We are moving....to London...

We are moving to London. At least that is our hope and what we know God is calling us to pursue. (More on that later.) To understand why London and why now, you need to hear our backstory.

When I married my husband, I knew that he would one day be called into the ministry. I know that sounds a bit odd, but I knew this because I myself had been called into ministry at a little camp called Falls Creek. ;) I wholeheartedly believe that those called into full time ministry are not only called together as a couple but as a family. What does one do when you know you have a calling into full time ministry but your hubby isn't there yet. You wait and pray. God has perfect timing. He revealed my husband's calling to him in the most beautiful way. God also confirmed His calling to us in a beautiful way as well.

In 2014, my husband comes up to me and says,

"I have been praying and I think it is time for you and I to go on a mission trip together. I think we are suppose to go to North Africa."

When my husband says he has been praying about something I know he has taken his time and I trust him completely. By the end of 2014 we were off to North Africa to visit friends who were in country at that time.

On the way there, we had a lot of time to talk with our fellow team members. Two of the ladies, Shannon and Cheryl, on the trip with us, asked why we had decided to go on this trip together. We told them, "It was just something God told us to do." This was followed by, "Have you been called to go overseas?" With a very big backtracking, "No, no, no....we uh...don't think we are suppose to do that....we umm...we don't think so." {#denial}

When we arrived in country to meet our friends we got the same exact question from them....at two different times. Our guy friend asked Tim. Our girl friend asked me. In two separate rooms of the house. We gave the same answer....umm....no....we umm...that is a major decision....umm....umm...umm. {Insert panic answer and more denial.}

However, as the week went on God did so much in our hearts in giving us a glimpse of what it was like to live your life mission-ally. Not only that but it was such an encouragement to be with these friends who are so precious to us. We came to bless them that week but we left being completely blessed by them and the local believers there. {The church at work is a beautiful thing!} The culture there is separated between men and women, so my husband and I did not see each other much that week. We would come together in the evening and chat some about our day but were too exhausted to talk more than a few minutes. During that week, I was given an urgency to share the gospel with people who had never heard Jesus' story before. The unreached. The unengaged. I could see their faces everywhere I walked. I was so excited to get home and share what the Lord was doing in my heart with my husband when we would have more sleep and more time to talk.

On the second to last night of our trip my husband approached me after dinner and said, "We need to talk later." I said, "Okay." I wondered what on earth he wanted to talk about because the way he said it sounded like something serious. I began to worry if he had heard something about our kids back home. Later that night, my sweet husband began to share what God had been doing in his heart all week. He said, "I know we have been called to share the gospel with people who have never heard. I think we can do what our friends are doing now." This was it. This was the moment I had been praying for for years. My heart dropped as I said, "God has been telling me the same thing this week." I knew we had been called into ministry the whole time but I thought it meant in Oklahoma...where our family is. Where everyone we love are. I never had any intention to leave Oklahoma for the rest of our life. I am an Oklahoma girl y'all. ;) Now God was changing everything. We talked most of the night about all that God was doing. We woke up very tired but excited for the day the next morning.

We decided we would keep what we had shared with each other between us unless asked. We didn't think anyone would ask again since all of them had already asked us once that week. We split up as per usual that week. He went with the guys....hiking...I think. The girls went to our friend's, friend's house for lunch. {It was some of the best food I have ever eaten! You know who you are friend!} As we were filling our bellies, my new friend asked me, straight up, and what I felt like out of left field,

"So, are you and your husband called to go overseas?"

I think everyone in the room could see the panic on my face. I was no ready to share this brand new information. It was still new to me! God gave me the courage to tell her the truth and then He did something beautiful. After I shared with them about the conversation with my husband and all that God had been doing in our hearts my dear friend, Shannon giggled and clapped her hands! She exclaimed,

"I have known for a long time that you were called. I was just waiting on God to tell you!"

Then my friend, Cheryl, without missing a beat said..."Yeah, I knew it too." with a big grin.

When I saw my husband that night, he told me that the same thing had happened to him. When we got home we told our parents after God gave us the courage. My parents responded with,

"We aren't surprised at all. We totally support you!"

{This isn't to say that they aren't going to miss us because that part of it is just hard and I am not quite ready to talk about it. Another blog post maybe.}

My husband's parents have been great too! Our church staff met our decision to go forward toward our call to missions with excitement and support! We felt incredibly blessed by their support in us and they have been as constant encouragement through this.

One of my favorite moments was video chatting my friend who is also a worker overseas in another country. I told her what God had done in our hearts.

Her words, "Oh I know! I have known for a long time. I was just waiting for God to tell you!"

Sound familiar? {Insert happy sobs here.} Conversations like this one, continued to happen again and again. Our hearts were overjoyed.

After telling loved ones, we prayed about what to do next and decided that what was best was for Tim to go back to school. He had recently started working for a friend who owned an IT company. That little miracle is a whole other story that you can read on our companies, Pneuma IT, facebook page. We knew schooling is what we needed to do in order to go with the mission board that our church supported. Tim began his schooling and learned so much about cross-cultural ministry. We knew at that time that is what God wanted to pursue.

