His Timing is Perfect!

Wow! I can't believe we are almost ready to leave!  I remember when we left Missouri and I thought, How am I ever going to make it a year doing Partnership Development?  Now we are nearing the end of December and we are scheduled to leave January 2012!  This journey has had it's ups and downs, back and forth and us hanging on for the ride.  Looking back I still would not change a thing.  God knows what is best for us and He has us in the palm of his hand.  It is never easy to trust when things are uncomfortable but I will tell you that if you do, it is the Most Rewarding!!!!!

I want to recap this years prayers:

For our support of 35% to grow to 75%

For tupperware/ clothing/ tools/ etc. to live overseas

Finances for plane tickets

Finances for shots

Finances for washer/dryer

Finances for 1st month set up costs

Finances for vehicle

Answer to Prayers:  God has answered all of these prayers and all needs have been taken care of!!!  God did it all and even more, he raised our support to a current 84%! and He gets all the Glory! These prayers we did not see answered right away, but our faith in God and what He could do was grown in the meantime.  We want to thank all of you, who are playing a part in supporting this ministry and want you to know that we understand that trusting God isn't easy for many things including finances.  God will bless you for taking this step of faith and will grow your faith in the process. Thanks for allowing us to share with each of you!

His Power in our Weakness

Last night we had dinner with a couple and were so blown away by their wisdom.  God has taken them both through some pretty difficult times and yet they don't show resentment towards God.  I just sat there listening to their stories and wondering where I would be at in my relationship with the Lord if these things happened to me.  God is Good and Just no matter what the circumstances are, this is what I have said for years but after hearing that this guys previous wife died then shortly after her mother and then his son gets in a car wreck and is paralyzed from the neck down, I wonder if I would let that hinder my relationship with Him or allow it to grow stronger.  We have so much to learn and usually God uses those difficult times in our life to really see Him in the midst of the pain, because we can't and don't know how to cope on our own. We turn to many things to numb it but nothing lasts.  We go to extremes to find the answers for our pain, anywhere but God.  Why is this? I believe it is because we want answers quick and we don't want to be uncomfortable too long.  With God we may not see that our prayers are being answered and so we lose heart and turn somewhere else because we believe it didn't work.  I was reminded last night that God's grace is sufficient for me and His power is made perfect in my weakness.  When we are at our end and we cannot change things that is when God's power can be shown in us.  When people can see that it is not of us and no other explanation but God, that is when His power is made perfect in our weakness.  Thank you God for reminding me of you Grace and Power!

Seek first His Kingdom

Last night I had a great talk with my oldest daughter Sierra.  As time goes by the days are getting closer and closer for us to leave to PNG.  Her fears and struggles become more noticeable  and so I sat down to talk with her.  She had just got back from youth group and they were taking about what things may be keeping you from a relationship with God.  She expressed some things like cell phone, etc. but I asked her to think a little deeper with it maybe something that wasn't materialistic, something that maybe she was upset with God at.  As tears streamed down her face she expressed that she was upset that God was taking us to PNG.  She is not wanting to leave her friends here.  I was so glad she was able to express her feelings out loud.  As we talked through some things I was able to share that we often pray for things that we think would be best for us and when those things don't get answered we think God doesn't care about us.  I told her that God knows what's best even when we think we do.  Faith is not easy that's why it is called Faith. It requires us to walk in obedience even when we can't see where that will take us. Getting to the point where we can Trust God, will allow us to take those next steps of the "not knowing what's behind the next door" because He is always Faithful. But in order to get there we have to determine what is getting in the way of our relationship with God...we have to let go of the burden we are carrying so that he can work in us. We laughed and cried together and I was so thankful for this opportunity that God gave us.  God is so good and even in the tough times we can trust Him that if we seek His Kingdom first all else will fall into place.

Faith Building

I don't think I mentioned this on my blog last time but I feel it's important to let you in on what God is doing, to encourage your hearts as well!  The last I blogged I mentioned how God brought the full funds in for our shipping costs and how I got to meet my cousin in Florida, spend time with him and his wife as well as share our ministry with many mission minded people.  We also had the opportunity to share with a couple one day about our ministry and they decided to donate shares of their stock to our account to help out with the plane tickets over to Papua New Guinea.  Well, I want you to know that it is just a little over the amount of what the plane tickets will cost!  God is so amazing and we never had our minds on plane tickets this early in the game because we need to be at 75% before we can purchase them. As of right now we are sitting at 46% of our recommended amount.  God is full of surprises and blessings and we continue to be refreshed by him at times when we feel like giving up.  So all of this to say that God continues to build our Faith in Him and our team for PNG.  We are so grateful to all of you who are a part of this team already but if you are not and God is prompting you, would you take a leap of faith and trust him on this journey as well?!

