

2009-08-03T04:58:00.001-04:00

Thank you, thank you, thank you, a million times, thank you! Thank you for your prayers, love, support, concerns, and friendship. Thank you for sharing in the dream, the vision, and the adventure. We’ve hit the ground running.
The last couple of weeks were spent getting acclimated to the weather, finding our way around the area, meeting people, finding a new home, (still) searching for a car, checking out where is best to shop for groceries, visiting IKEA, visiting IKEA again, learning about council taxes, roundabouts, TV taxes, Sat Navs, rules of the road, pay-as-you-go electricity; consider this adjusting to “Life in the Left Lane”.
Obviously things are different here, just different, not wrong. Yesterday at the grocery store it took us about 5 minutes to decipher just what we were buying insofar as pickles, yes pickles!!!! Also, with the prices in pounds, and things weighed in grams and kilograms, it takes some mental gymnastics to realise the beef minced (ground beef) is about $3.00 a pound.. After all these years of thinking we spoke the same language as the Brits, we have started to learn some true English. A few examples: USA dryer=UK tumbler USA stove=UK cooker and one of my favourites; USA soda/pop/tonic=UK fizzy drinks. Oh, and if someone is stopping by for a brew, they mean tea or coffee. No complaints, just observations.
Today (3 August) is the official first day at work with NLI. The schedule calls for orientation and training to familiarise us with how things work here. Of course we are both chomping at the bit to get into the thick of things as soon as possible. Neither of us can remember ever feeling so motivated to actually get up in the morning and go to the office. We are a trifle awestruck by the magnitude of what we are now involved, but, it feels so right to be here. Fortunately, God knows what He is doing.
What’s next?? We keep running, learning, growing, and praying. The Adventure continues, stay tuned.
Paul and Mary.

Crossroads

2009-07-04T12:33:00.002-04:00

Well, the time has come. We leave Orlando on 10 July for a few days to visit family in New York and Vermont. On 13 July we board a plane in Boston for the flight "home".
What has been a lifetime in coming is now just mere days away. What has been a dream, a plan, at times a mirage, is now all too real. We've never been so excited, scared, awestruck, humbled, amazed, dumbfounded, giddy, crazy go nuts, puzzled, pumped, and blessed all at the same time.

We'll be in Bedworth on 14 July, and the first couple of weeks will be spent finding a place to live, acclimating to the new weather and time zone, figuring out how to get around town, getting phones, finding a new internet provider, wondering if Paul can adapt to the UK formulation of Dr Pepper, waiting for our stuff to arrive, learning to ride the bus 'til we buy a car, learning the language, finding a knitting club for Mary, and then somewhere in early August, officially assuming our positions with NLI.

This could not have happened without the grace of God and the love and support of so many friends and family members. Our deepest thanks to you all. We will be sending updates as we get settled in and more as we start the work for which you've sent us.

We have asked time and time again for your prayers, and unashamedly will continue to do so. In fact we'll do it right now;
There is one specific financial need for which we seek fervent prayer; as of this morning, to meet our monthly budget, we need $850/mo to make this adventure a sustainable reality. Between the generous gifts already provided, and the monthly and yearly pledges, we have the first two years covered. The balance is needed to secure the third year of our commitment. We know God would not have set us out on this trek without providing for our financial and physical needs. If you have questions about how this whole support thing works, why it is needed, or how you can join in the adventure and the blessing Please contact us
Would you please also pray for our safety as we travel, for finding a new home, for our health, for our sanity as we adjust to being away from so many we'll love and miss, for patience, not so much for us, but for those who will be training us and teaching us, for Europe and the work NLI is so deeply involved with, for the safe arrival of our clothing and other items being shipped to the UK, and for our faith, this is the first time we have ever been so reliant on God's provision.

This might be the road less traveled, but it is the road we take.

Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Stay in touch via email: mary@going4th1.com paul@going4the1.com.
We are also on Facebook and Skype. We'd love to hear from you.

In God's Country

2009-06-10T21:07:00.008-04:00

Why don't our brains come with a rewind feature? Granted we have our memories, or at least part of them, but they can be fickle and unreliable. As the clock ticks towards our July departure I was recounting the amazing series of events that have occurred over the past two years. What started as a conversation in a car has turned into one of the single most life changing decisions we've ever made. Part of me would love to have a video of everything that has happened, and everyone involved, to bring us to this point. We know there has been sacrifice, blessing, prayers, tears, and support both spiritual and natural from so many people. We are blessed to know you're part of the team.

So what lies ahead? Where to next? Or as many people have asked...why are you doing this???
Granted the who/what/when/where/how answers are easy to communicate. The "why" is so multi-faceted, kaleidoscopic, and rather hard to define. But in an effort to provide an answer, we've provided a short video that helps share what we've see with our eyes, know in our minds, and feel in our hearts. You'll want to have your speakers on.

For those of you on Facebook, the a larger format of the video is also posted there in our group "going4the1"

Questions? Comments? Recipes? Feel free to contact us: mary@going4the1.com or paul@going4the1.com

We're running on faith, but we're not running alone.

Where do we go from here

2009-05-06T20:02:00.002-04:00

Wow!!!! What an incredible month it has been. Each day has contained yet another answer to prayer and more confirmation God is involved in this adventure.

The biggest news is the house is sold!!!!!!! In one of the worst housing markets in decades, God used a garage sale and someone who has a cousin in Brazil looking for a vacation home, to help us over one of the largest hurdles in our path.

There's more; we could not, in good conscience, expect to be out in the mission field and burdened by personal debt. As of about two weeks ago we paid off our last creditor. C'mon Jesus!!!!!!

It keeps coming; 12 June will be Paul's last day at work, just in time for birthday # 52. This will free us both to finishing packing, saying good-byes, and getting the last of the support base together.

So, where do we go from here??? After almost 18 months of preparation we're about 10 weeks from the final move. Now we know how runners and cyclists feel when they "hit the wall". You feel like you've poured everything you have into the race thus far. You ache, your limbs are threatening to leave you, and the next few seconds determine if you stop or rally that last erg of energy to push on through.

We've decided to push on through. We are fully trusting God in this, because only insane people would sell their house, quit their jobs, and seek their financial support from others, without divine intervention. Now more than ever we covet your prayers. Because, as you know, we're running on faith, but we're not running alone.

The vision is too big, the mission to important to back down. Mary sums it up quite nicely;
"My vision for the next 3, 6, 9 years is to see nations changed from the children up. As leaders from different countries come into partnership with NLI, the children's ministry will have an impact on each church, each town, each province, each nation. God has given me a heart for kids and I look forward to being a “Nana to the Nations” wherever He calls us to work. The first step will be bringing the children to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When the adults see the faith of their children, my prayer is they will be softened and become curious about this Jesus. Thus begins the saving of a nation, one child, then one family at a time. Will it be easy? Who knows, but whoever said doing what is right is easy?"

Praise report: Scroll back to the top of the page.

Prayer needs: We know God has called us to Europe. We also know He has made provision for the wherewithal to make this a physical reality.
Our prayer requests would be;
>Wisdom, as we seek those who would be part of the support team
>Boldness, as we overcome our doubts and anxieties.
>Favour, as we share the vision, the adventure, and the opportunity to join in what God is doing in Europe.
>Patience, as we trust in God's timing, not ours.
>Provision, as we complete the raising of the last $1800.00 of monthly support needed.

We thank you for your continued interest, prayers, and encouragement.
Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Our House...is a very very fine house....

2009-04-10T15:54:00.002-04:00

Anyone out there good at calculating odds??? Please let me know what are the chances of this string of events occurring:
1) We have a garage sale
2) Someone happens to come by and they notice the house is for sale
3) They have a family member in Brazil (as in South America) looking for a vacation home in Florida (as in where we live)
4) This couple also know our realtor.
5) Mary shows them the house, and they think the buyer would be interested.
6) Mary mentions the furniture is also for sale, they think the buyer would also be interested in that.
7) The buyer is comes to Florida two days after the garage sale.
8) We have an offer on the house the following Wednesday.
9) The buyer is paying cash.
10) He is also buying the furniture
11) He also is renting us the house thru mid-July
12) The inspections were yesterday.
13) The closing is next Friday.

You can thinks this was just an amazing string of happy coincidences, or you can agree with Mary and I that God has been involved with this every step of the way.

