Encouraged/Discouraged

As I've recently mentioned, we are very encouraged because funds are strong and it looks like we'll make our departure date of May something.

But we're feeling discouraged as well. About 90% of the funds we projected for buying the truck, purchasing plane tickets, shipping our stuff etc have come in and that's fantastic. But as Byron sat down and did the math this last week he's found hidden costs that are throwing us off.

The shippers who are sending our stuff from Portugal to Tanzania need about $5,000 more than we had anticipated. Ug! Air fares have increased. We are being advised to buy solar panels and batteries, which we did not plan for at the beginning... etc etc.

My emotions go up and down with the good news and the bad news. I need to tie my emotions to the faithfulness of God instead of the balance or the bills.

Sigh. Always growing on this path!

March Up-date

You guys are really, really good! Seriously! Last time I wrote for prayer we were at 50% of our outgoing needs. A couple of days later, we received a major gift that put us at 75% and now we’re at 90% !! Wooo hoooo! (OK, so maybe it’s God that’s good...) We will be booking tickets for Tanzania soon!

Our time in the NW was wonderful. Family, friends, supporters, churches, mission groups... We shared our dreams with all of them. We were totally blessed by the love and encouragement they gave us.

During the last month I’ve had the privilege of being invited to two events for college-aged women. One was at Westmont College and the other at UCLA. Both events focused on women sharing their lives and hurts and praying together for healing and freedom. I was so, so blessed to be present as a “mom-type” to pray with these young ladies. God is moving in this generation to release women into all they were created to be and it’s very cool! Please pray for lasting fruit in their lives and that the healing would spread.

Byron is just back from FL after time with his family there. As you know, Byron’s mom is in advanced stages of Alzheimer's and is in full-time care. Family is precious. We were all together after Christmas but we are thankful Byron could get some more time with them.

We have a couple potential trips still on our schedule before departure for East Africa. Both could lead to partnerships for on-going support but it’s a little tricky fitting them in now as the calendar shrinks before us. Pray that they will fit in nicely if we should go for them.

(Trevor was rubbing my shoulders for me the other day and he said “Mom! What are all these knots from?” “Looking at the calendar,”
I replied. His solution was simple. “You need to listen to more Bob Dylan!”)

Thanks for prayers. Our monthly support needs a few more committed donors and we look to the Lord for that and the final 10% of outgoing. More importantly, we want to finish this time in the States well and actually be ready to fly come May. Help us, Lord!!

With joy (and some early Bob Dylan for my shoulders,)

lisa xx