For more info. on how you can become a monthly supporter email us at:

travis_ray@ntm.org

Laughter is good!

Ok so I have to share this story with you about my experience last night at a restaurant.  Ok, Travis the girls and I were sitting eating our food and my girls and I decide to head to the restroom.  While we are in there a mother and her 3 year old daughter come in and use one of the stalls.  The little girl tells her mom "I have to go poop!"  Then she starts grunting and grunting and asks her mom if she has any medicine in her purse.  The mom says "medicine for what?" the girl says "medicine for my butt when I poop, cuz then it will feel better and I will sing Happy Birthday!"  Ha Ha!  My girls and I had a hard time not laughing out loud.  Oh the things that put a smile on your face!

Waiting

I have been so encouraged by the time we had with my cousin in Florida.  I believe God knows exactly what we need when we need it.  I had been in a state of feeling like maybe we should just wait to ship because of things I couldn't see happening.  I was anxious that we didn't have all our purchases made to get on the crates and really was not trusting the Lord at all!  The reason I am sharing this is because I was starting to give up on God because I couldn't see that we should proceed with the dates we had set.  God used this trip to Florida to encourage my heart and show me that it is not about what we can see but that we need to stand on what we Know!  God has never let us down and I am so quick to abandon him, it makes me sad when he continues to show his faithfulness in the midst of my unfaithfulness.  I am so thankful to the Lord for his continued love of us.  God used my cousin to invest in us in ways I have never seen anyone do before.  It was like God was speaking through my cousin the things my husband and I needed to hear.  Not only did God use my cousin and his wife to encourage us but the body of Christ in a church we did not know.  We met some amazing God honoring people and look forward to our trip back in December.  I believe the waiting period is the toughest and yet most crucial time because it forces you to look to God when in reality you want to ease any discomfort on you own.  God blesses during the waiting period if you look to Him in it.  Thank you to all who continue to pray for us.  We need your prayers most!

Tampa Bay Rays

This has become our new name here while visiting my cousin in Florida!  Actually we are working on building our team as well as spending time with my cousin.  Their church put in the bulletin that the Rays were coming to visit and needless to say a few got a little too excited!  This is Travs and my first time in Florida (the girls are at home in school) and it has been enjoyable other than the humidity, the alligator and little lizards I've seen. ha!  Thanks to all of you who have been praying as we continue to raise our support team, we have had many opportunities to share here and are really encouraged by what God is doing.  I wanted to mention that last Friday Travis and I packed all our belongings in a 16' horse trailer and drove it all the way down to Mansfield MO to have it shipped with FIA (Friends In Action).  Let me tell you after many hectic months of making the purchases that were needed for Papua New Guinea, there was a sigh of relief as it was finally crated up.  God has been growing us through this whole process and usually it comes with trusting Him with the unseen.  We knew our stuff needed to be to MO in Sept. and it was going to cost around $4,500 but we only had around $1050.  I started to think; well maybe we should just wait until the next shipment in Jan. but Travis encouraged me that we should move forward, so we did.  A few days before we were to leave, we had 3 separate checks come in that totalled the amount we needed to ship!  God continues to teach me that I need to Trust Him in the unseen, that this will all come together in His timing and therefore I need to rest in Him.  This is not easy for me (Nikki) as I like to have a general idea as to what to expect.  Thanks to all of you who continue to support us with finances and prayers we really could not do this without your support!

My Amazing Husband!

I would like everyone out there to know that I have the most Amazing Husband!  Yep, it's true he really is Amazing.  We just celebrated our 15th wedding anniversary and let me tell you I was in for a Surprise! I thought we were going out for dinner and maybe a movie but what happened was far better.  To my surprise he had planned to do a renewing of our vows for that night.  (we had talked about doing this for years)  He told me he wanted me to buy a long white beach dress for our anniversary night, which I did but had no clue why.  Once we got ready to go out he said our daughter forgot some clothes and needed us to drop them off at her friends house (which is our pastors kids).  Once we got there he shut the car off and said I think they are around back, so I got out with him and was totally shocked!  There on the back porch was my family and friends sitting in chairs with my two beautiful  girls standing up front holding flowers!  It was so overwhelming, I started crying, and crying...and crying.  Travis gets down on one knee and asks me to marry him all over again ( This part was so special because I have given him a hard time for not getting down on one knee to ask me to marry him the first time).  We walked up to where our girls were and they gave me flowers and then Pastor Giles had us renew our vows.  Then behind us was this table set up with 5 vases.  The big one in the middle was empty and the 2 vases on one side had black sand and the 2 on the other side had white sand.  Travis the girls and I all poured the sand into the empty vase one at a time and it made this beautiful mixture of black and white swirls.  This was to represent that we are united and together one!  The entire night was so beautiful even the weather cooperated.  So here's to you honey, Thanks for being such a Amazing Husband!

