Hi everyone,
Hope all's well at home on Salt Spring Island. We were a little jealous of the snow back home. The kids were missing the snowmen, sledding, snowballs, etc...(so were Robin and I.) The other day we bought a $20 pool so the kids could stand to be outside in the sun without overheating. Talk about opposites!
Our life is a bit hectic here right now, we have until Wednesday, December 8th for our funds to come in for outreach. Currently we're still short nearly$5300. Yeah, I know, three days to go. Like I said in the title God is really stretching our faith right now. It's almost like the figure is so big that it does seem impossible for us to do alone. That way we need to rely on God only. He's been giving us great ideas for fundraising, the lemonade stand and then the bake sale. Robin baked 12 dozen goodies, mainly cookies for the Leonard Cohen concert just up the street from us. We sat at the end of our property and met the foot traffic coming off the main train station. What a good location. We made just over $530! The kids were amazing and really helped to open up conversations for us. It helped to conquer any fear of man that we may have had. People...bake sales don't make $500...only God's bake sales do. We just had one last night for the Jack Johnson concert and made another $200. We'll do the possible, He'll do the impossible.
Classes the past two weeks were on Lordship and Missions. Lordship was taught by a young guy from Seattle area who's 32 years old. He was really challenging for both of us. He said things that made people uncomfortable in a good way. He was definitely speaking through the Holy Spirit as he shared his love for Jesus! The Missions week was taught by an older missionary originally from New Zealand but who's moved to Turkey to work with the churches there. He really got into the Word with us and helped us see what we're all called to do. He shared with us how many people of the world hadn't heard of Jesus and where they lived, mainly in the 'ten-forty' window. He also helped us to realize what our call as a follower of Jesus really is.
Our camping trip was great for most of us. I (Aaron) got sick on the morning that we left and was laid up for most of the trip. Levi was sick too, but the girls had fun. We went on canoe trips and tried to swim as well. We saw a kangaroo at dusk with her joey down by the river. The amount of flies there was definitely unforgettable, you couldn't get away. The class played capture the flag at night and enjoyed an awesome relay race. The food was amazing. Unfortunately the following Tuesday our class had 10 people sick. It was fun though.
I really can't believe that we're almost done the lectures and that it's almost Christmas. Time has just flown by down here. The time here has been so precious for me, it's the most important period of my life. God's given me a second chance (again) to get my life right. He planned this trip from the beginning knowing how essential it was for our marriage. He's been revealing so much to me, tearing down shaky foundations of this world, and building new walls filled with truth and love. Old hurts and habits are being exposed and fixed. God's been sharing through others that what I've hid from for most of my life, that I'm called to be a leader. He's giving me more confidence and wisdom in how to lead my family as a man of God. The key for me, and all of us, is that we must only rely on God. I've learned over and over that my ways don't work. It only leads to destruction, no matter how good the intention is.
Please keep praying for us, first for outreach finances, next for healing in our marriage and wisdom in raising our kids. Also, safety in Mexico City, from the people there as well as the pollution.
I'm really excited for the next post to share how God provided the $ for us.
XO the Littles
Hope all's well at home on Salt Spring Island. We were a little jealous of the snow back home. The kids were missing the snowmen, sledding, snowballs, etc...(so were Robin and I.) The other day we bought a $20 pool so the kids could stand to be outside in the sun without overheating. Talk about opposites!
Our life is a bit hectic here right now, we have until Wednesday, December 8th for our funds to come in for outreach. Currently we're still short nearly$5300. Yeah, I know, three days to go. Like I said in the title God is really stretching our faith right now. It's almost like the figure is so big that it does seem impossible for us to do alone. That way we need to rely on God only. He's been giving us great ideas for fundraising, the lemonade stand and then the bake sale. Robin baked 12 dozen goodies, mainly cookies for the Leonard Cohen concert just up the street from us. We sat at the end of our property and met the foot traffic coming off the main train station. What a good location. We made just over $530! The kids were amazing and really helped to open up conversations for us. It helped to conquer any fear of man that we may have had. People...bake sales don't make $500...only God's bake sales do. We just had one last night for the Jack Johnson concert and made another $200. We'll do the possible, He'll do the impossible.
Classes the past two weeks were on Lordship and Missions. Lordship was taught by a young guy from Seattle area who's 32 years old. He was really challenging for both of us. He said things that made people uncomfortable in a good way. He was definitely speaking through the Holy Spirit as he shared his love for Jesus! The Missions week was taught by an older missionary originally from New Zealand but who's moved to Turkey to work with the churches there. He really got into the Word with us and helped us see what we're all called to do. He shared with us how many people of the world hadn't heard of Jesus and where they lived, mainly in the 'ten-forty' window. He also helped us to realize what our call as a follower of Jesus really is.
Our camping trip was great for most of us. I (Aaron) got sick on the morning that we left and was laid up for most of the trip. Levi was sick too, but the girls had fun. We went on canoe trips and tried to swim as well. We saw a kangaroo at dusk with her joey down by the river. The amount of flies there was definitely unforgettable, you couldn't get away. The class played capture the flag at night and enjoyed an awesome relay race. The food was amazing. Unfortunately the following Tuesday our class had 10 people sick. It was fun though.
I really can't believe that we're almost done the lectures and that it's almost Christmas. Time has just flown by down here. The time here has been so precious for me, it's the most important period of my life. God's given me a second chance (again) to get my life right. He planned this trip from the beginning knowing how essential it was for our marriage. He's been revealing so much to me, tearing down shaky foundations of this world, and building new walls filled with truth and love. Old hurts and habits are being exposed and fixed. God's been sharing through others that what I've hid from for most of my life, that I'm called to be a leader. He's giving me more confidence and wisdom in how to lead my family as a man of God. The key for me, and all of us, is that we must only rely on God. I've learned over and over that my ways don't work. It only leads to destruction, no matter how good the intention is.
Please keep praying for us, first for outreach finances, next for healing in our marriage and wisdom in raising our kids. Also, safety in Mexico City, from the people there as well as the pollution.
I'm really excited for the next post to share how God provided the $ for us.
XO the Littles
Thanks for the update Aaron. We are praying for you often, for all the things you mentioned. I heard through facebook today that you have enough money donated to go on your outreach! We had faith that God would provide for your family to do this, but it's still so exciting when it actually happens!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the video that you made to play at church. Everyone was so happy to see and hear from your family! We miss you all, but know you are exactly where God wants you.
Love the Stonehouse Family