Our Junior semester here is quickly coming to a close. We have taken some amazing classes this including core classes: Romans, Ephesians, Pneumatology (study of the Holy Spirit), Soteriology (study of Salvation), Hebrews, Missions in Church History, James/Jude, Family Relationships, Galatians, 1&2 Peter, and 2 Corinthians as well as other electives. It has been a challenging but wonderful semester!

There's been so much going on I really don't know where to start. Can I just be real? My brain hurts. I don't know where to go with this post. I have so much swirling around in my mind that I'm having a hard time just resting in God. I know the struggles we are experiencing are only temporary and it frustrates me that I let things get to me. My eternal perspective is sucking right now. Would it be crazy to say that I am so grateful for what God is teaching me in this? Man, this makes me all the more thankful for Christ.

Something crazy:
Many of you know that we don't have any legal rights to Avery. Our lawyer dropped the case last December. We haven't had a birth certificate or anything for her and have been unable to get healthcare for her because of it. It reached a point where we were both at a loss as to what to do (what do you do when even the lawyer can't get ahold of a birth certificate?). And then an amazing woman with a big heart (Beth if you are reading this, thank you, thank you, thank you... Your heart and love for kids is rare and beautiful) showed up at my bible study (100 percent convinced this was a God thing) and said she dealt with guardianship cases all the time and she could help us. Long story short, we have a home study on Monday at 1 and a court hearing for guardianship on December 12! AND a birth certificate is on the way! God is so good.
We need a lot of prayer to go along with this situation. Once we are guardians we have to apply to foster, and from there we move on to adoption. We cannot leave the state or this house with her until it's final. I suppose this is where a lot of my struggle lies. The amount of money for school and adoption seems unattainable. BUT THATS A LIE! It's not too hard for God. I know that He is in control, and I know that He is good!

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Bottom-line: life is hard but I am thankful for the struggle. I am thankful for a God who cares enough about me to continually pursue me and use these challenges to draw me closer to Him and to conform me to the image of His Son...

James 1:2-4 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

Today marks one year since we packed up and moved to Michigan. What a year it has been! We're so thankful for all that we have learned and are continuing to learn and for all of the wonderful people we have met!

This summer has been busy and full. Our goal was to make enough money for the down payment for the upcoming school year and to visit our church in Pennsylvania. Both goals fell short however and Randy turned down a well paying landscaping job to do some much needed work with the maintenance department at the bible school. Financially it may not look like the best choice but if working for the school enables more people to come and soak up God's Word and take it to unreached people than the eternal value of this decision reaches far beyond any amount of money he could have made doing something else. What a blessing and privilege it is to be used by God. As for the money for school, we aren't concerned. We are fully trusting that God will provide.

a little bit of what Randy is working on

I (Jen), have enjoyed having my kids home from school (I really miss homeschooling). We've used the time at parks and playgrounds and free splash pads. Jackson has a decent amount of cheap/free things to do. The kids have had fun reconnecting with some good buddies who moved here from Pennsylvania. I love these guys...

 

I've also enjoyed the break and ability to get involved in our church here. At the beginning of the summer I asked God to help me love these people like He does and let me tell you.... He changed my heart.   Being a newer church there are still a lot of ministry opportunities available and I felt that God was really putting college age girls on my heart as an area to focus on. After giving my fears, nerves and insecurities over to God I decided to move forward in faith and start leading a small group specifically for 18-25 year old women. All I can say is wow....God is good. These girls are amazing and have touched me and impacted my life more then they will ever realize. This has probably been the highlight of my summer. If I could ask for prayer in this area I would truly appreciate it. Leading has shown me a new level of my own need and dependence on God... I am nothing, He is everything... Pray that these ladies would allow God to keep working in their lives and that they would grow bold in their faith and become a beacon of light in the community here. Good stuff...


How about you guys? We'd love to hear how God is working in your lives and how we can be praying for you. Please don't hesitate to send me a message! Thank you so much for your support and prayers.