Looking back at the way He sold the house, how can we doubt that He would not also make certain to put us in touch with those needing to give so that we can go??

As they say at our home church...c'mon Jesus!!!!!!

Where do the children play?

2009-04-01T22:10:00.001-04:00

Welcome to our first interactive newsletter. No boring two-dimensional text-only message this time around...no way. You are in for a real treat in just a minute or two. Think of it as 3-D for your mind.

In order for this to work you need to be properly prepared. Please turn down any music or any other distractions. Get comfortable, and if you need a drink of water or tea, get it now. We'll wait...

OK, you're back. Thank you. First step read the next two lines and follow the directions exactly as written, any deviation from the instructions will greatly diminish the outcome.

1) Think of yourself dressed as a clown.
2) Close your eyes and get a full mental view of what you'd look like. Take about 30-60 seconds then open your eyes.

Done? Good. So what do you look like as a clown? How big were your shoes? What colour was your hair? Big red nose? Squirting flower?? Happy clown? Sad clown? Were you more Emmett Kelly or Bozo?

Personally I've never dressed up as a clown. But I know someone who has. This person has actually made her own costume, bought the crazy wigs and make up. She has amused children with her antics in Haiti, the Czech Republic, and Nicaragua. Unable to speak the language in any of those nations she has broken down the cultural barriers and reached the hearts of hundreds of children.

But beneath the silly face and hair, intertwined with the games, the balloons and tricks, is a message some of these kids have never, ever heard. It is simple, it is deliver with love, grace, and a deep humility. Over each of the children she has ever hugged or tickled she has let them know that God loves them. She lets them know Jesus dies so that they may live. She lets them know they matter to the Maker of the Universe.

It may seem too simple, almost trivial. But in Europe where the past 4 or 5 generations have lived in nations without the freedom to know of God, this message is now more important than ever. Thankfully there are people like my wife willing to pour her love out on those young lives. Thankfully Next Level International has recognized the importance of adding children's ministry to their responsibilities. Thankfully they also recognize that Mary's heart beats with love for kids and she gets to help shape this new ministry. This is why I called her "Nana to the Nations".

If helping reach the children of Europe for Christ is important to you feel free to become part of the adventure through your financial support, prayers, or personal involvement.

Praise report: The housing market is starting to improve here in Orlando. This past weekend we had two realtors let us know they had clients interested in our property....we've passed the 47% mark towards our financial goal...and we now have the ability to accept donations via PayPal.

Prayer needs: For that one buyer who sees our house as their new home...for new prayer and support partners...for patience, patience, and more patience.

Thank you for your interest, support, prayers, friendship and love.
Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Waiting for my real life to begin

2009-03-07T11:12:00.002-05:00

Just in case you thought we were crazy for doing what we're doing, let me share this story from our friends at NLI....looks like we'll be in some very good company.

Have you ever stepped out in faith, left the comfort and security of what you had known, trusted, and been a part of for a while to start something new? To go and do something that you had always wanted to do, but weren’t sure if it would work, knowing it would not be as easy or secure as what you were leaving? Yet something inside you just knew you really had no choice, if you wanted to keep dreaming, thriving, living, you had to go and do this no matter the cost.

This is what Nelu Chirita in Galati Romania did as part of the NLI church planting project in South East Romania. Nelu was the leader of the largest church in the city of Galati. He had lead this church for over seven years and was comfortable and well established in that community. However God was doing something in Nelu that he could not shake. You see God had burdened Nelu’s heart for the city of Galati. Galati is the most under evangelized city in Romania; with a population of around 300,000 inhabitants and only 7 evangelical churches. Nelu knew that God was calling him to leave the comfort and security of his well established church and to venture into a new location of the city and establish something, fresh and new.

So last year Nelu began to do that, with the support of 50 members of his previous church he moved across the city into a rented building to start a new church just down the street from a couple of schools. He stepped out in faith and said, “Jesus, I am going to do this because you have given me this desire to reach a new generation in Galati for You.”

Nelu has embraced this challenge head on, stepping out of the traditional mind sets that can be prevalent in Church culture and saying I am willing to do something different to reach someone different. He has opened his building up after school for students to come hang out and build relationships with people from the church. Providing a safe place for them to come, spend time, and play games. He has created opportunities for youth and young people to come and experience Jesus in a real way. Let me tell you that Nelu’s faith has been rewarded. His church has grown to over 80 members and close to 100 people meeting together on a given Sunday in less then a year. Not only that, but Nelu has had many others come see, experience and understand the church and the truth of who Jesus is in a whole new way.

We look forward to the day we will be working with Nelu, and the many others who partner with NLI as they strive to reach Europe with the Good News. Our hearts ache as we yearn for the day when we go from preparation and planning to "All systems are go for launch." . We've been waiting for our real lives to begin...and it is getting so close.

Praise report: The housing market is starting to improve here in Orlando. ..we've passed the 40% mark towards our financial goal...and we now have the ability to accept donations via PayPal.

Prayer needs: For that one buyer who sees our house as their new home...for new prayer and support partners...for patience.

Thank you for your interest, support, prayers, friendship and love.
Paul and Mary.

Maybe I'm Amazed

2009-02-21T18:27:00.001-05:00

From the begining of this journey God has repeatedly shown Himself strong and true to His word. Who would have thought that two 50 year old grandparents would be considered missionary material? Yet the journey has started and we are that much further along the road.

In His most recent display of love and and support, God made it possible for us to be interviewed by a local TV station. Many of you were involved through the questions you submitted in a response to last month's newsletter. Many of you were involved through your prayers and encouragement. Well, now you have the chance to see how it went. The TV station (WTGL TV 45 Orlando) was gracious enough to provide us with a copy of the interview, and the broadcast schedule.

So, here's the broadcast schedule for those of you in Central Florida:

25 Feb 2009 at 7:30 AM, Noon, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM.
1 March 2009 at 6:30 PM

For those of you elsewhere, the video has been posted to our blog and for any of you on Facebook, it has been uploaded there too (look for us or for the group "going4the1".

Your feedback, thoughts, and/or comments are always welcome.

Weary not in doing well.
Paul and Mary.

Act Naturally

2009-02-20T17:32:00.006-05:00

We were recently blessed beyond our wildest expectations when given the opportunity to share the vision of our ministry via a television interview on a local TV station. The video had been posted here for your viewing pleasure...I'll tell you now...Mary stole the show!!!

Since You've Asked

2009-02-03T21:19:00.001-05:00

Hello. First and foremost we want to thank everyone for their responses to last month's request. You provided dozens of great potential interview questions. So, after sifting through them, and after much discussion, we've boiled them down to ten. Then we figured, maybe, just maybe, people might want to know what the questions were. Perhaps those same people would also like to know the answers. Sit back, relax, get that mouse scrolling finger ready....here are the first five;

a) How would describe the process you’ve been going through leading up to your move into the world of missions?

It is much like the relationship process that leads one to getting married. Our first short-term mission trips were "blind dates", a chance to meet with this whole idea of missionary work, but with no commitment. With our interest piqued, and our Spirits stirred, we decided there was more to this than the occasional one or two week missions trip. Our relationship with Next Level International had grown over the years, but it was a distance romance. We decided to get a closer look and moved on to the "it is time to meet the family" phase. Multiple visits to Europe to see NLI at work convinced us they were the ministry we would want to work with...so when God "popped the question"...the answer was yes. So as with any newlyweds, we know we will be breaking ties with friends and family, moving on in our lives...and enjoying every step of the way together.

b) What caused your initial interest in Europe?

Our relationship with NLI. Both of us were part of a short term missions trip to the Czech Republic through NLI. We fell in love with the people we met, and with the staff at NLI. A few years later Mary had a chance to volunteer in NLI's office for a week while I attended a pastors training seminar, being presented by NLI, in Serbia. This additional exposure further solidified our relationship with NLI, and the Serbian people I met could not have been any nicer. I still stay in touch with a pastor I met at that conference. As we delved deeper into the possibility of actually becoming missionaries, we realised we had to be able to function within whatever culture we found ourselves. Working with NLI puts us in an English speaking country, but allows us to work with all 47 nations of Europe.

c) Why have you decided to make this level of sacrifice?

