LEAVING OUR NETS BEHIND

I will be going in for Roux-en-y gastric bypass surgery tomorrow (April 12) at Upstate Medical Center.  This is a tool to help me lose weight and keep it off.  It is not a guarantee, a quick fix, or permanent solution.  It is a tool, and like any tool, needs to be used properly to be effective.  I am thankful for the process that has brought me to this point.  It has been humbling to realize that I needed “extra” help in losing weight and that if I wanted to see long-term success I would have to ask for that help.  I am thankful for my wife, family, and friends who have cheered me on and supported me through this undertaking.

I know that there will be difficult days and even weeks ahead.  I have no illusion that this will be a piece of cake (which by the way Christa made one this past weekend and it was good!)  I will be 39 years old later this month.  I trust the next 39 will be at a healthy weight.

I look forward to being a little smaller when I board the plan in May to go to Mozambique and even a little smaller when I board the plane for India in July.  I will keep you posted.

In 2008 we reduced our belongings to 8 bags and a few carry-ons.  We gave away the rest, sold it, or stored a few things in the basement of family.  We left the home our kids had known for the first two years of their lives, boarded a plane, and arrived in Mozambique, Africa asking the question, “where will we live when we return to the States?”  It was such a freeing question.  Since then we have lived in 5 different homes.  We have been blessed and thankful for each one.  We have lived “free” in a mission home, rented in Mozambique, and have rented the past 2 and a 1/2 years next to the Syracuse Airport while we have been in the States.

We are thankful to each of our supporters who enable us to awaken, equip, and mobilize college students to serve the poor of this world.  We now have an office in North Syracuse at Driver’s Village to facilitate this ministry.  As the internship program continues to expand at Children’s Relief International we are excited about the future.

As our time in the States is critical to this work we felt it was best to have our own home.  With the help of family and friends we have purchased a home in North Syracuse.  We are thankful for God’s provision in our lives.  May our home be a place of peace and comfort.  May our doors welcome friends, family, neighbors, and strangers.  May our home be used to serve the needy, abandoned, and forgotten.

You are welcome in our home.

Our home!

We took a break from recruiting for a couple of hours today and headed up the mountain to the lodge. Aidan was excited to take his first skiing lesson and Ava wanted to do some tubing. It was 55 degrees and no snow! Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre offers skiing, snowboarding, and tubing year round. Here are a few pictures and videos for your viewing pleasure.

Getting the equipment.

Getting set.

Pull your own tube.

Ice Cream to finish the day.

It was a good day!