Back to School!

Today was our girls first day back to school.  I had to chuckle as I asked them last night if they were ready and my oldest (who is a teen) said I have a list to get done like...shave my legs, polish my nails, pick out an outfit, etc.  Ahhhh, how did my mother handle 5 girls? They did have the first day of school jitters so I am praying that they will have a good experience and make good friends.  On the other side of things this means Travis and I have more time during the day now to focus on getting things in order for our move to PNG.  I have to say that all of this has become rather overwhelming.  How does one prepare for living overseas for 5 years in less than 4 months?  Well, we will soon find out how well we prepared! We continue trusting the Lord with every decision that has to be made.  We will be doing more traveling sharing our ministry at the end of this month.  We are heading to Florida and will be sharing at my cousins church and meeting with individuals, so if you think about it would you pray that God would open doors for more opportunities to share our ministry and bring more partners on?  Thank You!

Ready, Willing, Waiting!

Can you believe it's August already?  Time sure does fly for us right now.  It seems like we just moved back to start our team building, but before you know it we have less than 4 months to raise our support to be in Papua New Guinea by the time we have set for ourselves.  This is where the anxiety rolls in!  All in Gods timing...this has been something I have to keep reminding myself of.  God will get us there when he wants us there I just have to trust Him in the process.  Do you ever have those days where you have a hard time trusting the Lord?  I mean he has yet to be proven unfaithful but you think that in your circumstance that just might be the case?  Maybe I'm the only one out there that has times where I lack faith, but I think it's good to come to that place with the Lord.  I believe that is where growth takes place!  The constant doubting over a paticular issue/circumstance in your life and going back and forth with God about not seeing Him pull through.  The point is that you are going to God and seeking Him out.  Our dependance has to be on Him and not ourselves.  God wants us to come to Him, to share our hearts with Him and our doubts.  Even when we are faithless He remains faithfull!  All this to say that I am human and I have been struggling with not seeing our support at a higher level yet, and seeing the months pass by and our departure date coming closer and closer.  Faith is not by sight but by believing in the things you can't see..so with that I continue to trust the Lord that He knows what he is doing.  Thank the Lord!

Goose Bumps....

Have you ever got those goose bumps where your hair stands straight up on your arms? Well this is the kind of thing we experienced this past two weeks.  Recently we traveled to Wisconsin working on building our team to head to Papua New Guinea.  We helped out doing VBS with our church East Troy and God was doing some amazing things in us.  I want you to know that just because we have taken a path to live our lives for Christ does not mean we are perfect and that we have no inner struggles.  While we were there our girls got to hang with friends and I got to hang with one of my friends.  While we were having girl time Travis decided to go into Milwaukee and look at road bikes.  He does a ton of research before he makes a purchase and so after his time in Milwaukee he heads back to where we were staying and starts to email some guys on Craigslist about road bikes.  He tells me the next morning that there are a few bikes he wants to look at and he is considering buying one.  I knew we didn't have the money for it but I didn't want to start an argument on our trip so I gave it to God.  When we left for breakfast he could tell I was upset and said "I'm pushing it aren't I"  and I told him I didn't think it was a good idea.  He agreed that it wasn't and that it really isn't a need that he was struggling with his wants and said he was ok with leaving it alone.  So we went downtown and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon.  But, to our surprise when we got back to our room he was checking emails and we got this amazing email that only God could have answered!  Let me give you a heads up first,  Travis saw at the bottom of the email a guy had sent there was a scripture reference so he emailed him back for his statement of faith, the guy emailed back and here are a few of his words.  The JOY of giving. His peace and joy most certainly increase within you in greater and greater abundance the more one gives. The world would surely think you have lost your mind if it could only hear the thoughts going through your head with each purchase decision. "Do I really need that? If I am willing to spend that much on myself for something that isn't a necessity, then am I also willing to provide the same amount to someone in need?" You get the idea...

Why the explanation of local mission work to missionaries? Here is the "God at work" story. Because of the heart for mission He has blessed me with in recent years a small group of us began a bi-monthly in home Bible study. The two leading the study? Retired missionaries from Papau New Guinea. He is actually Australian by birth, she is from Southern Illinois, and they met and were married during their time serving the mission in New Guinea. Was I surprised to see on your blog that this is where your mission calling is? Not really. I have come to expect those connections from the Lord. These days it just causes me to stop and say, "Okay Lord, where are you going with this one?"

Travis, never before have I used Craigslist. Over the years I have heard too many horror stories and had therefore steered clear. With this bike I could not shake the idea of using Craiglist. When I can shake an idea...I have learned to trust the Lord to see where He is taking things. Contact after contact after contact, the inquiries about the Trek have rolled in and disappeared. Then yours popped up. Nothing stood out about it. I replied in basically the same manner (similar words). But you took note of the signature line and sent back a word of encouragement (along with the blog link).