This may sound odd, but we don't see it that way. To us we are amazed that we have this opportunity to serve. Yes we have discussed the fact we are leaving all we know behind; our families, our children, our grandchildren...and more. When we leave we will be strangers in a strange land (or lands). But since this idea went from a "some day dream" to an up and coming reality, we feel blessed in the fact that God would find us worthy of the task. We have had to learn a whole new level of trust, dependency, and faith. In it all we are also humbled by the sacrifices being made by those who have offered to support us in this.

d) What are the steps that you have to take before you can land in Europe?

The two "biggies" would be the sale of our home. Granted the current market is unfavourable, to say the least. But fortunately God doesn't read The Wall Street Journal nor The Financial Times. The other one is building a support base, both prayer and financial. Our yearly budget is approximately $42,000 (US). This is God's idea and He has prepared a way for this to all come together. Our responsibility is to find those whom He has put in our path to be partners. Since we will be volunteers, not employees, we will be solely dependent on the blessings of others.

e) What can you tell us about Next Level International insofar as their mission and goals?

NLI started their ministry about 18 years ago, serving in Eastern and Central Europe. They have focused on 3 main areas: leadership training, church planting, and short term missions. The mission at NLI is simply this, to "Empower a whole new generation of radical leaders to equip, transform and expand the Church in Europe." Starting in 2010 their goal is to have a working ministerial relationship in all 47 nations of Europe.

f) What specific responsibilities will each of you have with NLI?

Mary will have a dual role. She will be using her office management/accounting background to fulfill the role of Financial Comptroller....every ministry needs to be good stewards of their finances. But the other part of her schedule will be investing in the creation of a new facet to NLI's overall mission....children's ministry. (Side note: We heard of NLI's plans for their new kids ministry whilst at their Eurosummit Conference in Poland. Once the speaker finished outlining the plans and goals of this exciting new ministry I turned to Mary and said: "That's you. Nana to the nations)

Paul will be working with the Short Term Missions side of things as STM co-coordinator. The Short Term Mission Coordinator is responsible for the coordinating and organization of teams and individuals going on short-term mission into Europe. He will be responsible for promoting teamwork and strong communication between NLI's various partners. This will include trip logistics, and working with churches/organizations at both ends of the process, those willing to send teams and those willing to accept them. Odds are his camera gear may make a few of those trips too.

g) Why Europe when there are many here at home that are unsaved?

Despite the great Spiritual history of Europe; The Reformation/Guttenberg's Bible/24-7 Prayer, just to name a few. Plus, many of us could trace their Salvation Genealogy back to the missionary outpouring from Europe. But decades of socialism, communism, fascism and the like, have left a barren Godless society in their wake. Here in the US there are many unsaved, but they are far from unreached. With the numerous churches, Christian TV and Radio stations,etc it is hard not to have heard of Jesus in this country. Most of Europe is unreached, having been generations since God was allowed in society. The 20-30 year olds in Europe are one of the most lost generations on the planet. The great cathedrals are museums or concert halls. In the vacuum left by communism in Eastern/Central Europe has come drugs, prostitution, consumerism....freedom, but unbridled and without a moral compass.

h) How is the current domestic/global economic upheaval affecting your plans?

Mostly good: The dollar has gained strength over the British Pound which means our support will go that much further.

i) Any fears or doubts?

More apprehensions that fear or doubt. We know life will be different. We know we will be 100% dependent on God's blessing just to make it from day to day. But we also know that there will be a network of prayer and financial supporters who will being right there with us. We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

j) What makes you think you’re qualified to fulfill this call?

We're still thinking this one over. There is nothing special about us. This is just another step in a long series of other steps leading to this point in time. If we have any qualification it is obedience to answer the call.

Questions 67 & 68

2009-01-20T20:25:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone...this update is a trifle different from the rest. We need your help!!!

We have the opportunity to be interviewed on a local TV station, and they are asking us to provide some sample questions. So....if you could ask any question about what/why/how/where or who in relation to our ministry plans....what would they be???
Hit us with the toughest questions you can...or maybe just one or two easy ones....we're open to your input.

Would you take a minute right now as you read this and simply send us an email with your questions?

This is a huge opportunity for us and by bringing your questions with us...well...that makes you part of the interview too.

A million thanks for your responses, prayers, and support.
Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

One more...in the name of love

2008-12-28T15:01:00.006-05:00

Ever hear this one? A young boy is on vacation with his family, and this is the first time he has ever seen the ocean. Very early, on the first morning of their stay, he heads outdoors to walk the beach. The sun is just rising and the tide is out. As his eyes adjust to the growing daylight he realises the beach is covered with starfish, left behind by the receding waters. In a near- frenzy he begins picking up the stranded starfish and running them to water, to safety, away from death. In the midst of countless trips back and forth from sand to sea, he is interrupted by a man passing by. The stranger asks him "What are you doing young man?" "I trying to save all these starfish, they will die in the sun. They must get back into the water!", was the boy's reply. The man looked up the beach at all starfish and told the boy, 'You're wasting your time. You cannot save them all....all you work won't make a difference." The young boy looked up and down the beach, then down at his feet. Picking up one more starfish and casting it back into the sea, he looked the man straight in the eye and said, "It made a difference to that one."

I love the simplicity of that story. The message is so clear, so innocent. In a contest between childlike faith and cold hard reality, my money will always be on the kid.

Does this mean we live in a fairy tale world where everything always comes out right in the end? Is this adventure of ours to serve as missionaries in Europe just some kind of Peter Pan escapism? Or are we just crazy? The answer to at least two of those is definitely a resounding "No."

Granted, interacting with people, especially when we are strangers in their land, is not as simple as casting starfish into the sea. Nor is trying to open their eyes to a God that has been outlawed in their nation for decades. But we are called to go. We seek to save one more...in the name of love.

NLI had over 30 short term mission teams working in Europe this past year. These teams came from across the globe to minister in Slovakia, Romania, Spain, The Czech Republic, Poland and Romania. Over 300 volunteers gave of themselves to share the Good News. Not in massive rallies or outreaches, but in small groups, where they could meet people face to face, Where they could shares prayers, tears, and laughter. Did it make any difference? Allow me to share some feedback from the teams themselves, and you be the judge.

Slovakia>> "In the Crisis Orphanage we entered a room where the children were not familiar with visitors; these precious ones had been horribly abused and many could not even speak because they were so traumatized. Some never smiled, some were fearful of the males in our group. We began to blow up some animal balloons and interact with the children, after 4 hours of playing, skits and having fun almost every child was laughing and squealing with delight. When I asked the director of the home if there was anything we could do to bless them her answer was, 'You already have, just by coming and playing with the children. Apparently many churches come to the home to drop off toys etc. but no one will come in because there are gypsy children in the home, we were the first to actually go in, this was just one of the many open doors of which we were privileged to be a part."

Romania>> “The incredible love and commitment shown by so many local folk, many of whom have been through much persecution, put my own faith in the shade, but I know God used us to bless and be blessed.We have had our hearts and vision enlarged; we have been raised to a higher level of intimacy with God and of hearing the Holy Spirit; and we have returned so excited about who God is and what He can do. Our perspective has changed and we can never be the same again - nor would we want to.”

So there's a peek into the world where we will soon find ourselves. A short trip down roads we will soon travel. You're invited to join us, in prayer, by way of financial support, or perhaps some day coming to see what we see..and joining the adventure as we make a difference to one more...in the name of love.

Praise reports: We have reached 34% of our support goal and are now proud owners of UK Visas. Yipeeee!!!!! (We've been told few people get their visas without some complications, our applications were processed without a hitch)
My employer has been most gracious to allow me to stay on staff until the house is sold. I had intended to leave my job as of 12/31/08.

Prayer requests: The US housing market is in one of its worst slumps ever. Thankfully God doesn't read the paper. Please join us in our petition that the right buyers come at the right time with the right offer. Also, we do need to raise the remaining 2/3 of our support. Your prayers for this are much appreciated. Lastly, would you help us pray for patience? Our hearts are in Europe, but everything else is still here. Thank you.

A Blessed and Happy New Year to all.
Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Here, There, and Everywhere

2008-11-30T20:34:00.002-05:00

Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans.... Mary and I had flown to Colorado to visit our favourite second daughter, her hubby, and our favourite #3 grand daughter for Thanksgiving. In the midst of some very enjoyable family time (and cold weather complete with snow) we received word that Mary's mom had passed away. So here it is about 6:30 PM MT and we're getting ready to catch a 1:00AM flight from Denver to NYC and then on to Maine. May we ask for your prayers not only for us as we travel, but also for Mary's brother and sisters as they too make the trip? And for prayer as the decisions, always brought about by someone's death, can be discussed and worked out with grace and understanding? We would certainly appreciate it.

