Back from our trip to Minnesota and the cabin is all in order and now run by generator power.

Had a opportunity to share about our mission at the Harvest Community Church in Willmar, MN.  The Willmar Church of God was the congregation I grew up in.  

Hoping to soon obtain a storage trailer for the packing of our household.  This is one more step towards the move to Africa.

Aaron is now done with his military training and we are looking for a visit from him soon.

Looking forward to making presentations in Des Moines and Ottumwa in this coming month.  We now have 27% of our start-up funds in the account at Global Missions, Church of God Ministries; and about 20% of our annual budget pledged.  Fund raising has been slow going in this economy but we believe God will provide for what is needed soon.

Back at last!  During the move our computer "crashed" and would not let me return to blog.  We made the move to missionary housing and are still down-sizing.  We hope to obtain a storage trailer and get it packed soon.  During August I traveled to camp meeting from  Iowa’s Inspiration Acres to Wisconsin’s Rock Springs Camp, then on to Minnesota’s Camp Arrowhead and South Dakota’s Lake Poinsett Living Waters Retreat Center provided contact with a substantial portion of the Church of God Ministries in the North Central USA.  I am in the process of writing up a newsletter to tell about it.

As I end my ministry at the Ellis Park Church of God in Cedar Rapids, Iowa It was my privilege to baptize Joe, Kacie and Dayzaray; individuals I have worked with over the years.  In fact, Kacie I dedicated as a baby and now 16 years later has grown in her faith to making this commitment of her life.  This has helped as we say goodbye to those we have ministered to over 17 years.  This weekend will be a reunion of a youth camp I was involved in 10 years ago.  It will be fun to celebrate the accomplishment of the youth who are now youth adults active in many ministries.  Then next week we will be traveling to Minnesota to take more stuff there and make sure it's ready for the winter. 

What a month it has been!  Time to get back to regular posting again.

Lori's mother passed away soon after we returned from our visit to Colorado.  It was a blessing to have just been with her there, and we saw how fast her physical health was failing.  We spent the first week of June in Casper, Wyoming with Lori's family.  Michelle and Kaylee, Andrew, Kiana, and Austyn all made the trip out with us for the Memorial Service and visiting of family.  Lori's friend from her youth, Tami Rudkin (Smothers) was able to officiate the service held at the Highland Park Church of God.  Adam and Aaron where in military training and not able to attend.

Upon coming back to Cedar Rapids, Andrew and I loaded up a trailer to take what we want to store in our Minnesota cabin up there.  It was a quick trip to mow the property and unload the stuff to store.  Andrew couldn't resist putting a hook in the lake and he released a nice bass.

Upon our return, I began working in the Healing the Heartland festival management.  Serve the City organization representing over 40 different ministry groups provided a weekend of ministry and concert activities which conservatively ministered to over 12,000.

The third week of June was moving week, we thought we had downsized lots, but we still have more than what we should store.  The dumpster was over loaded, Adam and Michelle took lots of our stuff for a sale their having in the next week, and there were still too many trips to the new home.

Our level of support needed for our mission in Africa is at 3% today. In just a few months that needs to be 100% pledged and our start-up budget full rasied, which only has a couple hundred dollars in it now. We are encouraged by this beginning response to our support raising letters that went out two weeks ago and we thank all who have responded.
We will be traveling to Evergreen, Colorado for a family gathering over this coming weekend, celebrating my niece Denera's Graduation from High School. We are hoping Lori's mother will be able to be there, the cancer she has is beyond control and is affecting her breathing among other things. We keep her in our prayers and she needs the Lord's presence in her life now.
This will be a good break from our - sort, pack, or sell - routine - oh yes, there has been the Goodwill and garbage part to this as well. "Stuff" from 17 years of living keeps appearing and we have about a month to have this all completed.

"Moving to Africa" sale went well, even had a quick follow-up sale on Thursday that reduced what we had left, plus another trip to Goodwill. Were does all this "stuff" keep coming from? Since our parsonage home has sold and we will be moving into "Furnished Missionary Housing" in Cedar Rapids PTL! and our packing becomes more serious. Our new housing arrangement will make our transition smoother and we look forward to having more ministry time once we get through this next month. The "Down-Sizing" is emotionally and physically difficult, it really makes you think on what you value.

As we begin our journey to Africa, we are preparing this week for a "Moving to Africa" sale on Saturday.  Finished a cover letter for Global Missions to mail out our support raising information next week.  Sorting books to send ahead to the Kima International School of Theology next week, with the others going into the sale.  Down-sizing to 4 suitcases going with us and only 7x16 to store what will be held here for our return has proven to be difficult.  Maybe not as difficult as leaving family and friends.