PRAYERS ANSWERED!!!

Wooooo hooooooo!  The consulate called TODAY and said that mine (Glenda), Macy, and Mia's visas are READY!!!!!!!

Thank you all sooooo much for praying with us about this urgent need!  It is a miracle that they came through BEFORE we leave for Spain!  Now we won't have to make a trip back just to get them!

We are so grateful for this answer to prayer!!!!

Blessings!  Keep praying over our other latest prayer needs!  Things are going to get rolling now!  :)

New tentative date to fly out:  January 24th...to be finalized next week.

Sniff...what a blessing!

We received a letter in the mail from Christian Assembly in North Little Rock this week....somehow their ladies group had heard about my sickness - and decided to take up a Christmas collection for us...
They sent us a check for more than $300!  Tears filled my eyes as I read their letter - my sickness has created such chaos and financial strain for us...yet their blessing was such a reminder to me that God sees all - and is always going to take care of us.  I am thankful for these ladies that were instruments of His blessing.  May God richly bless them this Christmas season!

UPDATE!

Since my last update - I unfortunately had a terrible relapse with the 24 hour uncontrollable pregnancy vomiting.... HOWEVER - I was able to take the medication they gave me to stop it - and it did.  It just made me sleep and feel terrible for about 3 days!

THE GOOD NEWS is that since then I have had another 10 days of no sickness and have felt better each day.  I am thanking God for all of the MANY people that I know have been praying for me - and believing that God is going to hear and answer those prayers.  Your prayers and support are what have gotten me through this really difficult time already!  THANK YOU!

THE GREAT NEWS is that the Consulate FINALLY contacted us that Brad's visa can be picked up!  That was ALL we were waiting for to be cleared to make arrangements for the big move!  THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

PRAYER NEED:  Would you PLEASE pray that by a miracle of God that the remaining 3 visas we need (Glenda, Macy, & Mia) would be granted BEFORE we leave the states?!  If they are not - we will have to return in the next few months to get them....  so let's pray for a MIRACLE!!!!!  :)

Our exact departure date is still being worked out....but flights will be booked soon!!!   YAYYY!!!!  Ready to get to work with our team at IMM!!!!!

Christmas Cards

We didn't expect to be here in the States for Christmas....therefore it has been a JOY to receive some Christmas cards!  Especially those with PICTURES!!!!  Love it!  Just in case anyone would like to send a last minute card/letter - we can still receive mail at our current address until January 15th!
2807 SW 10th St, Bentonville, AR 72712

Lost Blog Background

Just in case anyone is wondering.... my blog has NOT had a virus this past week..... they just removed the design from online that I was using....therefore the triangles and explanation marks!  I have it back on something simple for now!

New Project!

Our production team at IMM has tackled the production of another language version of the video series entitled, "Open the Bible."  

We have produced it in English and French.  Now, with the help of broadcast partners in a *sensitive* country, we have produced this dynamic series in Arabi*.

Our guest Arabi* presenter "Yousef" broadcasts evangelistic programs in northern Africa and the Middle East.  We are not able to show his face because he is steadily at risk for his proclamation of the Gospel in these *sensitive* nations.

Next, "Open the Bible" will be produced in Spanish and Mandarin.

December Prayer Update

We have some GOOD NEWS to share!!!!

HEALTH
I have now had 9 days of no vomiting and no meds (sorry - that may be too much info for some people - but in my case - this is such a HUGE praise!!!!)  After 4 weeks of volatile and violent sickness - it is looking like I am moving past that stage.  Every day I have said over and over throughout the day.... "Thank you God that I am not sick...thank you so much"....and every time my voice has cracked and I have teared up.  Unless you have ever been so violently sick for so long - you can't understand how emotional it is to be HEALTHY.  I don't understand why some women experience no problems with pregnancy, and yet others like me become violently ill.  Yet I trust the Lord with my life.

