A glimpse of where we are

I've just pasted in an email I sent to some friends at our sending agency. Thought it'd be a quick way to get going with this blog thing! Here it is:

Greetings! Deane and I just wanted to say hello and catch you up with where we're at.

Deane has had almost full-time work since the end of July with Lincoln Pavement Services, but hasn't worked the last few weeks because the job is seasonal and it finally got too cold and snowy to carry on. Has it's downside, but for now it is a blessing. God graciously helped us to save up an emergency fund so that we're not on the absolute brink of financial ruin, and just as his lay-off last spring enabled us to freely participate in the summer training events, this current season of "unemployment" has allowed us to take some strides forward in our preparations that we had been lagging in. Namely, getting newsletters out, setting up chances to share at churches, planning a dinner event to share our vision, etc. And throw in the odd home-rescue project (we discovered last week that our bedroom floor was sinking due to termite damage), I'd say neither one of us is what you could truly term "unemployed".

In regards to our progress, our support is right around 50%. We are eager and asking God to help us be excellent at our part and to truly trust him, and that He'll amaze us by His part. We are hoping to be able to start the language school term at the next possible date, which would be May, meaning we'd need to be able to leave mid- to late April. It's beginning to seem unlikely, but ...? The thing I have to watch is that when I'm frustrated because my goals are being delayed (by, say, tearing up a bedroom floor instead of printing out newsletters) that I don't let discouragement delay those goals even more. I tend to want to attack a project and finish it all in one sitting (or standing, or whatever), but that rarely works in this particular season of parenting toddlers. The challenge is to get creative and be purposeful, instead of getting frustrated and giving up.

Pray for us that Deane and I would learn to set goals and follow through on our part effectively and with perseverence in the face of challenges, whatever they be.

Thanks for checking in with us, and may the Lord establish the work of your hands. We know you do it with your hearts.

with affection,

Krystal and Deane