For me, it isn't about the money. You surely have that impression from item # 1 above. It is about the story. His story. As such, the bike is yours if it fits (if not, I recommend trading it at the shop it was purchased from - The Cyclery in Edwardsville, IL). The cost to you? Nothing. Nothing beyond meeting you and hearing more of your story in person.

 Can you believe this? You should, because our God can move mountains, raise the dead to life, heal the blind and His word never returns void!  Our God cares about the things we care about but it always comes down to the heart issue.  Are we willing to make things happen on our own and miss out on God's blessing or are we willing to give it to God and see Him provide?

Answered Prayers!

I was sooo encouraged this weekend that I have to share it with you all.  My girls went to a camp with the youth group of our church this past week.  They just got back Saturday and shared all about it.  One thing I should mention is that Travis and I have been praying that God would work in their lives to bring them closer to Him and to each other as sisters.  Well, God was at work because they both came home and said this was the Best camp they ever went to.  Both agreed that God was working on them and how he used two girls there who were half sisters who didn't have a great relationship and how one of them was taken to Urgent Care because of a persistent side pain that wouldn't go away.  While the other campers including her sister waited they all started crying thinking this could be the last time the see her again.  The one sister was thinking about the last thing she said to her and how that really effected her.  As my girls sat back and watched this emotional sister they became emotional thinking about how they treated each other.  Wow! I was so encouraged to hear them share how God was tugging on their hearts to be kinder to each other.  Sierra my oldest daughter shared with me another amazing story about her friend from school she invited to come to camp.  She said she thought her friend was saved  but the 4th night they were there that her friend came up to her and said "Guess what Sierra, I'm Saved!"  she told her that she talked with God in her bed that night and accepted him.  Wow! both my girls said everyone started crying because she was soooo happy!  I am so grateful for God allowing my girls to go to this camp and experience Him in a whole new way.

Being Ready

Have you been asked about your faith lately? Do you have an answer to the hope that is in you?  Recently I was approached by two Jehovah's Witnesses who came knocking on my door.  They began to state their beliefs and I shared mine but as the conversation was going I began to become upset because I knew they were not speaking truth.  I saw that I was beginning to defend God instead of finding a crack in their belief system that would put doubt into their mind.  I was more concerned about making statements instead of finding out how they came to their conclusions.  The fact of the matter is God doesn't need a defender!  What this did do was strengthen what I already believed and brought me back to God's Word.  This my friends was only round 1 that day, I guess God thought I needed to have one more go at it, so later that afternoon I went out to my dads to check on his kittens while he was out of town.  My sister was there and her and I got into a conversation about God and her and her sons life. Round 2, Ding! She stated she is looking for her own answers about God and we went round and round for a good thirty minutes or so. As I was being yelled and cussed at everything inside of me wanted to leave but I knew God had me there for a purpose and I didn't want to blow this opportunity.  As the conversation was beginning to die I told her I wanted to talk further on this when emotions calm down and she agreed.  After all that, we have now been communicating through email and things seem to be going well.  I am grateful for that day I had because I want to be ready to have an answer to anyone at anytime who asks me about the hope I have.

Wait for the Lord

Psalms 27:14  "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

 This is where I am at right now.  I can't tell you how strong this desire is in me to be serving in our ministry roles overseas but God is saying wait.  Since we have been back home raising our support, we have had many opportunities to serve right here in our home town.  It really has been neat to grow closer to fellow believers in the area and just when you think you are pouring into them God starts using them in your life to encourage you!  We have been so blessed by the body of Christ since we have been back but I find myself thinking a lot about our destination date.  Travis reminded me again just recently that it is not about the destination date but the Journey God has us on now.  Sometimes I need reminding that ministry is right in front of me everyday and I could be missing out on an opportunity God has for me today.  For any of you out there that feel like you may not be making a difference, remember that God gives us opportunities everyday to show his love.  As Proverbs 12:25 says "An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Power in the Ring

A few years ago I took my oldest daughter on a weekend getaway to go through a CD/book on "Passport to Purity."  I really enjoyed some one on one time with my daughter but it wasn't all fun as we discussed what she would call "embarrassing topics."  At the end of the weekend I presented her with a necklace with her name inscribed on the back.  This was just a reminder of the beautiful gift God has given her.  Later my husband replaced it with a purity ring.  Some of you may ask "what is a purity ring?"  Well this is exactly what a few classmates asked just recently.  A few nights ago I went on a walk with my daughter and as we were talking about the day she said "Mom, I need to get my ring cleaned."  I went on to ask her if she had anyone ask her about why she was wearing a ring.  She said "yes, two girls asked her at school and she told them her dad gave it to her as a reminder to keep herself for her husband"  then she said her friends were going to ask their dads to give them a ring and that one of them had a boyfriend who was pressuring her to have sex.  I was speechless just thinking that such a small thing could speak so loudly to her classmates.  She went on to tell me that a few boys asked her about it and she gave them the same response and they just turned around in their chairs.  I am so grateful to have the opportunity to share with my daughters the importance God places on them!

