On the Threshold of a Dream

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.