Furlough Update

Time has seemed to fly by this last month, as we have filled our days and weeks in the States completely full. 

We have traveled to and shared with churches almost every weekend, and what an adventure that has been. You, those who support us, have welcomed us, fed us, housed us, listened to us, and invested in our involvement in God’s mission work in Papua New Guinea. It has been humbling to spend time with so many incredible Christ-followers here in the States who not only are part of the ministry overseas, but also are living out the call to love as we have been loved, right here in America. Please know that you are such a vital part of God's Kingdom. We are priviledged to have witnessed your ministry. Thank you for choosing also to be a part of our involvement in the critical mission work that we have fallen in love with, as God is reaching so many hurting people through the ministry at Kudjip, PNG.

During the week we have been living and working at Golden Bell camp ground. We love camp ministry! It feels very much like the mission station we live on in PNG, with so many friends living and working in close proximity to each other. You have to learn to be a team player for sure! 

We want to report that so far, we have raised almost half of our current need for $11,000, some in single gifts or offerings and some in monthly commitments over the next 8 months. We are praying about what needs to happen next financially to allow us to return to the mission field in 3 weeks. Please be praying with us, and please consider whether God is calling you to further partner with us financially. We are currently hoping to be able to return to Papua New Guinea to continue meeting the important need for a highschool teacher to the missionary kids and maintenance/construction, but this is contingent upon our having the required funds in our support account to be able to do so. 

If we have not been able to get together with you because we have not been in your area, but you would like to talk with us via skype or a phone call, please email and let us know, and we will set up a time! We would love to share with you however we can. 

Thank you for joining with us on this journey of following God's calling. 

Extravagance

I have always loved the word "extravagant." 

Something about it just sounds so... Extravagant. 

It brings to my mind luxuriant bubble baths.

Lush bouquets of red roses.

Exotic perfume.

Rich dark chocolate.

Thanksgiving feasts everyone walks away achingly full from. 

More than what is practical. 

More than what might be deemed necessary. 

More than the basics.

God seems to also love the idea of extravagance, I am finding.

He does not seem to be content to settle with a practical kind of love.

Practicality does not compel the God of Forever to the harshest, most ugly point in all of Time. 

Necessity not compel the Eternal to the cross.

The basics do not include loving the way He loves us. 

God seems to love extravagantly, I am finding. 

And He calls us to love the same way.

He invites us to enter into this overflowing exchange of extravagant love

Of impractical generosity

Of unnecessary kindness

Of life beyond the basics.

And I am finding that this extravagance flows several ways.

Like the extravagant gifts that are handed to our family by our home church, and other churches that have taken us in this summer.

Physical gifts of items that make our life easier.

Monetary gifts that support our life in ministry.

Gifts of time, and attention, allowing us to share our hearts with them.

Or like the impractical gifts we find ourself called to give others.

Gifts of our time and abilities, working and sharing.

Gifts of money or items that we find ourselves called to give.

Gifts of love and attention and conversation and life.

 And as we are called to give of ourselves extravagantly, 

We are in the same way gifted extravagantly.

In love

In life

In experience

And what an amazing existence, I am finding.

To dwell extravagantly.

To dwell with God.

To hold lightly to our possessions 

To our time

To our plans

Because The Eternal may choose at any point to interrupt us with extravagance.

And I, for one, am finding that I want to be ready to live extravagantly.