Ezra likes climbing on the bins

We are moving out of the apartment we have been staying in for the last four months.  The plan is to live with family and enjoy some quality time with them for the next month before we leave for Senegal.  As we move out of our apartment we are trying to fit our life into seven bags.  We ask for you to pray with us during this time of transition for our little family.  Let us know how we can be in prayer for you too!  We know life is not easy and we all have ways God is teaching us to trust and grow in Him.

The view from our apartment

Here we go, taking our little guys with us to Africa!

WE PURCHASED TICKETS TO AFRICA!!!  The feelings that are rushing through our minds as we look at our ONE WAY tickets to Africa are excitement, feeling overwhelmed, and long term plans finally coming to fruition.  Over the last year of raising a team of partners to reach the unreached with the gospel we have been hit by the fact that we are only playing a small part in God’s master plan to reach the world for Christ.  We praise God that we have reached 80% pledged support and are trusting God to raise the rest before we leave.  Thank you to all who have been supporting, praying and encouraging us on our journey.

Our little family!

Silas at 8 weeks. We were trying to take a passport picture : )

After the holidays, we made a few contacts in Senegal and confirmed that we can proceed with a March departure date.  Wow, that is only about two months away!  We promptly realized that there is a COLOSSAL mountain of tasks to accomplish before we leave.  Monday rolled around and we hit the ground running, looking into plane tickets, picked up Silas’ birth certificate, applied for our boys’ passports, and crossed off a slew of other things on our “to do list.”  Every day our pages of “to do list” seems to grow, but we are making head way.  There are days of feeling overwhelmed (to say the least) and days of progress and extreme excitement to what lies ahead.  Right now we cannot do all of this on our own strength or time (especially with two little boys keeping us very busy).  God sure has a way of reminding us of our continual need for him in every stage of life!

Ezra and Silas

Del with our good friends, Craig, Mary, and their daughter Clara who live in Maryland

Over the weekend I, (Del) visited a church in Maryland, to explore with the elders and pastor, the possibility of being supported by their church.  After a couple meetings with the pastor and a few elders, they decided to support us!  It is awesome to be a small part of what God is doing to reach the unreached with the gospel.  My wife and I have the privilege of seeing God work in amazing ways as He raises up a team of people to support and pray for us in our venture to West Africa.  I’m reminded of Proverbs 16:9, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Eating dinner at Craig and Mary's house

Being supported by a church in Maryland was certainly not on my radar.  But God knew and had greater plans. I love the illustration of how, as believers, we are all tools intended for use in the spread of the gospel.  It is not the tool who receives the praise, but the person using the tool.  Same with us as we and others allow God to use us, as his tools, for the furtherance of the gospel, God receives the praise because He is doing it.  As God’s tool, are you allowing him to use you as He intended?

Ezra and D'Arcy on Thanksgiving day

Whenever Ezra sees a turkey he says, “gobble, gobble.”  Ezra was thankful for turkey and delicious food this Thanksgiving.  In light of Thanksgiving we asked ourselves, what are we thankful for?

Ultimately we are thankful, “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” I Cor. 15:3b-4

It is on the basis of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection that we can be thankful

Great Gandpa Frank and Silas

this season and all through the year.  We deserve death for our sins, but Christ died in our place, was buried, and rose to life.  Now we too have new life in Christ.  We give God thanks because our source of life rests in Him and not us.  We thank God for blessing us with two sons, Ezra and Silas, and both sides of our families!  We also thank God for all of you who are supporting us in what God is doing through us.

Uncle Ben and Silas

Delicious Glutten Free Thanksgiving Meal

Silas

Arielle, Del, Ezra, Sara, Mikayla, Zach, and Ellie

Yesterday we said farewell to Zach and Sara who are dear friends of ours.  We have known Zach and Sara for a long time, and we went through missionary training with them!  It was a little sad to see them go, but we are thrilled to know why they are going.  We know that God will be using them in amazing ways as they trust him.  As Arielle, Ezra, and I walked from our car to say good bye it was crazy to think we will be doing the same thing when we leave for Senegal in about 5 months!

Highlights:

-TJ’s visit from Florida (He left today)

-Lily is staying for Arielle’s birth

-Enjoying our new apartment

-Del has one more Sunday of teaching Ephesians for Sunday School at our home church

After 5000 feet of elevation climb, we decided to do a little rock climbing for a good photo...TJ and Del

5,000 feet of elevation climb, 11+ miles of hiking, and all in 7 ½ hours made for two tired men.  TJ (my brother in law) and I (Del) took one adventurous hike through Yosemite National Park.  As we hiked a wide variety of trails we saw incredible views of mountain tops, valleys, and beautiful water falls.  It was absolutely incredible and

TJ on a trail with switch backs that led us 3,200 feet to the valley floor!

breathe taking.  Although exhausted by the end of the day, we came away amazed at God and his creation.  It was refreshing to be reminded that the God who made all of this is the same God guiding and leading us on our venture to reach the people of West Africa.

“Your love, O Lord, reaches to the

TJ looking over a 1,500-2,000 foot cliff. Incredible!!!

heavens, your faithfulness to the skies.  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the great deep.  O Lord you preserved both man and beast.  How priceless is your unfailing love!  Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” –Psalms 36:5-7

beautiful view!

View as we hiked down to the valley floor

Arielle, Sarah, Bobby, and Del

On Saturday, October 15, Bobby and Sarah were united in marriage.  What a beautiful event that took place this last week end!  We enjoyed listening to the toasts during the reception!  During the toasts many people said Bobby is a man of genuine character who knows that it is much better to experience life “together.”  Sarah was said to be able to light up a room with her joyful heart and beaming smile.  It was a beautiful wedding, a perfect ceremony, and a day we will never forget—and Bobby and Sarah won’t either! J   We praise God for how well they fit each other.

Ezra and his cousin Ava from Florida

All the cousins together, Ava, Ezra, and Bella!

Ezra's room in our new apartment

Our little family two weeks before Arielle's due date

Had fun surfing and boogie boarding with the guys

Over the past week and a half we looked at apartments, found one we liked, signed papers, moved in, and in between celebrated Del’s 27th birthday and Bobby’s bachelor party.  Last night was our first night in our new “home.”  We are excited to call this home for the next several months.  Now, to unpack!

On Friday Del celebrated his birthday with a yummy cake and lots of dear friends and family.  We consider it a privileged to spend time with people we love so much!

Last weekend Del along with five other guys celebrated Bobby’s bachelor party.  It was celebrated at the coast with steak, clam chowder, games, and a little surfing.  We are all very excited about Bobby’s wedding this week.

Bobby's last week as a single man!

Arielle with our growing baby at 35 weeks

Delicious Chacolate Cake for Del's Birthday

Mormor and Del

Arielle made yummy cinnamon rolls for Del's b-day

Our African outfits

This last Sunday was the first time we spoke at a church in the last 8 months.  We are thankful for this opportunity and encouraged to see God continue to raise our support.  It is also exciting to see God opening up new opportunities to speak at churches in our community.

On a side note:

-Ezra received his first hair cut from “mom” this week

-Arielle is now 35 weeks!

-Ezra tried out his new suit for Bobby’s wedding.  He looks good!!!

Ezra's outfit for Bobby's wedding

Arielle giving Ezra his first hair cut

Ezra all finished with his first hair cut!