Catching Up

We have not written since February -- I guess some of that is that sometimes, you don't have the words to say to try to express how you feel. I was reading Habakkuk 3:17-20 today -- it sums up these past few months, I think.

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights." (NIV)

What this verse has meant to us is quite simple. When everything seems like it's falling apart, when trouble seems to be surrounding us -- we can still rejoice and be *Joyful* in God because He is still in control and He has already fought the battle for us and has won.

These past few months have been difficult to us, personally. The devil seems to know weak points and jabs us from time to time ... perhaps to see where our allegiance falls or perhaps to see if we might give up. He sometimes even uses our own brothers and sisters in Christ to jab us.

These are the times that we cannot give up. These are the times when we draw even closer to Jesus and sometimes all we can do is cling to the hem of his garment while working hard to not let go. Just watching God work and focusing on how we can be a part of it -- all of the time, not just when we go through tough times.

I guess one thing that we have longed to learn about while we've been missionaries is how missionaries live their everyday lives, how they survive the devil's attacks and what the life of a missionary really looks like. Personally, I've been so busy trying to find a missionary to learn all of this from -- that I haven't noticed that God has been working in our own lives to teach us these lessons.

Isn't it funny how God tries to teach us complete reliance on Him but we don't realize it until we are actually relying on Him for everything?

I won't go into details of what we've been going through. Some of you know and have been our prayer warriors -- we thank you.

Pray for God to open up doors and that God would protect us as we desperately try to continue serving Him.

Pray for missionaries all over the world not just today but everyday. Many of them may not serve in 3rd world countries but they still need your prayers.

Pray for your own willingness-- that God would show you opportunties where you can share Jesus with others -- whether it be a neighbor or a co-worker. Or maybe even a stranger.

Thank you for remembering us.