I am SO thankful for so many of you that PRAYED earnestly for me during this time.  I thanked God for you in the midst of my sickness - knowing that God was using you to get me through this dark time.

DATE TO FIELD
As of yesterday we received a PLAN and a TIMEFRAME from our directors in Spain!!!  Brad's visa is still the only one in our family of 4 that has been granted - but we are going ahead and setting a date for leaving!  Even if we have to come back later to retrieve the other visas.  With Spain this process has been so unpredictable for so many missionaries!  Ugh!

So - tentatively our new final date to LEAVE for the field is January 10th!  That is in just 32 short days with the holidays crammed in there too!  We have been trusting God while we wait on these Visas - knowing that our lives are in His hands.  We had been starting on language study - and then all of  a sudden - WHAM!  we found out about our little surprise and I had several weeks of sickness.  So in retrospect - we are thankful that we didn't have to surge forward with visas during this past month - because it would have been IMPOSSIBLE considering my condition.

SO HOW CAN YOU PRAY?
THIS IS HUGE!

1.  First and foremost:  PLEASE pray for a miracle here.  Pray that mine and the girls visas will be granted BEFORE we depart in January!!!  That way no one has to make a trip back to the states in the coming months to pick them up!  This is HUGE!  And we KNOW our God can do it!  Please pray earnestly with us for this miracle!

2.  Pray that as the last minute pressures come on us of having to purchase the transformers and supplies we need before we go, of packing concise for the container shipment, of taking care of final bills and utilities, of finding cheap flight tickets, and all that goes in with a move like this - that we will NOT be overwhelmed.  Pray that we will have peace, energy, strength, wisdom, finances, and help to accomplish it all without becoming over stressed.

3.  Pray that God will go before us and help the residence paperwork on the Spain side to go quickly and smoothly.  This is big.

4.  Pray that God will go before us and open up the exact perfect and right home for us at just the right time and rental price.

5.   Pray for this new life.  Pray that God will protect this baby and even now bless this child to become a mighty person for Him.

PRAYER NEEDS of Missionary Friends:

DAWN MARIE HELIN - one of our team members at IMM  in Spain has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  She is undergoing chemo and treatment right now.  The Helins are an AMAZING family that God is using in great ways in this ministry.  They also have 4 incredible children.  Please pray for perfect healing and blessing in their lives.

WADE DICKERSON - Wade is the husband of one of our PHENOMENAL staff members, Nancy, at Assemblies of God World Missions.  This past Wednesday he had another cornea transplant in hopes to restore his vision.  He has already become legally blind and can hardly see at all.  He is so discouraged by his loss of sight and we are all praying for a MIRACLE.  PLEASE pray for Wade that God will intervene in this and help the transplant to miraculously take and restore his sight.  I can not imagine what this must be like.

Let's pray friends!  Thank you!  When we agree together in prayer mighty strongholds can be moved!

Update

Apparently I am just one of those women who do not do well with pregnancy.  I spent last Thursday evening at the women's hospital receiving IV fluids and medications because I had not kept ANYTHING down for over 24 hours.  Those fluids and intravenous meds rescued me from what felt like the brink of death...  It has been difficult. And discouraging.

However, my doctors are trying different medications that are available now to try to control it.  Right now I still swing between extreme nausea and being knocked out cold.  It is so disheartening.  But then I remind myself....at least I'm not throwing up....   True...  Yet is is still so hard to feel so badly.

Brad has been amazing with the girls and taking care of our household while I am incapacitated.  

Still no word on mine or the girls visas.  I'm just trying to stay alive here!  :)  As soon as those Visas get granted however we will be thrust into motion...

Please continue to pray for me.  That God will grant healing, grace, and peace.  

And pray that we can get everything done as it needs to be done.

--------

As I've struggled with this "new" dimension to our transition....of course I've questioned God....

Why now?  Couldn't the timing have been better?  Couldn't I NOT be sick?  ......

But God has comforted me with "His plans are bigger than ours....His ways are better..."