Is there anybody out there?

2008-11-04T20:35:00.000-05:00

A simple, possibly very common question. Odds are every inventor, artist, author and the like, have at least had this question run through their minds. Will anyone listen to my words? Will anyone use my machine? Does anyone like my work?

It almost makes you wonder if Jesus asked the same question (albeit rhetorically) as He began His ministry. Is there anybody out there who is hurting? Lonely? Sick? Unloved? Abandoned? Downcast? Repressed? He knew the answer was a resounding "Yes."

But would the question possibly arise again? Is there anybody out there who would accept His message of Love, Healing, Forgiveness, and Grace? To that there was no guarantee.

When the time came to choose His disciple did Jesus wonder if there was anyone out there who would not only follow Him, but carry on His work once He was gone? Fortunately the answer was "yes". The work of this small group of common men spread the Gospel across the known world, with some of the first missionary trips taking the Good News to Europe.

Fast forward a few thousand years to 2008. Those same nations once visited by the apostles have recently emerged from decades of political control. Since early in the 20th century there was no need for God. The "State" would provide for their needs. Those years of communism, socialism, fascism, nazism, thisism,and thatism, slowly eroded away the hearts and souls of the people. Each new generation knew less of who God was, or why He even mattered.

Today the question gets asked again: In the nations of Europe: Is there anybody out there? Addicted to drugs? Selling their bodies? Considering suicide? Having abortions? Lonely? Sick? Abused? Scared? Crying out in hope there is someone who can make their lives worth living? And statistics paint a horrible picture of the despair of this present generation. As it was 2000 years ago, it is today...the answer is still "yes". The answer is still Jesus, and it is time to bring the Light of the World back to Europe.

So now the question is asked of us, collectively. Is there anybody out there? Willing to pray for the unreached peoples of Europe? Willing to sacrifice (yes sacrifice) to support those going to join the battle? Willing to be part of the solution, part of a legacy, part of the adventure, and part of the blessing?

To those of you whom have already answered "yes" we thank you and truly appreciate you. To those of you who whom might have questions or need more information, feel free to contact us via email: paul@going4the1.com or mary@going4the1.com.

Personal Prayer Requests:
> Our home is for sale...would you join us in prayer for a buyer?
> We are applying for our British visas next week. Would you join us in prayer for a smooth/speedy application process?
> Our financial support. We need to have a least 95% of our support raised prior to our departure. We are currently at 21%. With seven weeks left to go, we truly need your prayers on this one!

Thanks again...everyone. Paul and Mary.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

I walk the road, horizons change....

2008-10-25T17:19:00.006-04:00

Why is the most difficult part of a journey the middle?? Perhaps at the beginning we are still close to "home" and we know the way back would be an easy trip...and on the other end, as we draw near to a destination, we trudge on, sometimes crying, often with tears in our eyes and the aches of a hard and difficult journey clinging to our very souls...but we go on with the last steps knowing it will soon all be behind us. The danger is in the middle....when both home and the goal are hidden...when any doubts or fears we brought along now raise their ugly whispers to groans and shouts of defeat and doom. The peril is a sort of paralysis, numbing us, weighing us down, stopping us dead in our tracks. If we stop, the view never changes. If we stop, we never reach the goal. If we stop, the dream dies. I lift my cries to God...He has promised to be a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path....and His promises are never broken.

Against the Wind

2008-10-19T12:18:00.003-04:00

This last week has been a tough one for me on many levels. I've described it as suffering from the effects of exposure to Red Kryptonite. My super powers aren't gone, I'm not weakened, just experiencing some things that are unusual to me... like doubt and and borderline despair. I started making a mental list of all that needs to come together to make our move to the UK a reality and suddenly felt like I was sinking under the "reality".

The good news is, this forced me to put our plans in perspective. In an effort to clear my head and allow me to hear what God was saying I turned off all the distractions and prayed for His reassurance. Needless to say...God came through loud and clear...and through a sermon no less!!!

Allow me to paraphrase Matthew 14:22-27: Jesus had just preached to a large crowd and fed thousands of people. He instructs his disciples to get in the boat, head across the lake, and He will meet up with them on the other side. They start rowing (keep in mind this is in the day before radar and weather forecasting) and Jesus dispels the crowd and then goes to a quiet place for a time of prayer.

As the day becomes night and the disciples are well on their way, a storm starts buffeting their boat, to the point they fear for their lives. In the midst of their fear and despair Jesus comes walking across the lake and tells them to be not afraid and as soon as He steps onto the boat...the storm is gone.

I've heard this passage time and time again, but today two very amazing points were brought to light:

1) Jesus sent the disciples on their way intending to meet them on the other side. He knew they would make it, He told them He'd be there when they arrived. Yet they forgot this as they were holding on for dear life.

2) Jesus will stop at nothing to save us from the storms. He defied the laws of nature and physics as He made his way across the lake. He used His heavenly authority to quell the winds and rain.

Lord in the midst of my storms I pray that I never forget you have promised to meet me on the other side. And I praise and thank you for loving me enough to say..."Do not be afraid. I am with you".

Wait a minute, there is another valuable lesson in this! The disciples are in the midst of a raging storm, the waves are crashing against their boat, land is not in sight...they are in trouble...but...they are also where Jesus told them to be. Remember? He sent them on their way. So then, this doesn't mean just because we are being obedient it will always be smooth sailing. No one ever said being a Follower of Christ would be easy.

Moonshadow

2008-10-12T21:26:00.002-04:00

I like taking strolls around our lake (oft times with a fishing pole), these walks give me some much needed quiet time. A few weeks ago on one such stroll I was running thru my mind all the things that need to come together before we leave for England. In the midst of my listing I asked God for His reassurance that all would be well. At that moment I happened to gaze at the sky, and there on the horizon was the smallest sliver of moon I've ever seen...so slender, so tiny I almost missed it. But as my eyes adjusted to the darkness I soon realised I could see the whole moon, albeit it in shadow, but nonetheless it was there. What a great visual image...the illuminated part was what I could clearly see insofar as finances and logistics and all the whatever else, it was all those things we could already touch and claim as done....the part still in shadow was everything else on my mind that still needs to come together, I sensed God was saying He would reveal it all in due time...in His time, not mine.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Point of Know Return

2008-10-11T15:38:00.005-04:00

We have all been there. We have all stood at that point, where we know the next step, word, or action will influence the rest of our lives. We may not recall our first infant attempts at walking, but it is a sure bet if you close your eyes you can remember such events as; taking a driving test for the first (second, third) time, a first date, a first kiss, graduation, first job interview, marriage proposal, the list goes on and on. We have all taken that leap of faith, and if you are reading this, you have survived the outcome. Congratulations.

Do we always know how things will turn out? Do we always have the facts? Do we always know it will turn out as we have planned? Honestly, no. But if the outcome hoped for outweighs the risk, we take a deep breath, say a quick prayer and walk past the point of k(no)w return. “No return” because there are no do-overs in real life. “Know return” because we are fully aware of the chance we take, yet we go on anyway.

As of this Tuesday past, another such step has been taken . Our house is now listed for sale. We are having a moving sale tomorrow, and sorting through the needed, unwanted, and the “where did this come from”. It already feels as if we longer live here. Your prayers for a timely and smooth transaction are deeply appreciated.

There is another step that needs to be taken. With January 6th only 87 days away we must turn our time and energy to putting together the support base needed to make this adventure a reality. Our yearly expenses will be approximately $50,000 (US). This would include taxes, tithes, housing, transportation, food, clothing, water, electricity, heat, an occasional Dr Pepper, etc. We are about 14% of the way there.

That next step mentioned a moment ago is yours to take. Simple, direct, and to the point, would you consider being a member of our support team? What your involvement would look like is up to you. Frankly, a group of supporters able to give monthly works in our best interest, this would allow us to plan accordingly and live without wondering if we can stay another month. However, it would be foolish to ignore the fact there are some folks out there who have never been involved in something like this before, and might be able to share a special gift for starters.

