Unexpected Twists and Turns

If you are at all familiar with our story, you probably know that it is one that has been marked by unexpected twists and turns, all revolving around doing our best to love and follow Jesus.  Just to recount some things for you, we felt called to pack-up and move down to Waco, TX almost 2 1/2 years ago for what we thought would be the beginning stages of moving toward overseas missions.  We didn't know at all what we were getting into but knew the Lord had a purpose and a plan for our time here.  We dove in fully to the culture here (Texas and Antioch:)  training schools, took opportunities to learn from the resources and leadership around us, went on overseas exploratory trips and evangelistic trips, in-country mission trips and more.  All this was to prepare us for what God would call us to next.  We wanted to be prepared for when and what and if he would speak to us.  Little did we know that he was after heart-change in the process!  (Yay, for heart-change and yay for the process!) The moment had come!  God gave Andrew vision for the place-the direction we would go next.  He was almost in disbelief.  Really God?  Are you sure? Yes.  Okay.  You can imagine our surprise when the Lord asked us to move back to Sioux Falls, SD. We wrestled and wrestled with the idea and like most people who try to control God, we started doubting that we heard him correctly.  That's surely not what he meant.  Not because we don't like SF, we love SF, but we didn't understand.  We moved down here to go OVERseas, remember.  So you get the picture.  So now, after months of prayer, wrestling, questioning and council we have peace about moving back to Sioux Falls.  The song that I'm reminded of, is a song that we sang in church growing up "Trust and Obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to Trust and Obey."  So we don't know how long, we don't know what we will do, we don't have a clear picture or jobs lined up, but we do, at the end of the day, trust God and want to obey him. 

Looking back, the last 2-3 years have not been wasted.  We don't regret our decision to follow God to Waco because we know we followed him.  If anything, we look back and say, "Can't you believe what the Lord has done? He has been so faithful."   Our time here has been so foundational for us as we continue to learn how to live out the things we have learned down here. We have made life-long friends who (we will dearly miss) we one day hope to serve on the field with.  We still plan to seek out opportunities to be involved with Antioch and overseas mission trips, as well as, continue to keep up our relationships here in Waco.  We know that our time in SF has a plan and purpose so for now we are okay with HIS PROCESS:)