Catching up...

Much has happened... and all quite quickly... since our first post on this blog.  We seriously haven't had any time to even sit down to begin considering how to share with everyone how God has been working and leading us over the past three months.

driving through the grapevine

Here's a not-so-quick synopsis:

• Mid-June we made the heart-wrenching decision, with the leading from our pastoral staff and ReachGlobal leaders, to resign from our missionary candidacy/fund raising toward Lyon, France
• The following days were very difficult, yet filled with God's peace with the decision
• We began to seriously pray for God's direction knowing that, just as He led us through 17 months of partnership development and training and prior to that 1-2 years of searching for His ministry plan for our lives, He has a plan for our future
• Time at MapleTronics was running out for Steve's position by the end of August, prompting us to continue ask friends and mentors for any leads in worship ministry
• Through friends in southern California, we learned of an opening at California Baptist University that would be perfect for Chris - as the administrative assistant to the Dean of the School of Music
• After talking with the new dean (and long-time college friend), we learned that Steve could also teach class piano and private piano lessons as an adjunct professor so we decided to pursue this option
• During the waiting, we took HUGE steps of faith by setting an auction date and began the daunting task of packing our house, praying all the while that God would continue to open the doors
• After multiple interviews and many weeks of waiting between each, Chris was offered the position and Steve was accepted as an adjunct music faculty
• Chris and Spencer flew to Riverside, California four days after receiving the offer to begin working in the School of Music
• On this same day, August 21st, Steve and the rest of the kids and his parents were watching most of our belongings being auctioned off - a great test of faith and willingness to relinquish things
• Final packing of the remaining items led to a stuffed-to-the-brim u-haul for Steve and Easton to begin the trek to SoCal on Sunday, August 26th
• During that same week of packing, Chris and Spencer spent days at CBU, evenings driving around town and trying to find rental properties, and nights in a hotel
• After six nights in a hotel, Chris and Spencer moved into a fellow newbie to CBU's new rental house - Dawn was waiting for her husband to arrive from Calgary and we were waiting for our family to arrive from Indiana
• We found an apartment to rent, but had to wait until September 9th to move in so we continued to camp out at Dawn's house even after Steve and Easton arrived on the scene, enjoying air mattresses and living out of suitcases
• Our u-haul was parked for 10 days at another music faculty member's home
• Last Sunday we were joined by two ever-so-gracious music students to do the task of unpacking our u-haul and trekking it upstairs into a not-quite-1100sf apartment
• The 4 four-drawer filing cabinets full of music and additional boxes of music and books were unloaded into a 5x10 storage unit and many more boxes of our remaining belongings currently sit on our little porch
• It's amazing how much we STILL have when we thought we gave us so much
• Most of our actual furniture was sold in the auction so we've found some amazing furniture on CraigsList - sofa/loveseat/ottoman set, side table, tv stand, dining room table and chairs
• We also found amazing deals on a second-hand refrigerator and microwave
• Our little place is becoming home to us... although we miss Morgan and Bailey so very much!
• Since we didn't ever actually see OUR apartment before moving in, we've found out that the freeway that sits right next to us makes for lots of noise day and night... something we're getting used to
• After three weeks on the job at CBU, Chris is beginning to understand more of the job and not feel quite as overwhelmed as at the beginning
• Steve's been learning how to balance teaching class piano to a dozen students out of two different books - one for music majors and one for non-music majors - which is quite challenging
• After researching high schools, visiting them, working through transfer options, we have currently settled on Spencer and Easton attending virtual public high school through CalPac
• Only three days into virtual school so far, Spencer and Easton have some catching up to do along with learning how to effectively learn and study in a virtual environment
• We are visiting churches and praying for the best youth group environment for the kids so they can connect with kids their age, grow in their faith and serve in ministry

Through all the whirlwind, we still feel God's hand of direction and great peace that only He can give.  As we continue to walk by faith in this journey, we are still trusting God will provide for us in a few specific areas.  Please pray with us for answers to these needs:

1. Steve's position at CBU is very part-time and we are praying that God will provide another source of income as well as ministry.  He's applied to two different churches in the area that need a worship pastor.  We are praying for open doors and God's direction and provision.
2. A vibrant youth group for our kids to get involved with in the near future.
3. Friends for our kids.  Both Spencer and Easton thrive on being with people and we know that, although they have been simply amazing in this huge change in their lives, they really do need to get connected soon with kids their age.
4. Bailey is living with my sister and brother-in-law in Nappanee and attending NorthWood HS for her senior year.  The transition into another home and away from us has been difficult for her, especially this past week as she celebrated her birthday without us nearby.  Pray that God would give her great friends and a special connection with her new family this year.
5. Morgan has moved back to Indiana from Atlanta and is looking for a job.  She is house-sitting for a family from NMC, which has been an amazing answer to prayer for her housing needs.  Pray that God would provide a source of income as well as ministry opportunities for her.  Also pray that she and Bailey can be there for each other during this year of transition for our family.

As we look back at how God has led our family over the past two years, we can already see how He has used our time with ReachGlobal and preparation time for France as a way to prepare us for this move we made to Riverside.  It was through the months of preparation for France that brought us to the place of willingness to let go of everything, planning to sell all, planning for virtual school in Lyon, preparing to leave family and friends, and willingness to go wherever He asked us to go.  And, though He ultimately led us west rather than east, we know He will provide for our needs and open doors for ministry in ways we can't even yet imagine!

So, we're back to our life verse - 21 years later - and still reveling in God's promise:

I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised

and bring you back home.

I know what I’m doing.

I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you,

not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Jeremiah 29:11, MSG