Hands and Feet

I am so humbled and grateful for the people God put into my life these last few days.  I pulled into the gas station yesterday around 5:30 p.m. filled up with gas and got in the car.  As I started the car up nothing happened, so I checked to make sure it was in park and tried it again..still nothing happened.  I looked at the gages wondering what could be wrong and tried it yet another time..nothing.  I was by myself on my way to pick up my daughter at a friends house and there I was stuck at the gas station, all filled up and unable to start my car. I began to pray, Lord help me I don't know what to do.  I noticed a sheriff there and he came along with another man and helped me move my car out of the way.  As they were looking in the hood of the car along comes a man I know and then a lady I know and they were all so willing to help.  I was so thankful for the body of Christ and seeing it function the way God intended it to.  When one part of the body is hurting the other members try to help take care of it and this is where I was at, lost and not knowing where to go.  God came to my rescue by bringing His Hands and Feet and I am so thankful.  This is for you Mr. E if you are reading this..Thank You!

Conflict

This seems to be an ever occurring theme in my life, can you identify?  I have to say that the past few weeks have been exhausting in this area and to the point where I wanted to flee from it all.  Interestingly enough this weekend our message in church was on Conflict and how to deal with it in a Biblical way. The most Natural way to deal with conflict is Aggressive- Head on or Passive- Flee.  Well I am here to tell you that I have tried both approaches to conflict and neither of these ways work for very long.  They always find a way to resurface and make more conflict then if it were dealt with properly the first time.  In the message on Sunday, Todd said "God is more concerned about growing you up then giving you a problem free life."  Wow! Wow! Wow!  I have never looked at conflict this way, in all honesty I usually looked at the other persons issues and would pray for them after it was all over.  I never really looked at it from this point of view, where God could be using this very thing to work on me.  But, what if the other person is 100% wrong?  God is still more concerned with me and how I handle conflict, whether I do the most natural thing that comes to me or I take that time to see what God has to say about it in his Word.  Sometimes conflict can be avoidable and other times it isn't but too often we look at the other person involved and say God please fix them instead of looking to God to see what we are to learn out of it.  I was reading this morning in Psalms 34:19 "A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all."  We are never promised a problem free life but we are promised that the Lord will deliver us from it, we cannot look to ourselves to be delivered by fleeing from it or lashing out.  Sometimes conflict last awhile, or it comes and goes but do we really take God at his Word?  It's easy to lose hope but Psalms 27:5 says "Wait on the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."  I am preaching to myself here because I needed to be reminded of these truths lately and I hope that they also encourage you!

Say Cheese!

Aren't pictures fun!?  We recently had a friend come take some updated family photos of us.  It never fails that something will go wrong about the time we take them, like the sun is to bright and we are all squinting or it starts to rain or the wind all of a sudden picks up and our hair is blowing into the persons mouth next to you.  Anyway we did get a few good pics so I thought I would share them with you.

 The Three Amigos!

Brooke, Nikki, Sierra, Travis

Current Times

Radiation leak found outside Japan nuclear reactor....  This is the headline I found on my computer this morning.  Do you ever find yourself detached from the situation because it's not in your area?  This was a conversation my husband and I had.  Until 911 hit us we didn't seem to pay much attention to the wars going on around us.  Why is that?  Is it because we are so consumed with ourselves that we really don't notice unless it directly affects us?  I am so thankful that we don't live where there are wars breaking out all the time but I did not get to pick where I was born.  Same goes for everyone else out there, they didn't get to pick where they would be born and into what family and so my heart goes out to all who are weary and heavy burdened.  May we have a heart that would pray for Japan and all who are suffering.  May we not take for granted the clean water we are drinking today and the abundance of food we have access to.

Taking time for your marriage

We just got back from an amazing marriage retreat in Beautiful Spearfish S.D.  What an awesome time to reconnect with your spouse and enjoy time together.  I have to say that if you have never done anything like this before you should really take the time to do it.  Life can get busy and we seem to get in these ruts with each other and life.  God wants us to enjoy each other and I think it's easy to get swept up in the business and forget what it was like to Really Enjoy each other and what you like about each other.  Here are just a few shot of our weekend get away.

What Aroma are you?

