Whirlwind - something that happens very quickly, or a rapid succession of events.

Yep, that sums it up. Our life has been a whirlwind recently, and shows no signs of slowing down. That is OK with me! My mom always tells me I am too busy, I am always doing something and I need to slow down. Yet, that is how I have always been, as long as I can remember. I function better under pressure, moving fast, getting things done and then crashing in the end. In school I was involved in lots of activities while managing high grades. In my different jobs I multi task, I am not happy while idle. So with getting ready to move into support raising mode, our youngest graduating from high school, our other kids moving out on their own, prom, choir shows, awards banquets, birthdays, mothers day, fathers day, we live on a roller coaster. A ride that is preparing us for the next big thing!
Here are a few pictures of our past few weeks. Our lives are not promised to be calm and slow. I yearn for the next adventure (coming soon) and live for the ride we are on now! - Liz

Coffe, Coffee, Coffee!!!

For 50 years I resisted. I didn't like coffee. I didn't need coffee. I didn't want coffee. The flavor was nasty and bitter. It was like drinking a cup of hot steaming tar.
I didn't get the whole coffee thing.
Then a few years ago I started meeting with a couple of friends, Rob Bishop and Raymond Macias, each week. We would meet at Starbucks. At first I would get sparkling water, then it went to a frappuccino, and from there to a Mocha. I figured I'd give this coffee thing a shot. I think I even got to like it.
Then it happened, I went to Andaluz. A Lebanese restaurant right in the middle of Little Arabia in Anaheim. A guy, Samir, ordered Arabic coffee. He put like 2 teaspoons of sugar in this little demitasse cup. I mean this thing looked like mud, no, motor oil, used motor oil. only thinner. It even had the coffee grounds in it. He asked me if I wanted to try it. I thought, "why not?" (By the way, that phrase can get you in a heap of trouble.)
It was awful. Then after a few minutes I started to think about it. I actually said "I think I like that."


Ibrik

Needless to say I bought an Ibrik. And started making Arabic Coffee. I love it.
I even started drinking regular coffee. I love it too. I drink it black with sweetener, no milk or cream. I drink it all day. I love it. I crave it. I want a cup all day long. My day isn't complete until I get a few cups of coffee in me. MMM...COFFEE!!!!!
Wait, did I say coffee? 'Cause what I meant to say was being on the Mission field.
You see, for 50 years I resisted. Didn't like, need or want the mission field. Then I went on a short-term trip to Mexico, then Australia. Then both of those trips again. To the point that I went to Australia every year.
Then it happened, I went to Arizona. I met some of the Apache people from San Carlos. And I was hooked. Now all I desire, all I need, is to go and do life with the Apache people, with Tory and Kara Satter and 3:18 Ministries.
So as soon as God works out the details, finances and a place to live, Liz and I will be moving to Globe Arizona to work with 3:18 Ministries.
If you are ever in Arizona, stop by and have a cup of coffee with me. I would love to sit down and talk over good times and future times with you.

Robert

This is from Paul Estabrooks, Standing Strong Through The Storm.

 TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE COST

As they were walking along the road, a man said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He said to another man, “Follow me.” But he replied, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:57-60

One of the costs of following Jesus is the impact on our children. If we, as parents, try to shelter our children from the cross then we are guilty of the third temptation of Christ. Our children need to understand that there will not be a victorious life in Christ without following the footsteps to the cross. Not around the cross, as we often desire, but through the cross.

A co-worker once asked a Christian in Vietnam how he introduces the gospel in the villages where people have never heard about God. Without hesitating he answered “Oh very easily. I simply say, ‘I have good news for you but it might cost you your life, would you like me to continue?’ People want to hear good news and most of the time they eagerly ask me to tell them. But the introduction is always that there will be a cost involved because for us in Vietnam, being a Christian means a life of self-denial. When they are persecuted and imprisoned they are not surprised. They expect it.”

