Leaving New York

We just got done with a 4 week trip to the East Coast. As you can read in our last blog, we did quite a bit of traveling in that time. Our trusty Volvo (a.k.a. The Panther) has made it to the 140,000 mile mark and is just as strong as ever. We are going to miss our wonderful Panther as we begin driving on the opposite side of the road.

Since our last blog, Amy and I have said goodbye to our New York family. It was a difficult time, but we were able to say healthy goodbyes to everyone. Everyone, that is, except for our 4-year-old nephew Brett, who ran away and refused to acknowledge that we were leaving. We would appreciate it if you all could throw up a prayer for us and our families and we deal with this separation. Below is a picture of me and my nephews, Cody and Brett. The other picture is a picture of me and my mom.






While in New York I was also able to preach at 2 churches. We spoke at a church in Queens, NY, and Riverhead, NY. The church in Queens is pastored by a man who I have known since I was a kid, in fact, his daughter was my first official girl-friend (Don't worry, Amy, we only dated for 20 hours back in 1995, and I think I am finally over her). We loved being in worship with people from so many different ethnic backgrounds and even cultural backgrounds.

Riverhead was a whole different experience. This church (North Shore Christian Church) is only 2 years old and my mom, 2 sisters and my brother are all members there and active in the ministry. In addition to that, many people who I grew up going to church with are in leadership at this church plant and were part of the original church plant team. Amy and I got together with Jerry (the pastor) and Kristin (his wife who is also on staff) on Thursday for lunch and to discuss the plan for service on the following Sunday. They have been in alot of the same situations that we find ourselves in with church planting and were able to speak wisdom and encouragement into our lives. They also asked how they could help us besides monthly support, partnership in prayer, and sending over teams. They had already began a drive for office supplies which they started a month ago and provided us with 4 boxes of various supplies. They realized that we would be moving into a house and had no furniture - so they took us out and bought us an awesome bedroom furniture set. We were completely overwhelmed by this kind of generosity. While we were in the store it took us about 25 minutes to realize what they were doing for us. When we get to New Zealand it will be an awesome visual reminder, not only of that church, but of all the people who are sacrificially partnering with us. This also reminded us of God's perfect timing. Had we been offered this furniture earlier this summer, we would not have had room to take it. Our team has been blessed by a company who is helping to ship our stuff, they offered us a crate that was twice the size that we had planned on for half the price we had planned on. On Monday morning Jerry and a man from the church named John helped us load up our new furniture to be shipped.

Right after we packed up the furniture on Monday morning (and getting extremely lost in the process) we headed out of NY to drive back to Illinois. I fell asleep and Amy took the wrong road for about a half hour, we got stuck on the George Washington Bridge and were about 3 hours behind schedule, but we eventually made it back to the good ole' Mid-West.

The reality is hitting us that our time here is winding down. We can't believe that we only have 3 1/2 weeks left here in the USA. There is still alot to do, but we have felt for several months that we have been in a kind of no mans land. We don't really belong here, but we aren't in New Zealand yet. When we run into acquaintances, they often say, "I thought you moved to Australia or something." We can't wait to get to New Zealand and begin to start life there. Thank you for all being friends and encouragements to us in this time of so much change. We have needed your friendship and your prayers. Without you this would have been a very difficult time. But you have all helped it to become an awesome FlammerTime.