Close your eyes and pretend with me for a minute that you are walking downtown, when all of a sudden your nose catches this wonderful smell.  You begin looking all over for where it could be coming from and the more you walk the closer it gets until you finally approach a coffee stand outside a coffee shop.  They are giving away free samples of the most wonderful coffee you have ever smelled, or tasted!  Now pretend you are walking down the street and your nose catches a whiff of something rank.  You look around you and hope its not someone close to you, so you keep on walking a little faster to get past the smell, but it won't leave.  You find out later that there was a sewer problem in your town and everyone was affected by the gastly smell.  Ok, now open your eyes and pretend with me for a minute that the Lord came back today and was sitting right next to you.  What kind of an aroma would you be emitting?  Would you be a welcoming smell like that of the coffee or a putrefying  smell of sewer.  In 2 Corinthians 2:14-15 Paul tells the believers: "Thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him.  For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life."  He goes on to say "And who is equal to such a task?  Unlike so many, we do not peddle the word of God for profit.  On the contrary, in Christ we speak before God with sincerity, like men sent from God."  The thought for today is, What kind of Aroma do you give off before the Lord?  As believers do we live like men sent from God?  Would God want to sit in the same room with us or be the first one out the door?  I know as believers we are fully accepted before the Lord but how are we living our life?  Our prayers can be like incense to the Lord.  Listen to what David prays in Psalm 141:1-2  "O Lord, I call to you; come quickly to me.  Hear my voice when I call to you.  May my prayer be set before you like incense."  I pray that today we would look at little closer into our lives and let Christ shine before all people!

Birthday Girl!

Happy Birthday Brooke!  What a blessing you have been to us these 12 years!  I pray and thank God everyday for you and your sister.  I pray this year for God to grow you more into the girl he wants you to be: With wisdom, strength, peace and joy, may you look to Him always in everything and for everything.
We Love You!

Making Sense vs. God Factor

Hey Friends,
It has been a while since my last update to the blog.   Things have been well different.  We moved back home after about 4 years of being involved in education and training daily.  After being around hundreds of people who are all on the same mindset and playing field, all pursing a carrier in missions in remote tribal areas and who are all for the most part seeking and trusting God for all of their needs,  Well crazy as it sounds that was comfortable and if you will, Home for us.  You could say we are outside the New Tribes bubble and it is different.  I think there was some sort of blind desire that everyone would welcome and embrace what we have committed our lives to.  More than that, I think we thought that Christians in general would understand what the Lord was doing in our lives.  The reality is, that is not the way it is.  The question is now is that OK?  Please don't take this the wrong way for I am not trying to be critical of any one who is not a New Triber or involved in missions.  This is not about what everyone else does or does not do or understand.  This is how God is showing me to trust Him.  Often I find myself depending on what people do or think about me.  You know, am I living my life in a manner that will meet the expectations someone may have of a missionary? Maybe comparing myself to all those I serve with and seeing all their strengths and looking at myself and finding that I don't measure up.  As I look forward to what the Lord has been preparing me and my family for I wonder how God is going to pull it all together.  More so who is God going to use to impact my life.  Funny I always pray and ask for opportunities to impact the lives of those around me for Him.  More than not God is using people around me to change my walk with Him.  Getting back to the title of this little rabbit trail.  Making sense: how often do we try to figure out and make sense out of the circumstances that we are in.  For example:  I told one of my closest friends that it was awesome to see God raise our financial support 6% this last month.  Now logic would look at this and say ok Travis you have 10 months left before you leave for the field and if you only increase 6% per month for the next 10 months that is only 60%.  That means we would only be at 72% and would be underfunded and not able to leave for the field.  That makes sense right... but when is the last time that God worked things out in our lives that way.  Here is my reasoning behind my thinking.  God factor: true if we saw our support raise lets say 10% each month right on schedule we would be at 100% when its time to go.  God factor: or what if the Lord provides what we need each month as we work through our time before we depart and when it comes time for financial increase you see it.  Meaning this, I think God will impact more people when they see Christians living out their faith and trusting Him for what they need when they need it, instead of working with logic and living out what God has told us to do only when it makes sense.  I was reminded this week as I read through Daniel that there is a spiritual battle going on that we do not visually see.  The Lord sent a messanger to Daniel but was delayed some time due to the fact he was at war with the spirit of Persia. Gabriel was sent to help him out so that the messenger could reach Daniel.  Often I pray and look for the answer in a short while but the reality is, there is a spiritual battle going on.  What the Lord has asked of us and you as well is not what the enemy wants to see happen.  Satan is doing everything he can to prevent Christians from following and trusting the Lord.  How often do we help him out by trying to make sense of everything and therefore missing out on the God factor.  Truly missing out on the blessing God has in store for us because we allow the battle to end long before it ever begins.  I encourage you all this week to take a break from what logic says and trust the Lord with something.  Be on the look out for the God Factor you don't want to miss it.

Amazing!

