September is here, and for some reason, maybe because of school starting or seasons changing, it always seems like a sense of newness, and change fills the air.

Keep Moving Forward

Time has flown by.  It seems crazy how, when you are busy doing, you can lose track.  One year ago this month, we were lamenting, packing and preparing to leave our beloved home in Panama.  Even now, after being in Texas for almost a year, our hearts want to continually look back, remember, stay in what God did in us, then, how He moved, all the great things we experienced in the three years living there.  So much happened, good, bad, and even miraculous to our family.  God first called us to serve, then lead us to Panama, and although we thought that we would be teaching community development,  the truth is that God allowed us to learn how the body of Christ, and community should really function.  We have to continually remind ourselves that it is imperative to remember what God taught us during our stay in Panama; however, we cannot live in the past as if God will never move or reveal himself to us again.  He is moving, teaching, speaking, guiding, leading, helping, and loving us even still!!!  God has new plans for us! We must keep moving forward, always keeping in our hearts the relationships and the experiences God allowed us to have.


Making Memories

The kids and I (Alisha) on Labor Day weekend went to Oklahoma to celebrate with my Great-Aunt Gladys her 101st birthday.  It was a bitter-sweet time to celebrate her, such a godly, faithful, and dearly loved woman of God, who is the last of a her generation.  It was good for our children to have to opportunity to be there for such a grand occasion as this!  We were sincerely grateful that we were able too be a part of this and see her sweet face!


Learning as We Go


Upon our return from Oklahoma, it was time to start.  We began our homeschool schedule just last week.  Although, it might take us some time to really get used to it, we are working hard at it.  Please pray for our homeschool (Pursuit Academy) to be a fun, challenging, and inspiring environment for all of our children, including Ella and Ezra. 


In addition to our homeschool, Phillip has begun taking classes this semester with Liberty University.  We are thankful that God has allowed Phillip to continue his education in such a way, that he is still working full time and taking classes, too.  It has been and will be a strain on us all, however, we are praying that God will give us all the strength we need to endure this time.  Please pray for Phillip as he works as the sole classroom teacher here at Youth-Reach Houston, takes a full class load from university, and still tries to be the best man God wants him to be as the leader of our family.


Connecting

As God continues to reveal His will for us, He provides us with opportunities to share our most recent experiences in foreign missions. Two weeks ago were invited by our church's mission ministry, Ecclesia 360, to sit on a panel with other missionaries as a part of a Q&A session. It was encouraging to be with others who have similar hearts for global missions. As a part of the discussion panel, we answered a slew of questions relating to cross-cultural living, fundraising, preparing for departure, and re-entry. It was refreshing to share in familiar stories of overcoming fears, living in faith, and experiencing life-changing healing.
More about 360? Please visit http://www.ecclesiahouston.org/pages/serve/global-mission/360/ (We recognize God is telling His story throughout the world and He is inviting us to participate in the story. 360 is the global ministry of Ecclesia that exists to inform, equip, integrate, and send persons into this story around the world.)

Have A Heart!

This past week we headed to the Health Museum, where Lily slapped on some rubber gloves for some good, old-fashioned dissecting fun! As a part of our homeschooling, we've been blessed to be able to sign the kids up for some, outside-of-the-home science labs. (Yeah, can you imagine dissecting anything on the dining room table with four kids and a dog? That's comical!) Lily had a blast learning all about the ol' blood pumper. She was blown away when the teacher brought out a real human heart for show and tell. (Way to one-up everyone.) Noah can't wait for his upcoming lesson on bones, maybe the teacher will roll out Keith Richards...by the way, no sheep were harmed in the making of this picture.

Following

We recently talked with our dear friends, the Morrows, in Ireland, and they are as excited as we are about our upcoming trip to visit them in Ballina, County Mayo, Ireland.  They let us know that the forecasts are predicting a very cold winter this year, and we should prepare to dress accordingly, since our trip is scheduled for the end of November.  They also are making a small list of items from the states that they would like us to bring.  Please pray that God will reveal himself  us, the Morrows, and the Body of Christ there in Ballina.  And also, please ask God about how He may be leading you to be a part of this journey with us.


Why Ireland, you ask?

Our desire for this trip is to discover how we may be a part of what God is already doing among the Christian community in Ireland.  Traditionally, it was the west of Ireland that Saint Patrick first evangelized.  And yet in the last several hundred years or so, Christianity has declined significantly in Europe, and atheism and agnosticism have risen.  There is an interesting website dedicated to bringing awarenes to the global church of the spiritual needs of Europe.  Check out the website for more info on this.  http://www.communicationinstitute.us/

Also, Please Pray Specifically For:

Emotional strength.  We miss our friends in Panama. There are some days of sadness, but we are learning to pray though them.

Spiritual, Mental and Physical Health within our family.

Wisdom in teaching our children to be completely committed to seeking God and knowledge.  

That our marriage will continue to be strengthened.

God's continual provision in our lives.  He has shown us that he will never leave us and has always provided everything we need!

For strength to endure and persevere in the midst of the current changes and throughout God's stretching of our faith.

Thank you so much again for keeping up with us.  We would love to hear from you, too!