Major Update!

It always amazed me how much things can change in just one week!
The Lord has decided it's time to prove to us He'll "...open up heaven itself to you and pour out blessings beyond your wildest dreams."  Malachi 3:10

We have now been invited to Greater Europe Mission's Candidate Orientation October 29-November 5 in Colorado. We were told that this week has 5 goals:

• Learn more about Greater Europe Missions
• Become better acquainted with the staff and they with us
• The acceptance process will be complete
• The placement process will be complete or underway
• Steps to the field will begin

Not only will we be leaving for Dublin at the end of next week, but we now need to prepare for a week's trip at the end of October. I'll be honest in saying we are overwhelmed, but we are also so very joyous!
Here are some new things we ask prayer for:

1. That this new trip will be funded. We need to cover plane tickets, a rental car, and orientation fees. All this will be approximately $2000, not to mention the week of lost wages Ruel will have by taking off work. Our budget does not allow for any wiggle room even under normal circumstances, so the Lord is really going to have to provide here. 
2. My health. I've really taken a turn for the worse lately. Please pray for healing. There is nothing Dr's under our insurance company can do, so the Lord will have to be my Physician. 
3. Calm. There is so much we have to do to get ready for Candidate week. Pray we can get it all done without too much stress.

Thank you for praying for us and join us in this amazing journey the Lord has allowed us to embark upon. You are our brothers and sisters, and we love you!

Praise To The Lord, The Almighty

Praise to the Lord
Who o'er all things so wonderfully reigneth
Shelters thee under His wings
Yea, so gladly sustaineth
Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been
Granted in what He ordaineth
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, Joachim Neander, 1680




God has used music to speak to me so often in my life. This morning in worship as we sang an old familiar song, I was comforted once again...


In the last few weeks, I've struggled with my faith in knowing what He has called our family to. To me, Ireland is one of those, "It's too good to be true, so it must not be for me..." things. I have inexplicably loved those people from a for all my life. It was one of those random passions I chalked up to one of my vivid idiosyncrasies: I love Irish stuff. Why? I could never explain.


This morning as I asked God once again to please not break my heart in this and take it from me as quickly as possible if I had pushed my desires above His own, the next lines I sang were Him speaking directly to me...
(Yes, I often am praying over things as I sing....)


Hast thou not seen how thy desires e'er have been, granted in what He ordaineth?


Oh thank you Father for creating me to so desperately love my work for you.

Will I struggle with doubt until we move there? Yes. I know how weak I can be.
Will I let it stop me? NO.
How can I? He wonderfully reigns over all things and has sheltered and provided for me under His the protection of His wing. He Has planted the desires in my heart so He can delight in granting them to me.

Oh...., and for the cherry-blessing on top?
We were given a large donation to the trip after the service. :)