It is our final full week here in Arvada with the dear friends we have made in the last 2 1/2 years. I (Petra) officially hate this part! Saying good-bye that is.
Our experiences here have mainly been because of and for the people around us. And saying good-bye, well it's not easy. Of course we're looking on to the future. Of course we're excited for the realization of our dream. But we can't look forward without looking back.
Back to...
Phase 2...Living at the Schmitts...the birth of Lyric...Summer in Alaska...'Family Dinners'...Connor's basement dwelling...working with SOW...December 9th, 2008...working with Drama DTS...Our first house (rental)...Langes neighbors...summertime..taco night and So You Think You Can Dance...Snowboarding...the birth of Atticus...dinner at ours...
and all the moments inbetween.
Good bye dear friends. Thank you for being our family. Our home will always be yours too...whether we live a stone's throw or ocean away. The door will always be open.
Saying good-bye
1 month...
We're leaving Denver in 1 month...
It's getting pretty exciting.
Our month is crazy.
1. This week Ian's dad is coming in from England to visit and to meet his grandson Atticus
2. Next week it's MAJOR sorting of the house for the get-rid-of mostly everything Garage Sale next Saturday
3. Ian is going to the 24/7 prayer conference with Tyler and Garrett the 3 week of May
4. Last week of May is the final week for packing and good-byes.
Then it's Oklahoma for the summer and CHILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! after that
Details and Updates...
Sorry it's been a while since we have updated. Although I'm not too sure who all reads this blog yet, I know it will probably be where lots of people check on what we're doing when we're actually down South!
The last few weeks have been somewhat monumental in our journey! Here are a couple highlights...
1. Gained a new team member! Garrett Hendrey is going to be joining to join our long term team. This means we have 3 long term members (plus us) and 2 people coming on the scout trip.
2. Met with 2 potential supporters. One who is interested in supporting not only us as a family, but our ministry as well.
We are still waiting to hear back from our church in Tulsa concerning being sent out from them as missionaries, but anticipate that will come shortly.
Not much longer til the summer in Tulsa and then the Scout trip!
Still Praying
We are still praying. As the excitement in our hearts grows for our scout trip to South America our prayers are continuing and even increasing. We want the trip to be profitable and to take us to THE place we're supposed to be. We have been praying again...Argentina or Chile? North? South? East or West? There are so many things to consider and yet mostly we just want to be in the place God needs and wants us.
I was looking through pictures from our first trip together to Argentina and Chile...in early 2004! We were on our DTS outreach and it's hard to believe it's been 5 years. Just looking through those photos of the people and places we went reminded me again of why we are going. God loves them even more than we do which is hard to believe because our hearts are so full of love for the people of South America.
This week...in the spirit of preparing to go I made a traditional Argentine dish called Empanadas and dessert called Tortas Fritas. We had a couple of friends over and then watched Motorcycle Diaries (about Che Guevara). It was my first time making Argentine food, and it turned out alright but I will be glad to be able to eat the real thing soon!
Prayer Points: We really need to purchase our tickets for our flight soon! We want to be able to get them before the prices go up. We are praying for the means to be made available!
Giving thanks for: Ian has recently gotten some jobs doing graphic design for some people outside of YWAM
In Contact!
We got in contact with the YWAM base in Bariloche, Argentina! This is place we are feeling more and more drawn towards so its really exciting to hear back from them. Our first email was general, just letting them know who we are and our heart for Argentina. We will now begin our dialogue of details...
Other than that...
Weather in Colorado is unusually warm for February...this week the average high is about 58! The kids love it! Today we went to the park...in Colorado...in FEBRUARY!
Lyric's vocabulary is increasing daily. Today she started saying 'Here you go' when she hands us things. She also loves to give everyone high fives, or as she calls it..."pives" She is such a wonderful girl!
Atticus slept through the night for the first time Sunday night! I'm hoping for more repeats of that, although he only normally wakes once to eat so I'm not complaining. He's a super smiley little boy and it's adorable!
Ian and I are doing well...working to finish strong in our time here at the YWAM base in Denver. God is challenging us in our faith in him and it is a good journey to be on. We are starting to read "Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne as we thought it would be good food for thought in preparation for our Argentina life. We'll let you know thoughts about it as we read.
Giving thanks for: We have $600 towards our plane tickets to Argy! We are flourishing as a family! We are being blessed by random gifts!
Please Pray: Health in the cold/flu season! Continued good communication with our contacts in Argentina! To be able to purchase our plane tickets soon and have the $ to do so!
Welcome!
Welcome Friends and Family to our Blog!
Check back here for updates as we prepare to go to Argentina, as well as updates on our family and life!
-ian, petra, lyric and atticus
