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

The family we stayed with over the week end: Toby, Stefanie, Abigail and Elijah.

Its hard to believe another week has gone by!  The hustle and bustle of life continues to increase with each week Del is home.  This past week, we were privileged to present our ministry with two families.  One of our meetings took us to the coast for the week end.  What a blessing to reconnect, be spoiled, rest a little, and enjoy good fellowship.  It was an excellent weekend besides Arielle and Ezra having colds.

Upcoming:

-Arielle’s due date is sneaking up on us.  Nov. 2:  Only 6 1/2 weeks away.  Wow!

-Del is teaching Ephesians at Auberry Community Church for the next 6 weeks!

-Del’s brother Bobby will get married in about a month.

*Pray for us as we continue to present our ministry that God would be preparing the way and provide new supporters.

Craig and I made it home safe and had a great trip together!

One hot muggy afternoon in Dakar, with sweat rolling down our foreheads, Craig and I sat with a fellow missionary and a local pastor.  This pastor shared from his heart, while the missionary translated, about what God was doing in his life, in his Church, and in Senegal.  His story began with a handful of believers that grew, matured, and in turn planted two churches.  One of these planted

We stayed here with the Rabe family while in Senegal. Thank you!

churches planted two other churches.  The pastor said their desire is to plant a third church by 2015.  When people ask how all this is accomplished he says, “We do everything by prayer.”  Once every month the church members pray 24 hours a day for seven days on behalf of their church and the up coming outreaches.  He said, “God is at work among the people of Senegal.”

Del, the pastor from the story I shared in this blog, and Craig

What joy and treasure there is in knowing Jesus and seeing God expand His church in Senegal and around the world.  However, upon returning from Senegal the American Dream threatens the truth of the gospel by saying “stuff” will bring you joy and not only Jesus.  “Stuff” will never bring joy, only Jesus can bring true joy.  The gospel reminds us to put off these temporary desires that consume the

Eating a meal African style, out of one dish : )

infinitely greater joy and treasure of knowing God.  I’ve heard it said, God never calls us to leave something good for something worse, he always calls us to something far superior.

Pray for us as a family, for those who will support what God is doing through us, and us as God’s church, that we would consider God’s call on our lives to totally abandon our dreams in order to unearth

Sharing my testimony with a church in Dakar. It was translated into two other languages

“…the infinite treasure of knowing and experiencing him.” (Quote from David Platt, “Radical”).

Eating dinner with a missionary family

Delicious and fresh mangos!

The man in the middle is who the story is about.

Greetings from Senegal!  My friend Craig and I arrived in Senegal a week ago.  There has been a whirlwind of activity every day since arriving.  Although many stories could be told, there is one in particular that I want to share with you.  On Saturday we woke up at 2 am and traveled 14 hours to visit a village where New Tribes Mission is working.  It is a unique situation as there are a handful of believers from

The group who went on the trip to the village

this people group who were already meeting before New Tribes arrived.  These few believers are now working with the missionaries to help see their people come to know God.  One man in particular was out past dark talking and sharing with us.  He proceeded to tell us that when we arrived home that night his parents would ask why he was out at night.  You may think this is no big deal, but for them this is

Del with a few kids in the village

huge!  These people are typically afraid of the dark because of the spirits that are out at night.  If you go out at night they believe bad things could happen to you.  They even send spirits to try and keep people from going out at night.  But he said, he is no longer afraid of the dark, or these spirits that could harm him.  The gospel has transformed his life and given him joy, freedom, and all because of a relationship with God!

My (Del) friend Craig with some kids from the village

Thank you for your prayers thus far and continue to pray for us this next week.  Pray that we would be sensitive to learn what God wants to teach us.

Stopped for breakfast on the way back to Dakar

Del

We covet your prayers!  In regards to Del’s two week Senegal visit at the end of August you can be praying in the following ways:

-Opportunities to connect with and begin relationships with African brothers and sisters in Christ

-A glimpse beyond the differences that sometimes overshadow the many similarities that exist

-Health

-Safety

-Humility

-Opportunities to let my passion for people shine through

-An excitement to be a part of what God is doing in West Africa

-Wisdom and direction for a friend who is praying and thinking about going to Senegal with Del.

