2014, this blog may be more for me than anyone else.

It's hot here! Which is weird for us Americans living in the Southern Hemisphere. It doesn't "feel" like the Christmas or end of the year season. But, it is.

Which makes me think lots of things don't always "feel" right but it doesn't mean that it isn't happening or right. This last year was chalk full. We packed it tight. We really lived it. I actually wasn't excited about the start of 2014, I didn't "feel" like going back to school or "feel" like taking a 2 month cross boarder outreach. Now I can't imagine not having done all of that. It stretched me, in my thinker, in my core, physically, mentally and spiritually and it was a good thing. I came out a bit more refined (on the inside).

Sometimes it feels surreal that we were in the Middle East when Isis was starting their brutal attack on Iraq...with our children in tow! We witnessed salvations, prayed with countless Muslims, heard horrific accounts from Syrian families. We also had a peace that passes understanding moment when the Muslim brotherhood came against us, but God saved us. This just happened a few months ago. Time keeps on going.

Then in October we had the immense pleasure of stepping into leading Children of Promise. Sometimes nothing "feels" right when you work in a culture that is so different than your own. Injustice is in your face daily and your belief system seems to be rubbed by sandpaper on a day to day. I can't say it's been easy but it has been God. I see Him in the unlikely places in Masi. He seems to be everywhere, just give Him an opportunity and He is there. If we go out to share or pray, He is always there. When I don't "feel" right He is there.

2014, was a year that didn't always "feel" good or go my way. It was painful, it was hard, it was full of great sacrifice, it hurt but God...He showed up. He provided every month, He saved our lives, He allowed me to see a devout Muslim man come to Christ before my eyes, He taught my hands and feet to be more like His, He helps me hug and love children who need Jesus, He gives me love for the unloveable, He stirs my heart to change and shows me my need for an even deeper continuing change. He very practically helps me overcome my germ issues and go into dirty, smelly places at times. He gave me precious friends that are like family.

We aren't anyone special, we just are a normal family that decided to go and did. We suck on a daily basis. We parent badly, our kids are not perfect, but we love Jesus and I pray that that one thing shows. We love Jesus! In any circumstance He is always right and makes all situations right, even the ones that don't  "feel" right.

We had lots of memory making things happen this year. We traveled to many Countries, Brie graduated from High school, our dogs had puppies, Drew feels like he is called into missions, Gabe has worked hard at his skating and is getting so good, Eli is a natural surfer and is in the water every day honing his craft, Finley is a delight and one of the most clever little people I've ever encountered. Shelby and I are blessed to have this family as our little tribe and we get to do life with them. 2015 May take our family in different directions but one thing I know is God will be there and He holds our hearts and lives.

Be blessed this New Year. I pray we can all live deeply and in the present, that we can live the life we are called to live. That we can show Jesus wherever we live and to those around us. Happy New Years friends! 

With much love,

Andrea 

Lowlights

2014 is rapidly winding down.  This year has been a bit of blur, but alas, we look to 2015 with great expectation.  Many, while reflecting on 2014 will share some highlights.  These are great and I have many highlights from this year, but I also have some lowlights from this year.  So, although not your typical end of year reflection, here are some of mine. They are not events in particular, rather some areas of my life I would like to improve on.

I struggle with anger.  I yell a lot.  I don’t know if its a family curse or what, but it has been a pretty constant struggle.  You can ask my neighbor.  We live in fairly close proximity.  My friend Phil Pechonis shared a story once of him and his wife fighting early on in their ministry while they were living in community with others.  They would whisper to each other, “I hate you”.  While the other would whisper back, “Well I hate you too.”  I often times, will feel like this, but often unable to contain myself to a whisper.  This year seems like it was a bit worse than normal.  For 2015, I want more joy.

I struggle with worry, which usually leads to stress.  99% of this stems from finances.  We have seen God do amazing things this year in our finances.  Almost every month we had a short fall, but every month the perfect amount would come in.  EVERY MONTH!  In addition we owed $6000 for school fees this year and another $6000 in airline tickets for outreach as part of school.  God provided for all of it.  I have seen him come thru over and over and over again.  But for some reason, I still worry.  Still doubt.  Still stress.  Still try and figure things out on my own.  For 2015, I want to trust him more.  No matter what the circumstances.

I am a fault finder.  Its my default mode.  No matter what is done, I will first notice what hasn’t been done.  This is great maybe if you're a consultant or something, but when you're a father, missionary, and a husband, its a terrible default mode.  There is so much positive happening all around that its a shame to always waste time focusing on the negative.  For 2015, I want to be able to see the good, in things and in people and to also be able to affirm those things.  

This is no New Years resolution, but just things that I want to work on.  There were lots of amazing things that happened in 2014 and  I am looking forward to lots of changes in me for 2015.  

Happy New Year Friends