It's April!!!! How did that happen?!? And where is spring? I can't wait for good warm weather here. We had that little teaser a few weeks ago and enjoyed every minute of it. For those of you who don't know, we LOVE to disc-golf. It's kinda become our family thing. The kids all do great with it and it's good, free, fun outside. We'd love to hit as many of the courses in Michigan as we possibly can in the next year we have here.

 

 Let's see.... Avery is finally, really, walking now and her hair is growing like crazy. What do you girl Momma's out there do for all this hair in the face? And when she eats... it's gross. She's always putting food in her hair, she needs a bath after every meal... BUT she's ridiculously cute so she's got that going for her.

 

 

 

My little guys were so excited to get Mohawks! These 2 have never had them before. My big guys used to have them but when we applied for them to go to school at the charter school we had to grow their hair out again to meet school rules, they ask regularly when they will be allowed to have them again. Maybe we'll make it a last-day-of-school hair cutting party...

 

 

 

 

Let's see.... classes this semester have been wonderful. We've taken Theology, Anthropology/Hamartiology, Christology, Prophets, Life of Christ, Hermeneutics II and Acts, as well as few other electives and then Bible Basis of Missions and 1 Corinthians starting up here soon too. God is continuing to mold us and shape us and we are so thankful for His gentle and loving persistence and guidance. There are moments when everything ahead seems daunting. We hear stories of missionaries losing loved ones, dealing with kids and malaria, hostile tribal groups, being away from family for years at a time, etc. Then we take a deep breath, refocus on the eternal, not the temporary, and know that we are currently where we are meant to be and God's plan for our future can be trusted. He is always faithful.

 

I know a lot of you may have different views on things then we do so I'm just going to put this right here. I had to write a 5 minute run-down of my testimony for a class at the beginning of the school year. It's basically what brought me to this point so here ya go:

 

My Testimony 

I was raised in a Christian family. I grew up going to church. I could sing “Jesus Loves Me” and mean it with my whole heart. When I was 4 I stole a toy from the church nursery. It was then that I learned that I was a sinner. I knew it was easy to make bad choices and hurt people that loved me. In AWANA I learned that everybody sins and that it separates us from God. My parents taught me about Jesus and told me that He paid the penalty for my sins when He died on the cross. He died so that I wouldn’t have to live separate from God anymore. I could have a real relationship with Him. All I had to do was believe. When I was 5 I made the choice to put my trust in Jesus, knowing that nothing I could do would ever be good enough and I needed a Savior. It was the best decision I ever made.

            While all of this may sound like just a child’s decision it is something that has impacted and changed my life greatly. Things haven’t been all neat and tidy and trusting in Jesus didn’t take all my problems away. I’ve still had to deal with many difficult situations. My son was hospitalized when he was only 13 months old. The doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong with him and after testing and spinal taps they basically gave up and said they weren’t sure if he’d make it. He had to learn to walk again but thankfully he pulled through. It was so hard to see him that way and feel so powerless to help.

When he was 18 months he was scalded down his left leg by water. He spent a week in the burn unit and we had to go through investigations with Children and Youth Services before we were allowed to bring him home. Although they said it was standard procedure for burns it was still hard to feel like I was being accused of intentionally harming my little boy.

 A few years after that my husband had an affair. The man who had made a vow to love only me had been unfaithful. I felt alone and lost and really confused. Yet through all of that God WAS and still IS faithful. He gave me the strength to get up every morning when I felt like nobody cared. He helped me forgive my husband for betraying me and is still continuing to work in my life, putting the pieces of my heart back together.

Through all of these experiences I have learned so much more about who God is and who I am to Him. He’s been the rock that keeps me grounded when my world feels like it’s falling apart. I am so thankful for His grace and mercy in my life and for the hope that I have in Him. Without Him I don’t know where I’d be.

So there you have it. It's a quick rundown and I know that this may cause other questions to come up. We are open to questions about anything and everything, God, kids, life, marriage.... and for the record (just cuz it bothers me to leave it like this... ) My husband is not the man he used to be. God has transformed his heart and changed him beyond anything I thought was possible.... He is such a blessing to me.