Do you ever get encouraged by hearing how God is working in others lives? I do!  I believe he wants us to share these stories to keep us Encouraged and our eyes fixed on Him.  We have some friends that are raising support for their ministry over in PNG.  They were given an opportunity to buy a house from a missionary couple that is returning to the states and so they jumped on it.  They put out the word to friends and family, supporters and more than half the money came in. Slowly more people were giving to the house and during their time meeting with people a special gift came in towards the house leaving only $3,400 left to pay on it.  Well....within a few days of this gift the rest came in!  Praise the Lord!  At a time when the Economy is down to nothing but Our God does not operate on this Economy! Praise you Lord, you are Almighty!

Fixing our eyes on Jesus

How easy it is to say these few words and not let it affect our everyday lives.  The verdict is in I am "guilty" but there is another verdict I am "forgiven".  As a Christian do you ever find yourself in Paul's shoes? " For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." Romans 7:15  I would love to say that since we have given our lives over to Christ that we are now perfect on this earth and do not sin anymore, but that is not the case.  We still have our flesh and can very much listen to what it is calling us to do but the good thing is that We Don't Have To!  Unbelievers do not have this choice because they are Slaves to sin but as believers we have the Freedom to say No.  Just recently I found myself in this battle of the flesh and spirit wanting to do right but also wanting to share a piece of my nasty heart with someone.  Why is this so hard? I believe it is because even if it is for a little while I seem to get just a little satisfaction out of it, truth be told.  The problem is that sin only satisfies for a little while, which keeps you coming back for more.  Christ is the only one who can Satisfy but when our eye's are off of Him and on to self, or you name it, then we open ourselves up to sin and it's destruction.

Worshipping God

		'You are strong' (February 8th)
		Simbari believers are worshipping God in song, word and deed.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday to our baby Sierra...well I guess she is not such a baby anymore, today she is 14! What a blessing she has been to our life, we are so thankful to God for her.

Prayer Warriors

Thanks to many of you who have been faithfully praying for our trip home, the girls transition with a new school, and for the opportunity Travis had to speak at Frontier School of the Bible.  Travis had a good time at the Mission's conference and although scared and a little intimidated by all the Mission Organizations there he did very well.  I went down a few days last week and was excited to see God work through the Missionaries and the students.  Last night Doug Shiable spoke to about 20 students on Tribal Missions and he had every eye on him, it was so good!  I was telling Travis how encouraged I was and ready to start co-teaching with him however the Lord leads.  We are just starting our Partnership Development and have been really encouraged at how God works.  When Travis was at the LaGrange school he spoke with a pastor of the Wheatland Bible Church and was asked to come and share what our ministry is about.  Also our daughter Brooke had to get immunizations a few days ago and while she was being checked in the gal asked me a lot of questions about what we are doing and where we are going and then she proceeded to get her checkbook out and wrote out a check for support! Wow, you could have never told me that this was going to happen. God is constantly amazing me and we have had many hard days where you can feel the attack of the enemy but God continues to remind us that He is in control in so many areas, we just need to Rest in Him!

Nebraska..the good life?

This is a question I was thinking to myself after moving here a few weeks ago.  We went from 50 degree weather to -20 degrees in just a few days.  Despite the weather we have been blessed to find a apartment to rent, our girls are settling in and making new friends at their new school and Travis has been busy working on presentations for promoting New Tribes to a college in LaGrange, WY.  I have been busy unpacking and finding places for our things in our new little apartment.  As I unpack our things for our short stay here I can get a little overwhelmed that we are going to be doing this again very soon and I am reminded of the fact that our life here on earth is short. We are only here for a little while, we are not meant to become to comfortable with our home here but instead to be looking forward to the home Christ is preparing for us!

The Final Week

Well here we are, in yet another familiar time of our life.  Packing and Cleaning, cleaning and packing.  I guess this is the life of a missionary, one move to the next.  I have realized that there are so many things that a person can accumulate through only a few years and I believe that this whole moving thing could prove to be good for me!  I had my family weed through the stuff we picked and gathered through the year and thought we were doing rather well, we had our give away pile and our keep pile and our Papua New Guinea pile.  After everything was sorted and put into totes and then piled against the wall I realized I have way to much STUFF!  So, it comes down to this....if it fits in the moving truck it goes and if it doesn't well....maybe we will make another trip back to Missouri.  Our girls have been busy helping us and enjoying a few days off of school due to snow.  We will be leaving here Friday morning and it looks like snow is in our forecast so please pray that we will be able to leave on schedule and for good roads.

The Verdict is in.

