Finishing Well....

"I am so glad we will have a dirt floor in Africa, no vacuuming there, which means less housework!"  This comment from Blake struck home with me as I began to really dig deep in my heart and think how many things am I started to sluff off on because our time here is getting shorter or because I think I don't have to deal with this I am not here much longer anyway?

I am the type of person who often finds herself living in the future and has the ability to forget the present.  God has us living here for the next 3 months and has many things He wants to accomplish in and through us before we go and we need to be open and available for whatever that may be.  It's especially hard as we spend a lot of our time corresponding with the field directors there and are setting plans in place for our departure in the New Year.  However, despite this Blake and I have been praying not only for the people of Mozambique but for God to do His work in and through us here in Bow Island.  We know there are relationships that need to be built on and even in our jobs we can be a testimony for Him.  This time we have before we leave is not merely a coasting time, but we need to remain active and vigilant in His service where He has placed us.  For if we do not finish well here how can we expect to finish well there.  I believe the way you run the race God lays out for you says a lot about your character and we both want to finish here well....that doesn't mean we aren't coming back, but it will definitely leave an impression in the hearts and minds of people here.

We wanted to say a BIG THANK-YOU to all those who have supported our upcoming missions trip, especially our Bow Island Church through Mission's Conference.  We are truly blessed to have such a loving and supportive home church here in Bow Island.  We are enjoying our time at Mission's Conference and have been blessed through the testimonies of those who have already gone and come back.  Another reminder that God truly is faithful to His people and that He will take care of us no matter where He chooses to lead us.

Thanks as well to all of you who are already praying for us, we certainly can use the prayers.  We have felt God's peace a lot lately another confirmation of His leading in our lives.  We pray that God would bless you for your involvement on our lives and in this journey He is leading us on.  We have a few new prayer requests and some that were from last week they are:

• That we would finish our time here well:)
• Guidance as we participate in Mission's Conference
• Health for Blake and Colleen
• Safety as we have some travelling this next week to speak at Blake's parents' Church
• Sale of our car
• Financial and prayer support
• Missionaries and people of Mozambique

Some praise items are:

• God's overwhelming peace
• The rental of our house while we are away
• Finances that have already come in...we are so blessed
• Family support as we begin this journey

Blake and Colleen

A Push in the Right Direction

It seems that often when we are pushed in a direction that we don't want to go we dig our heels in and moving in that direction becomes painful and a lot more work.  I can honestly say that I have dug my proverbial heels in a lot in previous years.  I always loved the idea of going to the mission field, but when it came right down to it I was comfortable here in Canada.  Canada the country where bugs, rodents, etc are outside and if they come in there are thousands of 1-800 numbers you can call to have them eradicated.  Canada the land of the free and the home of security and safety...well so far.  Canada where we have nice homes, the convenience of shopping only blocks from home, and hot running water.  Why would I want to give all of that up to go where civil unrest prevails from time to time, bugs and rodents wander in and out at will, my safety and security may be tested, my home will be a tent and shopping will be confusing (and who knows what I will come home with), and finally hot water is provided once you start a fire to heat it?  The answer is an easy one...for the sake of Christ I endure all these things.  When I think about the situation in reverse I must admit the idea of it is really a no "brainer."  I mean think of it, God is asking us to leave the comforts and security of Canada to go across the seas to the people of Mozambique to share His light and love.  If I were a person living in Mozambique, or anywhere where the Gospel needs to be brought, would I not want the same in return?  Would I not want the comfortable person in Canada to follow the call of God on their life and bring His love to me?  Or would I really be understanding that their fear of bugs, snakes, rodents, and the unknown outweighs my need for the Gospel?  I believe my answer would be...I would want someone to do it for me.  So if God is calling us, Blake and I, to Africa then I know, despite my utter disgust for specific crawling creatures and discomfort with the idea of leaving all this behind, God will walk beside me.  He knows my fears and He knows what I can handle...He won't ask for more.  So I can answer His push with the lifting of each of my feet as I begin the journey down the road He has marked out for us.  For I know one thing I want to run this race well and He has fit me for the journey:)


If you have any questions regarding the mission organization we are going with please check out www.samministries.org and keep reading our blog as we will try to update it weekly.  This will be our way of keeping you up to date before we leave and our communication while we are away. 
Some things we would love to have you pray with us about are:

1. Continued guidance in this process
2. The people of Mozambique
3. The missionaries currently in Mozambique
4. That our hearts would be in tune with God's
5. Love for the people of Mozambique
6. Finances, rental of our house, and sale of our Mazda

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers and we truly are looking forward to the journey ahead.






Blake and Colleen