Greetings To All:
How in the wide world are you? I think we'll have to break out the family's old wet noodle and receive some lashes for not keeping up with this blog lately. Please accept our utmost apologies. One reason for the lack of updates on here is that we sent out newsletters recently that gave you all the meat of our lives lately. Another reason is that we haven't known what else to tell you. Well, now we have something. Ready? Here it comes. . . . .
The call to China on our lives is still great. God has not revoked that. HE simply isn't taking us there at this point in time. "So what are we going to do instead?" you ask. Prepare. NOT wait, but PREPARE. At some point as we continue to pray about the timing God will open that door. Until then we will be taking advantage of the opportunity He has given us to remain with YWAM on the Salem base and be a part of the leadership-developing/teamwork/trust-building ministry that is the Ropes Challenge Course. We have started the application process to officially become staff here for two years. During this time we will be making connections with people on base, in the community, and at a local church. The Ropes Challenge Course will be our main focus on the base in which we will spend our time. We certainly do wish that God would've opened the door for us to go to Beijing at the end of this month, but He didn't.
It is hard for me personally not to feel disappointed, at least in my mind. In my heart I know that this is from Him. Last Friday night we were at a prayer meeting for a couple of couples who are starting a brand new base in Alaska. Listening to their stories was very encouraging and inspiring. For one couple this has been a calling on their lives for the past sixteen years. For the other couple, from Korea, this has been on their hearts for the past three years. The determination not to give up on God and His timing which we heard from them was amazing! Now, the hard part is aligning my mind with my heart. Will God remain faithful to us? ABSOLUTELY! HE has no other choice; He Is Who He Is.
So, we move on in our preparation. We will look for language opportunities at the local community college. Also, their is a ministry here titled Friends of All Nations (FAN) we would like to check out. They work with international students from Willamette University here in Salem. They meet once a week for English training and relationship building. Once a month they get together for dinner and fellowship. The meal is centered around a country of some of the students and they share about their country. People skills gained on the Ropes Course will help both of us to hone our leadership abilities and be more effective in ministry.
We are excited about this time ahead of us. Our current residence (and hopefully for the two year commitment) is comfortable and quaint. The pictures above are of that. I do enjoy having a woodburning stove. Dakota knows not to go near it. She informs me that I will get owie whenever I stoke the fire or add wood. She enjoys taking baths one of our emptied plastic storage bins. As she gets older, we'll simply need to buy bigger storage bins. Oh! And for the first time ever Dakota Mei went Poopie on the potty! She's so big. Her reward has been ice cream. She does so enjoy that.
Today being Valentine's Day, I have a message of love to share. (Wow, I know I don't like the sound of my own voice, but I didn't realize how much I like the sound my fingers make as I type.) This morning as I was running "errands" I realized that anything that I had bought was something that I would enjoy. But how much more the same things are enjoyable since I get to share them with the ones I love. So, even if you're not reading this on Saturday, find some one to share something enjoyable with and reap the greater joy of sharing your life.
God's Blessings To You,
Carson, Kathleen, Dakota
P.S. Dakota finally found the perfect sweater to go with her signature purple boots.
P.P.S. Did I spell "prepare" right?
