"Amazing Grace..."

It's Sunday and it truly has been a day of rest. We went to a wonderful worship service at a church near the Mercy Ships Campus. What a blessed way to close off one week and prepare for the next. Yesterday we capped off a soul searching couple of days in the Word by doing a silent retreat. We went to a local park, and we (the Gateway class) all went in our own direction for an extended period of quiet time in the Word, Prayer and listening for God's Voice. It is exciting spending 3 1/2 hours alone with God, no cell phone, no ipod, no nothing but you and God, what an invigorating experience.

The family just got back from a swim and I (Mike) started thinking back over the last two months. It is truly amazing what God can do. Ten short weeks ago (in Washington) we had a thought of possibly going to Mercy Ships in a year to two. Today as we look forward (from Texas) it is only 5 weeks and we will be on board Africa Mercy. Most of the hard things are done, personal belongings in storage, the house leased out, the Explorer sold, personal business tied up, addresses changed, good-byes to family and friends, and 3,000+ miles safely traveled. God pulled many people together to accomplish this what we feel is an amazing feat. There is some things yet to be done, the drive back to Washington, the sale of the Freestyle, and the flight to Benin, Africa (24 hours). Oh, there is still support to raise, both monthly and for the tickets to Benin, but Deb and I have a peace about what God can and we know will do by touching the hearts of others to help us in His service.