Del and Ezra

After a great deal of prayer, thought, many conversations, and wise council we decided to have Del visit Senegal for a two week trip at the end of August.  Our main objectives are to see what life might possibly be like, visit missionaries, visit local church leaders, and gain a vision for what God is doing in West Africa and how we might fit into it.  We are thrilled to hear the leadership in West Africa will make this trip

Arielle next to the ocean

profitable as possible.  We continue to be encouraged by the positive response from people as we tell them about the trip.  In our excitement, we also value the wisdom from seasoned missionaries who say the information and experiences acquired on such a trip will be surface level at best.  With this caution in mind we still feel that such a trip will be worthwhile.  We are excited about the more tangible contact with the

Del and Arielle at the coast

people of Africa who have been on our hearts for a while.  We are both really excited about this opportunity.

Pray for the planning process that God would open just the right opportunities as plans are made for this trip.

Pray for this to be a beneficial trip in God’s eyes and not just ours.

Pray that Del would be able to adapt and

Ezra thoroughly enjoying a peach!!!

encourage those he comes in contact with even though it is such a short trip.

Pray that Arielle would have strength spiritually and physically to take care of Ezra for two weeks while being pregnant.

Five years ago on July 8^th, 2006 I married my high school sweetheart.  When we first met my freshman year of high school, I thought to my self, “She is way out of my league.” But God is gracious and gives good gifts.  Psalm 16:2, “I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.”  Arielle has been one of those good things from God.  She challenges me in my walk with God and helps point me back to what is most important.  Even through difficult times, she has a soft heart and is quick to turn back to God.  Therefore, today I especially thank God for the privilege of going through life with my beautiful bride of five years, Arielle!

Prayer Request:  We are looking for a place to rent.  Pray God provides just the right place.  Also if you are in the Fresno area and know of any good renting options we would love to hear about them.

The family : )

Ezra’s first birthday party was a hit!  Everyone especially liked his new T-shirt that read, “I’m the big brother”…Yup!  Arielle is 19 weeks pregnant!

Baby Grifflet #2 is on the way! We are thrilled to announce that Arielle is expecting and the baby is due November 2^nd.  We are delighted to have another baby on the way and praise God for this new little life.  Obviously this changes our plans.  God seems to be teaching us about change as it has been a theme in our lives

Arielle at 19 weeks

recently.  Originally, we were going to move to Africa in September; then, we decided to wait for Bobby’s (Del’s brother) wedding in October.  Now, we will wait about 4 months after the arrival of Grifflet #2 to make sure the baby is healthy and strong.  Then, Lord willing, we will move to Senegal in March 2012.  Once in Senegal, French language study will be our main focus, which is the trade language of all four countries New Tribes Mission is focusing on in West Africa – Senegal, Guinea, Ivory Coast, and Burkina Faso.

For five straight months we had the privilege of staying in one place, Del’s brother’s house.  What a blessing!  Now, we are on the move and will be house sitting till the end of July.  After that we are trusting God with a place to stay.  Our time these days is filled with phone calls, emails, studying French on Rosetta Stone, reading up on Africa, presenting our ministry, and other various tasks.

Ezra exploring the out doors walking!

We praise God as our support level is increasing and is now at 54% of our recommended support for West Africa! We are over half way done raising support!  It has been especially encouraging seeing God opening doors for us to share our ministry.  God truly is the one moving and working through His people!  If you know any friends, family, co-workers, small groups or churches who you think may be interested in hearing about our ministry, please let us know.  We would love to meet with them and see what God does from there.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  James 1:17

Ezra on top of the car with the car top carrier–ready to move!

The glare of my cell phone

Once again the cell phone glares back at me and reminds me of all the people I need to call.  Every couple days I (Del) have a list of people to call in order to set up appointments.  I am making these contacts with people to see if they want to meet with us and hear about how they can be involved in reaching those who have never heard the gospel in West Africa.  The process is some times intimidating as I don’t know everybody I’m calling especially well.  As nervousness often sets in, I am reminded why I am calling people: so people can hear the Good News in their language-THIS is motivation!

Ezra systimatically eating his eggs from his left to right

Ezra playing with Bobby's remote

Arielle's pancake : ) We still love each other even after almost 5 years!

Del : ) Pray for me as I make phone calls

Del and Ezra watching the rain

The days keep rolling by and the time to leave keeps coming closer and closer.  We continue to make phone calls, emails, and this last Sunday Del spoke at a youth group. We purchased a book that arrived in the mail yesterday called, “African Friends and Money Matters.”  We hear it is an excellent book about the African culture and how they view money and friendships.  If we read any good insights, well let you know.  Thanks for keeping up with us! Continue to pray that God would be raising up people to partner/invest in our

Ezra helping out in the fridge ; )

ministry.

Arielle and Ezra in the front yard checking out the grass. Ezra is not sure what he thinks.