Bloom Where You Are Planted

Bloom where you are planted.  Have you ever heard this phrase?  I can remember as a little girl seeing that phrase hanging on a plaque in our kitchen.  Back then I was pretty indifferent about the message.  My days were filled with mud pies, sail boats on the Chesapeake, lighting bugs, and time with my best friend.  My life was good, my heart was happy and I felt secure.  Just the other day I saw this message again, but this time as an adult...who has been planted in a place that is definitely not my choosing.   

I know many of you are wondering (since I have been absent in my blog for several weeks) about the outcome of Ryan's trip to Thailand.  Are we being asked to jump into full time missions in Chiang Mai?  The answer was no, not full-time.  We are so thankful that the Lord was clear and for your prayers on our behalf.  Though Jesus was very clear, it was extremely hard for Ryan to accept the first few days as his heart had been captured by the girls at the orphanage and to be honest, we were ready for the transplant to our next garden!  Our friends did get the green light and are raising support to go full-time.  If you are interested in hearing more about their family and ministry, please visit destinedtraveler.com. We hope to take our family, and maybe a team, over to help with the fish pond project so the girls can have a larger income stream for the orphanage.

And so we continue to live in the garden of waiting.  Though much of my happy comforts have been stripped away, Jesus has taken us into deep soils.  I fought Him on this and I'm sure I will still have my days, but I now see His goodness in placing us here.  The garden of waiting is filled with the deep soil of His presence, His love, and His faithfulness.  We long to absorb these truths and be transformed by them.  To the praise of His glorious grace.  Please continue to pray for us as we watch and listen and hopefully learn to follow Jesus wherever we are.  To bloom where we are planted.  At least I am hearing the message now.

"When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.

Yet I am always with you;
You hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterwards you will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And earth has nothing I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:21-26

"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord, you must continue to live in obedience to Him.  Let your roots grow down into Him and draw up nourishment from Him, so you will grow in faith, strong and vigorous in the truth you were taught.  Let your lives overflow with thanksgiving for all He has done."
Colossians 2:6-7

Home Again!

Just a few pics...

Highlight of Ryan's trip:

Breanna's House of Joy--42 girls live here.

These girls left a mark on Ryan's heart!

1,2,3...Jump!

Have you ever been sitting poolside only to hear the sound of a parent trying to coax their little guy into jumping?  I observed this phenomenon several weeks ago and it caught my attention.  The child was perched on the edge of the pool looking out at the giant body of water as he contemplated what was before him.  I wondered what was going through his head.  "Will I be able to swim... how will the water feel... this feels scary...will I be able to do it?"  Watching this dad reminded me of my own experience with one of my daughters who fought her own fear of the water.  "1,2,3...jump!"  It sounds encouraging enough, but how does this phrase help a child take a giant leap of faith into a brand new experience?  Come on, do those three seconds really give enough time to prepare for a jump like this?  I was suddenly curious as to the significance and power of this chant.

 I believe that right now we are the ones on the edge of the pool.  Tomorrow my husband, Ryan leaves for Thailand for 10 days.  Wow.  He leaves with his friend Matt and they go with the intent of looking and listening to their Dad, to see if He is calling our families to move and minister to the people of Chiang Mai.  They will visit an orphanage full of at risk girls who are rescued from a life of prostitution and given a life of love and security.  They will visit with missionaries and attend a conference for national pastors. 
They are jumping in as their Dad encourages them from the pool. 
For me it is definitely a leap of faith as I look out at a very new experience of moving half way around the world.  We would so appreciate your prayers for the guys to hear clearly, and for health and safety while they are away.  Our hearts miss Ryan so much when he is gone, so please keep us in your prayers as well.  The girls and I will be traveling to Nebraska to visit my brother and then to Iowa to visit our dear (and very missed) friends Terry and Michelle Brands.  Jessica's heart is really, really looking forward to seeing her best friend Sydney!!

I am aware that parents don't encourage their children to jump only to abandon them to the possibility of drowning.  They count "1,2,3 jump" because they know their kids need a defined moment and an encouragement to take a leap of faith.  The child knows when to jump and they also know their mom or dad is there to catch them.  Jesus knew my heart needed to watch a loving father encouraging his child to jump.  He knew I needed to be reminded that He is in the pool, He is the One counting and most importantly, He is the One who is going to catch us. 
I'll be sure to keep you posted on the pool and the swimming lessons!