Six Months In...

Hi everyone!

I'm posting this as a blog as well as an email update for the month. Today marks exactly 6 months since the day we left the U.S. Its been quite an experience so far. It's amazing to me that it's already been that long, but some days it seems we've been here forever. I will be completely honest and admit that, for me, this has been and continues to be an incredibly difficult journey. For anyone who has visions of foreign mission work as being some exciting adventure in culture and getting to see different lands full of amazing sights while sharing Jesus with people who willingly accept him, let me just say that that is more of the dream than reality. We are finding that mission work is difficult and messy. It's definitely not easy, and when it comes to being involved with a family, it's even more stressful. It's hard work, and little family time. We find that we have many acquaintances, and great people that we work with, but we have missed having friends- close friends that we can confide in and just have those real and honest conversations. It's hard to explain how isolated we can feel, and yet be in the midst of so many people. So I guess this is a prayer request for us, and a glimpse of reality for you back home.

Having said that, this is not a pity party!! We have seen so much in the past six months. We learned that our calling and mission here is even more than ministering to the kids who reside at the CORM village. We get to be examples to almost 180 local kids at the school everyday.   There are half a dozen or so local guys who work on the projects going on here every day, and they watch us. We sometimes interact with parents of the school kids, and they watch us.  We've had over 100 volunteers and interns come to CORM since we have been here! Some have stayed for a month, some for a couple weeks, and some for only a day or two. We know that while some have been here because they have sensed God's calling and have been obedient to that, there have been many who were not believers, and have come because of education requirements or humanitarian efforts. And they watch us. I am continually reminded that our mission here is not as pinpoint focused as we might think. 

God continues to do amazing things here, and we get to be a part of it, even if only in a small way. But our involvement here has an impact on the kingdom that we can't even begin to see. Those who are on the periphery of our focus here- the volunteers that come, the families that are affected by what happens here, and you, our family and friends who support us with your giving or with prayer, all are being impacted by what God is doing. If we could see the big picture, I think we would all be amazed. 

In this is my challenge to you. Even as God shows us that this ministry is more than what we might think, so also is your impact on others around you in your ministry...in your life. People are watching you. Make sure your actions and words reflect what God wants. That is part of YOUR ministry!

As far as new things to update you on, one thing is that Dawn and I are excited about Caylan's recent engagement! On one hand, it's difficult to be so far away from her during an exciting time in her life, but we also feel so grateful for the way God has been working in her life. Her fiancé, Matt, is a great guy who we absolutely believe is part of God's plan for Caylan.

This also means we will be traveling home sometime around March or April of 2014. This will obviously create a need for travel expenses, and we would be grateful for any help with that. It also means we will get to spend some time with as many of you as possible, and share more about our ministry here!

Also, we would ask that you be in prayer as later this month we will have a group that will be traveling to the Lake Volta region, and the plan right now is that we will bring back two young boys who have been working on the lake as slaves for the last few years. In addition, work will continue there to locate and free other children. It is a process that requires patience, which is difficult when you see so many children being mistreated. At this point, I don't know for sure who all will be going on this trip, but will update as soon as we do.

School is going well, and a new missionary family has joined us. The Ochs family from Tennessee has 3 girls in high school, so along with the Beebe family and our girls, there are 10 American kids at the school now.

We will be celebrating Katie's 15th birthday, along with a couple of the other kids here at CORM, so this Saturday will be birthday celebration day. The kids always look forward to that!

Again, at risk of sounding repetitive, we are so blessed to be a part of Gods plan here, and you are too! Thanks for all your prayers!

Cayle, Dawn and girls