Static Electricity

Remember that feeling..?..? When you were a kid and you tried to stick a balloon to the wall after rubbing it on your head?...or you walked around the house in your socks and accidentally touched the doorknob.. or maliciously tried to "shock" your brother? It was kind of fun when I was a kid, but not anymore. I think getting "shocked" is worse that getting a needle put in my arm!

We're winding down the meetings. We have one left. Trinity is fed-up with all this travel. She informed us yesterday, when we'd already pushed her too far, that "this was not fun!" and "she was ready to go home!" All this came after she was asked to walk on stage at a church that had about 1,000 people in attendance. As we all walked out on the platform she started to cry, and waked right back down and to her seat. She wasn't gonna put a show on for anyone! She is tired of folks looking at her! Of course, everyone in the audience thought she was cute and laughed at her, which only made it worse. She just wants to be a normal 3 yr. old. She wants her "home". And I am so thankful that in a few weeks I'll be able to give her that. It'll be new to her, but in no time, it will feel like home. Not just to her, but to the rest of us as well.

25 Days Left!

It's after bedtime. All the kids are in bed, (Well...pallets and a portable crib). And I guess I should mention, only three of them are in bed, cause the other two are with their Daddy heading down interstate 65 to Florida to spend one last day with his Father. The time has finally come to say good-bye. The "Good-byes" haven't been too bad. Everyone has done well for the most part. I guess it could be that they are just glad to see us go??? :)

We have two meetings left to finish up, and then we're done, Praise the Lord! It's been difficult dragging these 5 kids across the United States these last 15 months. Some folks will tell you that the rigors of 'deputation' is all training for the missionary family and that it toughens you up for the trails you face on the mission field. I say...whatever it is intended for, I'm glad God only put us through 15 months of it. I hope we're "toughened up" cause I'm ready to go!!

As you can imagine, there are a lot of costs associated with moving to another country. Will you help us pray for the remaining funds we need to get things going?

Why?

Why would a 30 something couple uproot their family of seven and move across the Atlantic Ocean? Why would this same couple travel with their children all over the United States to raise support to make that move? Why would their friends and family stand behind them and support such an absurd idea? Well you see, it's not about US at all. It's about HIM and the love that God has placed in our hearts for the people of this world. Not just the American people, but for the Canadian people, for the Nepali people, for the German people, for the Romanian people and of course, for the Portuguese people. This list goes on and on. It's about the Love that God has for these same people. God sent his son Jesus, to suffer and die for the sins of this entire world. Someone has to tell them. We take for granted living in the bible belt, having the Gospel right here on almost every corner. There are countries across this world, that know nothing about this unending Love. Unless someone tells them, they'll never know. I couldn't imagine life without it. How could I expect others to live without it?

"Those poor kids," you might say. Please don't feel sorry for them. Feel sorry for the kids that have no spiritual leadership in their lives. The ones that wander aimlessly through life always searching, but never finding. Sure, our lives are chaotic and hard, but who's aren't? Our children don't have the worlds finest, but they have parents who know how to lead them to a loving God who will provide and protect them for eternity! How blessed they are. How blessed we all are who know Jesus as our personal Savior and realize what is truly important in life.

Christmas Pictures....

Just Some Christmas Pictures....

Michael's Siblings

These are all Michael's siblings. We had a nice time with them. It was the first Christmas in about 5 years that they were all together.

Puppies, Horses and Good Food

The last few days of the year was spent in LaGrange, Georgia where we said our final goodbyes to the dear folks of Living Waters Baptist Church. Bro. Huber and Ms. Emily invited us over for lunch and horse back riding. Between the good food, horses and puppies the girls were thrilled and exhausted at the end of the day.

Sand

Here is a short video clip showing the type of sand found on the beaches of Povoa de Varzim, Portugal.