FINALLY...

Wow, GOD IS GREAT!!!  In 5 days, God has done the following for our cause:

• Raised our support from 40% to 83%!!
• Sold our van for a reasonable price!
• Found a buyer for our house placing a contract on it to close August 12!!

We are amazed and in awe of HIS handiwork and pray for a finish as spectacular as the climactic week we've just experienced.  The best part...we've been cleared to get on the plane for Saturday!!!  We will leave Midland at 1:30pm for Dallas.  Leaving DFW at 5:30 pm, we will arrive in London at 8:30 (local)am.  A 6 hour layover and we will leave at 2:40pm arriving in VIENNA at 6:10pm!!!!  We are so excited and extremely stressed due to the amount of things we have to do before we leave.  Please pray that we can get it all in and not just die on the flights!!

PFO Day 14 - ...that ends well??

PFO ended with an awesome time of reflection, affirmation, and yes, tears.  We have gotten so close to our friends that parting is not sweet sorrow, sorry Shakespeare.  We pray that we will see all of them very soon but have this promise that we will meet them all again in Heaven.  Thank you Father for 2 awesome weeks with some awesome people!!

Now to the not so fun part of leaving.  The bus was late for pickup but no big deal.  Made it to Buffalo with plenty of time.  The problem was that our flight out was delayed by 1.5 hours due to bad weather!!  Finally, airborne on a turboprop, we made our way to Newark,NJ.  I really don't like turboprops now especially in turbulance.  We arrived, missing our Houston connection by 40 minutes.  We were put on the 7 pm flight to Houston hoping to make our Midland connection at 9:15 because of the time change.  We might have made it, if we wouldn't have sat on the runway for 45 minutes waiting to takeoff!  The kids did get to see the Atlantic Ocean, NYC skyline, Statue of Liberty and Empire State Building from the plane.  Finally arriving in Houston at 10 pm, we were given discounted hotel rates and personal items for the night.  Nice hotel stay, getting back on the morning flight to Midland at 9 am.  Finally back into Midland at 10 am.  Whew...what an adventure!!!

PFO Day 13 - All's Well...

Last day of classes...time has truly flown.  Each new day has brought new experiences, challenges, excitements, and changes.  Today, we talked more about cultural differences in the classroom and had an International School panel discussion.  Good information...just wish more details about experiences and less statistics.  The very last session dealt with a comparison of cultures.  Very moving videos presented by Dr. Egeler.

Tonight was the International Banquet.  Everyone was encouraged to dress up nice or in your new country's style of clothing.  Sorry, no liederhosen here.  We had a reception time where we looked at all of the crafts/work the kids have been doing.  The kids did so awesome stuff as they prepared for moving to Vienna.  Dinner was good, but the best part was the Kid's program.  Awesome time showing their parents how much they love the Lord, their parents, and this experience.  More tears...man I'm a crier.

Tomorrow we say our farewells.  More tears...just what we all need.  Going to be a good day.

Plane leaves at 3:15 for Newark, NJ, then Houston, and finally Midland by 10:30 pm.  More tears to come...yea.

PFO Day 12 - Hot, HOT, HOT!

Today, we were on a somewhat relaxed schedule.  Classes in the am, advisor meetings in the afternoon, talent show in the evening.  Great schedule.  Classes today were...well I keep saying it, but they were insightful and very useful to our ministry.  Channon's class was full of tears and pain with the talks about leaving and saying goodbye before going overseas. Wow, what a class!  My class dealt with English as a second or foreign language strategies.  A repeat of several trainings we had in Midland over the last two years.  We came back together to talk about Moral Purity.  Most people would like to exempt missionaries from impurity but it happens on the field as well.  Great talk with some great strategies to keep us focused on the Saviour and not ourselves or our ministry.

After classes, we noticed how humid it was getting and how fast the heat was coming on.  We stayed in the AC of the student center for most of the day because our dorm area has no AC...never has had an AC.  Most of NY doesn't have AC.  Only the classrooms and Student Center have AC.  At 91 degrees, this hot, humid place is miserable.

