The final wrap up

So here's how the last two weeks went:
4 flights, three seats, two kids, one car seat, 13 days, 41 sessions, two hotel rooms, one with two double beds, one with two twin beds, and a floor mattress, overwhelming number of lizards, two trips to clinic, two ear infections, two cranky kids on antibiotics, no cooking, cleaning, or even making beds, multiple times of prayer, praise and communion with Jesus followers, two prayer sessions resulting in breaking free of spiritual warfare in the area of generational sin (LIFE CHANGING), one fox, 10 goats, one horse, gorgeous exotic flowers and cacti, new friendships, 37 candidates, 32 kids, one invitation to go to North Cyrprus, one psych evaluation (conclusion: not crazy:), yummy meals and desserts resulting in 8 lbs gained, 6 loads of laundry, many tears shed, many wounds healed, laughter, humbled, and confirmed. Praise God for candidate school.

Divine Healing, and all things considered

There is so much I experienced yesterday, and there is NO way I can write all of them. However I will say these things:
Jesus heals
Jesus is still speaking to us through visions
Jesus is greater than any fear
Jesus redeems us from generational sin
I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Spiritual war is real, and way underestimated in our world
Jesus is bigger than any sin, or battle we have in our lives, mind, spirit, and soul!

So, to sum it all up, Praise Jesus....


ps, Cedar has an ear infection now as well, it appears to be contagious, since there are like 4-6 people who are showing symptoms or been diagnosed with ear infections. You would think this would be hard, but the Holy Spirit has worked through your prayers to give us peace and patience. I look forward to going home Saturday with this redefined understanding of all that Jesus is willing, ready, and able to do for us.

I am praying that I will be able to speak into the lives of others what Christ has spoken into mine!

His mercies are new every morning!

What a day. Wes is over his crisis, I am finally feeling better, and the kids are sleeping in the afternoons. Praise God.
Today we studied spiritual warfare, and suffering. Can you say hard? Yep it was, but it was also the most grace filled discussion I have ever participated in. I love this body of believers. Do NOT get me wrong there are all sorts of doctrines, personality types, and hang ups, but it was full of peace even still. It's so encouraging to see the body function in such a healthy manner. I have tried so hard to not over participate, and I find myself talking more than I would like, but I haven't had Wes tell me that I am talking too much so maybe that's good. Besides in a room full of 40 some people, I can't be the only one who's talking all the time :)
Now for the worldly goods, can I just say how awesome it has been to not have to do dishes, housework or cook?! Everything has been done for us here, I am so blessed by the servants surrounding us through this whole process. It is truly a statement of Christ's hands and feet.
If any of you read this, just put a little message on for us. I am missing our friends and family, and at times I find I struggle with believing we are important when we are not present. Thanks for helping me in this insecurity and for supporting us so fully! You are loved, and you are missed....

My word from God today..... " You are never alone"... Amen

Week 2 underway

Wes-
Week two is underway we have relocated to a real nice camp up in the mountains near Flagstaff. Oasis had an ear infection and had to go to the doctor yesterday to get some antiboatics. That was following a very long night for us and our neighbors. Then on our team of 6 that we have been going through one couple was found to not meet one of the important requirements and have left. That was very sad for our team and especially disappointing for the couple that left. Please keep praying for us. I'm really confused tonight and struggling to understand what is going on with me and am probably not getting all that I could out of the time. I wish I could tell you more what to pray but I'm not sure myself.

A fashion show

Tonight as fantastic we had a fashion show for just the women. The men had to take care of the kids, and us women were able to just get dressed up in our Eastern dress, and have a feast and a fashion show together. My outfit was a Kurdish women's party dress! So much fun, I hope to have some pictures in a little while. There was so much insight to be gained from viewing the world through another women's clothes... literally!
Otherwise today was good. We had a break this morning, and met with the Psychologist, and he didn't think either one of us were crazy... praise God... and didn't have any huge concerns with our ability to transition to life in another culture, well not beyond anything we aren't already aware of. I found it to be insightful, and really encouraging. Then this afternoon was on language, and how the world perceives our work. Very insightful again, and so challenging! More on this later, after I have filtered and processed in my mind... I know surprising! Blessings to each of you, and missing our friends.