 

 

 

 

We have officially finished our freshmen semester here at NTBI! I can't believe we'll be sophomores in January... I cannot say enough how amazing this experience has been. We are so blessed.
The last few weeks of school were pretty busy with finals and reading and homework. I meant to get to this sooner but it just didn't happen. We are now enjoying a bit of a break from the craziness. The kids have a full 2 week break from school as well. Randy has been working at the tree farm quite a bit. They have been very good to us there. On Friday we took the kids there and they all got cookies, hot chocolate and an ornament. Boy did they pick some ugly ones.... I love it. It just goes to show that it doesn't take much to please a child.  Lucas picked a pink felt birdhouse ornament. He was so excited about it that he had to sleep with it that night. It reminds me of the "working woman" keychain I got for my Dad when I was in kindergarten...

 

After that we went to the Nite Lights in Jackson. The little guys are especially excited about all of the Christmas lights this year. Then we had our weekly smoothie night. They all love this. Fridays have become their favorite night of the week.

 

 

Then we have this little girl.... she will not walk. She refuses. I know she is capable, she stands in one place just fine for long periods of time... and if she's barely touching my hand she will walk... She'll get there. In her own time.

 

 

 

Ok time to get serious... what am I learning here????


It's one thing to know something, but something completely different to KNOW something.... and while that may sound like a ridiculous statement I am learning the truth of it in our time here. Having the head knowledge is not the same as having the heart knowledge. Growing up in a Christian family  I learned when I was a little girl that Jesus loves me... and as much as I hate to say it, it's a truth that I took for granted. I've had God in a box.... I'm learning that I need to be conformed to God's ways and not conform God to my ways of thinking. There are so many things in this life that I don't understand. Things that I am still struggling with from our past and even though I can't be given the answers for the suffering I can rest in the fact that God is good, and He can use ME with all of my brokenness, imperfections, and failures for the ultimate purpose of glorifying Him. And for that I am thankful.

Thanks for your continued support and prayers. Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

I kept getting sidetracked while attempting to update this month so this is a few different dates....

October 29, 2015
Another month has gone by and we are comfortably in the swing of things! Our little guys have been sick (coughs and fevers) but I hear it's going around. Thankfully I'm able to live stream the classes from the house so I'm not missing anything. They're good to the moms on campus....

So, I'm feeling overwhelmed this morning. Not in a bad way! Just overwhelmingly blessed. Lucas is laying on the kitchen counter singing twinkle, twinkle little star at the top of his lungs. I love his little voice. Bentley is making an obstacle course of shoes across the play area and keeps yelling "ready, set, GO" to Avery who just sits there clapping and smiling at him. I don't think she gets what he's wanting her to do. But seriously!!!! Who am I that God would bless me with 6 little lives? It's such an awesome responsibility.

 

November 3, 2015

 

I can't believe this beautiful weather we've had! It's hard to believe it's November already. We are enjoying the time outside when the kids get out of school. Taking  advantage of every minute!

 

 

November 8, 2015

 

Yesterday was a pretty interesting day. For my (Randy) Islam class a bunch of students got to go and see a ministry program to Muslims in Dearborn. We got to go to a mosque and speak with an Imam (which is like a priest for Muslims) and ask him questions about his faith and how its different than other religions, what makes it the right religion, etc. It was really an eye opening experience for the class to see how quickly this religion is spreading and the real threat it poses to believers and Christianity as a whole. Afterwards we got to spend time speaking with missionaries and eating Lebanese food which I thought was pretty amazing! Its crazy to think there is a completely different world so close to where we both grew up. 

 

 

And I (Jen) had the privilege of volunteering at Community Bible Church's Annual Day of Hope. This year they provided haircuts, medical services, coats, boots and shoes, handmade blankets, hats and scarves, lunch, and gift bags full of essential paper products all free to those in need in the surrounding community. I was serving in the coat/boot/shoe room. It was a lot of fun getting to meet new people and help little kids try on coats and find shoes that would fit them. Two things:

-One little girl in particular was so excited to find a pair of boots with fur on them in her size. She was probably about 7 years old and went on to say that "a girl can never have too much fur". Her Mom was the sweetest lady and so thankful for the help. She talked about how their house is really cold in the winter and they have to stay bundled up  to keep warm enough.