School. Graduate. Apply to mission board. Go to a country similar to North Africa.

That was the plan.

We thought.

God did use Tim going to school but not for the reason we thought. He sent Tim there so we could learn how to make disciples and let those seeds grow and multiply. Not to get a degree at that school like we thought.

We are still very much involved at the school in that way. We love our students and Tim's mentor there, Dr. Bruce Carlton. {Insert unashamed plug for Dr. Carlton's book Amazing Grace: Lessons on Church-Planting Movements From Cambodia} ;)

Tim has continued his education. {More on that later too.} If you read the Pneuma IT page, you know that two years ago God dropped an IT company in our lap. We had no idea why or what on earth God was doing. We knew when He did that that we still had plans to go overseas when Tim was finished with school. We thought IT was just temporary and we would just drop it once we were on the field. {Insert sarcastic smirk here.} We thought we knew what God was doing, we didn't.

In 2015, I was trying my best to live mission-ally in my home town but felt like I was struggling. Of course, I knew that my own kids are my ministry. That is very important. I also wanted to do ministry outside the home as well. I tried to get involved in a few things I could take them to but it was difficult to do what I needed and care for them as well. My husband saw how much I wanted to share my faith and how I was just hitting brick walls. I began to pray about a ministry I could be involved in that I could do on my own, and leave my littles at home for now. {I knew there would be a time when I could involve them more in ministry when they were a little older. We have found ways to do that now, but that wasn't the case then.} Six months later, I ran into a friend at the store. She shared with me about a ministry she is apart of that goes into strips clubs and loves on the women in them. She told me they give gifts to the dancers, no strings attached. She told they supported the girls in any way they can. It is essentially a women's support group. I knew this was it. This is what God had been calling me to. I got home that night. I told my husband. He told me he had been praying for 6 months about a ministry for me to be involved in and this was it. {There is a special place in my heart for my husband's secret prayers for me y'all.}

I have loved getting to know these precious dancers and my team for the past three years. I didn't know why God would have me be involved in a ministry that I would not be able to continue once overseas but I loved it so much. I knew that it was what He was calling me to do in that season of our life.

{If you have questions about this ministry feel free to private message me or leave a comment.}

Fast forward to 2016, I try to go to India for a mission trip, my team's visa are denied. I am stuck with a plane ticket and no where to go. A one woman vacation to the UAE just was not an option. I tell my friend my predicament and she tells me,

"I am going to visit friends in Central Asia and would love a companion!"

My friend and I left for Central Asia and had a wonderful time seeing all the sights. I had a wonderful opportunity to share with a an unreached woman on the way. God taught me some beautiful lessons while I was there. Most importantly He gave me a heart for the people of the country we were in. You could see the darkness everywhere you looked and so much opportunity to share hope.

Tim also had the opportunity to go to Peru that year.

In 2017, God showed us London. We learned from a leader in our denomination that London is an international city. I thought it was mostly Brits before that. He encouraged believers that you don't need to be go the traditional route to go overseas and share the gospel. You can use your career.

Anyone remember something about God dropping an IT company in our lap and us having no clue why?

Guess where, IT jobs are.

Yep. London.

Guess where the people that God gave me (and my husband as well) a heart for in Central Asia live.

Yep. London.

Guess where there are over 40 strip clubs?

Yep. London.

Is it what we pictured four years ago when God called us to missions? It is not even close to what we imagined. It is so much better!

Where are we now?

We need your prayers for us. Since we are not going the traditional route we need to raise funds for our move and ministry. I am going to be completely honest. I kind of threw a fit to God about this part. He gently reminded me that He is our provider and He has reminded us of this lesson over.... and over.... and over again.

The first step for us to get to London is to raise funds through a missions garage sale. If you have anything you would like to get rid of and donate to the garage sale, let us know! We will gladly take it off yours hand. Whatever does not sell will be donated to charity. Details of where to donate items will be on our personal facebook pages. Garage sale is June 29th and 30th.

In order to give Tim the best chance to get a job in London, he needs some additional certifications in IT. The rest of what is raised from the garage sale will go to our trip to London in October to meet with ministry partners there and do some job hunting in country. If you are interested in hearing more about our trip in October feel free to ask.

If you would like to give a one time donation or would consider being a ministry partner with us with a donation of $5,$10, $25, $50 or $100 a month, please let us know. We would love to share more with you about how to do that. If you have questions about what your donation will be going toward feel free to ask.

Click the link below Our Ministry Tab below to donate.

In conclusion, {insert cliche ending intro here} I have been overwhelmed by the beautiful way God has weaved our story up to this point and I cannot wait to see what He has in store in the lives of the unreached people we will

have the opportunity to meet. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for those who have supported us in this journey, who have discipled us and taught us that everything God has done in our lives has been a call to prepare for His future work in our lives. We love you all. I can't even begin to express how much we are going to miss you. Our family. You are all precious and we love you. {insert ugly cry} I cannot wait for many of you to jump on a plane and come visit us once we are there! Blessings to you all.

Acts 1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem {hometown} and in all Judea {state, country} and Samaria {neighboring countries, enemy countries}, and to the end of the earth." ESV