He has a plan that there be another child in this generation that will rise up and serve Him...

It's not just about US today....but it is about each generation having voices and children to rise up and make a difference.  

Apparently this child is part of that plan. 

Praying I can get past this sickness quickly...so that I can look forward with hope and encouragement!

November Prayer Update

Brad's Visa has been issued and Glenda and the girls' visas should soon follow.  We are neck deep in preparations for our move, packing, and language study.

First of all....we have a little bit of unexpected news to share with you all.  These 4 pictures represent our life this month:

What???

Are you kidding me??

Seriously??

Now??

All questions that we have asked God this month - I assure you!  But yes, we have been to the doctor and he has confirmed that come June 2012 - there will be a baby in our house.  We are still slightly shell-shocked - as this was not part of our plan!  However we do TRUST God with every detail of our lives...and that His plan is often much larger and more detailed than ours.

How you can pray for us this month:

1.  NUMBER ONE:  Please pray for Glenda's health.  The reason we have never had any other children (other than adoption) is b/c the first pregnancy was the perfect example of DISASTER!!  Glenda was sick 24 hours a day for the first 4 months.  She threw up so much that she busted all the blood vessels in her eyes!  It was a treacherous time.  So- PLEASE join with us in prayer that she will be well this time.  Pray for God's grace to be extended to her during this time of the first trimester - when we are packing, moving, flying to Spain, finding a new home, unpacking, and starting language school!  Whew!  That alone is monumental!  Add in this new "surprise" - and it can be overwhelming!

When our prayer team prays - it is amazing the strength and encouragement that we feel.  I KNOW that we will begin to feel the effects of these prayers TODAY as you join with us for this need.

2.  Pray that we can get everything packed efficiently and that the things we need will all fit into our container to be shipped here in a few weeks.

3.  Pray even NOW that God will prepare the way and help us to find the perfect home to live in for these next 3 years.  God specializes in the details - and we are believing that He will open up the right house, at the right time, and for the right price....and that we will be perfectly content with the house he provides us with.

4.  Pray now that God will help us to find a vehicle quickly that will meet our family's needs and be a bargain!

5.  Pray that God will encourage us and strengthen us as we face so much transition ahead of us.  Pray for peace and direction.

6.  Pray for Macy.  She has been in a new school every year and is about to start yet another one when we move to Spain.  We are still seeing some learning gaps this year and she has really been struggling with 3rd grade.  Pray that God will give her mind understanding...and that she can overcome what she has missed - and EXCEL as a student.  Pray that she will LOVE learning and be a quick learner.

7.  Pray for the people's whose lives will be touched by the international media we work on during the next 3 years.  Pray that God will go before us and prepare their hearts...and that they will be forever changed.

8.  CLOSE TO OUR HEART:  One of the other families that are working at IMM need special prayer. Michael and Dawn Marie Helin are a vital part of everything we do at IMM.  They are raising 4 amazing teenagers, are home for itineration, and Dawn Marie has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. Prayer team, will you join us in praying for PERFECT healing for Dawn? For these people who have given their lives to missions?  Pray for strength, peace, and health as she enters into chemo.  Thank you so much.

More Ideas on How to Love your Pastor

1.  If your pastor is NOT mechanical (MANY are not b/c they have devoted their lives to study and church work) - offer to help with any maintenance on family cars.  For free!

2.  Ask if your pastor is a handyman...again many are not b/c they have spent their lives specializing in the needs of others....not how to fix things.  Organize a group to make repairs at his home that he feels need attention.

2.  Congratulate, show appreciation, and give love!!!!  Keep your eyes and ears open for ways to show love and concern!

3.  Provide adequate paid vacation!!!!!!!!!!  Most people get to "go home" and "away" from their job every day.  Pastors never really leave their pressures at work.

4.  Take your pastor fishing, golfing, sailing, etc.... -NOT to talk about the church or anything heavy - BUT just to PLAY!