Fortunately, we had a place to relax in the cool and make a few phone calls.  I called our bank today.  I had tried to use my debit card while at Niagara Falls and it had been rejected.  I chalked it up to being on the Canadian side and the federal credit union in Midland didn't want to mess with it.  I tried to use it on campus here today and it was declined again, so I called them to get the restriction off.  Apparently, someone tried to charge a hotel room at the Grand Hotel of Dubai using my card on July 1, a restaurant in Dubai on the 2nd, and a shop in Dubai on the 3rd.  All charges had been declined and my card is now cancelled.  Wow, what a day, but extremely thankful to God for protecting what little money we have!  As Michael Johnstone put it, "You must be where God wants you since Satan is attacking so hard!" 
Thank you Lord, we all needed that!

Enjoyed the rest of the evening with the hilarious Talent Show breaking up the seriousness of the day.  Lots of laughs.  Tomorrow is our last major class time as we prepare to leave NY for Midland, and then Vienna, Austria.

PFO Day 11 - Mirror, Mirror

Today began with groans...I'm tired, I'm sleepy, I'm hungry, etc...  After eating breakfast, which was the same as every other day before, I realized how tired I was.  It's hot and muggy in NY today and the sweat driped with every step.  Our classes today were thought provoking and a sobering reminder to all Christians to love like Christ loved us.  Classes on abuse, mentoring, and good teaching practices challenged us to examine our lives and look into the mirror of reflection.  Is it the image of Christ or me that I would see?
This afternoon, we sent in our reflection papers and relaxed in the student center watching the Dutch win it's World Cup match.  Dinner and a time of worship finished off the evening. We tucked the kids in and are planning out the next month's activities while doing laundry.

Inescapable Thoughts of the Day:

CARPE AETERNITATEM : Seize Eternity - Why settle for just a Day?

    We must live our lives in light of eternity.  What have we done today to impact eternity? 
    What blessings or consequences will our actions have? 

"There are no neutral contacts in life."

PFO Day 10 - Real Life Stuff

Do you know that place when classroom or training goes from theory, ideas, and concepts to real life situations, experiences, and choices?  Yeah, that place where reality meets fantasy or dreams and you have to take inventory of all the things you hold near and dear to you.  That was today at PFO.  Real life situations simulated for us to question and examine our attitudes and actions. 

Situation: Hostile takeover of the country your school is in, authorities trying to get you out, enough food for 1-3 weeks if rationed right.  2 hours of decision-making based on simulated changes as the situation went from bad to worse. Groups reacted differently, some aggressively, some defensively.  Some had people "killed", most reacted well, I guess.  After the "game", we debriefed about our reactions and most everyone agreed that more debriefing would happen as the week went on.

After lunch, we went through conflict management and healthy attitude helps.  Both were very well taught and full of information.  Overall, a very good day of information with lots of reflection and openness.

Now, we'll be up all night writing self-reflection papers that are due tomorrow night by 7. Yea...love writing papers based on feelings and thoughts.

PFO Day 9 - I Stand in AWE!!!

After breakfast and a PFO Church service, which was very good, we boarded the buses to go to Niagara Falls.  The trip took us back to Buffalo, Lake Erie, and along the banks of the Niagara River to the Falls.  It was a long trip, building with excitement, every mile we drove.  As we drove closer, you could see the river growing faster and rougher.  When we stopped, everyone made a dash to Prospect Point to see the Falls for the first time...OH WOW!! One of the most spectacular scenes I've ever witnessed.  You can not see those Falls, the rushing torrent, the gulls, and landscape and not know in your heart THERE IS A GOD, who with one word created those wonders!  Awestruck, we explored and walked for hours, taking pics which you can see one the slide show below.  We crossed over to Ontario, Canada and the view was even better!!  Ate at the Hard Rock Cafe, Niagara Falls Ontario, bought some Canadian souvenirs, took more pics, and headed back to the bus.  What an awesome, awe-inspiring way to spend the Fourth of July, celebrating an American treasure on America's birthday!