Well the answer I was waiting for was given today.  As I continued to seek God out on what to do about the Tech class or the next semester I found myself looking into other options.   I may have at one time glanced over it, but today I spent more time looking upon it.  I stopped to see if our time in training, our life here in Missouri was up.  Maybe the Lord was wanting me to see that it was time to move on and get busy with pursuing the ministry He has been preparing us for.  So I began time in study, in prayer, talking with the family and calling our pastors and prayer partners.  Once again we found ourselves at the dinner table talking about our choices and wanting to decide this as a family.  We decided to put it to a vote, and the vote was unanimous.  So we now find ourselves moving and preparing for the trip back to Nebraska.  We have decided to sell most of our things again and return home only with the things we know we will be taking overseas.  Our focus is about getting over to where the Lord has directed.  Our focus now becomes more direct and specific.  Looking at the class of my friends and co workers who are signed up for this Tech class I find assurance and peace that these 9 will service many needs around the world and bless many with their times and skills.  We have been so blessed to be able to partake in these last 4 years of training but now its time to put all that we have learned to work.  We are looking to be home and have the girls in school no later than January 31st.  We thank everyone who has partnered with us during these wonderful years and ask if you will continue on with us as we move onto the next assignment.  Praise our Lord for working the way He does.  The assurance and peace has been found and there is no place like it.

Missions Training Center Graduation 2010

Nikki and myself  receiving our diplomas after the completion of the MTC and earning our Bachelor of Intercultural Ministries

Missouri Bucks!!!!

                          Blessed I have been!!

A Litttle Tid Bit on Paupa New Guinea

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

PROFILE

Geography
Land area: 462,840 sq. km.; about the size of California.
Cities: Capital--Port Moresby (254,158). Other cities--Lae (78,038), Mt. Hagen (27,789).
Terrain: Mostly mountains with coastal lowlands and rolling foothills. The largest portion of the population lives in fertile highlands valleys that were unknown to the outside world until the 1930s, but that supported agriculture some 10,000 years ago, possibly before agriculture was developed elsewhere.
Climate: Tropical. NW monsoon, Dec.-Mar.; SE monsoon, May-Oct.

PeoplePopulation (2008 est.): 6.5 million.
Annual population growth rate (2005-2010): 2.0%.
Languages: Three official languages are English, Tok Pisin, and Motu. There are approximately 860 other languages.
Education: Years compulsory--0. Literacy--49.3%.
Health: Infant mortality rate (2008)--69/1,000. Life expectancy (2008)--62.0 yrs.

1 John 1:7 Translated

Tok Pisin

Blut bilong Jisas
pikinini bilong God, em i save
tekewe olgeta sin bilong yumi
na yumi kamap klin.

1 John 1:7
Blood of Jesus son of God, I know takes
away all sin that belongs to you- me, now you- me come up clean.

Assurance and Comfort found in Him!

Why does fear grip us so.  This has been something I have struggled with even though I know what is said about fear.  My life verse is Philippians 4:6 " Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving present your requests to God." The “anxious” part is what grabs me.  Often I find myself fearing not what answer God will give, but when will He give it.  We know that God will always answer our prayers.  We know He does not always answer the way we desire.  But what do we know about when will He answer.  Here is what I mean.  I have signed up to take the Tech course here at MTC.  It starts January 18th and it requires and substantial down payment which we do not have.  I have sought wise counsel and have spent time in prayer over this.  The reality is we either have to have the money buy January 18th or pack up and move back to Nebraska and start our partnership development.  All counsel advised we stay and take the course, logic says stay and take the course, and God has never told me not to take the course.  So after looking at all things we have decided to stay and continue on with schooling.  But when will God confirm this is what He wants.  I want Him to either give us the funds needed or tell me to go so that we can get on with things.  Fear of not knowing what the future holds grabs me and the anxiety sets in.  As I continue to say O.K. Travis its about faith.  Faith is not whats in the past or present but what is unseen in the future.  Ya that definitely seems to be my issue, I think.  Again I know God will answer and I would be great with either answer its just the not knowing when He will answer.  I find myself trying to put God back in this little box and seeking Him to function in a time line.   Why won't He just answer now!! or We have to have an answer by the 15th or I will have to take control, Again.  Even though I know from the past that it never works out when I try to take control.  So here I am waiting for God to answer and give me clear direction.  After reading though a short devotion this morning I saw God confirm a few things.  Things I need to hear today.  "God does not open paths for us before we come to them, or provide help before help is needed.  He does not remove obstacles out of our way before we reach them.  Yet when we are at our point of need, God's hand is outstretched."  This is just a writers opinion but yet it challenged me to this thought.  I am worrying, fearful and anxious over not having the funds to make this down payment now.  We are still a half a month away from needing the funds.  I am finding myself faithless in many cases.  I know from the past especially the last 4 years the Lord has Never and I mean Never failed in providing.  I just had to smile as I read through scripture today and just find the peace and rest that is overflowing in being a child of Christ.  Why waist today worrying about tomorrow when we can enjoy the day and grow in our faith.  So we live today putting God in the center and thank Him for yesterday and as for tomorrow, well if we live to see it we know that God will stretch out His hand and bless us with the grace we need.