Words cannot explaIn....

Where to begin? How do you start? We are trying to write a post talking about what we are doing, how we were called to go, purpose and passion, etc.

Carmen's absolutely perfect summation of the below text: "Words and actions can't explain it; only God can." (out of the mouth of babes..K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Silly)

Now on to my long-winded version:

How do we put into words something that is so personal and internal? Something that every time you pray the Lord speaks and tells you to "GO". That's it, period. How do you explain how your heart aches to be with these people? How do explain how it feels to have you leave pieces of yourself behind every time you leave those wonderful people? How do you explain the pure joy in seeing God and His amazing love shine into some of the most desperate and hopeless situations. How can we explain how we really don't feel we're doing anything; that it is all God. It is His purpose, His passion, His love and mercy and all for His glory. How do you show physical proof of what we are doing in Peru when it is so much deeper: spiritual and relational.
 I mean we will be doing lots of work. Lots of leadership guiding, teaching and educating, and logistical work for the local and international missionaries. The pastors in the area feel a huge burden to bring the Word of God into the farthest reaches of the jungle and we are blessed to be called to stand beside them as they fight this battle to encourage and support their people. Our role is to empower and equip them. They are the ones who can do God's work in the jungle and bring the Light in to the darkest areas. We hope to be able to help them understand how to use the tools they have been given to better to support the mission. Also, to help build a stronger bridge between JungleMasters in the US and the Peruvian ministry so that both can benefit even more from each other and work even closer together for the glory of God.
Our deepest desire would be that we could bring everyone with us to see the power and glory of God working in the Amazon jungle and feel the power of the Holy Spirit in everyone we come in contact with. How do you put into words how immensely important the work that the Peruvian missionaries are doing for the Kingdom of God? It is difficult explain why God has invited our small insignificant family to join Him on this journey. With every prayer God shows us small pieces of what He is calling us to do. It is an ongoing conversation and journey. We may not know specifically yet what God has for us to do there but, as in all the times we have gone before we start with "our" plans and when we arrive God reveals His plan. We invite everyone to prayerfully join us in this conversation and on this journey. As our family continues to follow Jesus and what He is asking us to do we want you all there because we cannot do this alone. We will do the best we can to communicate this ongoing adventure and we know that God will help us to keep you updated. We would love to talk with anyone who would like to get more details about this calling.

The Day Has Come

The day has come!! Oh no, he is getting ready to call us on stage. My hands are sweaty, my heart is pounding. Here it is, "Joel and Amy come on up and tell us your story". My feet feel like concrete blocks, I don't want to go.  WHY GOD, WHY DO I HAVE TO DO THIS?
A week or so before this I start to think to my self is there any way out of this, maybe I could just have Amy do it this time. NO JOEL! God talked to you, you are the leader of this, this is your deal no pawning it off.  Maybe just maybe pastor Bob will announce it for me (good luck with that one). All right all ready I will do this, but God how am I going to say it all? You know how my thoughts get all twisted up and I can't get out what I want to say. Pray, yeah thats what I will do. He will tell me what He wants me to say its His story to tell any how. Okay God its the night before I have to present this to the church and nothing yet, can you give me something, anything? Pleeeeease! Sunday morning 5 am I wake from a sound sleep to all kinds of thoughts rolling in my head (finally). I better get up and make some coffee sounds like God wants to talk and I am all ears. 

James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you"

That's what I am talking about God, keep it coming I'm listening.

Exodus 4:10-11 - "Moses said to the Lord, "Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tounge." 11 The Lord said to him, "Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?"

Yeah that's me; not eloquent (never). Joel just remember "Its my story, let me do the talking." All right God, let's do this.

Back to my feet and the concrete blocks.....All right, now all I have to do is get up on stage, tell them we are going to be full time missionaries for a few years, read a couple of verses.......I got this. Oh no! My knees are shaking....Keep your voice steady... Don't make eye contact....Well, here we go!

LOKING FORWARD

I went to bed last night reflecting on 2013. What an amazing year for our small family! God has really taken our family on quite the journey and as the last few months of 2013 approached, God decided He wasn't done with us. What a comfort that is! Think about that for just a minute....HE is not done with YOU! He never ever lets us out of His sight or out of His heart. YOU ARE ALWAYS IN HIS PLANS! I look back at the times I thought I was alone even when surrounded by His love and His family and I realize I was never alone. Even through the hard times this year He was always there. I know or some of  you are thinking....Of course; well Duh, Amy! I know this too, I've grown up knowing that God is always there but, there are times in the midst of things where I have doubt and am not sure I really comprehend fully that He is with me always.  But, as they say, hindsight......

But, as I awoke this morning things were different for me. I was buzzing! I woke with unusual energy for not going to bed until 1:30am. I am not looking back on what last year brought to us. I am looking forward to the unbelievable future that God has for us! I am fully aware and confident that my God is an awesome God! He loves us all more than the human brain will allow us to comprehend. His grace and mercy and peace and love overflow unto us and this morning I feel it fully! He has sent us a personal invitation to follow Him, to trust in Him and to know Him more closely than ever before! He has not promised us it will be easy or trial free. In fact we know this will be a hard road...that we are walking into a refining process unlike any we have been through as a family so far. But, we fully trust the Lord. My one question for myself is : "How can I not follow Him?" Seriously, How can I not follow the One who has blessed my life in so many ways that I can't even see them all? How can I not place my life into the hands of the One who gave me this life? 

I read a verse this morning... Habakkuk 2:2 : And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readth it. So ladies and gentlemen that is what I am going to try to do. As Joel and I have been trying to figure out how to share the stories of what God is doing; I keep getting told to document it. Ok Lord, I get it....no more knocking me over the head I will listen and try to get it all down. I am not a good writer and I have a terrible time telling stories but, I trust that God will give me the words and even in my mistakes God will tell the stories.

So, as we look forward to the coming year I invite you join us....