Huge Praise and Prayer Request

If you're following the financial status on the right side of our blog, you've noticed we're now at 91% of our monthly budget and 90% of our one-time expenses! We're almost ready to go. We need to be at 100% before we can go and we're praying that we'll be there by Dec 1st. The month of December is going to be very busy with all the details involved with moving overseas and also taking time to say goodbye to so many friends and family. Because of that, we're praying that we won't need to focus on our support at all in December.

If you're interested in finishing the last bit of our support needs or have any questions, please let us know (wdenny@worldventure.net).

We're extremely grateful for how God has led so many people to partner with us. We are truly blessed.

Blast from the past

This weekend we had the pleasure of traveling back to Edmonton, the city I grew up in. This was our last trip (besides family holidays) and last ministry presentation before we leave for France. We had a great time sharing with people about our plans for Senegal, Wayne preached a great sermon (and I'm not biased at all!) and had a great time with friends. It sure was fun to take Addie with us, especially because of the fact that I grew up in Edmonton and the people there were really a part of my upbringing.

This weekend, Addie had 2 more grandmothers. Julie (top) and Marilyn both were a huge part of my life when I was young. It was so fun to see them with Addie, trying desperately not to spoil her!

And this was a little weird for me... I remember when Leah was born and now here she is with Addie! It was so fun to see she and her brothers all grown up. Addie and Leah had a great time talking on their phones together.

And boy is Canada a long ways away, so thanks grandma and papa for the DVD player!

Childhood, Romans 11, and some Election Reflection

I've already heard many Christians bemoaning the election results and the fact that God has now left us. I certainly disagree strongly with Obama on some points but am nowhere near the Chicken Little syndrome that appears to be sweeping through much of the evangelical church. I definitely agree that the U.S. has gone away from God on some important issues, but this election has proved that on one issue God has shown us tremendous mercy.

In Romans 11, Paul presents an extremely quick overview of the history of the world; past, present, and future. The chapter discusses how God in this present age is not working directly through the nation of Israel, but through the church. The warning that Paul gives to the church is this, "Do not become proud (Rom 11:20)." Paul knew that because the church contained a predominantly Gentile (non-Jewish) base, then Gentiles would be tempted to develop ethnic pride. Paul reminds the Gentiles that God will still work with the Jews (11:2). God has constructed the history of the world in order to crush ethnic pride. The predominant Gentile makeup of the church crushes Jewish pride and the mercy that will be shown to Jews in the future will crush Gentile pride. All this to say, the issue of ethnic pride or racism is a fundamental issue of Christianity. God is so concerned that no one forget to see Him as the the center because they're focused on their own ethnicity that He has constructed all of history in order to crush ethnic pride.

So, how has God in this election shown us mercy? For the first 200 years of U.S. history, America failed miserably on this issue of racism that is so central to God's heart. And this incredible failure placed America in a position that we could (should) have been judged. But God has shown mercy.

I remember growing up in North Carolina and hearing and even telling racist jokes. I remember hearing people say they would leave the country if a black man were ever elected president. Not that they would leave if someone pro-abortion got elected or an atheist that scorns God's wisdom, but a black man.

The fact that at the present moment my state of North Carolina is still too close to call means that a black man ran for president and white people cast ballots not based on the color of a man's skin, but on who he was as a candidate. Again, I'm not saying Obama is a perfect candidate or even that he should have been elected. But the fact that he had a fair shot shows me that on at least one issue, God has shown this country mercy. Yes, He has allowed our country to ignore His commands on many other issues and we should mourn that. But on one issue incredibly close to God's heart, we have received mercy for which I am incredibly thankful.

Witnessing History

Watching the news tonight I am excited. America has finally elected it's first African American president. Regardless of your political views, it is exciting to watch this amazing step in our history as a country. I am glad that I am able to witness a bit of history in the making tonight.

Boarding School!?!?!?!?!

I always thought of this as the 14 letter phrase that no one should ever say when speaking about missionaries, and it was definitely something that I would never say. I even told a veteran missionary that I would never send my daughter to boarding school (when I told her this I was 8 weeks pregnant and definitely couldn't imagine my little one ever leaving me!). This very wise missionary told me at that point, "Be careful. Never is one thing you should probably never say. Be open to what God would have you do."

I am very thankful for this friend who shared these words with me, and for the way God has been preparing me for service overseas. This past week, Wayne and I attended a conference on educating your children overseas. During this conference we discussed several different options for education in a different country, as well as several challenges we will face in educating her overseas, such as what language will she learn to read in first and then when will she learn to read in the other language! We realize that we have many challenges ahead of us as we seek to minister as a family in Senegal. We also realize that God has given us some exciting opportunities as well. Our first plan for Addie's schooling is for her to attend a Senegalese Christian school where 80% of the kids are Muslim. We desire for her to learn French and be able to interact with the culture in Senegal so that she might serve Christ there.

And now back to that dirty 14 letter phrase :) Yes, we did talk about boarding school this week as one of many options (the others being national schools, homeschooling, International schools, International Christian schools, online schools, and a few more). And no, we're not going to send Addie to boarding school in elementary school! But it may be an option later. With prayer and consideration, and discussion with Addie, boarding school may actually be a good option for high school. And I know you may be thinking, "Isn't she only 2?" Yes, and we're not planning her entire schooling this week, but God has opened both of our hearts to more possibilities than we were previously open to. I have heard so many good stories about boarding schools lately, about kids who beg their parents to let them go and love the interaction with other kids. I have heard about how boarding schools can make strong families stronger and build the relationship between parents and kids. I have heard about how they grow kids character as they prepare to return to the States for college. And God has softened my heart and told me that maybe, this might be an option for Addie one day.

Again, we are incredibly thankful for the training we are continuing to get and for God preparing our minds and our hearts for serving Him in Senegal.