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