5.  NEVER SAY negative things about your pastor or the church in front of your family or others.  Talk DIRECTLY to the pastor if you have concerns!!!

6.  Care for your pastor's health!  Provide adequate medical insurance!  This is a must!

7.  Respect your pastor's privacy and family time.  Unless it is REALLY an emergency - don't call him at home in the evening.

8.  Buy your pastor a deep freeze and stock it once a year!

9.  Give your pastor's spouse freedom to be who they are.  Don't expect them to fit into a "stereotype" of the "typical" pastor's wife....plays piano....leads the quilting group....sings....etc.   :)

10.  Remember that the pastor's children are this:  CHILDREN!  Don't expect more of them than you do other children!
---------
11.  Let God use YOU to do something in the life of the church.  One of the most discouraging things can be having a church full of pew sitters.

12.  Make sure your pastor and spouse get to attend conferences to encourage and inspire them.

13.  GIVE NEW IDEAS A CHANCE!  "But we have always done it that way" are the eight most deflating words a creative pastor can hear!!!!!

14.  Never compare your current pastor with a former pastor.  It is unfair, bears no fruit, and stands a good chance of causing discord.

15.  It is amazing how many people expect the church to be lit, air-conditioned or heated, have children's church with creative supplies, be able to get counseling from the pastor and a sermon, or two, or three every week..... yet they never invest ANYTHING into the church...or they give sporadically at best.  Decide TODAY to be a faithful giver of your tithe to the church (10% of everything God blesses you with - you give back to God through your local church).  Your church can not grow and flourish and provide the things you consider so important - without you doing YOUR part!

16.  Form a prayer group that prays regularly for your pastor, his family, and the needs of the church that are heavy on his heart.

17.  Ask your pastor often - "Pastor, how can I help you?"  And mean it!

18.  Write them a letter of how they have impacted your life.  Don't just buy one of those "pastor appreciation" cards.  Write specifics of what you appreciate about THEM.  Pastors need affirmation too!

Pastor Appreciation #2

Pastor Appreciation rolls around every October...and most churches and church boards think....at the LAST MINUTE may I add.... "oh what can we do for our pastor to show appreciation?"

Give him a card?  Take up an offering?  Say from the pulpit "we appreciate you?"

The reality is that there is no other profession quite like ministry.  Where EVERYTHING is personal.  If someone walks out of your store because they don't like your products - no big deal.  If someone doesn't like their doctor - they go to a different one - no big deal.

But when a pastor has POURED his life into investing in people's lives, investing in their children, spent HOURS preparing for sermons, and has even at times sacrificed way beyond what was expected...and THEN some of these same people slander him or criticize him for being overwhelmed, depressed, burnt out, having an "off day"....  it is a serious thing.  In no other profession is rejection so sorely felt.

And yes, many times pastors handle it well.  But in reality - it hurts.  It wears on you. You become discouraged.  You wonder if you are making a difference.

Regardless of their smiling faces you see week after week - pastors NEED encouragement, affirmation, and LOVE!  They need to know that you LOVE them.

“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching.”

(1 Timothy 5:17, NIV )

Think about why would Paul have said they were "worthy of double honor"?  They carry a HUGE load!  With spiritual implications!

Please take the time this month to THOUGHTFULLY think of how you can affirm your pastor.  And not just a handshake and a "we appreciate you pastor" given in the hallway!

Maybe you could get them a card where you write something SPECIFIC and MEMORABLE in it of how their ministry has made a difference for you and your family?  Maybe include a Restaurant Gift Card or cash gift along with your card?  Maybe get together with a few others and pay for them to have a weekend break away somewhere?

Be sure and check out the previous blog post for ideas from Focus on the Family about Pastor Appreciation.

Pastor Appreciation Month

One time a pastor friend of ours shared with us what his church does for pastor appreciation.  He sheepishly shared that it was quite embarrassing.  They wanted HIM to get up in front of the congregation and take up an offering...for himself!  He said the appreciation he felt was so pathetic - that he would rather them do nothing!

