Hello and Welcome to a Very Special Announcement!
Hey there! Our family has been in prayer and consideration for a while now, and we feel as though everything has finally clicked into place. Honestly, we never set out to make a huge leap like this; we expected much smaller shifts in a few disparate areas of life to kind of ‘hedge us in’ for a new lifestyle after all we’ve faced in the last year, but God has definitely shifted everything in a majorly different direction. Together, we’re stepping into a new adventure, and we’re thrilled to share it with you.
A Year of Ups, Downs, and God’s Calling
Our journey to this moment has not been peaceful; we have not gone gently into this good night. The most challenging year of our lives unraveled all over us (and honestly, pretty well unraveled us), and left us lying in the floor asking “what on earth are we supposed to do now?” If you haven’t been close to us, allow me to summarize:
- August 2022: My mother-in-law is diagnosed with breast cancer in Kenya, where she and her husband are missionaries.
- September 2023: My mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brother-in-law return to the States, moving in with us, to pursue medical treatments for Leah.
- April 2023: My brother-in-law gets himself in legal trouble; we discuss alternative living situations if things don’t change. Meanwhile, my mother-in-law experiences a major downturn.
- June 2023: My father-in-law has a major stroke while caring for his wife. He is hospitalized for 3 weeks and in rehab for 2 weeks.
- August 2023: Five days after my father-in-law comes home, my mother-in-law passes away.
- September 2023: My brother-in-law is in greater trouble and must be removed from our home.
Today: my father-in-law remains with us. We go to the gym together 3x a week, continuing physical and occupational therapy until he is ready to return to Kenya.
In the midst of all of this, my wife and I have pressed in to God’s will heavily. We begged for healing, we begged for changed hearts, we begged for peace and rest. We had numerous family members flying and driving in and out of Texas to be with them and to be with us. We have had hundreds of conversations about how best to love and support them, and now that all of that is behind us… what do we do with our lives? What’s our ministry now? How can we support my father-in-law in Kenya if it takes us 3-5 days to get there if something happens? God, what’s Your best plan for our family moving forward?
The Turning Point: When God Calls You to Move
Our call to mission didn’t come out of the blue. It’s been a whisper growing louder with each passing day. Despite facing the toughest year of our lives, the direction we needed to take became clearer. It wasn’t just about moving; it was about following a call that would reshape our family’s purpose.
Through prayer, reflection, and many conversations (with God, with friends and family, and with each other), we realized that our hearts were being pulled somewhere overseas. At first, we considered copy+pasting our current ministry and family dynamic into England; if I could find a Worship Leader position in the UK, we could have family healthcare that would continue to support my father-in-law when he’s not on the mission field. American healthcare is so unbelievably expensive; we agreed that we either need to be somewhere where healthcare is socialized or somewhere where healthcare is cheap. Remember, we’re still helping the Kenyan mission field while all of this is happening. We paid a hospital bill for a woman with AIDS who had stomach ulcers and needed to be treated for both. She was hospitalized for 3 weeks, and her final bill was $170. Our family needs healthcare in that price range.
The idea of stepping into this new role felt overwhelming, yet right. But here’s the catch: we knew we couldn’t just pack up and go. There were practicalities to consider, preparations to be made, and many significant transitions ahead.
Why South Africa? Unpacking God’s Plan for Us
The path to answering God’s call led us to an unexpected revelation: South Africa. But why South Africa, you might wonder? It came down to a series of signs, research, and a strong sense of guidance. We had already detemined that living closer to Kenya would make short trips more feasible, allowing us to support the mission there while also being able to return to the States for my own family as needed. After all, watching my wife caring for her family called attention to the fact that my own parents are around her parents’ age. While we hope and pray for their good health and longevity, age is a factor that must be considered. How and where can we go, to be effective for the Lord’s plans and purposes, while also being able to serve both of our extended families? South Africa ticks almost every one of those boxes.
After diving deep into prayer and research, we stumbled upon a missions agency that felt like a perfect fit for our family. They required a series of preparations, including theological training and practical courses on living and working in mission fields—everything from financial planning to family safety.
The Road Ahead: West Virginia, Training, and Preparations
Here’s where our journey takes a practical turn. To meet the requirements and prepare for our mission, we need to relocate back to West Virginia; most of the hands-on training that we’ll need to take is in Pennsylvania, and we’ll have months (if not a year or more) of fundraising to do. Having helped run a successful traveling ministry from the hills of WV before, I am very familiar with WV being a solid home base for visiting churches on the East Coast, in the South, and in the American Midwest. Of course, this move brings its own set of challenges and uncertainties, from finding a place to live to securing jobs that offer the flexibility we need for our training and fundraising efforts.
The thought of leaving Texas is bittersweet. We love our home, our church, and our community here. Yet, the call to serve in South Africa brings a sense of peace and purpose that surpasses the fear of the unknown. Everything here is great, even excellent! But for us, everything in South Africa is perfect. West Virginia, with all its challenges, is the bridge between where we are and where we’re meant to be.
Embracing the Unknown with Faith and Determination
As we stand on the brink of this life-changing leap, it’s not without its fears and reservations. The thought of stepping away from familiar ground, embarking on intensive training, and diving into fundraising is daunting. Yet, in the midst of these challenges, we’re reminded that God is sovereign. He’s led us here for a reason, and we trust Him to guide us through every step of this journey.
A Heartfelt Request for Your Support and Prayers
As we prepare for this transition, we covet your prayers and support. This journey isn’t just about us; it’s about answering a call to serve a community in need, to spread God’s love, and to make a difference in a way that only He can. We covet whatever support you can provide. A phrase that I’ve learned in my current church that I love is that “God asks all of us to serve, and service can be found in your Time, your Talents, and your Treasure.” In other words, we need help in prayer, we need help in the things you can do well that we can’t, and we need help in the form of cheerful giving that enables us to go. Whatever you can do with your Time, Talent, and Treasure that helps us reach the people we’re called to reach… whatever you can do, we’re excited to talk with you about it!
Thank you for being part of this journey with us. It’s been a long road behind, and there’s a longer road ahead. Furthermore, the road ahead is pretty narrow. We need your encouragement and support for the journey. Thank you!
With love,
Joe
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