Even as I write those words I find my self having a hard time letting them sink in, yet God has called us, and we are going!
A little bit of back story. Back in 2007/08 Joel and I went into Youth With a Mission (YWAM) to do our Discipleship Training School (DTS). As most of you know, that is where he and I met. During our time with YWAM we had the opportunity to go on outreach to Afghanistan. Out of the 80+ students and 30+ staff at our base, our team had a total of 5 students and 2 staff. Two of those teammates were Josh and Ruth.
Unbeknownst to all of us at that time, Joel and I would end up getting married a year later in 2009 and Josh and Ruth would also end up getting married. Josh and Ruth have continued to work with YWAM these past 5 years, staffing and leading DTS' themselves. They have also continued to travel all around the world bringing the truth of God to the nations.
Fast forward to January 2013. Josh and Ruth were in town visiting Josh's family (small world huh?), so we were able to meet up with them for coffee. Just a few short hours later, after hearing about the vision God has placed in the lives of Josh and Ruth, Joel and I began to seriously ponder if this could be God's next calling in our lives. Josh and Ruth have been called to start a YWAM base in Venice FL and with a flutter of excitement in our hearts that night, God began to show us that this is what we have been waiting for. Hours of prayer later, and after meeting with our Pastor and getting the prayer support from family and several good friends we feel confident that this is what God has in store for us next.
So, with that said, coming just a few short weeks away, Joel and I will be packing up our lives in the pacific Northwest and traveling to Florida to begin this new adventure. We are both excited and humbled that God would call us to join in this great task- and to be able to once again fulfill the calling that He has placed in both our hearts to be in missions. What an awesome God we serve!
While neither of us feel worthy, we feel that is the best place to start and we are continually praying "Lord, let not my will, but Thine be done."
The details:
Where: Venice, Florida… exact location TBD.
What: To know God and to make Him known.
Who: Currently there are around 10 staff.
When: Joel and I will be moving beginning the first week in March, we plan to visit my family in NC along the way and be in Florida around the first week in April.
How you can participate:
Pray(!) for us and for our team:
Prayer Points:
• Housing- currently we are looking for a residence that will house about 10 staff members so that we can begin to develop relationships among the team and become unified and focused on what God is calling us to do.
• Relationships- Opportunities to grow relationships with surrounding churches/community during the first few months of living in Florida.
• Josh and Ruth- they are moving from Germany and are expecting their first child in June- prayer for strength and wisdom as they move in the direction God has called them.
• Joel and I- as we begin to pack up our lives here and make this transition, also for safety during our drive across country.
Financial Support:
• If you feel led, please become a part of our support team. YWAM is a volunteer-based mission organization, so we will not be receiving a salary but rather depending on financial support from our friends, family, communities and churches. The great thing about this is that it is a opportunity for others to join us in the work God has called us to do as well as strengthening our dependence in Him! At this time, we are completely at a loss as to how to begin fund raising but are trusting that God will provide we we need it as He always does!
If you would be interested in partnering with us please email us at joelandcarrie09@gmail.com to get information on how you can be a part of our team.
"How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,Who bring glad tidings of good things!” "
-Romans 10:14-15
Join with us in prayer as we start this exciting new adventure!
Love,
Joel and Carrie