Another One Bites the Dust

We woke up this morning after a MUCH needed night of sleep, oh and morning means, morning... as in 5 am, Wes was very discouraged at the fact that the kids would not sleep, and I said now just look on the bright side, its ten minutes later than yesterday! It's all about perspective.
Please pray for Oasis, she had a hard time yesterday. She didn't nap all day, and cried for about 3 hours in the afternoon, which resulted in Wes and I taking turns walking and holding her, while trying to participate in the training still. Distracting, but I think we were both able to plug in as best we could. Again, a great example of working through the way life moves with us. Cedar did great, but as expected completely gave up going potty. Argh, but again we've been through this before and have been putting pull-ups on him that way he isn't letting us down, or himself.
Our 'team' given to us for training is great. We are really blessed with some great personalities on our team, and no one person is overly strong or biased... well maybe me, but noone else seems to mind :) It is so refreshing to sit and pray for the nations, or for each other with totally abandon, and freedom of not being judged. It was amazing how many people stood up yesterday and said they needed prayer for their families, I cried with the encouragement that so many others feel that burden as well.
Some thoughts from yesterday in my notes:

After two years on the field some missionaries had this to say as the success they could show:
- still married
- second grade language
- moved 5 times
- keep the food down
- few local friends
- faced loneliness
- needs God
- still with current team

"If you cannot see very far ahead go ahead as far as you can see."

"If we're gonna send them, we're gonna mend them"

"Don't fear mistakes, be humble and fear God."

"Expect team life to be difficult after all I should know since I am on the team." - so true for me!!

Rev 5:9
Psalm 2:8
Romans 15, and 1:5
Gen 12: 2-3

Am I spiritually thriving? How does God want to move in my life in these 2 weeks?

Good thoughts, good questions, maybe they will challenge/encourage you as well. Thank you for praying please know we are good hands here, the family of Christ is overwhelming and so amazing. Please continue to pray for the things we mentioned before but also especially for Oasis to transition better. If she doesn't I think that in itself will be good training. :)

We're Here...

We're here at training in Arizona. There is much I would like to write about, but much of what can be published is limited so sorry. Our posts these next two weeks, will be fairly lacking in details, but I will trying to pass along the gist of the thing. Of course anyone can email or call, or visit when we get back home, and we would love to fill them in as best we can.

Our flights went well today. Cedar did GREAT, and Wes too. Oasis and I had a rough time of it since we are both fighting colds, she cried both flights, and my eardrum tried to burst on both our descents, but that's ok. The neat thing out of it all was Wes saying Niki what can we do about it but pray?.... Right.... Right!! So we prayed, and God kept my eardrum from bursting... now if only I could hear out of it! Lol!!

The hotel is nice and already we had a dinner companion share with us her love for the Muslims, and all that she has done in the states to reach out to them. It was very inspiring considering she was like 60 something, and on her own she went to the nearby mosque and made some friends, and invited one gal to study the 'holy books'... Yep, definitely awe inspiring. As Wes said, well that blow the stereotypes right out of the gate! So true, and one of the things we had been praying for, that we wouldn't be judgemental or close minded to our first impressions... especially me! Thanks again God.

Well the little ones are both zonked out, Cedar in his bed, Oasis in the pack-n-play, and Wes is in bed watching the TV courtesy of Close Captioning... :) This is our life for the next two weeks... Praise God.

De'nile is a river in Egypt

Well as we prepare to go for training, the myriad of emotions are very overwhelming. Over the weekend it really hit that this is the beginning of the preparations to move overseas. It was an interesting experience, as I found myself capturing moments throughout the weekend. Worshipping at church, and listening to Pastor Steve, or going to graduation. There is so much we will miss over the next two years, and I found myself grieving. I also realized that was ok. The sermon this weekend was on becoming a disciple of Jesus, the cost of following his call. It was perfect for what we have been going through. As Jesus called his disciples, and said "follow me.", many of them were in the midst of living their lives, and yet they put down their tools, left their families, and followed him, almost with out thought to all that they would miss. I don't think God expects us to not care about all that we have done with our lives up to the point He calls us to go, but I do believe He expects and desires obedience, even though the sacrifice may be great. After all He sacrificed the ultimate for us right?
So as I cried at graduation, church, our house, and everywhere in between, I don't believe I was doing anything wrong, I was just releasing the my hearts' sadness, and embracing God's calling to the full scale. I'm sure training over the next two weeks will bring muh more to process through, but now I no longer feel guilty for having the emotion in the first place.
We'll be gone for two weeks, but we should have wireless at the hotel, so hopefully I will be able to post while we are there.