Contagious Joy

It is getting late and I should be getting to bed because I have a super long day of exciting paperwork tomorrow; however, it has been an great day and I have some thoughts just running through my head so I thought I would write them out.

I work with a great lady at the juvenile center and ever since I told her about our summer in Africa she has been so excited for us. We have had some great conversations about Christ, missions, our jobs, and trying to figure out this life we've been given. She has been telling so many people about our trip and directing them to our blog. (Thank you Sharon!) One day she joked that she was more excited about us going to Africa. She is for sure as excited as we are. One day I thanked her for her encouragement and she said No thank you for going. You and your husband are doing what we are supposed to be doing. I knew that in my heart but to hear someone else say it really took on another meaning. I dont say this to boast in any way at all Tim and I are just trying to be faithful to what God wants for us whatever that might be. I have to be honest though the joy I felt in that moment was just incredible. We have been so excited about going to Africa that it doesnt feel like a duty it just feels like the best opportunity ever. To have someone else so pumped about what God is doing in your life filled me with this feeling I could not describe and then it hit me-this was the joy they are always talking about in the Bible. It was just so fulfilling.

And the joy continues....We sent out support letters last Friday so if you do the math they have been out less than one week and we have already received more than half of what we need to raise by April 18. People have been giving in such a way I am overwhelmed (in a good way not in the usual lose my mind sort of way). Today as Tim and I were talking about what we had been given in the past 2 days alone we were once again just flooded with this joy.

If we dont say it enough we are so excited to serve in Africa this summer and we are so thankful for those of you who have already supported us financially. We still have a long way to go, but we know that our God is going to provide. In fact He knew exactly who and where all this money was going to come from even before we decided to go to Kenya. Wow-there is that joy again! Most importantly, we want to thank you for your prayers up to this point and to thank you in advance for the prayers you will continue to pray. Our God is doing some great things.

I should go to bed now this was longer than expected. Again thanks for your prayers for Kenya. We are so excited that a peace agreement has been signed and now healing can begin.



Much love to you all