Update from South Carolina

So here we are, wrapping up our final weeks here in South Carolina.  We've been here for over a month now and the Lord has shown Himself true and faithful once again.  Leaving Indiana was so much harder than we ever thought it would be.  While we knew we were only leaving for a few months, the reality of the fact that soon it will be for a few years seemed to sink in so much more.  Yet at the same time we are struggling with being patient because we are not there yet.  Funny how our brains work sometimes. 

One of my biggest struggles in this adventure was how our kids will be effected.  Yet I can see again, how His ways are always just what they need.  It shouldn't surprise me that when I cannot understand or see the whole picture but continue to step in obedience, that is when some of the greatest blessings await.

Spending time with my family has been good.  This will be the first time for our kids to celebrate the Holidays with them down here.  Saying goodbye to our family back home was so hard and yet saying goodbye to the family here will be equally as hard.  We could easily look at the blessings of family and friends and see the heartache that comes with not being able to be with them whenever we wish or we can learn to be thankful for the times that we do get together.  I am thankful for this time with our family. Thankful for today.

We knew we had family awaiting us in South Carolina so in the realization of our need for friends as well, I often spoke of the friends we had yet to meet ...as a little pep talk to the kids and to myself.  I am still amazed at how He has supplied them.  In looking for an opportunity to share in one specific church I stumbled upon a homeschool co-op.  This was on my list of things to do but I had yet to pursue it.  God led me to this wonderful group of friends.  Lucas and Lilly have really enjoyed their time with them.  And then there's all the bible studies we've been invited to.  I could mention them all by name but the Lord has been so generous that it would create quite a long list.  :)  And all the while the awareness of Project Manuelito is spreading and the team is growing!

As we headed out to Georgia and then on to Florida we couldn't help but have great anticipation for what the Lord had planned for this time.  We found ourself in Georgia because of a mission celebration and had an opportunity to share there.  Lilly made a wonderful friend, Aubree.  From there we went on to Florida to share with a church in Sebring.  One of the greatest parts of this time was in watching the retirees that came to the mission celebration and then those in Avon Park, which is where we stayed in Fl.  They have so much wisdom about life.  This time helped me to realize more the importance of spending time with our grandparents and how much I have taken them for granted. You might find this odd, but it seems that the crowd of friends that Max and Jacob seem to be attracting are the elderly men.  One man seemed to just click with them and they had some great conversations on fishing.  Jacob even found himself in one service with one man pretty much in his lap...not that he had time to think about it but he did catch him and help break his fall.

Through this journey I have seen our kids grow leaps and bounds in their faith and trust in God.  They have made so many comments about "seeing" God in this more than they ever have before!

Once again we have found ourselves wondering what is next. Our team is not complete yet and we are still in need of monthly commitments.  So we are waiting on the Lord to reveal to us where He wants us to be. We will have an early Christmas with the family here and then we will be back in Indiana in time for Christmas with them.  What is after that remains unknown for now.  Please join us in prayer that the Lord will show us where we are to be.  Everything in me wants to begin making plans, doing the "responsible thing" but the Lord has chosen to remain quiet on this for now.  I know that he will show us in His time and until then I suppose we should be in great anticipation for what is next.  I should remind myself of how he has worked in our lives already...knowing that when we don't understand and are unable to see the whole picture, great blessings await if we continue to step in obedience.

Oh, and I guess I should add something about our kids' schooling since some of you have been wondering how that is going.  Our school day is pretty much the same as it was in Indiana, only now they have Joe to help with some of the subjects.  Jacob and Max have really appreciated Joe's taking over of their Chemistry class and they all have benefited from his leadership in our Bible class.  They're plugging right along and have had some pretty cool field trips too! :)

 

Gettysburg

St. Simons Island, Georgia