We can play with the math in so many different ways. One hundred people able to give $50.00/month, or fifty people being able to give $100/month…or 5 people giving $1000/month. Or, here’s a crazy idea…. This newsletter goes out to about 250 people…what if everyone forwarded it to everyone on their email list, say they know 125 people, and those 125 know 60...if this email just went out to those people, it would reach 1,875,000 people. If 1% of those people donated $8.00, our three-year goal would be met. Odds are it will be a mix of a variety of scenarios.

Some of you reading this are already actively involved, thank you. Some of you have been following these updates and have not made a decision…if you have questions or need more information, please let us know. Some of you are new to this and are wondering just what is it we are planning on doing. Please visit our website for an overview of the adventure ahead. You can also read past newsletters on our blog then feel free to contact us with any questions. Lest we forget, those of you willing to provide prayer support are equally welcome.

So, what ‘s next??? The crux of the matter is we need to know if you are with us.
Would you reply to this email with a simple answer?
Yes...(Great... we’ll be in touch.)
Maybe…(Understood…what questions do you have?)
No…(Cool…let us know if you want to stay in the loop.)

All our love…Paul and Mary

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Onward

2008-08-31T22:20:00.002-04:00

T-minus four months and six days, not that we're counting.

Ever see one of those artist's renderings of a new building? You know the ones, the beautiful representation of something that doesn't exist....quite yet. These images can be a painting or perhaps a scale model of someone's dream. No one lives or works in these buildings, yet. The trees in the picture don't exist, nor do the people so casually strolling past, yet. But someday, somewhere, with the right permits, planning, money and all the other pieces that need to come together, this vision can become a reality.

Can you image the designer walking into the office of a building contractor, handing him the painting of his dream design, and saying...”OK...Build this.”? Even with my limited knowledge of architecture and construction, I realise there is a little more to it than this. Someone needs to provide details about foundations, plumbing, wiring, flooring, windows, stairs, elevators, ceilings, paint, bathrooms, phone lines, concrete, steel....and all that needs to be translated into a number of blueprint drawings explaining where it all goes. And of course, someone has to buy into this dream, someone will want to see it happen.

That is where we find ourselves....we've been drawing the picture, painting in the colours, bringing the dream to life through these updates, letters, and conversations. The blueprints have been drawn, the time line established. Is this dream worthy of someone's investment?

Is this enough to get you involved? We've agreed to volunteer with Next Level International for the next three years. Mary will be helping in the finance office, and more importantly, actively involved as NLI develops its first children's ministry program. Paul will be the short-term missions team coordinator, facilitating the logistics of pairing teams from all over the world with churches in Europe. Interesting, but job descriptions rarely inspiring, are they?

How about this? After decades of socialism, communism, fascism, and Nazism, millions of Europeans have grown up with no knowledge of the importance of a relationship with God. Even with the fall of communism, the void created has been filled with suicide, drug abuse, crime and despair. Estimates are it will take 300,000 churches to help bring Europe back to Christ. In nations, home to some of the most significant moves of God in modern history, the current generation is lost and unaware of His importance.

The vision...is to reach those lost, one at a time. NLI has set a goal to be actively involved in all 47 nations of Europe by the year 2020. Like the artist's rendering...we see the vision... we see the goal....but we're not there, yet. In the next four months we need to establish a support team, financial partners willing to help make the dream a reality, prayer partners to protect us as we step into the fray. We're going, physically, mentally, spiritually, and you can be part of this through your support. Our steps will be your steps, our triumphs will also be your triumphs...and most importantly, we will all share in the blessings.

Next steps: Have you heard enough to say...”yes” this is something we want to be part of? Or do you need more information? Do you think we're nuts....or crazy enough for all the right reasons? We're already stepping out in faith....we need to know who is going with us. Would you please take a moment to send an email with your thoughts, comments, questions, prayers?

Thank you. Paul and Mary

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Breakin' the law

2008-08-16T18:13:00.003-04:00

Greetings from Prague....the trip thus far... last Monday we headed from Orlando to the UK (by way of Houston, but that is another story) We arrived in London Tuesday morning and headed north to Bedworth where we began the search for our next home. We spent most of Tuesday being shown around the area, visiting estate agents, and getting a good idea of what's what in living space in the area around NLI.

On Wednesday we spent almost all day at the NLI office getting brought up to speed on the new plans for the ministry, and how that will affect our positions upon our arrival in January, this too is another story, stay tuned.

Thursday we flew to Prague to be in town for a wedding on Friday. The wedding was in a chateau near the German border...I'll post some pix later in the week.

So here it is Saturday night, we just got back in from a long stroll around Prague's 'Old Town", lunch at McDonalds, a baroque concert and we learned what happens when you get on the Metro with the wrong type of ticket....long story short...we are $100.00 smarter that we were earlier today.

We have another day to see the sights tomorrow, and then home on Monday. .we look forward to coming home............What a long strange trip it has been.

On the road to find out

2008-08-05T17:31:00.002-04:00

There is an old story about two friends (Bill and Bob) who went fishing one day, on a very large lake. As the morning turned to afternoon, and then on to evening, they drifted further and further toward the middle of the lake. A bit of a breeze and drop in the air temperature stirred Bill from his daydreaming. A look at the western horizon showed a massive storm bearing down on them. Bill quickly alerted Bob and asked..."Do we paddle or pray?" Bob calmly surveyed the sky, the distance to the shore, and the sky again before replying..."Both."

So we find ourselves in a similar position. Being ready by January 6th is our "storm",and the paddling includes raising support, selling the house, and most immediately, heading to the UK in
the next week or so to find a place to call home, plus countless other details.

You'd think if God wanted us to do this He would make it much easier.
>> Rather than have to contact hundreds of people in search of supporters, why not just let us win the lottery?
>> Why should we have to market the house? Shouldn't someone just show up and offer twice the market value for it?
>>Get visas? What for? We're on a mission from God!
>>Shouldn't someone just donate a car and free gas...who needs $10/gal petrol anyway?

It seems like we have to go through quite a lot of growing, stretching and being faithful to take on a job with no pay.....doh....maybe that is the point. God wants to prepare us for what lies ahead, and He knows we cannot do this on our own.

This is where the prayer part comes in....because this whole process is beyond our means, physically, spiritually, emotionally, and financially. We cannot do this alone. Would you be in prayer for us as we look for a place to live? Would you be in prayer as we seek to find a buyer for our house? And here is the dangerous one....would you be in prayer as we seek to build our support network? (What's so dangerous about this one you ask....the support network just might include you.)

Thank you.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Amazing Journey (Part Three)

2008-07-03T17:54:00.000-04:00

Now for the rest of the story... here's where someone really hit the big "On" switch.

July 2001, Bilina Czech Republic. Our church has put together a short-term mission team to assist a pastor in this small town (pop. 20,000) near the Czech/German border.

This trip is significant on a number of levels. Twas on this trip we worked with Next Level International for the first time. This was also the first time I had the opportunity to preach. Yet there was something else that moved me deep within my soul.

Ever see someone completely out of their element, so far from their comfort zone they may never find their way back...yet still mold themselves into the situation as if it was something they did every day? With a child-like enthusiasm they take on new tasks, regardless of the discomfort or potential for embarrassment. One team member in particular exemplified this type of joyful servanthood.

In the course of a ten day stay she cleaned floors, hugged children, ate strange food, taught Bible lessons to gypsy kids and perhaps the crowning moment of the whole trip was evidenced when she donned a home-made clown costume and talked of salvation to a group a children, using the salvation bracelet as her guide.

Every new day and every new challenge was met with a smile. Never a complaint, never a grumble... (ok after a week of no fresh veggies she did mention a craving for salad...but even that was done with grace). Unphased by inconvenience and unashamed to share her faith, you'd swear she had done this a million times before. But this was only her second mission trip.

Day after day I quietly marveled at her resolve and enthusiasm. (Try teaching a Bible lesson to 120+ kids who don't speak your language). And in the midst of all this a seed was planted in my mind....what if this woman was able to do this every day? You know how some folks just seem to "fit" in a career or vocation. She certainly had me convinced....which is a good thing...because I was watching my wife.

Even as I am writing this, Mary is making a new clown costume for our upcoming trip to Nicaragua, and the salvation bracelets are ready to be packed. With a little help from a translator, and God, she will again dive into the challenge. She'll laugh and cry, she'll pray and sing....and not care who is watching. She'll burn every ounce of energy she has in an all out effort to teach and reach this new flock of lost lambs.

