Living the Journey – March Edition

We mailed out our newsletters today, but for those of you who don’t get the paper copy, thought you would enjoy reading our update!

Off to Ireland… Sooner than Expected!

 

            It all started on a blustery winter day in… well… last month! It’s no secret that we have a connection to Ireland and have been praying about what God’s plan for us is concerning Ireland. Well, last month one of those possibilities was presented to us. Let’s see if I can draw the pieces together for you…

            Two years ago Corey led a trip to Ireland where he partnered with another missions organization – Operation Mobilization – and the long-term ministry they have set up there. It was a great trip and great friendships were established. OM has recently purchased a beautiful bed & breakfast, Lacken House, to use as their base of operations. Check out http://www.ie.om.org/lacken.htmlfor more on this beautiful place. As this project has continued to develop, OM is looking to expand their current partnerships. So…

            They contacted Alli Mellon – a co-worker of ours. Alli is in charge of the Ambassador program – the trip Corey led to Ireland and the trip we are planning to take this summer. Mike, who is in charge of OM Ireland, talked at great length with Alli about what a partnership with Adventures in Missions might look like. And then…

            Alli came and had dinner with Corey and I. She explained what Mike and his team are looking for and really stirred us up for what could happen. So then we contacted Mike and…

            There is a team from First Baptist Woodstock, a mega-church not too far away from us here in Gainesville. A few of their church members are in process of joining OM Ireland’s staff and moving into Lacken House by this fall. However, in March, this team is taking a vision trip over to visit the new base and explore what life in Ireland will look like for them. They have invited us to join their trip, get to know them, and explore what life in Ireland might look like for all of us!!!

            We will leave March 14 and will return March 19. Yup… just 5 short days… but long enough to meet the team, see the ministry, and by God’s grace, hear His voice concerning our future!

 

Here you see pictures of a chalet (there are 4 of these which can house up to 5 people each), the main house (which has 10 bedrooms), and the stables (which will be turned into long-term staff housing and offices). It’s also located in the country on 5 acres of beautiful land!

What Will We Do There?

 

Mike and the OM Team are great friends of AIM. We have not only worked with them in the past, but they have been impressed with the teams we’ve brought, while we are impressed with the evangelism and the local church partnerships they have throughout Ireland. Because of that, our job description would be a combination of the strengths of both organizations. Our main job would be as Adventures In Missions Trip Coordinators. This means we would

 

• Coordinate with OM and AIM to bring short and long term teams to Ireland.


• Build relationships with local contacts to host short term teams.


• Oversight and pastoral care of teams.


• Training teams and contributing to the development of OM Ireland’s training strategy.


• Community living with the OM team – being a part of their retreats, prayer meetings, all of life as a team.


• Opportunities to lead local Irish people on short term trips to other nations.


• Contributing to the larger picture of life in Ireland through our gifts including construction projects as Lacken House is developed, and helping with administrative needs.

 

As you can see this looks like an amazing opportunity that fits us and our gifts and desires very well. However, we don’t want to just run headlong into the first thing that looks good to us. The purpose of this trip is to truly hear God’s plan for us. We want to know exactly what the Lord has for us.

 

Is this it? We don’t know yet… Stay tuned to the next edition of Living the Journey for the more and updated information!!!

 

“You’re leaving for Ireland in 3 weeks?”

 

I know… it sounds crazy to pretty much everyone that you could go from idea to departure in 3 weeks… but when God is ready to move, everything falls into place!!! ESPECIALLY finances!

 

We filed our taxes last week and between our tax refund and the money already in our support account… our trip is FULLY FUNDED!!! Praise God for providing for us even before we knew we would be going!!! And…

 

PRAISE GOD FOR TAX REFUNDS!!!!

 

 “So you don’t need any more money?”

 

Well… I’ve never known a missionary who would turn down a donation or a gift card… but for this specific trip we are already covered! We do have the trip this summer still to plan for as well as monthly needs like bills and groceries.

 

As always, we welcome you to follow God’s leading through donating to us. It’s a great opportunity for those who can’t GO, to GIVE, to building God’s kingdom. Our prayer is always that you would have the opportunity through us, and others to:

1.     Pray – for all of what God is doing…

2.     Give – to support the needs God presents…

3.     Go – to the places God is moving…

If we can help in any of these areas… just let us know!!!

 

Prayer Requests:

 

·   That God would clearly speak to us concerning this opportunity. We only want to go where He leads…

·   For purpose and God-focused activities to be involved in while we are in Georgia.

·   As always… health. Though everything continues to improve, we still long to see the day when Corey feels healthy!