By the sweat of the brow and the gifts of our Saviour...

we love being in a land where the barn door must go up by your own two hands...

...and the water must be retrieved from the womb of the earth...

...and your daily bread is a gift from God.

Thanking God for Sam's deer tonight!

Awesome video on MAF in Lesotho...

Click on the link below to check out MAF's work in Lesotho!  Can't wait to join this organization in January!

MAF in Lesotho

Click on the following link to check out more on MAF's work in Lesotho 

Again, we don't have a country assignment yet, and we won't until January.  We ARE, however, becoming increasingly excited as we learn more about MAF's work in Africa and around the globe to spread the gospel.  

MAF uses new DRC airstrip to combat malaria...

Taken from a news source on the MAF website:

MAF Uses New DRC Airstrip to Combat Malaria
6/13/2012
BUNIA, Democratic Republic of the Congo – Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) is using a new airstrip to bring desperately needed medical supplies to remote parts of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) plagued by malaria. “We made our first landing at the new Zobia airstrip on June 9, and on Tuesday we conducted four more flights delivering 1,300 kg of supplies,” said Jon Cadd, MAF’s chief pilot in eastern DRC. “The Cessna 206 was loaded with bulky meds and other medical equipment. We had the smaller medicine boxes stuffed into every available nook and cranny.” Mission Aviation Fellowship is a Christian ministry organization that uses aviation and other technologies to support some 1,500 church, medical, and relief organization working in isolated areas. With a fleet of 142 bush planes, MAF reaches the most difficult regions of 32 countries. According to Cadd, the villages in northern DRC have been severely affected by malaria this year. The medical clinic in Zobia is underequipped and unable to effectively treat all those who are ill. In nearby Nebobongo, the small hospital was treating 88 malaria-infected children in a ward with 22 beds. MAF staff in Uganda obtained medical supplies and flew them to DRC, where they were then flown out to the small villages in need The new airstrip at Zobia was carved out of the jungle by villagers using hand tools to remove trees, brush, and grass. Saturday’s flight was the first to the area in some 20 years. “We had been told that many people were dying for lack of malaria treatment, and the whole community was out for the great celebration when the little plane landed,” said Cadd. “People from the village had been working tirelessly to get the strip rehabilitated so the aircraft could bring the meds and medical teams that would help them. The paths through the forest are not big enough to accommodate a car, and until the airstrip opened everything had to come in by motorcycle or by foot.” Malaria is the leading cause of death in DRC. According to Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières, MSF), there has been a 250 percent increase in malaria cases in the country since 2009, with a marked increase in cases in 2012. A period of relative malnutrition and lack of mosquito netting have contributed to the increase. In DRC, 180,000 children under age five die from malaria each year. MAF has been serving the people of DRC for more than 50 years from its bases in Bunia, Kinshasa, and Lubumbashi.

Feeling like Moley...

"That night, the weary Mole was glad to turn in.  But before he closed his eyes, he let them wander round his old room.  He saw how plain and simple it all was, but also how much it all meant.  He did not want to abandon the new life.  The upper world was all too strong.  It called to him.  But it was good to think he had this to come back to, this place that was all his own, these things that could always be counted upon for the same simple welcome.
The River was his adventure.
This was his home."
-The Wind in the Willows Chapter 5

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." -Genesis 28:15

Making memories that last a lifetime...

The men in my life doing what men do to sustain their families...hunt for meat!

Caleb's 7 point buck

Good News Bible Church...

We were richly blessed and deeply honored to present alongside my parents at Good News Bible Church on Sunday about "carrying on the baton" of overseas missions in our family.  Presenting at the church was new for us, but we had several faithful friends we were excited to reconnect with.  Good News Bible was always warm and welcoming of my family growing up when we visited on furloughs and they carried on the tradition by warmly welcoming Sam and I on Sunday.  I have always loved this church and their passion for the Word and missions.  We are grateful for the time we got with them as we delighted together in fellowship and shared what God is doing through Mission Aviation Fellowship around the world.

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us.  And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

-1 John 1:3

Bob and Shellie Vasick have been friends since I was born in California where they attended the church Dad pastored.  They now go to Good News Bible Church in Iowa and it was a joy to reconnect with them!

Barry and Roxie Bedford have known Mom and Dad for many years...back to the college room mate days!  Barry came to the Nooni New Testament dedication in Cameroon with us last December and we became fast friends.

"After I have enjoyed your company a while..."

says Paul to the Romans whom he hopes will send him on his way to Spain.  "But now there is no more place for me to work in these regions, and since I have been longing for many years to see you, I plan to do so when I go to Spain.  I hope to visit you while passing through and to have you assist me on my journey there, after I have enjoyed your company for a while." Romans 15:23-24.

If I could be so bold as to reword this to our home church, Grace Brethren, I would say, "We are done with the work at Moody Aviation, we have been longing to see you while we have been away, and now we are here with you for a season before we go on to MAF.  We are loving this visit as we pass through and are fulfilled in our hopes that you assist us in our journey overseas after we have enjoyed your company for a while."

Thank you, Grace Brethren Church, and especially our Global Missions Team, for this time of enjoyment we have with you before passing along.  Thank you for assisting us in our journey to make disciples of Christ and worshippers of God in other nations.  We love you.

Grace Brethren Church Global Missions Team

Come away with me...

...to a land of phileo and crisp and apples and leaves and a Wisconsin family getaway.

Woven Joy...

Today's school field trip included a visit to the Woven Joy booth where Elaina and Sawyer got  to choose a bracelet made by women in the Philippines.  Woven Joy is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization working in the areas of poverty alleviation and livelihood development within the Philippines. Each product sold helps provide for the basic needs of families such as food, shelter, clothing, medicine and education. Woven Joy artisans are given the opportunity to gain skills in the areas of business development, management, leadership, product design and quality control.

Our friends Athena and Amy sell Woven Joy at a craft fair.

Picking out JUST the right one!

Thanks Woven Joy!