Married couples often wonder why they got together, stayed together, and haven't actually carried out their fantasy of getting rid of the other....we've been blessed with the knowledge that we are a team...we go forward into our Big Adventure, hand in hand, one being brave enough to convince the scared one that all will be OK....taking turns carrying, and being carried...sharing smiles with tears, peace with fears...why did I agree with God to take this step?? Because He gave me my True Companion to share the trip.

For those of you keeping track...as of today we are t-minus 6 months and 4 days. We ask that you'd please continue to pray for us as we sell the house and furnishings, meet with potential partners, and figure out what to pack and what to leave behind. Thank you.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

2008-06-02T21:22:00.001-04:00

Amazing Journey (Part Two)

Last month found our hero returning from the wilds of Mexico, reflecting on what had been witnessed on his first missions trip. Not realising the long-term effects on his life. (If you missed it, feel free to get caught up by reading last month's newsletter at www.pmtriller.blogspot.com)

Let's fast forward a year or two. Missions trip #2, this one to Guatemala. But rather than being just a participant, I was able to help plan this trip from the beginning...and in this case we were not going to help a pastor, but a missionary couple, a very interesting missionary couple.

Our team came to finish a church building, and construct a playground area. We also had the the opportunity to preach, share testimonies, and interact with the villagers. The team was mostly teens, many of which had never been on such a trip. But the real story here is about Mike and Rocky...tho' the "Nick has a gun" story is worth asking about.

Mike and Rocky Beene have been serving in some very remote parts of Guatemala for close to 20 years now. Rocky decided she wanted to bring the Good News to Central America. So at 18, with no big ministry backing, she finds herself in Honduras. About the same time in Texas, God is dealing with an drunk cowboy named Mike. An odd combination to say the least, but Mike finds his way into the mission field, and meets Rocky in Costa Rica. They get married, move to Guatemala, and start their ministry and their family, while living out of a pickup truck and a tent.

Over the years they built; a house, multiple churches, a clinic, a dorm, they trained pastors, started a coffee growing project, help get water to the nearby villages, had four children, cleared a road up the mountain, started a home building project, stitched machete induced wounds, and delivered babies. They started with no electricity, no running water, no phones, no house.... but overcame all these obstacles with a determination and drive that is rare in this day and age of convenience.

Have they made a difference? The answer is "Yes". But how to quantify the results may be difficult. They have literally saved lives in their clinic.They have saved souls in the churches they helped establish. They have improved living conditions by helping get clean water and by building new homes with a real floor (rather than having kids sleeping on dirt.) But I think the real proof came just last year when their daughter, Kayla (now 18), decided to follow mom and dad's footsteps. She is now a missionary in Australia.

What does all this have to do with what lies ahead for Mary and I??? To us, Mike and Rocky are an inspiration. We look at what they have done, and how God has provided, and we are encouraged.
Yes, they live a crazy life, oft-times dangerous, and not without its share of tears. No one can argue their life is not for everyone. ( Mary and I have no intention of having four more children.)
But this couple has served, and persevered....and with such joy.

We pray we can look back 20 years from now and say the same. But before we look back, we need to look ahead. Our story is just starting. Our joys, set-backs, triumphs, and challenges are still in their boxes, awaiting the day we reach Europe and start living the Adventure.

So Mexico opened my eyes to the what missionary work can do. Guatemala opened my heart... next month you'll learn what opened my spirit.

We are running on faith, but we are not running alone.

Amazing Journey (Part One)

2008-04-30T22:40:00.000-04:00

As we approach the t minus 7 months and counting mark in the countdown towards our move, a number of (well-meaning) friends, family and acquaintances have questioned our motivation, logic and to some extent, our sanity.

Each query was presented out of genuine concern and interest for our well-being. And in each event came a pause for some reflection on our part. Have you ever had to explain something you did, or wanted to do, that seemed to defy at a few cosmic laws, if not a least one universal constant?

Let's fire up the Way Back Machine for 1991....our church was putting together its first missions trip. Destination: Victoria, Mexico. The announcement was made at service one Sunday and you'd expect one's motivation for going to be some selfless desire to help their fellow man....close, well almost close...my motivation was a little less altruistic. I wanted to go because it was a trip to Mexico and other people would help pay my way.

Needless to say it was a humble beginning for a now future missionary.

The team included quite a mix of talent from preaching, praise and worship, drama, kid's ministry and a construction crew. The people of Victoria were prayed for, entertained, ministered to, and had a new church building before we left. Even though I was in the midst of the ministry action, it was on the work site I caught my first glimpse into what missions was all about.

The scene looked like this: The church building is almost complete. Bob (from our church) is on a ladder running the wiring. Chewie (the church's pastor) is holding the ladder steady on the uneven dirt floor. As men from almost every nation and ethnic background will do under such conditions...they started a conversation. They chatted about their backgrounds, travels, hobbies, kids, etc...and in the midst of it all Chewie asked Bob to tell him about their church building back in Florida. Bob paused, looked down, and explained we didn't have a church building....yet. Chewie would have been less amazed if Bob said we met in a sanctuary that held 100,000 people and had water slides. This Mexican pastor, who currently held his services in an empty lot next to a tortilla bakery, couldn't believe any church would voluntarily give of their people and resources to provide total strangers with a building, when they didn't have a building of their own first. He stopped short of calling us loco. But it doesn't stop here......

Chewie (at this time a trifle teary-eyed) humbly explained that just a few months previous his congregation had enough money to buy the supplies and hire the workers to put up their building. But when informed that a sister church had a financial emergency, Chewie and his flock, gave away their entire building fund. And he thought we were crazy??

It was a few days after they emptied their bank account Chewie received a call about a church in Orlando who had a team available to come down and put up their building, and pay for all the supplies. Coincidence, right?

Fast forward to the next day.....the big grand opening....the first service in this new building. Chewie is standing by the front door, beaming, grinning from ear to ear, ready to cut the ribbon. Can you imagine his emotions? The joy? The happiness??? It was at this moment I realised that giving and receiving are inseparable.... that this series of acts of selflessness and obedience would affect countless lives... that what had been done here would make a difference... it was a glimpse into a different reality...it was a step that would be followed by others, and lead to where we are today.

One story might not fully explain why we're doing this, but it is a start....and there will be more stories to come. The big question is ....do you want to be part of them????

Born to run

2008-03-02T14:10:00.000-05:00

Ever hit one of those age milestones that suddenly starts you on a trail of reminiscing? You take a moment every now and then to play those mental videos of days past. Sometimes they are simple memories; early birthday parties, first day of school, first dance...
This can also happen when you hear about an anniversary of some world event. Last year I realised I am older than Sputnik and Legos....so sometimes they are memory news clips, you know the "where was I when...?" Who out there recalls where they were when John F Kennedy was assassinated? (I was in first grade) Or the Apollo 11 moon landing? (I was 12) Or when MTV broadcast their first music video? Or the fall of communism in Europe?

How often have you found yourself taking a bit of a personal inventory at these time? I once had someone ask me...."How is your dash?" Think of a tombstone for a second....oft times you will see the year someone was born...then a hyphen (dash) and the year they died. The time in-between is your "dash". In your dash are things you cannot change, where you were born, your name, where you lived as a child...these were things out of our control. As we grew older we starting taking more control over our lives. Sometimes we made mistakes....sometimes we played the hero. Hopefully we all learned from both.

But if you're still reading this, your dash isn't over yet. What lies ahead? What changes can you make? How can you impact the people around you? Is there somewhere in your neighbourhood, your city, your nation, or somewhere on the planet you can make a difference?
Part of our DNA, part of our very core being wants to create a better world. Whatever you call it, deep down inside we want to be remembered, we want to create a legacy. We want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We weren't born to be static...we were born to run.

God has used ordinary people to do extraordinary things for thousands of years. Some give of their talents. Some offer prayer. Some can provide financial support. Some put feet to their faith and go to serve. Each part is integral, each part thrives when all the others are in synch. So it is when all these parts of the equation come together....things like this happen....(excerpt from a letter describing what happened during an NLI short term mission trip to Slovakia) After some worship, testimonies, and a dance, one of the team preached about the lady who had been ill for years, and how she reached out to touch Jesus' coat and was immediately healed. Afterwards we asked if anyone would like us to pray with them: many did. Mark, one of the team members, prayed for a little girl (about 8yrs old). She was deaf. He prayed, knowing he could do nothing, but WITH God all things are possible. The interpreter repeated to the little girl all that Mark had said, and then clicked his fingers by the side of her ear. She spun her head round in amazement - she had heard the click. The leader of the small Christian group on the site spoke to us afterwards and said he knew the girl and her mum, and it was true that she had been born deaf. God gave her back her hearing that day. Awesome!