To help you to REALLY show appreciation to your pastor - Focus on the Family has developed the following resources:

• Our Clergy Appreciation Month Planning Guide is available online with complete step by step instructions and pages of exciting celebration suggestions. It also includes long-term ideas for the proper care of your pastors and their families. This complimentary guide can be reviewed, downloaded or printed immediately.
  (Note: Adobe Reader is required to view this PDF file. Click on the image to the right to download the latest version for free. The CAM planning guide PDF file itself may take several minutes to load into your computer's memory, especially with a modem, so please be patient.)

Secret Sins #1

As we are packing and purging...I ran across an old message of mine.  Though I would share an excerpt...I'm having to pray about some things this morning!
--------


There are sins that we would like to try and hide.  We find it easier to stuff them back in the dark place of our heart instead of facing them.

GOD says, "pull it down, cast it out, bring EVERY single thought into captivity."

On the outside you keep the appearance of righteousness but in the deep recesses of your mind there is a hidden chamber with a poison that infects your whole soul.  There is nothing harmless or innocent about evil thoughts.  If they are not CAST DOWN immediately they can poison the soul.

#1  IS UN-FORGIVENESS your secret?

Has someone misunderstood you and said hurtful things about you?
Do you begin to let those thoughts replay over and over again in your mind?
Do you get injured easily? Do you boil inside? Fret? Stay up at night and burn, replaying every word?

There are mothers and daughters, fathers and sons who are enemies.
There are CHRISTIANS that won't even speak to each other.
There are some who say, "I can't forgive what was said.  I can't get over it."

I've been there.  I've thought, "if they would just APOLOGIZE - I could let this go!!!"  :)

But then there came a time when God showed me all that Jesus had suffered...MORE than I have EVER suffered.  And NO ONE apologized.  Ouch.

If we will cast out all thoughts of vengeance and stay sweet, bringing all evil thoughts into captivity, we will live to see the day God balances the books.   Or we will come to see it is not WORTH the pain we have caused ourselves over it.  And we will be so glad we did not take matters into our own hands.

I will try to post #2 and #3 from the "Secret Sins" message soon. Good stuff.  I am having to pray today!

September Update

Today marks the day that our paperwork is officially all done....and we begin the season of transition.

We would be honored for our family, friends, and support team to continue to pray with us about these things:

1.  Pray that all of the documents that are being processed at the Spain government offices will be received with favor and processed quickly so that we can receive our Visas!

2.  We start langauge lessons today....meeting with a tutor 3-5 hours a week until we leave for the field.
 So pray over our minds...that we can begin NOW to learn and grasp the language that we must know to live and function abroad in Spain.

3.  We begin this week to downsize our belongings and prepare for the packing process.
Pray that we will have wisdom in what to take and that God will help us in every step of the packing process.  We have a 20 ft. container to pack our household in.  That is MUCH smaller than a moving truck!

4.  There are some things that will just have to be bought and replaced in Spain.  Most houses do not come with refrigerators, washing machines, or LIGHT FIXTURES! (crazy huh?)  Everything there runs on a 220 current - so we have to keep in mind what electrical appliances we have that will need to be replaced.  Please pray that God helps us find affordable items.  Prices in Spain can be very expensive!

5.  Please pray that God will give us wisdom NOW about what items we need to stock up on in packing.  It would be bad to be three months down the road and realize there are some items we really should have brought with us.  We know God can give us the direction that we need now!  :)

6.  Please continue to pray that God will go before us and prepare the right home for us.  Pray that we will find the right house, in the right neighborhood, and for the right price.  Pray that God will bless us with a kind landlord.  ;)

7.  And PLEASE pray for our team!  RIGHT NOW our team at IMM is producing a film in A*rabic.  Languages in the studio for this production have to be translated between the A*rabic speakers, Spanish actors, and English speaking crew!  Pray for God's powerful anointing on this project!  And pray for it's effectiveness at reaching the target audience!  Exciting stuff!

