Last week we stayed with our dear friends who are moving to Hawaii in a couple weeks. We spent our days just "doing life" side by side and then stayed up way too late talking and laughing! Those were incredibly blessed days we will never forget! God was so gracious to give them to us!
This week, we're squatting at my sister and brother-in-laws place. The cousins play and fight, while the mommies chat and clean, and the daddies work. It's a joy to share these moments!
Now, on to what you've been waiting for. My official "1 Year Anniversary Post"...(Part 1)
June 1st marked the one year anniversary of our family being in full-time ministry. It's amazing to believe that something that we felt called to and that we prayed for for nearly 10 years finally has come to be. This has been the most challenging, overwhelming, and blessed year of our marriage! Time and time again, God has proved himself faithful...not that He needed to and not because we deserve it, but just because He is faithful! He can be nothing less!
Here is a brief year in review
June 1, 2013-June 1, 2014:
June 1, 2013-June 1, 2014:
On May 31 we loaded up our minivan, far beyond perceived capacity
and headed for Wenatchee, WA.
and headed for Wenatchee, WA.
June - August, 2013 our ministry was focused around Josh's fingerstyle guitar playing. Josh played concerts in a variety of venues, but primarily in churches. Churches would use Josh's concert as an opportunity for outreach and Josh would share his testimony about God's redemptive work in His life, leading into a Gospel message. We also shared about our experience sponsoring a child through World Vision and encouraged believers to sacrifice on behalf of the poor.
On our first trip we stayed in cheap hotels on the weekends
and tent camped during the week.
and tent camped during the week.
This was our first hotel, and I think it was probably the smallest hotel room we could have possible gotten. We unloaded our stuffed van into the room and literally had to step over our stuff to move around the room.
I cooked most of our meals in a rice cooker or on a hot plate.
I'm sure our hotel neighbors appreciated the roasted brussel sprout smell!
I'm sure our hotel neighbors appreciated the roasted brussel sprout smell!
Although tent camping is great fun for vacation, we discovered quickly that it is a poor way to travel for business. We wasted so much time with set up and tear down, food prep and clean up, and loading and unloading equipment. It was impractical, inefficient, and very stressful. By July, we were playing earnestly for a truck and travel trailer. God provided and we purchased a dilapidated 19 foot, 1967 Aljo trailer. It was hideous and disgusting, but it was cheap and we were grateful! We also purchased a 1998 Ford F150. God provided it at a much lower cost than it's value!
He is such a phenomenal provider!
He is such a phenomenal provider!
Remodeling the trailer was a team effort,
requiring every ounce of energy from all four of us.
After two weeks of crazy intense work, the trailer was livable.
requiring every ounce of energy from all four of us.
After two weeks of crazy intense work, the trailer was livable.
In the fall 2013,we headed back through eastern Washington and into Montana. Josh played at some of the same churches and some new ones.
This past year, we experienced the strangest weather timings ever! It was 70 and sunny when we went to the pumpkin patch (at home it's usually cool and rainy) and then in early November it snowed!
This past year, we experienced the strangest weather timings ever! It was 70 and sunny when we went to the pumpkin patch (at home it's usually cool and rainy) and then in early November it snowed!
We came back to the Seattle area for the holidays. Josh performed at a couple Christmas events and we enjoyed our time with friends and family!
In late January, we headed out in uncharted waters. We toured through southern Oregon and into Northern California. That was by far our most challenging trip. It tested our faith in God's provision, as our schedule was very light. Also because of circumstantial struggles and the financial stress, it was the most difficult time for our marriage and our family. Our trailer leaked like a sieve among other problems. Of course, as is usually the case, it was a time of great growth,
blessing, and seeing God work through us. During this time God made it clear that He has done a work of healing in my voice. I was continually getting stronger and we began praying about and considering how to follow
God's lead in how much He would have
me use my voice as part of our ministry.
We did a lot of hiking on that trip and God used that time hiking as a family
to refresh us and give us a way to enjoy time together,
away from the stress of ministry and our trailer.
Our time home in March was complete insanity! We had a "to do" list that was absolutely way too much to accomplish in the short amount of time that we were going to be back. BUT as usual, God came through in a big way! Here is what we accomplished in the three weeks we were back...filed our taxes, applied for healthcare, sold our old trailer, purchased a new trailer, recorded a CD, and moved out of my parent's house. We did all of that in six weeks on the weekdays and traveled out of town for concerts every weekend.
In late January, we headed out in uncharted waters. We toured through southern Oregon and into Northern California. That was by far our most challenging trip. It tested our faith in God's provision, as our schedule was very light. Also because of circumstantial struggles and the financial stress, it was the most difficult time for our marriage and our family. Our trailer leaked like a sieve among other problems. Of course, as is usually the case, it was a time of great growth,
blessing, and seeing God work through us. During this time God made it clear that He has done a work of healing in my voice. I was continually getting stronger and we began praying about and considering how to follow
God's lead in how much He would have
me use my voice as part of our ministry.
We did a lot of hiking on that trip and God used that time hiking as a family
to refresh us and give us a way to enjoy time together,
away from the stress of ministry and our trailer.
Our time home in March was complete insanity! We had a "to do" list that was absolutely way too much to accomplish in the short amount of time that we were going to be back. BUT as usual, God came through in a big way! Here is what we accomplished in the three weeks we were back...filed our taxes, applied for healthcare, sold our old trailer, purchased a new trailer, recorded a CD, and moved out of my parent's house. We did all of that in six weeks on the weekdays and traveled out of town for concerts every weekend.
To be continued....
Ah, man - you left me hanging! :) Glad I know the rest of the story - and I love seeing how God has provided, and how He is using you guys! Can't wait to have more time with you next week!
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