Joe was kind enough to let me add my thoughts to the blog tonight.  I think what struck me the most on our trip today was the power of the water rushing over the falls.  The noise was deafening, the mist blinding.  All I could think about was the God we worship spoke the falls into existence - think of the power God has in His very whisper to create something that magnificent.  How much more impressive would they have been if He had touched the land to make them?  Could we have handled even seeing that much power?  And that very same power lives in us, through the blood of Jesus Christ.  He has given us "control" of that power when we pray in the name of His Son.  How should that change the attitude and language of our prayers?  We agreed in church this morning that we tend to have a very "give me" attitude when we pray.  Instead, we should acknowledge the power of the name of Jesus and focus on specific prayer which not only glorifies the Father, but encourages an intimacy with Him as well.

PFO Day 8 - Saturation Saturday

Today we split up into our breakout sessions.  Channon discussed issues of shopping, stresses, and cultural adjustments for spouses who work and/or stay at home.  My track sought to explain what makes a school a Christian school and how to teach with a biblical worldview and perspective.  We must teach out of our relationship with Christ, not something that someone else has read, experienced, or heard.  It must be personal to truly make a difference.  Great teaching times. The information we are attaining, in my opinion, could not be found anywhere else.  It has been so worthwhile.  Thanks to everyone who has helped make this a reality for our family!! The kids are getting excited about going to Austria and have made great friends. They have been learning how to be open to new foods, languages, and customs.  It make take time, but the keys are to not give up and keep trying to adjust.

This afternoon, we had a chance to walk down the streets of Houghton, NY.  We went down the main street to Subway, where they had Coca-Cola for Channon.  She was so happy to get Coke instead of Pepsi.  We also found something that we had never seen before.  A memorial to the Civil War Vets from this area of NY.  WOW, a Union Civil War Monument!!

Tomorrow, we will get to see another new place, Niagara Falls!!  We'll take lots of pics and cross over to Canada as well.

We are so thankful for God's faithfulness.  He has show us that He provides, sustains, and guides.

PFO Day 7 - Praise You in This Storm

PFO - one word descriptor - emotional.  This coming from a guy, who in our society is not supposed to show many emotions.  Wow, I'm really tired of crying.  They should give out disclaimers before speaking like CAUTION: You may weep during my speech.  Thankfully, God is in the middle of the tears.  Tears helping to cleanse the soul of spot and blemish to bring refreshment and healing.  In the midst of one of the greatest storms of my life, I am finding peace, friendships, joy, and direction.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber;" - Psalm 121:1-3

One big step down today.  Our flights to Vienna were booked this afternoon for July 31.  Faithfully, we know God has begun this work in us and will be faithful to complete it, sending us to a ripe field ready for harvest in Austria.  Please pray...pray...and never stop praying for us.

"The safest place to be is in the middle of God's Will." - Dr. Daniel Egeler

On a lighter note: some pics of a beaver, yes a beaver and my little Caylah-Bear.

PFO Day 6 - Slings and Arrows

Today in NY has been a day of ups and downs.  Great teaching, full of thought provoking insights reminding us that mature love can transcend all cultures, languages, and faiths.  Inspiring movie and discussions...and then the Enemy rears his ugly head.

Spiritual Warfare starts in the deep places of the heart.  Places that, unfortunately, have not been made captive to the Holy Spirit.  For me, it's a place of fear and worry.  Fear about not making it to Austria, fear about leading my family into a bad situation, fears about leaving our comfort places, and fear about failing.  These have been used against me this night.  Trying to cripple me, stealing my joy and hope, so that I am so frustrated and angry that I'd quit and return to the safety of comfortable life. 
Father, forgive me for even entertaining the thoughts, hold them captive in the name of Jesus, and lead us into Your peace and Joy as we prepare for the mission of our lives.
"God is standing in the fire..." right beside us all the way!!!