While God’s mercies are new every morning, changing our calendar is a great time to reflect on his love and provisions during the last twelve months and to look forward to his guidance and grace during the year that stretches out before us. Our family has been blessed in a special way during 2007. We were appointed career missionaries to the Czech Republic in February and embarked on a team building journey that has taken us to twenty churches in seven states and has put more than 12,000 miles on our odometer. More importantly, this journey has led us to many, many new friends and team members. God has shown himself strong and able to provide for the calling he gave us.2007 highlights
What a busy year this was! At the very beginning of 2007, Alan and Aimee attended the pastor’s conference called The Gathering in Orlando, Florida. It was a treat to catch up with many old friends. In February, we received official confirmation that we were appointed career missionaries with Global Partners (the Wesleyan Church). Our dream of serving God full-time in the Czech Republic was a very important step closer to being realized. At the end of February, we attended Missonary Orientation in Indianapolis. During this week we were welcomed into the Wesleyan missionary family and were briefed on the important aspects of team building.
In May, we participated in the missions conference at our home church, Heritage Wesleyan. This was our first activity at a church as official representatives of Global Partners. We enjoyed sharing with our friends and church family about the vision God has given us for ministry in the Czech Republic. Our summer was filled with similar engagements. God blessed us with many opportunities to share at district conferences, missions days, and church mission emphasis weekends.
In July, our whole family participated in EuroCamp 2007 in the Czech Republic. It isn’t easy traveling internationally on a short-term trip with three children, but it was invaluable for our kids to visit what will be their new home. It was wonderful to be able to tell our Czech friends that we will be moving there.
Alan finished up his seven-year service at Heritage Wesleyan Church at the end of September. We are grateful for the time that we spent as part of the staff at Heritage, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye. In October, we took a three-week trip to Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Canada, and Michigan. We visited several churches and were able to spend some time resting and playing together as a family. By the second week of November, we had reached 50% of our needed pledged funds. This was a great encouragement to us.
What a busy year this was! At the very beginning of 2007, Alan and Aimee attended the pastor’s conference called The Gathering in Orlando, Florida. It was a treat to catch up with many old friends. In February, we received official confirmation that we were appointed career missionaries with Global Partners (the Wesleyan Church). Our dream of serving God full-time in the Czech Republic was a very important step closer to being realized. At the end of February, we attended Missonary Orientation in Indianapolis. During this week we were welcomed into the Wesleyan missionary family and were briefed on the important aspects of team building.
In May, we participated in the missions conference at our home church, Heritage Wesleyan. This was our first activity at a church as official representatives of Global Partners. We enjoyed sharing with our friends and church family about the vision God has given us for ministry in the Czech Republic. Our summer was filled with similar engagements. God blessed us with many opportunities to share at district conferences, missions days, and church mission emphasis weekends.
In July, our whole family participated in EuroCamp 2007 in the Czech Republic. It isn’t easy traveling internationally on a short-term trip with three children, but it was invaluable for our kids to visit what will be their new home. It was wonderful to be able to tell our Czech friends that we will be moving there.
Alan finished up his seven-year service at Heritage Wesleyan Church at the end of September. We are grateful for the time that we spent as part of the staff at Heritage, and it was bittersweet to say goodbye. In October, we took a three-week trip to Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Canada, and Michigan. We visited several churches and were able to spend some time resting and playing together as a family. By the second week of November, we had reached 50% of our needed pledged funds. This was a great encouragement to us.
We spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s with our families this year, knowing that we may not get to do that next year. We give thanks for the heritage that God has given us through our families.
Reflecting on this year
In order to begin our full-time ministry in the Czech Republic, we must build a prayer and financial support team. This team building process absorbed much of our time and attention in 2007. During the many hours we spent in our van, we frequently talked about what a joyful season this has been in the life of our family. It isn’t all easy or fun, but what an adventure it has been to step out in faith and follow God’s calling. It has truly been a privilege to spend time with many dedicated pastors and lay people, getting to know them and learning about their vision for their local churches and for the body of Christ worldwide. God has expanded our understanding of “ministry,” and we are so grateful.
God’s mercies have indeed been new every morning. Our health has been fairly good during this year, even through all our travel. We had no vehicle accidents, and the one mechanical problem we experienced “mysteriously” disappeared after we prayed. Financially, God has moved on the hearts of many we’ve spoken to, and at the writing of this letter, we are 68% funded! Hallelujah! All three of our children are doing well. Toby, 7, is a curious, energetic boy. He loves school, and thanks to a caring and flexible teacher, Toby has been able to keep up with his second grade class even though he’s missed several days of school. Benjamin, 5, is enjoying his second year of preschool. He is good at puzzles and is an affectionate guy, but he’s always ready to wrestle with his big brother. Katie will be two the first week of February. She is working on learning her brothers’ names right now, as she began to believe their collective name was “guys.” All three children have adapted well to traveling and to being in a different church nearly every weekend. This has been a significant benefit to Mom and Dad!
