MAF IS MOVING!!! WE ARE NOW BIKERS!

MAF has officially announced their intentions to move to the Boise area in Idaho. We think this will be a very good move for MAF, and will help them financially in the long run to be able to be more effective in their ministry.
This last weekend Laura and I were able to attend a motorcycle class in Kingsport, TN. Through this class we are now both licensed to pilot motorcycles. Motorcycles are one of the primary modes of transportation in Indonesia. Now all we need is a motorcycle.

Our Support Level

We have good news. Another church has just decided to support us. That makes our monthly support total now at 41% and our outgoing total at 21%. The not so great news is that MAF has just raised the requirement for it's missionaries to raise $5700 a month rather than the $5400 a month that we were originally aiming to raise. It has taken more money the past couple years to keep MAF missionaries on the field, and that's why the recent change.

Random Thoughts on MAF: My Other Family

MAF is a great organization. You might think that I'm a little biased because I grew up with it while my parents served with MAF. Maybe a little, but not really. I've seen the good and the yucky up close and I still think that MAF is made up of some the most wonderful people that I know. That's what makes the difference: the people. It's more like a family than an organization. That's one of many things that we like about it.

When we went to the MAF headquarters in California two summers ago, it was the first time that I had been there since I was eleven years old. Yet, I felt like I had come home, like a part of me had been left somewhere and now I had come back to it. The sights were familiar, but clouded in my memory. The sounds were the same, but the smells were etched in my brain. I was flooded with memories as soon as we stepped out of the car. The air in Redlands has a distinct scent, something like wet grass mixed with dust and dry heatand some other chemicals. I'm not sure that I want to know what those chemicals are, though. Then, when we went into our room and I opened the dresser drawer to put in some clothes. I was flooded with more memories from the scent in the drawers! An amazing thing that sense of smell.

This summer when we were accepted as career staff, the Candidate Committee welcomed us with warm hugs and smiles and laughter. I felt like I was being welcomed home from a long journey. All of the staff in Redlands and around the world, that know my family, are like family to me. I can sit down with any of them and talk about old times, present times, and what the future might hold, just like I would do with my biological family. I guess that's the way it is in God's family.

Just the other evening, while we were speaking in a Sunday night service, I was overcome with a sense of pride and anticipation for what we will be involved with in Indonesia. How awesome to be able to serve other missionaries and help speed the Gospel of Christ in the jungles of Indonesia! That's what I want to do! That's where I feel right, not comfortable or thoroughly equipped, but 'YES, this is what's right for me right now. This is it. I want to be a part of this ministry to these people!' MAF is so cool! I love what we do! I know it won't be easy, but it's so awesome that we can spread God's love to these people, that the uncomfortable things don't matter.

That's the other thing that I love about MAF. ( I told you this was going to be random) There is an integral support system within the organization. You're not left out there on your own. If you need help, you can get it. If something goes wrong, there are people to help. If you have a problem, someone can help you fix it or cover you in prayer. They are doing that for us now. The support that the headquarters staff give to the rest of the staff is incredible. If any one in Redlands is reading this, THANK YOU for all that you do!

I could go on and on about the things that I love about MAF. Mostly, it's the people and how everyone really works together most of the time. We are human and not perfect. I'm not totally biased. No one is perfect, therefore no organization is perfect.

MAF as has a wonderful history of spreading the Gospel to the most unreached peoples on the planet. That's what it's all about. That all may hear and believe. That's MAF's passion and that's our passion. That's number one of many reasons why we chose to apply to MAF: My Other Family.

~ Laura

OUCH!

Wow. I had forgotten how sore ones arms can get after having vaccinations. Steve got sore before I did, but I felt the tiredness setting in before he did. We also found out that the Typhoid vaccine is only good for two years. I guess we'll have to get that while we're in Indonesia. Well, it hurts to type so this is going to be another short update.

Home in TN

We are now back in TN. We just got back here last night.

Arkansas

We are in Arkansas now. We have been here for about a week and a half now. We have been super busy speaking at several different churches. Thanks to everyone who has been so friendly and encouraging.