Blessed are the Flexible

Life is full of change - when we entered the whirlwind adventure of our Missionary journey, Rhonda and I were turned upside down and inside out. We went from meticulous planners to "roll with the punches" schedule adjusters. Sure we still make plans - we always will but - sometime we make them thinking - Oh sure - like this will ever happen this way!

Overview of the CHANGES in this last year:

• June 2006 - Complete 16th year of Ministry at Cadillac Assembly of God - tearful goodbyes - Big Change
• July 2006 - Attend Missionary Training - 6 weeks with the 4 of us living in 2 dorm rooms - Big Change
• July/August 2006 = Begin Itineration (travel to raise support and awareness for our ministry in Ethiopia, Africa) Speaking/Preaching in a different church every week. Big Change
• September/ October 2006 - Work heavy on Masters Class assignments. "how do you cite a website in a footnote" - the last time I footnoted anything there was no Internet! - Big Changes.
• November/December 2006 - I Realize that many churches don't schedule Missionary guests over the "holidays" - Big Change - (Realize that God is faithful and he has given me good friends who helped me out but giving me a "pulpit" to speak from - yes even on Christmas eve! - Big Changes
• January/ February 2007 - About this time I realized that raising the money and prayer supporters that are necessary for ministry in Africa is not only HARD WORK - but I also realize that it will take LONGER than I thought. Big Changes
• March 2007 - Sometimes our plans don't work out like we thought. Our "plan" was to move my parents from Pittsburgh to Cadillac and when their house had and offer after just a few days on the market we were Thrilled - only to find out that having an offer and selling a house are not the same! - Deal falls through - Big Change of Plans..........(ongoing)
• April 2007 - New Plan - Ethiopia is no longer an option - We have prayed and know that our new field of Ministry will be Burundi - (Be honest - you probably did not even know it was in Africa) - Big Huge - Whopper of a Change - new country (yes that is a big change)
• May 5 - 2007 - meet with "new" team leader - discuss RAISING budget for ministry in Africa by $250 per month - WOW - what a big change - scary to......(see January 2007)
• May 7 - 2007 - New team leader calls to Say - we will NOT be raising your budget! GREAT NEWS - This is a Big Change - (but not for long)
• May 25 - Hear from the Benevolent Bureaucracy - the budget increase will NOT be $250 per month - but over $1000 per month more - WOW - that is a huge change!
• June - It begins to sink in that the same God who would help us raise our other budget is going to help us raise our new and improved (much higher) budget. - Big Change (in attitude)
• Ongoing - It is all about being flexible - we knew it long ago and we are living it every day -

Blessed are the Flexible - For they shall NOT BE BROKEN!

No matter what changes next!!!!!