In order to begin our full-time ministry in the Czech Republic, we must build a prayer and financial support team. This team building process absorbed much of our time and attention in 2007. During the many hours we spent in our van, we frequently talked about what a joyful season this has been in the life of our family. It isn’t all easy or fun, but what an adventure it has been to step out in faith and follow God’s calling. It has truly been a privilege to spend time with many dedicated pastors and lay people, getting to know them and learning about their vision for their local churches and for the body of Christ worldwide. God has expanded our understanding of “ministry,” and we are so grateful.
God’s mercies have indeed been new every morning. Our health has been fairly good during this year, even through all our travel. We had no vehicle accidents, and the one mechanical problem we experienced “mysteriously” disappeared after we prayed. Financially, God has moved on the hearts of many we’ve spoken to, and at the writing of this letter, we are 68% funded! Hallelujah! All three of our children are doing well. Toby, 7, is a curious, energetic boy. He loves school, and thanks to a caring and flexible teacher, Toby has been able to keep up with his second grade class even though he’s missed several days of school. Benjamin, 5, is enjoying his second year of preschool. He is good at puzzles and is an affectionate guy, but he’s always ready to wrestle with his big brother. Katie will be two the first week of February. She is working on learning her brothers’ names right now, as she began to believe their collective name was “guys.” All three children have adapted well to traveling and to being in a different church nearly every weekend. This has been a significant benefit to Mom and Dad!
Looking forward to 2008
This year promises to be an unforgettable one for our family, as we anticipate moving to the Czech Republic during 2008. Several churches are already on our schedule for this winter and spring, and we are waiting for word from several more so that we can plan a visit. We are signed up to participate in Missionary Training Institute in June and July, and we then plan by faith to move during the middle of July.
Moving to Europe can be a complicated process, of course, and so we covet your prayers every day. We must continue building our prayer and financial support team, we must prepare our house and belongings for the transition, and we must secure the necessary legal documents to live in the Czech Republic. Please pray for wisdom, guidance, submission, and grace.
Please help us praise God for the way he is gathering a team around us. Please help us pray that our team would be completed so that we can move to the next stage of ministry.
This year promises to be an unforgettable one for our family, as we anticipate moving to the Czech Republic during 2008. Several churches are already on our schedule for this winter and spring, and we are waiting for word from several more so that we can plan a visit. We are signed up to participate in Missionary Training Institute in June and July, and we then plan by faith to move during the middle of July.
Moving to Europe can be a complicated process, of course, and so we covet your prayers every day. We must continue building our prayer and financial support team, we must prepare our house and belongings for the transition, and we must secure the necessary legal documents to live in the Czech Republic. Please pray for wisdom, guidance, submission, and grace.
Please help us praise God for the way he is gathering a team around us. Please help us pray that our team would be completed so that we can move to the next stage of ministry.
Thanks to you!
We are so grateful for your commitment to lift our family up in prayer. God has shown us more and more the importance of prayer as we travel this road. We need financial support, to be sure, but all the money in the world matters little if we do not have God’s hand guiding us. Thank you for interceding for us and for the Czech people.
We are so grateful for your commitment to lift our family up in prayer. God has shown us more and more the importance of prayer as we travel this road. We need financial support, to be sure, but all the money in the world matters little if we do not have God’s hand guiding us. Thank you for interceding for us and for the Czech people.
Giving:
If you feel God prompting you to give, you can visit www.praygivego.com. Click on "Give," then on "Become a Financial Partner."
If you feel God prompting you to give, you can visit www.praygivego.com. Click on "Give," then on "Become a Financial Partner."
Schedule:
January 27 Fall Creek Wesleyan Church, Fishers, IN
February 3 Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, Marion, IN (p.m. service)
January 27 Fall Creek Wesleyan Church, Fishers, IN
February 3 Brookhaven Wesleyan Church, Marion, IN (p.m. service)
Photos:
To see more photos, click on http://picasaweb.google.com/alanaimee/Holiday2007.
We believe that they will enjoy living in the Czech Republic. Toby has asked some insightful questions about his part in our ministry, and we have encouraged him that he is a part of the team. Thank you for your prayers!