Update:
1.  My eyes are doing MUCH better! The inflammation is under control!  Praise God and thank you for agreeing in prayer for me!  It is such a blessing to feel like I have my eyes back!
2.  Macy is doing better in 3rd grade.  We have pinpointed where some of her learning gaps are and we are working diligently to get her caught up! Please continue to pray over her mind and her heart - that she will love learning and have a good attitude!

This is it!

After jumping through all kinds of hoops - we FINALLY have ALL of our documents for the Consulate. FBI background checks, State Department seals, Authenticated birth, marriage, and adoption certificates, doctors physicals, passport pictures, and several required documents from the Spain government offices.

Whew.

I laid all of our documents out in order today before I began the copying process.  They had to be sorted by PERSON...and then 4 copies made of EACH document for EACH person in our family.

I feel a little frazzled and crazy at this point.  And we need to be up by 5AM tomorrow to fly to Chicago.  Our meeting with the Consulate is at 12:20.

We would really appreciate the prayers of our family, friends, and support team!  We are praying for FAVOR.  And that the favor will extend to all offices that have to process our paperwork in order to issue our Visas.  And that our Visas will be granted in record time.  We have been told it could take 8+ weeks.  But we are praying for sooner!  :)

What really is a Disciple?

This video is definitely food for thought about church.  Even though great preaching and great worship are great.... the MOST important thing in church is RELATIONSHIPS.  And the most important thing in a relationship with God is the CHANGE that takes place inside of us.

I love:  LOVE, LIBERATE, LEAD, & LAUNCH.  But how can we really LOVE people in our church...if we don't even KNOW them?  REALLY KNOW them?  When is the last time someone from your church was in your home....or you in theirs? Real relationships take place OUTSIDE of the foyer, and INSIDE of your life.



This is Discipling

Whew!

We have now been fingerprinted, FBI background checked, State Department sealed, new birth certificates issued, Secretary of state seal applied to them, Physicals from doctors with letters of health, not to mention all of the "other" "little" paperwork that we needed....it has taken 3 weeks longer than anticipated.  And now all of that is being translated.  Only then we will be able to meet with the Consulate for our Resident Visas.  Whew! But we are getting closer! Woo hoo!

What our team is doing today in Spain: First day of production of Open the Bible: The Four Gospels in A*abic. Working in studio in 3 languages, Spanish, A*abic and English. 

Can't wait to get there!

Discipling our Children

Walter A. Henrichsen writes, “Discipling must begin with our children if it is ever to affect the rest of our culture. Before we go looking for people to disciple, we should start with our own families. For a few short years, God has entrusted our children to our care. Whether for good or bad, we will mark them for eternity.”


I want to do more than teach my children Bible Stories and bedtime prayers.  I am looking for tools to help me.  I found this blog this week that I am making sure to bookmark and keep up with.


www.discipleblog.com


It is all about DISCIPLING kids.  Love it.  I have ordered their curriculum before when I was teaching in Children's Ministry - but now I am exploring how I might order their materials to use in personal devotions with our kids.  So much of what I find in the bookstores is not comprehensive, doesn't focus on application, or is over their heads.  I will be sure and post what I find out on my blog for any who are interested!

Timing

There is a timing for all things in our lives, and there is safety in being in God's timing. Eccl 8:6 ....to every purpose there is a time... trusting God with this stage of our journey.  


Navigating the consulates and Visa process is proving to be quite a task!  Yet do we trust Him!

August Update and Prayer Needs

Having passed the finish line of raising our minimum monthly budget to leave for the field - we are FINALLY being able to "move on" to the final Resident Visa process and packing part of this journey!  From one stress to the next! Ha! The last month of itineration was excruciating enough!  We were right down to the deadline on having enough monthly pledges to receive clearance and move on to this next stage in the process!

