Hello everyone,
The last few months have been a whirlwind as we've prepared for our family's transition back to the U.S. and for Roca Norte's transition into a new season with new leadership. All of it has been leading up to these days. Last week, our family said goodbye to our house in Chihuahua and headed for the border. God had been so good to us by working out many of the details involved in the move--from calling a new pastor to serve in the church to selling our vehicles to finding homes for our dogs to many other things large and small. God is so good! After arriving to El Paso, we loaded up the U-haul and the van and headed for Colorado. We arrived exhausted but thankful for all that God has done. We spent the last week very busy as we unpacked and began getting situated in our new home.
But before we could get too comfortable, we hit the road again today. I'm currently writing this from a hotel room, back in El Paso again. Tomorrow morning, we plan to cross the border, heading back to Chihuahua for the weekend. To help with the transition of the church and to praise the Lord for all He's done and all He has in store, we're having a special transition service. Pastor Jose and his family weren't able to arrive to Chihuahua until this week, so we waited to do the service until now. It will be his first service as pastor of Roca Norte. My father-in-law, Miguel, (who also knows Pastor Jose and his wife Keyla well), will preach the sermon and pray over both of our families. It will be a special and emotional service.
Please join us in praising the Lord for His goodness to us and to the church throughout this transition process. Please also pray with us for the requests below as there are still very important needs that we are depending on God for (traveling details tomorrow, more health problems in the family and provision). Seriously, please check out the prayer requests and pray with us if you have a free minute or two. Thanks again for walking with us through all of this. We appreciate you so much.
-Tim, Priscilla, Josiah, Hannah & Abby
Eph. 3:20-21
Praise Reports
-God provided a pastor for Roca Norte--pastor Jose, his wife Keyla and their two sons Lemuel and Samuel arrive in Chihuahua this week!
-God helped us with the move to Colorado!
-God helped us sell both of our Mexican vehicles and provided us with an American van!
-God helped us find great homes for both of our dogs! -God has sent many people to help us and encourage us throughout this process!
Prayer Requests
-Continued prayer for the health situations of our family members--my mom Susan (cancer), my grandma Bonnie (cancer) and Priscilla's mom Aleyda (recovery from diabetic ketoacidosis).
-ALSO, we need to add another name to the list. My other grandma, Marty, is also experiencing major health problems. This week she didn't feel good so I took her to the Urgent Care. After finding problems with her EKG, they told her to go immediately to the ER. After spending the last few days in the hospital, they've found that she has A-fib in her heart. She also had to receive a blood transfusion and they believe she may have internal bleeding. Please pray for healing for my grandma and for wisdom for the doctors.
-For God's favor as we cross the border tomorrow. We need a visa for our new U.S. van and I need to get it using a temporary U.S. driver's license (the permanent one will arrive in the mail in a few weeks). We have everything we need legally but it all depends on the agent we encounter and how understanding they are. Pray we'd have wisdom with what to say and how to get the visa.
-For Jose and his family as they are also currently traveling through Mexico toward Chihuahua. Today they had a flat tire in the morning and car troubles in the afternoon. They only made it about half the way they were hoping due to the setbacks. Pray for traveling mercies, protection and that they would be able to arrive to Chihuahua tomorrow.
-For the transition of Roca Norte--that they would welcome Jose and his family with open arms and that the church would thrive moving forward.
-For God's provision for our family. Moving costs as well as other costs associated with the transition have been way more than we had hoped.
-For wisdom and guidance as far as the jobs Priscilla and I will have in Colorado.
-That our family would be able get back into a routine soon with the kids' school, work, bed-times, family-time, etc.