Moving Forward

Rick and I attended a conference a few weeks ago. It was a working conference where we heard about all the different regions of the world and their needs. And we met one-on-one with an interviewer as one of the final steps in their consideration of our application for full-time missionary service.

The conference was great. The program really challenged us to count the cost of service overseas. It's not easy. It can be lonely. We may be there for two years and SEE no results. It happens....often. We heard real-life stories from real-life missionaries. Some were sobering, some funny, but all challenged us to count the cost. They definitely don't sugar-coat a thing. They lay it out there bare bones. It's going to be hard in many, many ways. But the thing is....every person there is SO excited. There's a kinship with people who understand why you are there, how you got there, and how much you are considering and/or have already decided to leave behind. The application process is so strenuous. We started in February. There was lots of paperwork. Medical clearance. Lots of stress. And a whole lot of prayer.

But here we are at the "kind of official" end. Our interviewer had told us that he was going to recommend the Committee wait to vote on us in the Spring for a variety of reasons. We were somewhat bummed about that mainly because it was going to extend the wait time before we knew something for sure. But we received a call yesterday from our consultant that the staff had met to review all candidate files, as they do before everything goes to the final Committee. He wanted to let us know that they didn't feel there were any significant reasons for holding back our file from this vote. SOOO....today was the big day. The Committee voted. And we should know something for certain by early next week! EEEKKKK! We are so excited!

Once they've offered us a position, it's a pretty-much-done deal! It's not done done, of course, until we are on the field, but you get the idea. After they've offered and we've accepted the job, the timing of orientation will depend basically on the sale of the house and settlement of our affairs here. At this point, we are planning on leaving for orientation in April, then the field in July, give or take a few weeks. Can you feel our EXCITEMENT!!?????

Please pray with us about the sale of our house and God's perfect peace as we wait!

P.S. - Did I mention we are SOOOO excited??????