Sunday, January 20, 2013

Coming Home

    As our two years are drawing to a close in Australia, we have been praying a lot about what the next step will be for our family.  We have learned so much in our time here and have grown  spiritually, emotionally, and numerically!  We have formed relationships with wonderful people in our church and have loved getting to know the children and youth.  With God’s help, we were able to continue our youth program and form a leadership team to take over when we are gone.  I (Sam) was able to work in the children’s ministry and share God’s Word with many children.  Sean has loved being a part of the worship team.  It was been a great year and a half in Australia!  As individuals we have been challenged and stretched to do things that we never thought we would do.  We have both grown deeper in our walks with the Lord.  As a couple, we have grown closer together and have had some of the best times in our marriage.  We feel incredibly blessed to have welcomed Rylan into our lives. 
    After a lot of prayer, we have decided that we are going to return to the United States when our visa expires in April.  As for what we will do?  We still don't know!  What we do know is that God is faithful and that He will lead and guide us to where He wants us to go.  We have so much peace knowing that this is where the Lord wanted us to serve for the past year and a half.   It is a bit overwhelming to look ahead and not know where the Lord has us, but we trust that He has a plan for our family.   I have been studying the life of David lately.   Towards the end of his life, he was making preparations for Solomon to take over as king and he was instructing other leaders on how to help Solomon.  I love what he said to them in 1 Chronicles 22 verse 19, “Now devote your heart and soul to seeking the Lord your God.”  As I read that I thought,  that is exactly what Sean and I want to do.  We are devoted to following after the Lord and seeking Him with all that we are.  We have no idea what lies ahead for us but we simply want to follow Him.  Please pray for us as we finish our last 5 weeks in Australia.  Please pray that we could stay focused and finish strong.  As we look ahead, pray that we would do what God wants us to do and that we would trust Him with all of the unknowns. 
    Recently we received a gift from one of our supporting churches.  It was a prayer pillow case!  All of the hand prints on the pillow are from people who are praying for Rylan.  What a blessing!  We cannot tell you how much the prayers and support of people around us have meant to us.  Thank you for each prayer and every penny spent on supporting us!!