Now we continue to weed through paperwork, government requirements, and Spain approval.  We HOPE that we will be able to make the trip to Chicago NEXT week to meet with the Consulate about our resident Visa being granted.  That's why it is so much harder.  We are not just tourists, but we are moving to Spain as "residents"....so many more requirements and hoops to jump through.

If it looks like we will be delayed in this process more than expected - we are set to go ahead and begin our language study here.  This way we can transition more smoothly into language school on the field.  There will be no wasted moment while we wait patiently for God's perfect timing for our departure!

-------

AUGUST PRAYER NEEDS

1.  Please pray for us to have FAVOR at the Consulate.  These powers that be will be deciding how quickly they process our application without problems.

2.  Please pray that we have FAVOR at the Spain government offices where our application will be approved.  They are notorious about being SLOW in this process on the Spain side - but we know GOD can move things in creative ways!

3.  Please pray for our LANGUAGE study.  We will begin soon - and need God's supernatural help in grasping and remembering a new language!  Pray for us to become FLUENT!  In incredible time!  :)

4.  Please pray for us in the packing stage.  We have to figure out what we can/need to take overseas in order to set up our house there.  Nothing that we own that is electrical will work there.  All of that will need to be replaced after we get on the field.  Pray that we won't become stressed through the packing phase.

5.  We have decided to WAIT until we arrive in Spain to look for a house to live in.  Please pray that God will go before us and open up the right house at the exact right time for our arrival.  Having the right home in the right neighborhood is going to be so key in our "settledness" once we move overseas.  Will you please pray that God will bless us with exactly what we need?  That He will give us favor in EVERY aspect of finding a home?

6.  Macy has started 3rd grade!  Please pray that she will FLOURISH academically!  She has been in a new school every year since she started....and will only be here until we leave for Spain.  So she will change schools yet again! PLEASE pray that God will bless her mind to grasp concepts and excel in school. I have been worried about how she seems to have some "gaps" in her learning.

7.  Please pray for my EYES!  I continue to have extremely DRY eyes.  According to the eye doctor my tear glands are not working and producing the tears that I need to lubricate my eyes.  It has even caused re-occuring infection in the glands behind my eyes b/c of the dryness.   This problem is causing me much discomfort, pain, and frustration.  Pray that God will HEAL me and that my eyes will be PERFECTLY restored and healthy!  You never realize how much you use your eyes for EVERYTHING until it hurts to hold them open!

Thank you friends, family, prayer team!  YOU are making a difference by partnering to pray for us!  We thank God daily for the gift of YOU in our lives!

Paperwork update

Well, after much research and many calls between me, the FBI, and the Consulate...it has been determined that FBI background checks are NOT required for a 4 and 8 year old.  However, in our original packet of required documents - this was listed as MANDATORY for all family members....

We tallied it up - and we have spent 10 weeks.... 10 WEEKS.... battling the powers that be to get the girls fingerprinted and through the FBI screening process.  10 precious....wasted weeks....

We compared notes with another new missionary family to Spain - and they too have wasted much precious energy and time on this process with their 3 small children....

Thank you all who have prayed.  I firmly believe that having this struggle finally resolved was the result of your prayers.  Thank you!  We are so glad to no longer be battling it!

However, God knows.  And He is sovereign.  We wait for His timing and trust that every delay will get us to Spain at just the right moment He wants us there.  We don't always have to understand everything.  That's good to know.  :)

Urgent Prayer Need

We are STILL waiting for Macy and Mia's FBI background checks to come in.  We started this process early April...and 8 weeks AFTER we sent their fingerprints in - they sent us a letter that the original prints were not readable by the machine.  Argh!  You would think they could have let us know that sooner!

So we had their fingerprints re-done that day by a state trooper and sent them back to the FBI via Fed Ex.  And we have been WAITING!  You would think that since we have been in this process since April that they would EXPEDITE their second set of prints....right?