Do stories like this stir up something inside you? Does it make you wonder where could you fit in? There are many opportunities out there looking for someone, just like you, to fulfill a role....to make a change...to create a legacy.

Our ministry is one of those places. We invite you the learn more about what we're doing and where you could make a difference. Tis your move.....

Wonderin' Aloud

2008-02-01T18:25:00.000-05:00

Ever buy Girls Scout cookies? To our North American readers, this is an event that has reached near-Holiday status. Once or twice a year, a girl in a green (or brown) uniform will show up at your doorstep. You will also see them at the entrance to your local grocery store or mall. Regardless of the location, colour of uniform, age or ethnicity of the lass(es).... they are on the same mission. Their strategy is simple, it is all in their hypnotic mantra..."Hello. Would you like to buy some Girl Scout Cookies?" This approach is so simple, so innocent, so disarming, it is almost a rhetorical question. How can you say "No"?

How many of us over the years have found ourselves buying box after box of Caramel Delights, Peanut Butter Patties, or my favourite...Thin Mints? What's the attraction? What's the Big Deal? What is the secret ingredient that has us buying these cookies year after year?

It isn't the sugar, flour, partially hydrogenated vegetable oil, or the natural flavours. It isn't the box, nor the price. No, it isn't even the fact they are kosher. We are willing to part with about $3.50/box because it involves a cause. We are investing in these girls, and the cookies are just a nice fringe benefit.

You are probably asking yourself two questions right about now: 1) When will Girls Scout Cookies be available again? 2) What does this have to do with the ministry ?

Answer to Question 1: I don't know.

Answer to Question 2: You have the opportunity to become involved in something not too dissimilar to buying those cookies, and being part of a Cause, but with two major differences; Your support has impact both physically and spiritually. Plus it carries through from this life into the eternal.

So let's see how this would sound....

How about a box of Compassion? The ingredients include...."Your support was crucial to helping a new ministry reach out to pregnant teens in a part of Europe that has more abortions per year than live births"

Or perhaps a box of Caring? Made with...."Your involvement made it possible to partner with a church plant in a nation where they have the highest teen suicide rate in Europe."

Or maybe you'd prefer two boxes of Loving Kindness. A unique blend of...." Mobilisation of people from around the globe to help rekindle the Light of the World in some of the planet's most atheistic nations"

Granted these aren't the catchiest product names ever conceived, but you get the point.

So...would you like to buy some cookies?

(Factoid: France has more practicing Muslims than Christians)

Break on Through

2008-01-10T17:29:00.000-05:00

Two years ago I met a pastor from southern Serbia, his name is Sasha. We met at an NLI pastors' conference in Belgrade. He was there as an attendee, I was there as a photographer. Having an American in the midst of about 40 Serbians,and a half-dozen Canadians, was a bit of a novelty. So as the week progressed I had many opportunities to chat with pastors from all over Serbia.
Sasha had just started a new church at that time and was eager to share their story. He had faith, high hopes, and an unwavering dedication to following God's instruction.
Two years later I happen to run into Sasha again, this time in Poland. His wife was home with a cold, so we "adopted" him for the week. Over Polish Pizza and Cokes we had time to hear more about his now not so new church in Kraljevo. At the end of the week we made sure to exchange contact info and the made the all so typical promise to keep in touch. Oddly enough, we have kept that promise.
I received an email from Sasha just today, and in it he shared a short update on their Christmas service. I'd like to share in with you...He also included the images you see in this message.

Dear Paul & Mary,
Hope you had a good Christmas and New Year. I am sure things are getting back to normal now.
Christmas in Kraljevo went very well. We had a wonderful service on our Christmas eve (6. January) in our church. The church was packed with people. We had to take all the chairs out and people were standing throughout all the service. Many, who were not able to come inside because of no space, were standing in our garden. Altogether we had 140 - 150 present and all these are people we have contact and are working with. Our children did a fantastic nativity play and I preached a simple and clear message about the real meaning of Christmas entitled "The birth of Jesus - our Saviour and friend". I am sending you a few pictures so you can see.
Wishing you every blessing,
Sasha
Now 140-150 people at a Christmas Service may not sound like much to you, and the "bathrobes and beards" certainly are nothing new in the arena of kid's nativity productions. But you need to know the rest of the story.....Sasha's church plant is one of the few in that region of the country. The population has a large Turkish presence, and there is a very strong Muslim influence on the culture. Those two factors alone have kept most Christians in the shadows. Add to that the mindset that many of the citizens consider Christianity a cult, and are openly violent towards them, you get the idea that only a lunatic would start a church in this environment. Oh...I almost forgot....Sasha has had death threats made against him, his wife, and children. He has had his car vandalized....and about a year and a half ago his church was firebombed. Yes, firebombed.
It is in this repressive atmosphere that these 140-150 saints gathered to praise the birth of Jesus. Despite social pressure, physical danger, and what sound like almost insurmountable odds....this church is alive and thriving. This story is just one of hundreds that could be told about the great works taking place throughout Europe. Sasha is just one out of hundreds of pastors being trained and helped through NLI's short-term missions teams. We are ready to join the adventure with Sasha and his brethren....you can come too.

(Factoid: It is estimated that over 300,000 new churches are needed to win Europe back to Christ.)

Learn more about how you can make this a reality...

http://www.going4the1.com/

In Your Eyes

2007-12-11T21:41:00.000-05:00

How do you view the importance of missionary work? How do you view the impact of short term mission trips? In this day and age when perception outweighs reality, here is what stm's can really do....

It's easy to accuse Short Term Mission teams of being one-hit wonders! They 'hit' a location for 10 days and then return home, never to be seen again. This is not the case with NLI mission teams. Fledgling churches being strategically planted across Europe are partnered with churches able to support them with teams, trainers, and finance. Many of these partner churches send teams year after year. This faithfulness is very much appreciated and helps build strong relationships between the two churches. Each year the teams can build on what they did the previous year, thus ensuring ongoing growth and impact. One-hit wonders? No way!

In August 2007, Cheryl and Ed returned to Tarascha (Ukraine) the church plant Cheryl had visited as part of a Canadian mission team in 2006. "When our team of 10 went to Tarascha in May 2006 little did we know the bonds that God would begin to form not only in the hearts of the Canadians that responded to the call, but also what God had done in the hearts of the people of Tarascha.

Last year we were very much impacted by what God was doing between our worlds and by specific people that we met. However, we did not realize that God would continue to grow His love in our hearts for one another after our departure. He opened doors that were otherwise closed. Some of these have remained open and continue to open wider as the Spirit of God continues to move.

Our mission to Tarascha was just as significant for the church in Vegreville. Not only does a team go, the whole church goes! That is what God has called us to do. We each have a role to play in the Mission field and realize that when we walk through the doors of our local church, we have just entered the mission field. This is the challenge God has brought to our church in Vegreville. At this moment in time, Tarascha is our calling."

Knockin' on Heaven's Door

2007-10-05T16:03:00.001-04:00

In the midst of our trip to Poland we had the opportunity to visit Auschwitz. In a short two hours we were overwhelmed with the history and inhumanity of this place. I don't know if we will ever fully comprehend the scope of this tragic piece of history.

The picture in this post is of the lock placed on the door to one of the gas chambers. And as part of the tour we were able to walk into this very place where countless thousands died as poisonous gas was pumped into the room. I will never forget the chill that ran up and down my spine as we crossed the threshold. The only comfort was in the knowledge we could walk out whenever we wished.

The stories of the torture, the images of families being separated into lines...one line meant hard labour and worse, the other meant almost immediate death, the artifacts on display....thousands of shoes, bales of clothing, and perhaps saddest of all....remnants of infants' outfits and toys....all speaking of ultimate sadness.

One cannot visit this place without shedding tears.

We join many other in the prayer....Never again.

