The Eye of the Storm

Thank you friend for coming and reading this. If you are here reading this blog then you must be a friend indeed because I have had no margin this last month the blog. I didn't even get our story up for Ms. Wittney. (Sorry Wit)

Check out those people in the picture to the right. We took that picture not so long after arriving here in Portugal 2 years ago. (Sept of 2006) Wow have we changed. The kids are bigger. Our vision of church planting is bigger. The world seems smaller. And time seems to be flying by. Two years is a long time and no time at all. Who were we two years ago? Who are we now? Noah keeps wondering what his friends will say when they see him. I am wondering the same.

Four days from now we will be flying to the States for a 6 week home assignment; 10 days in Texas, 5 days in Colorado and about 4 weeks in California. I feel like there is no way to get everything done here that needs to get done, but I suppose we'll do it some how. Our summer intern, who was going to stay in our house and watch Bingo (our dog), is not going to be able to come. That has put a kink in things. What do you do with a big black Lab for 6 weeks? (Prayer request) We have people visiting Lisbon right now and we have school finishing. We are trying to get the place cleaned-up for some families that are going to stay in the house for a week. We have all the normal get ready to go way for 6 weeks things to do. Plus birthday party's, regular life stuff, emergency pay the car tax stuff because they changed the law and the tax was due in February but who knew that? Blah, blah, blah...This is the whirl wind we are in.

"Mom when I grow-up I want to be a church planter!" Have you ever heard that country western song, "Mama don't let your babies grow-up to be cowboys" ? There is a line in that song that goes, "They're never at home and they're always alone, even with some one they love" I'm not sure the original idea behind those lyrics is what I'm talking about, but as we journey through this missional church planting life, there is an aspect of never at home and always alone...even with those we love.

So USA here we come. Were leaving home for 6 weeks to go home for 6 weeks. We will not be the people who flew to Europe 2 years ago and yet we are still the Farmers. (Will you know us now?)We will be with those we love and far from those we love, knowing that in 6 weeks we will be leaving those we love to return to those we love. Following Jesus has all this contrast; die to live, be the last to be first, to lead you must serve, the least is the greatest, and so on. Lead on Jesus.

If you want to hear about the last two weekends and our prayer retreats, just read the next blog. We can't wait to see you all in the states. See you in a few day, more or less.

Blessings upon Blessings to you