I called yesterday and spoke with someone at the FBI office - and she said that the second set of prints had to start all over in the process!  So 4-5 MORE weeks before they will be finished!  What?!  We MUST have these background checks BEFORE we can go to the Consulate for our Visas!

I called our State Senator's office yesterday to enlist their help!  They are going to bat for us to see if they can get anything to move more quickly.

Please pray!  GOD can move these papers quicker than any Senator, Government office, or anyone!

Believing God for miracles in paperwork!

China Family Reunion

For the first time since we all left China together four years ago - our China Family, the 9 families that traveled to China together to adopt our children - reunited!  Our group numbered 37 in all!  We were so blessed that WE got to be there!  We thought we would already be overseas....but we were still here!

Since we brought home the original 9; our families have added 2 more children from China, 1 from Korea, and 1 from Kahgastan. One family will be headed back to China to adopt a 9 year old girl this fall...and still another family is waiting for a referral to adopt again.

People tell us all the time how "lucky" our kids are to be adopted by families here in America.  But I would have to say that WE are the ones that are BLESSED to have these incredible children in our families.  Our families would be incomplete without them.  Oh how we love all of our children...whether biological or by adoption!

100%

We received "THE CALL" today!  We have been given OFFICIAL clearance from HQ to make preparations to LEAVE FOR THE FIELD! Woooooooo!  There are still a few "spoken" pledges where the pledge form has not arrived at HQ yet- but we are officially given clearance now!

There are so many people that are responsible for this miracle.  Many thanks to the friends, family, and pastors that became new support team members during these past 30 days.  It has been amazing.  Many moments we were just speechless....

We are still in the process of obtaining our residence Visas from the Spain Consulate- and are tied up right now with getting Macy  & Mia's background checks to come back from the FBI.  Please pray for this paperwork to proceed quickly and the roadblocks to be thrown aside!

Our expected departure date will depend much upon the timeframe it takes the Spain Consulate to issue our Visas.  Expected wait time could be 30-90 days!  Yikes!  We are hoping and praying that we can leave for the field within 7-8 weeks - putting us departing around late August.

We will keep this blog posted on our process - and how you can be praying for us.  We are anxious to get to work creating media to REACH people that need God's HOPE.
-----------
We will be traveling for the next several days in route to our "China Family" Reunion.  All 9 families that traveled and adopted together 4 years ago are re-uniting for the first time since we adopted our precious children from China.  Internet access and reception will be limited the next few days...but we will be sure and post a more comprehensive post next week about where we are at in the next step of this JOURNEY!!

Holiday

I forgot that today was a Holiday!!!  But from the "spoken" commitments we have received the past couple of weeks - we look to have made 100% of our budget!  Hopefully tomorrow everyone will get their pledge forms into HQ and we will get an update by afternoon of where we "officially" are!  Thanks to all for praying and supporting!  Love!

Sabbatical

I am taking a sabbatical from email, facebook, and my blog for the next 2 days!  HQ is closed anyway!  I will update on Monday!

Just Short

UPDATE:  We just received our update from HQ  - and we are officially at 98% of our pledge budget!  We ONLY need $160 more in monthly pledges to reach 100% and be given clearance to leave for the field!  PLEASE PLEASE continue to pray for us - that it will come in over the weekend!

Pledges Needed	Monthly Support
0	@$100
1	@$50
4	@$25
1	@$10

Scroll down to the post titled "9 Days until our Deadline" to see our list of current and pressing prayer needs!

----------

If God has been tugging at your heart to join our support team - Here's how:

You can CALL Nancy Dickerson at AG World Missions at (417) 862-2781 M-F  between 9AM-4:30 PM, M-F and do it all by phone....

Or you can EMAIL Nancy Dickerson the pledge you would like to make at ndickerson@ag.org

Or you can click here to do it from our website:  Support the McMath Family to Spain

Then click on the BLUE link that says: Click here to fill out a pledge form.