I had pretty much given up on meeting my future wife. I had heard so many stories, including how my parents met, and how people found their significant others in college. I unknowingly grew up believing I would meet my wife in college.
Well, college came and went and no wife… not even a girlfriend. However, God was calling me, and I was trying to answer. I threw myself into serving the Lord at my local church. It was 2001, and although I had been raised going to church, I had no idea what serving at a local church meant. I made $14,400/year and I was happy! I loved college and worship ministry. My dream was to get paid to lead worship. In fact, if any church would have paid me to lead worship, I would have jumped at the chance (an interesting side note is that over 10 years later a church did offer and I turned it down… I had learned the gospel is never about money, among other things. That’s a story for another time!). In the fall of 2002, everything changed. The first week in October, I took a dozen or so students to a college ministry retreat. It’s funny, well… not at the time, how God show’s up when you’ve given up. I had really given up on meeting a woman to share my life with. I didn’t think about it that much anymore and I didn’t date. On October 4, 2002, I walked in a room filled with college students. I saw Mary for the first time from across the room and literally said, “Wow!”, out loud. I was awestruck. She was beautiful… and I was too shy to even approach her. I remember that first night. She was worshiping the Lord with passion, and I it was all over for me! Let me tell you all something really important. You want to be "ready" when you meet your future spouse. I don't mean you have to be perfect, but if you have a glaring sin issue like pornography or masturbation in your life, get help. You never know when it'll happen, and looking back, I wish I had been more ready. There are significant things that need to be worked through when you are newlyweds or even engaged. Pornography shouldn't be one of them. It was in my life, and now I was dragging someone else into it.
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We have entered Wyoming! We spent a few unexpected days in Pierre, SD. As we pulled into the capital of South Dakota, our power steering completely shut down. No joke. Turns out 2 hoses were leaking fluid and, without that particular fluid, it is impossible to turn the steering wheel of a large bus. So, there we sat for the weekend. As we have learned, we are rarely stuck; we are just where God wants us to be. We spent 4 nights in Pierre meeting new friends and connecting with AMAZING believers. God is definitely on the move in that region! As the 2nd smallest capital city in population, we believe that God is speaking significance over them. God is declaring that the region of Pierre, SD is vitally significant for the outpouring of the glory of God in the coming harvest! With that understanding, we entered the city and toured the capital building. Then, we gathered on the steps outside the entrance and prayed for God's goodness to be released and for revival to hit this land! This journey of ours brings us into places where we are in constant reliance of God. We never know what we are going to do or who we are going to meet. We simply move forward in continual communion with God and He faithfully directs our path. We are amazed how He always puts is right where we need to be… with love, Mary ps: the power steering is completely fixed and the bus is running smoothly once again...
We are ON THE ROAD AGAIN!! As I type, Josh is driving the bus South, with cornfields on one side of the road and a herd of cattle on the other. The skies up here in the Dakotas are massive and filled with clouds all varying shades of blue. There is so much beauty in nature 😍 We left Ottertail, MN yesterday afternoon. We had spent the past 2 months in MN and North Dakota, visiting friends and family and working on some major projects on our bus. Here is a quick rundown of projects we got done:
We had so many beautiful moments with our friends and family. So many dinners and late nights and worship times and prayer times and fun parties and quality conversations. God has really connected our hearts with AMAZING people in this region of the world. Now, new things are in store for our family! We have felt that God is bringing us into the next level of our journey of traveling with Jesus. This summer we have had numerous encouraging words from people we trust that have spoken to this very thing. As we walk in obedience with God, we will be walking into new and greater things. So, now as we walk (or drive 😏) off into the sunset, we feel ready. All of us feel that the timing of our departure is just perfect. We arrived at our first Walmart to shop and sleep last night. When we were walking around by the milk and eggs and day old bread stand, Judah exclaimed, "oh! I remember this!" We feel as though we have finally returned to our normal.
It's funny, but it's true. This nomadic life we live with Holy Spirit leading us is our normal. This traveling life is when we feel at home. Home has become a feeling in our spirits and not actually a physical place. Home is when we are walking in step with our Father God. In fact, home is, simply put, being with Him. "From Peter, an apostle of Jesus the Anointed One, to the chosen ones who have been scattered abroad like “seed” into the nations living as refugees,... You are not forgotten , for you have been chosen and destined by Father God. The Holy Spirit has set you apart to be God’s holy ones, obedient followers of Jesus Christ who have been gloriously sprinkled with his blood. May God’s delightful grace and peace cascade over you many times over! Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." 1 Peter 1:1-3 TPT with love, Mary |
Hello!We're a family of six living full-time in a skoolie (aka a school bus converted into an RV). We are inviting you to join us as we live life to its fullest and empower others to do the same. Welcome to the family! Archives
January 2021
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