Getting Closer to April!

Seems fitting since the last time I wrote we were going through the coldest month in many years (in the month of January we only had 7 HOURS above freezing!!) that I should write again now that we are having a warming trend! Knowing Michigan all our snow will melt (again!) and we’ll get another wintry blast! Gotta love it!

The Lord continues to bless! My church, Trinity Baptist Church of Muskegon voted to support me monthly in their Mission’s budget! I am so humbled and thrilled with their generosity! Thank you church family!!

Many have asked what my schedule looks like in the coming weeks. My last day of work is March 13. Then I must decide on what to bring AND leave behind for 8 months. How does one do that?? :-) Very carefully and compactly. :-) As of now, I would like to leave on March 23 and make a stop in Illinois. I am planning on a day or two visit with my Aunt and Uncle, cousins and their families. Then, the LONG drive West to Oregon! This will take approximately 4 days. I would like to arrive at my “new place to lay my head” a day or two before heading for the ranch on April 1.

Gladys now has a rebuilt alternator, starter and solenoid! She seems pretty content with these changes—and so am I :-). With these new parts as well as her new “shoes and eyes” I believe we are ready to travel! Thanks again Dad for all your patient and willing help through this process of mechanical issues! Thanks to my brother as well for his electrical skills in tracking down where her problems were! Thanks to my sister who weathered all these interesting times of being stranded, getting jump starts from wonderful strangers and being freezing cold with a heater that doesn't (and still doesn’t) work properly. Gladys will miss you.

As the time draws nearer I find my mind and heart going two different directions. First, I am counting down the days with excitement and anticipation. Second, I am realizing the time is coming way to soon when I will be far away from my family, friends and church. Seems kinda bittersweet. I know beyond a doubt that the Lord has called me to serve at Crystal Peaks Youth Ranch. To be called, to be chosen by CPYR, and then to continually be amazed how the Lord is working out the details—this humbles and grows my faith and trust in God. However, to know that I will be hundreds and hundreds of miles and days and days away from home-- away from the hugs and kisses, sleepovers, Sunday family days, hanging out with friends and family here in Michigan—that brings tears to my eyes and a jolt to my heart. It is not possible to “just go home” on the weekends—Oregon is a long ways from Michigan!

How can you pray you ask? I’m glad you asked!
1. To finish my time at work well.
2. Continued financial needs to be met.
3. To be discerning on what to bring and what to leave for 8 months.
4. Travel safety—both for me and Gladys’ mechanics!
5. For spiritual protection and growth now, and while I am at CPYR
6. For my adjustment away from home.
7. To get settled in a church home quickly.
8. To be a joyful, healthy, and a God glorifying addition to the ranches ministry.

Praise the Lord with me for:
1. My churches generous support both financially and with prayers!
2. For Gladys’ repairs—very glad to have them fixed now and not while traveling!
3. For friends the Lord has blessed me with to journey alongside me to Oregon via phone calls, letters or e-mails.
4. As of today—32 days left of work! :-)
5. Seeing Scripture come alive as I, through the power of Christ, daily strive to live out Proverbs 3:5,6.

Many thanks to all of you for your encouraging words, notes, phone calls, e-mails and financial gifts.

Keep smilin’ and lookin’ to Jesus with me! :-)