Our Story
In 2011, God called our family to Belize; that trip changed our lives! We came back, stood before our church family, and said we were surrendering our possessions, our identity, and our future and placing it in the hands of the Creator. Our family began to pursue the only missional route we were familiar with; the International Mission Board. For three years, we committed ourselves to the IMB. Going through the entire process with the IMB and being told “no” was heartbreaking and caused us to question if we actually heard God correctly. But even though that door closed, God was still at work. In fact, we actually think that’s why, today, we hear Him more clearly. Through the process with the IMB, we had to sell our home, business, and many possessions, which left us having depleted our financial resources, but this taught us complete dependence and full surrender.
As the years went by with really no open door – we waited. What seemed like one delay or obstacle after another, truly has been a process of preparation. All the while, God was preparing our hearts to be more like His. God moved our family to Georgia, away from all we knew and loved, into a campground where we clean and scrub toilets. However, we know God is working. He is preparing our hearts, creating in us a spirit of humility as we serve in often times the lowliest of jobs. He has placed us in a campground living in a camper: first to unite our family and second to teach us how to live with less. As we live and work in a campground, God is teaching us about living intentionally by not being task-driven, but people-driven. He has taught us to step out of our comfort zone and engage everyone around us.
All the while, we continue to pursue God and His calling for our lives. We took a step of faith with the Global Cities Initiative (IMB) for a job in Dubai; the door closed. We took another step of faith towards Thailand; the door closed. We took a step of faith with an organization called Adventures In Missions for Ecuador and Guatemala; those doors also closed. After much time continuing to be spent in prayer, an opportunity presented itself in Nicaragua. Our family, yet again, took a step of obedience, trusting, believing God was working. We decided to take a vision trip to Granada, Nicaragua in December 2017. We prayed for and asked others to pray for wisdom, guidance, clarity, and a burden so strong that we would come back with boldness to do all that is necessary to get back. We sought the wisdom and advice of God’s people and the team in Nicaragua asking them if they could see red flags; praying earnestly that God would reveal those red flags to us and to the team, and that He would begin to close the door if this was not apart of His great plan. No red flags were presented, we only saw God affirming His calling in our lives for His work in Nicaragua.
As we spent time serving in Nicaragua, we saw our lives joining the work of the Lord and could see His vision for our family in Granada. It became clear that God is asking us to take the next step in pursuing His call on our lives for Nicaragua. As we live out complete obedience and full surrender, we trust the Lord entirely. As a family, we ask you to consider how the Lord may use you to accomplish His purpose for our family in Nicaragua.
Will it be easy? No. “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’” Matthew 19:26
Will it be comfortable? No. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.
Will it be worth it? YES! “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Mark 16:15
Will we go? YES! “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” Matthew 28:19