The co-worker went on to say, “It sometimes amazes me how we find it suitable to counsel our children regarding the costs involved in buying a new bicycle or starting a new hobby but we never sit down and discuss the cost of following Jesus. We need to train our children in no uncertain terms that being ridiculed at school, being rejected and facing mockery, is part and parcel of being a Christian. It comes in as a package and you cannot have the one without the other. We need to train our children to sacrifice; we need to train our children to count the cost; we need to train our children that they do not belong to themselves.

“Our lives are often based on our expectations. If we are confronted with the unexpected, we seldom know how to react. If we neglect to teach and expose our children to the reality of the cross, difficulties will come as a surprise.

“But, once again, if we as parents cannot testify through our lives by being examples of living sacrifices, our teachings will be futile. When was the last time you were ridiculed for the name of Jesus? When was the last time you sacrificed your time and money to work among the lost? When was the last time you sacrificed anything to visit the persecuted church?”

Paul Estabrooks

I hope you enjoyed that,

Robert

What’s next?

The truth is…I don’t know. This is how I am feeling right now. Everyone keeps asking us “what’s next?” How are things progressing? When are you moving?

I have more unanswered questions than I know what to do with. Life is hard. Life has been very hard.  The closer we get to going, the more road blocks, more difficulties, the more hard-hitting things seem to happen to all of us. We are facing some very challenging times in our life right now. How will I handle them? By allowing God to lead me through the darkness. “Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:8-10) While I am not comparing what I am going through to what Paul experienced, I appreciate his words so much. They encourage me in the murkiness. Boasting about my weaknesses is not my strong suit, yet here I am saying I am overwhelmed and feel like I am drowning in this valley.  I also know that there is a hill just on the other side. This is just a season of our lives; we will look back on and praise God for. In fact, I praise Him now for valley, for the darkness, because I know there is a reason, and I can use this to glorify Him. I have been accused of wearing my heart on my sleeve…I guess that is correctJ.

So, in answer to the questions…things are progressing slowly. We are going to start contacting churches/organizations in the next few weeks or so to set up time to share what we are doing. We will be stepping up our e-mail updates and starting to ask for commitments from people to share this journey with us. We need to figure out if/when we or just Robert can travel to these places and meet with people in person while still working at our full time jobs. Somewhere in all this Robert is leading a 2 week trip to Australia for KACC, our youngest is graduating from High School, we are still trying to figure out college, our 2 older kids are trying to find a place to live, we need to do some repairs on our house, possibly try and find a few days for our whole family to get away together for very little cost, …

When are we moving? Soon I pray. We are hoping for September but are leaving the timing in God’s hands. It is depending on answers about College, support raising, renting our house, etc.

What’s next? I don’t know, but I do know who holds our future, and His plans are perfect. Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Liz

I need a vacation!

I just spoke to a man who wants a room for the night. He saw that it's supposed to rain tonight. So he came to me and asked me to pay for a room. As you probably know by now he is a homeless man. I've talked to him before.
He started with the old "I go to this Church" line. That always makes me suspicious...I need a vacation!
Anyway after I told him that we couldn't pay for a room he asked if I knew of anyone who could help. I told him "I'm sorry I don't."...I need a vacation!
I let him know of a church that has had money in the past. He said he knew the place and wanted me to call for him...I need a vacation!
Really? When did it become my job to find this guy a place to stay? Who said I'm supposed to find him a room?...I NEED A VACATION!!
“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’
 “He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’  Matthew 25:44,45
Look, I didn't have the money to help him. OK? I didn't. I had just helped a woman get into a room for a week. Wait, I didn't pay for the week. I mean, I helped with one night's worth. She found the rest on her own. You see she was willing to take part in the process. Isn't that the way it's supposed to work? I mean...DANG!!! I need a vacation!
No, Really. I need a vacation!


I'll do better tomorrow,
I promise,
Robert