Back in the USSR (somewhat)

2007-10-05T14:40:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Krakow Poland, Mary and I have been here for the last week attending NLI's EuroSummit. This is a meeting of NLI staff, their European ministry partners, and global friends, supporters, etc. We decided to make the investment for the trip to get "the big picture" about what NLI is doing across the continent. Needless to say we are more excited about our future adventure than ever.

Over the course of the past 6 days we not only had a chance to observe the local culture, experience the cuisine, and walk down some very historic streets....we also had ample opportunity to chat with many of the other conference delegates. Each conversation exposed a new facet, opened a new door, into a fascinating world. There were delegates from Serbia, Estonia, Poland, Ukraine, Czech Republic, UK, Australia, USA, Canada, Bulgaria, Romania and a few I probably forgot. We were amazed over and over again at the great works of God in action through these wonderful people.

As the week wind downs and we head home (tomorrow) we come home with new dreams, inspired spirits, and one more affirmation we are doing the right thing.

Close to the Edge

2007-09-22T11:42:00.000-04:00

We have officially set our departure date: January 06 2009. This time of year has had a significance throughout our lives together. We met in early January 1976. We wed in early January 1979. In fact our departure date is our 30th wedding anniversary. What better date to begin our newest lives together?
Now that may seem a long way off but we are already laying the foundation. In the next week or so we will be unveiling our new website (special thanks to our great friend and web design guru Jason Hoag).
Also in the next week we head to Poland for a week. NLI is hosting their annual EuroSummit Conference in Krakow. This gathering brings all of NLI's staff together with their numerous multi-national ministry partners. So, in one visit we get to meet all of our soon to be new co-workers and countless pastors, missionaries, and others who will also be an important part of our new lives. This trip will be another glimpse into what the future holds. We feel like little kids waiting for Christmas to come.
There is still much to do...and we will keep you posted.
Thank you for your prayers and support.

Heavy Fuel

2007-09-02T15:18:00.000-04:00

Someone recently asked me how our plans were coming along and my reply just rolled off my tongue. No forethought, no pause to determine the best way to sum up our current status.

Today's sermon at church reinforced my answer with such strength and clarity that I now know my response was spot on true...and biblical.
Pastor Nathan referred to the Exodus and how the Jews lost their chance at the Promised Land due to their lack of faith. Of all the nation of Israel that escaped from slavery in Egypt, only two men crossed the Jordan River....Joshua and Caleb. Interestingly enough, 40 years earlier,they were the only two who had encouraged the people to follow God's instruction to possess the land, tho' it seemed fraught with peril.

Here we are thousands of years later, but nonetheless, we all face that moment we can choose the promise based on God's Word, or be scared by the "giants in the land."
Mary and I know we face some challenges in the months ahead as we make arrangements to move, and we certainly understand we face bigger and totally unfamiliar problems once we are in Europe. We cannot give in to fear and uncertainty. We can trust a loving, unfailing Heavenly Father.
Oh...my response to my friend's query...."We're running on faith, but we're not running alone."

Penny Lane

2007-08-12T20:44:00.000-04:00

Hello world...please welcome us in introducing the newest addition to our family.... Penny Lane.

Penny is our third grand daughter in a series of extremely cute girls. Mother and baby (and dad) are all doing well.

To quote our daughter Aileen (aka new mom)...

Having a family is nice.
Mary and I look forward to seeing Penny in September.

Take a pebble

2007-07-24T21:01:00.000-04:00

Last weekend I spent two days in the hospital, which gave me quite a bit of time to think about the road ahead. So in my typical fashion I started listing all the things we need to consider as we make this move into our new lives... when to sell the house, when to move, where do we move to, how to raise enough money, what do we take with us, what do we give away or sell, do we need a car when we get there, when do I let my employer know, can we get a visa, how do we get the word out about what we're doing, can we really be away from our families for 3 years, are we up to the challenge, would we get wet faster by running through the rain as opposed to walking, how will our children adapt to our absence, will our grand daughters remember us, should we send out a newsletter, what do we do with our wills, can we learn to take tea breaks, how do you parallel park when driving on the other side of the road, how can we best assist NLI, should I look into shooting weddings, can I teach Mary to drive a manual transmission car...on the other side of the road, is there Bass fishing...is there any fishing, how can I get Dr Pepper sent over, what happens if we get discouraged, will we decide to stay longer than 3 years, will we make through the first 3 years, can we adapt to the possibility of moving into some very foreign cultures, how many times can we really eat fish and chips or tandori chicken, and so on and so forth.
In the course of an hour or two I almost had myself believing there was no way this would ever work...to quote Charlie Brown..."We're doomed." I stacked all the possible problems and roadblocks , which in and of themselves were pebbles, and made a boulder, large enough to block my view.
So if I may....again...ask for your prayer support? Take any of the almost countless "pebbles" and pray we work through it.....whether it be about logistics.... money... health ....guidance.... happiness... visas... housing... family ...whatever......... we truly appreciate you prayers.

If I may be so bold...if you have read this and agree to pray for some facet of the journey, please leave a comment letting us know. We cannot do this on our own, and knowing who else is with us would be a great comfort. Thank you.

With a little help from my friends

2007-07-14T13:51:00.000-04:00

Great news.
We've been able to make arrangements for how our donations are received, handled, and reported. Next Level Int'l has a USA office and they have offered to be our bookkeepers.

This means our donors can send checks to NLI and get receipts for their taxes....and it gives us an accountabilty partner (no pun intended.) We will need to submit a budget to NLI, once they approve it (acknowledging the funds are indeed being used for the purposes intended), NLI will transfer funds to us once a month. Of course we will not be using any donated funds until we actually arrive in Europe (January 2009).

In the meantime we are working on finding prayer and financial partners...Prayer partners to help us be prepared for the adventure ahead and for all that needs to come together between now and our departure. Financial partners so we can focus on the mission not the money. It is our hope to raise our first 12 to 18 months' support prior to our departure. Thus allowing us to hit the ground running.

Need more details??? feel free to contact either of us via email: mary@going4the1.com paul@going4the1.com

Shalom

Birthday

2007-07-07T16:28:00.000-04:00

It is hard to believe a year has gone by since young Miss Emily came into our lives. Quite frankly I am truly enjoying this whole grandfather (aka Pop Pop) gig.

She arrived in the midst of one of the darkest moments in my life...a ray of light....a promise of hope....a gift of love.

Happy Birthday Emily!!!!

Come Together

2007-07-02T18:34:00.000-04:00

In step with our upcoming life-shift, we'll be in Poland this coming October. This is when NLI holds their annual EuroSummit. This event incorporates all of NLI's European staff, and the alliance of missionary and church organizations with which NLI interacts in their many current (and future) endeavours.
The event is being held in Krakow, and from what we have heard, tis a beautiful, scenic place. But we're really looking forward to the opportunity to rub elbows with many of our future co-workers from across the continent.
And in a style that only God has, he has provided some weddings which will help cover the expense of the airfare and seminar.

Where do we go from here?

2007-06-30T11:44:00.000-04:00

After more discussion and prayer, and more prayer, and many requests for prayer. We were resolved to make the transition from worldly normal to Godly normal.
There is still much to do....sell the house and most of its contents, leave our jobs, say good-bye to family and friends, raise support (we'll need about 40-45K US/year), wind down my photography business, find a new place to live, buy a car(?)....the list goes on. But nevertheless we will move on.

Right now we are still asking for prayer as we take each new step.
A few key prayer needs...
1)arranging for finances....we need a church to act as a funnel for donations, this way donors can get a tax receipt.
2)supporters and partners...we cannot do this on our own and we will need ongoing prayer and financial support.
3)patience...we want to be there NOW...but first need to build a sound foundation to support our intentions.

Thank you. Paul and Mary

Only the beginning....

2007-06-29T18:57:00.000-04:00

Where did this all start??? Tough question.

The moment of realization came a few months ago as we were driving to a wedding in the southern part of Florida. We were discussing my recent restlessness and the feeling our time in Florida was drawing to a close. Our children are adults, and two of them parents of their own brood. Twas only a matter of time before we became "empty nesters".

One daughter already lives half-way across the country and another is thinking of moving north, whilst the third is now planning her wedding for early 2008. We'd have nothing to keep us in Florida....so the discussion turned to "Where would we move?" That was Saturday morning.

Fast forward to Sunday and the ride home. The discussion took a radical turn. We went from thinking of moving to Georgia or Colorado to moving to England and volunteering as missionaries.....the seed, planted long ago, had broken through the surface.