What are we doing?

Since we arrived here last April from having Elaina we have had one thing that we have constantly been praying about. What is God's plan for us here? When we first arrived we were very excited and ready to get started. The question was how and when. We thought at first that we would not need to learn Estonian immediately but quickly realized that was needed. So we enrolled in language school again. We still were very eager to get started but still no real direction so we continued to pray.

We had heard from a friend at the church we were attending that there was an Estonian church planter who may be interested in working with us. We continued to pray. Justin was invited by another church planter here to attend the church planter meetings that many of the church planters in this area attend to discuss with one another the happenings and their ministries. He began to go to these regularly usually once a month. The person who invited him was the church planter we had been told about before that possibly would want to work with us. So the more Justin got to know him they decided to meet and discuss the opportunities for us to work together.

He has a church in the Lasnamäe region of Estonia. This region has about 112,000 people living in it. The church they have is four years old and has been having home groups, children's club and youth outreaches. It is called the Lasnamäe Lootuse Kogudus (Lasnamäe Hope Church). They have a handful of members. They are very eager to reach their people for Christ. They need more workers. They had asked us what our plans were. We really had no answer other than we want to do God's will and help them in any way that we can. We do not want to take over or do our own thing. That to us would defeat the purpose of us being here. After all we believe that the goal of missions is for the native people to be able to effectively be able to reach their own people. The people at the church seem open minded and happy to work together. One of the ladies said "We can be a team then that is great!".

I feel as if I need to be honest with you. We have had many times here where we have felt as if may be we made a mistake in coming here. We feel at times as if we can not be used here. We have been down at times. I feel that you need to know this because I need to be real with you. I know we are not the only missionaries in the world, or people in the world, that have had doubts about God's calling on their life. Sometimes we feel like our lives would be easier and better for the kids in America. I struggle with homeschooling and feel that I do not do as good of a job as a certified teacher would. It is something I am having to really work on. So we have a choice to make daily. Either we submit our lives to God and be transparent to our needs and desires in order for Him to show us His will for us, or we can be defeated and depressed and unused. So we choose to submit daily to God. It is not always easy but He blesses it every time. He loves us and wants what is best for us. We just have to learn to listen and that is what I am personally working on at this time in my life. So I am sorry if this was a little too real for you to get a real glimpse into our lives but I feel it is necessary. I am not perfect but God is and where I am weak He is strong!!

We feel God has led us to this church for a reason. We do not know fully what our role will be there but we are committed to do God's will and be available to do whatever He asks us to. We are excited to be able to start working alongside the Estonian people for Christ. Please pray that we will continue to seek God and His guidance daily. Pray for the planning of the camps this summer as we have a team coming in July. Pray for the church to be able to find a more permanent meeting place that is available to them all week. We are helping look for a place now and we need God's guidance to find the right place for the church.

Thank you for all of the prayers and support. We love you all and would love to hear from you!

Elaina's first birthday

We went to America unexpectedly on the 24 of January. We went to be with my family due to my grandma being very ill from her cancer. She passed away while we were on our flight there. It was a very hard time for me and my family. She had lived with us since I was a baby. It was especially hard for my mom, aunts, and sisters. She is in Heaven now and pain and cancer free praise God. I had a wonderful time with my family and really did not want to leave. Being there made me see how much I had missed the past two years. It made me feel guilty for not being there to help my mom as she went through this for the past two years. I know that my mom and grandma both understand why we are here. I know that they do not harbor any hard feelings for us being here. I miss them though in a very real way. So not getting to say goodbye to memaw was very hard, but I will see her again in Heaven and I can not wait! The time with my family I will cherish we shared many good time over the two weeks we were there.



While we were in America we were able to celebrate Elaina's first birthday a little early. It was a huge blessing to share her first birthday with our family because we do not get to do that often. It was a little last minute planning but everyone was able to come except one of my sisters and her family. We missed them and wished we could have seen more of them but with a busy family it is hard and we understood. Over all we had a very good visit. We are glad we went home to be with my family. Thank you Jim and Joyce for letting us invade your home yet again.