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We've
gotten the "green light" from SEND for a June 14th departure. Praise
God! We are relieved to finally have this. It has been a long journey to get to
this point. Some of our highlights are:
Fall 2003
- We went through Rick Warren's 40 Days of Purpose with Berean
Baptist Church.
During that we felt called to full-time ministry.
- We met Steve and Jenny Meeker, missionaries to Croatia
Winter
2003-2004
-
We were urged to consider missionary service at the
conclusion of the Network Spiritual Gifts
seminar we attended.
- We felt called to explore a camping ministry with SEND
International in Croatia.
- We attended a Baptist
General Conference Missionary Assessment
Center (MAC) where we
received a conditional recommendation to be missionaries.
Summer 2004
We sent our first mailing
announcing our pursuit of missionary service and requesting support for our
"vision trip." The outpouring of support was encouraging as we received more
financial support than we needed. (The surplus went into an account at SEND
that was applied toward our outgoing expenses.)
October
2004
We went to Croatia for an
8-day "vision trip." We were impressed by the need for hope that can be found
only in Christ. This trip fulfilled the primary condition from the MAC.
January 2005
We spent two weeks in Farmington, MI
at SEND International's Candidate
Orientation Program. During this time, we learned about raising support and
being SEND missionaries. During that time, we were also appointed as
missionaries to Croatia.
February
2005
We began raising support
and working on the sundry other requirements that needed to be completed before
we could go to Croatia
as missionaries.
May 2005
We sold our home under
circumstances that can only be described as divine intervention. We moved into
an apartment as temporary housing.
Summer 2005
We attended SEND's Family Conference in Holland,
MI and Sharpening
Your Interpersonal Skills in Farmington,
MI.
January
2006
Steve Meeker called from Croatia to ask that we consider switching from
the camping ministry in Croatia
to a newly forming church planting ministry. After prayer and seeking counsel,
we enthusiastically said "yes" to the switch.
June 2006
- We got rid of our remaining furniture and many of our
other belongings and moved out of our apartment.
- Michael resigned his job with InfoComm.
Summer 2006
- We spent three weeks in Farmington, MI
at SEND's Member Orientation Program
where we learned more about the SEND ethos.
- We spent two weeks in Palmer Lake, CO at Mission Training
Internationals Programs In Language
Acquisition Training. This was our final SEND required training program.
August 2006
We moved in with
Michael's parents for the remainder of our preparation time.
April 2007
- We reached our status of fully funded.
- We got our "green light" from SEND to buy airline tickets.
Spring 2007
- We need to work on visas and finalize other pre-departure
paperwork.
- We need to say "good bye" to family and friends.
- We need to prepare ourselves emotionally and spiritually
for departure.
June 14,
2007 – FLY TO CROATIA!
We want you to know that we appreciate the prayers
and the financial support that have been provided by so many people. We are
blessed to have such a large team of senders with us. To each of you we say
"thank you."
As we prepare for our departure, please continue to
pray for us.
Praise
- We have been authorized by SEND for departure.
- Faith promises for all required monthly and outgoing
support have been received.
Petition
- Pray that our paperwork would go smoothly.
- Pray for health. (Brenda has strep throat as Michael
writes this.)
- Pray for the salvation of Croatians!
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