A Day Hike

Had the privilege of taking a day hike this past week with an Agnostic and a Buddhist. Beautiful souls each one. Was able to share from the Old and New Testaments about God's promise to provide for our future. 

Fall 2011 in pictures

Josiah joined dad and the students for a day-hike at Pilot Mountain.

Brothers

We spoke at the First Assembly missions convention in Des Moines Iowa in October. One night included getting to share with the youth around the bonfire.

We find that miracle-gro works best

Worship at the SALT conference in Jacksonville, FL over New Years. Approximately 275 student leaders from universities across the Southeast attended in order to gain more training in reaching their campuses.

Happy New Year from the Tarheel State

       It has been a busy Fall here in Chapel Hill, getting setup and reaching students at the University of North Carolina (UNC). We moved into our new home just as Fall classes were starting at UNC. Joe has been meeting with students and partnering with the university on different projects. He meets each week one-on-one with the student leaders, in addition to staff meetings and Large Group services in the Student Union.We had 15 volunteers from Chi Alpha (XA) as we co-sponsored Safe Halloween with the university. Mishael has coordinated the whole family. Between the ministry, school, football, Elijah, moving, and hosting students, we’re not sure how she has managed!

New house, new school, new friends

       After an exhaustive two-month search, God blessed us with a great house to live in just 15 minutes from the university. We’ve already hosted multiple get-togethers in our new home.

       We moved in August 23rd. The next day Josiah started school. He is doing very well at Parkwood Elementary, where he received a first quarter achievement award in Math. He also played his first season of tackle football with the Durham Eagles, starting at center and defensive end.

       Elijah is proving he can hold his own with any age group, and is growing like a weed. He likes to help mom make and clean up messes. 

       In addition to home life, the family has done outings with students, including a day hike at Pilot Mountain and ice-skating. We still have pictures to hang and walls to paint, but God is already doing much.

Thank you for reaching out

       In addition to reaching out to non-believers, we are struck by how crucial it is to stand with young Christians on our campus for the very first time. Struggling to find their identities and boundaries, many are finding comfort and answers in the fellowship of Chi Alpha. Thank you so much for partnering with us, placing us in the midst of this generation at UNC.

The UNC gang at Fall Retreat in Nags Head, NC

Campus-wide Christmas Service at UNC

This was a Christmas worship night at the Methodist church on campus at UNC. Between 300-and 400 students from all the campus ministries joined in song, prayer and purpose to celebrate Jesus.

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to you all. We are so very thankful to God for this wonderful gift of life. May the peace of this season be yours today and every day.

Taking The Plunge!

Over Fall Break we were thrilled to minister with the Triangle XA team on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Students from four universities (North Carolina, NC State, Duke, UNC-Greensboro) made the trek. The highlight of the trip was by far the Sunday morning service on the beach. Despite rough seas, five students made their public profession of Christ through baptism.

Loading the trailer?

North Carolina bound!  
    We are thrilled to announce that we are moving to North Carolina June 7th! Thank you all very much for your generosity and prayers. We will be staying with Joe’s mom while looking for a house. Arriving in June will give us the summer to get settled and acclimated before the beginning of the school year.
    God has given us a word for the campus--Revelation. Our expectation is for supernatural encounters in many forms across the campus and the community.
    Please also join with us in prayer for a safe journey, a fruitful search for a home, and a smooth transition.

Elijah turns two, Josiah headed for 2nd grade
Although Elijah turned two years old on May 12th, he seems to have leapfrogged size-wise to being a four year old. At three feet tall and 31 pounds he is a little ahead of the curve for children his age. He loves to chase birds and tackle his brother as much as possible.
    Josiah has just finished the second grade. He has really thrived at school. He finished the year above grade level in a number of subjects. He still loves NASCAR and football, and is looking forward to “surfing” at the beach this summer.

The boys' attempt at packing

Celebrating Easter

Still not too late to join the UNC-XA team

March Update

       It has certainly been a very chaotic few weeks here and around the world. From the Middle East to Japan, to snow in Tucson, life seems to be shaking. As a family we continue towards our goal of moving to Chapel Hill in June. We launched the 30/20 club on Facebook yesterday as we seek 30 partners to join with us at $20/month. This would complete our budget and allow us to begin ministering at UNC full time. If anyone knows someone whom they might refer us to, we would be happy to meet with them and share in person more of what God is doing in North Carolina at the nation's oldest public university.

       We have purchased a trailer for the move and started packing boxes, creating a small amount of good chaos around our house. Joe returned from a fruitful fund raising trip to North Carolina on Feb 10th only to fall ill with pneumonia for two weeks.
       The boys are getting VERY tall. Josiah just finished his football season with the Steelers and did very well. Elijah continues to develop his personality. Translation: He is loud and full of energy. We celebrated our 13th wedding anniversary on March 7th with a sushi dinner. Amazing how fast time goes when you're in love.
       Our shipment of personal items from South Africa has cleared customs in New York, and is headed overland to North Carolina. Step by step we are getting closer. Josiah finishes first grade on May 26th. It is our goal to move soon thereafter.