On The Road
We are now on the road heading West. Our first planned stop will be in Colorado where we will be staying with Brooks’ dad and visiting friends and family. We are planning on meeting with people and talking in as many churches and small groups as possible. After about 3-4 weeks we will be leaving Colorado to go to Utah for the next few months to do the same thing, except we will be staying with Brooks’ mom. Please pray for safety as we travel and that everything will go smoothly. We are believing God for divine appointments and opportunities to speak. As we travel we will be updating the blog more regularly and posting information on our Facebook Page and Twitter accounts, so make sure to follow us. If you happen to be in either Denver, Colorado Springs, Salt Lake City, or any place in between, please let us know if we can get together. We would love to see as many people as possible, but our schedule will likely fill up fast. Thank you for praying and continually supporting us as we seek to raise support so that we can return to Africa and to RVA as soon as possible.
God Bless!
Just Another Day?
I wrote this a couple months ago and stumbled on it today. I had meant to post it then, but it seems equally viable today as I look out the window through the rain and bone chilling cold. The truth rings through even if the weather has changed! – Brooks
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I awoke early enough this morning to see the radiant reds and bright oranges that signaled the beginning of another day. I was awed by the beauty and simplicity of what I saw. When I thanked God for another beautiful sunrise, I was reminded of the reality that this was unique. No matter how closely it resembled something I’ve seen before, no matter how familiar in style, location, or color – this sunrise was individually created just for today! Wow.
The verse: “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad” reverberated through my mind. – It seems so simple, and yet so profound. It doesn’t matter how familiar it is – today is unique.
That got me thinking, of course. Just how that correlates to the life we are in right now. That each day, each moment – no matter how normal it seems, is still unique because it is a new, fresh time. It’s been strange coming back to the States, knowing how much we have experienced and recalling all that God did in, through, and around us while we were in Kenya, only to come back in a life and area that seems so ‘normal’ and routine and similar to what it was before we left. Don’t get me wrong, we are aware of the dramatic changes in some people’s lives and the economy, but life in general is still very similar – there’s high speed internet, consistent running water and electricity, food for the tables… but I digress.
Today, no matter where I am, no matter how familiar it seems, is new – a chance to continue good decisions or start afresh in what I choose to do or at least, choose to respond to each situation and moment. More importantly, today has new opportunities to learn more about whom God is (sounds easier than it actually is living it sometimes); to share what God is doing both in us and in Africa, and to enjoy the new moments of each day. We really are not guaranteed any time beyond what we are currently, in this moment living in – we’ve seen enough lives suddenly end when we least expect it to know that this is true. So, just how am I choosing to live today? With purpose, with adventure and wonder at what’s around me, with boredom at the monotony of a repetitive routine, with clarity of steps or at least faith that God will help to guide my feet if I cannot see where we’re going? The choice is mine, but it will affect more than just myself. The best memories as well as the greatest moments to share and minister to others often come at unexpected (and sometimes inconvenient) times – am I ready? Are you?
Today’s new – so what are we going to choose to experience today?!
Purposeful Passion!!!
What is your passion? Are you faithful pursuing it? Are you doing it on purpose? I am writing this as much for myself as I am for those that may read this. Being a full-time missionary requires a lot of work. When on the missions field, the missionaries life is filled and there is always more work to be done. There is always another outreach, a child to minister, students to teach, etc. Many times when on furlough though missionaries seem to get burnt out, and sometimes even lose sight that they are still on the missions field. (I know that this has happened with us.) What is important to remember is that even on furlough you are still engaged in full-time ministry. You must have a passion for what you are doing. You must perservere and press on toward the goal. Recently I have been working on a introduction packet to send out to churches. It has been a great experience and It has excited me again about everything we are doing. Please pray with us that as we begin to send these out that the will make an impact on those that receive them. Pray with us that doors to speak willbe opened. God knows everything we need and he will always provide.
Quick Note – God is our Source!!!
One of the lessons that God has been teaching me lately through many different avenues is that He must be the source of everything in our life. He is the source of the money that we need, He is the source of health in our lives, and He should be the only one we look to for everything. As days get busy and we are now sharing our vision of going back to Africa with people everywhere we turn, it is a good reminder that God is a God of love and He will, “supply all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus”. As long as we keep our eyes focused on God and sharing about all the miraculous things He has done, He will provide.
Day To Day
I have enjoyed being back in the U.S. and reconnecting with lots of people. One of the things that I have noticed recently is how different day-to-day routines are here versus in Kenya. In Kenya I always seemed to be going constantly and was so grateful for the weekends so that I had a break for a few hours. Being engulfed in ministry makes for one busy life.
Since being back in the States, I have the opportunity on occasion to just sit, back, relax and enjoy my family. It is in times like these that I thank God for everything that He has done for me. I am so honored to have a wife that loves and understands me, kids who adore and want to play with me, and relatives and friends that love us and care deeply for us and our ministry.
My hope is, as we continue meeting friends and seeing new people throughout this year, that we will be able to reconnect in a way that is both meaningful and uplifting to God. My passion is for the Missionary Kids in Kenya at RVA and I want to see them become world movers and shakers. My prayer is that God would give me new and inventive ways of sharing with others so that they can see the passion that God has set inside of me.
May God richly bless you this day in all that you do.
- Rusty