-My Mom was working in the sewing room making pillowcases. A little girl asked what they were and after she was told she said "oh, I don't have a pillow".... ugh, that is so sad. It's one thing to know that there is a need somewhere but then when you are faced with it and you see and hear people's stories and struggles it's just hard to not have the power to help everyone.

Anyway, pray for the people that came through those doors....

 

 

 

 

Well, that's it for now. Time to move on to my homework. Thank you for your love, support and prayers!





 





 

Well, it's been longer then I intended but life has gotten crazy busy! We are loving every minute of it. Not really sure where to start since so much has gone on this past month.... Let's just break it down:

The kids:
 The kids started school at Paragon Charter Academy. Brandon is in 5th grade, Coben is in 3rd grade and Jacob is in Kindergarten. They are all enjoying it. The teachers are wonderful, the principal is great. We couldn't ask for a better school really. Brandon is playing soccer this year with the co-ed 5th-8th grade school team. I kinda have a big crush on the assistant coach (wink, wink.... yea, ok, it's Randy).

Football game with some neighbor kids. 18 kids in 4 houses!

The 3 littles have classes from 9-12 everyday. Bentley and Lucas are working on letters and colors (I have art work hanging all over. I LOVE it!) and Avery is just busy playing with the other babies her age (including one little girl who is only 1 day older then her!) and finally getting some chompers in there! Growing teeth is hard work.

Best place to eat a snack is sitting in the toybox!

Randy and I:
We have classes and homework everyday. Love, Love, Love, getting into the Word and learning more about the incredible God we serve. It is such a privilege to be able to do this. We've had the chance to meet a few missionary families and are trying to take the opportunity to pick their brains a bit to see how everything works and get a feel for what's ahead.  Anyone interested in learning more about where we are going with this should check out the New Tribes Mission facebook page. As of right now we would love to go into tribal mission work but will ultimately go wherever God leads.

music around a campfire- LOVE this!

Prayer Requests:

-That we would find time to juggle all of our responsibilities wisely
-For God's continued guidance as we seek to follow Him
-For the future, for God's provision and His will to be done here
-Can I ask for prayer for my never-ending laundry pile?!?!?!? Yikes....

If you have questions for us don't hesitate to ask. We are open books. Our story up to this point has been a bit rocky and our past is not so pretty but God is faithful... so faithful through everything...

When we decided to follow God's leading on this crazy adventure one of my immediate thoughts was "how in the world are we going to be able to feed our children?" Let me just tell you that taking care of a family this size is not a cheap task... The truth is we are not the providers here... BUT GOD IS! He is able to do far more abundantly beyond what we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20). Since moving in our cupboards have been full, people have made us various breads, snacks and cookies, the school has passed out extra food to married students and local churches have brought food in for all married students as well. It is so beautiful to see the body of Christ working the way that it should... and also humbling to be on this end of it.

We know that some people do not understand our decision to give up what we had in Pennsylvania, or the choice made to quit Randy's career. However, we are fully confident that this is where we are supposed to be. David Platt (author of Radical) puts it this way:

"I wonder at some points if I'm being irresponsible or unwise. But then I realize there is never going to come a day when I stand before God and he looks at me and says, 'I wish you would've kept more for yourself'. I'm confident God will take care of me."

That is a great book for anyone looking to add to their reading list! With that I am signing off. Orientation starts early tomorrow and it's time for bed. We look forward to sharing how God provides in the days ahead.

Ooooooooo but I like this too......

"Jehovah-Jireh" (meaning the Lord will provide) is probably a good central theme for what we are experiencing here in Jackson, Michigan. I read this statement tonight and it really spoke to me:

"Jehovah-Jireh is not “The LORD Did Provide,” but “The LORD Will Provide.” In other words, the name does not simply memorialize a past event; it anticipates a future action."

(http://www.gotquestions.org/Jehovah-Jireh.html)

Love it... How cool is God?!?!