We moved! This past September, we were given the opportunity to move back onto YWAM Tyler’s base — this time into a house. A big house, in fact… This is Provision with a capital P, y’all! For the past 2+ years our kids have been tripled and quadrupled up in bedrooms — which has been really GOOD. But also, to live small has felt hard at times. Our current home has 5 (five!) bedrooms, plus some extra bonus spaces… Our Father is so good, and such a good provider. We are so thankful!
As we packed and moved, I got into a bin that holds calendars and journals from past years. I can never resist peaking inside those journals. As I did, a story leapt off the pages for me. The journal was from 2018. That summer, our family planned to go to Camp FaHoLo, an Assemblies of God camp in Michigan, for Kidz camp. Neil was slated to be a group leader for the boys, and I was going to do…something. Nolan & Savana aged out of camp, and Eli & Titus were too little, but we were all planning to go and serve in some way — by helping (leading, interacting, getting to know) the kiddos, the camp, our children’s pastor & his family, and each other.
This particular entry though, was about how we were not going to be able to go because of how much it would cost for our family to be there. I wrote down my thoughts and shared my heart of surrender — it was ok. We had given our “yes” to the Lord, but if it wasn’t the right thing or time, that was ok. (Proverbs 16:9 and 19:21)
But that’s not the end of the story. In very short order, the funds came through that made a way for our family to go. And friends, it.was.AMAZING. Nolan & Savana helped me with the little guys SO MUCH, which freed me to facilitate a prayer experience for the campers (It was impactful for the kids, but if I’m honest, I may have been most affected…). Neil connected with 10 little guys… Landon, Lucie & Tessa got to experience camp, where we’ve seen God move in our kid’s lives in BIG ways.
Maybe the most significant thing that happened, though, was a word Neil received from the Lord during worship and ministry time one evening. He heard two words: family ministry. Guys, this was 2018. We had no idea then what exactly that meant for our family.
Just one year later though, we said “yes” again. This time to selling our home and coming to YWAM Tyler for the Family Discipleship Training School. That training included outreach — we spent 1 month in Canapi, Brazil, and another 2 weeks in Florida. We were doing ministry, as a family!!
Fast forward to 2020… Neil and I joined YWAM Tyler’s staff. We’ve now staffed 2 Family Discipleship Training Schools. And we’re currently partnering with 2 other staff couples to pioneer additional family ministries through YWAM Tyler. Step one is dreaming with the Lord about what He wants to do in & through us, around and outside our YWAM base.
We’re so grateful for the reminder of who we are, and reminder of God’s calling on our lives. His timing on our move – and unearthing that journal – was perfect, as usual.
We are so grateful to the Lord for our amazing family, church and community, that has not only been instrumental, but absolutely critical to our faith walk and ministry. We are not who we are today, without your influence, prayers, and encouragement. Would you please be praying for us, as we step out into new areas of ministry at YWAM Tyler?
Also, Michigan peeps, we will be coming your way mid-December! We would love to see as many of you as possible!