And the decision is....

We had hoped to have this decision finalized a little bit sooner, but as we arrived home late Monday afternoon, we all had the stomach flu by Monday Night! We have "known" for a little while now, but wanted to make sure the decision sat right with us. After much prayer and consideration, many times of deciding on one place and then another, we really feel the Lords hand on our decision to move to Kelowna, BC. The decision was a difficult one through and through. At first we made our lists of pros and cons of each church but after a while, we felt an issue with which pros and cons were higher than another. Once we took out personal preferences and laid those to the side and look strictly at the ministerial aspects, we felt like the decisions were still difficult, yet more clear. James got a lot of advice over the past month, which was helpful in so many ways and yet still made it about a tied decision.  We do feel sorrowful for Brockville as we know they have a great desire to be lead by a man of God and we pray that the Lord will send them someone quickly. We ask for you to pray for them as they continue their search.

So what's next? That's a good question! We barely know! All we know is that we are packing up and Lord willingly headed to Kelowna on February 11. It's about a 36 hour drive (not including stops) so it will make for a long journey in the cold weather with an almost 8 month old! We plan on stopping in Lynden Wa first, then heading to Kelowna for a few days to look for housing and then hopefully moving. We pray this can all be accomplished within 8 days for the sake of moving truck costs, but we will see.

So as you can see there is a lot ahead of us and while we know somethings, we are still not sure on everything....moving to a different country is very confusing and we aren't quite sure what to expect. We DO know that God has been very good to us and has always had us in His tender loving care, so we will rest that since He is leading us, He will take care of all the small details that are at times confusing!

Please pray for us as we continue in this journey and as we seek to build up His church :)

"He shall choose our inheritance for us."

We have been in sunny California for over a week now and we were supposed to head back today, but decided since we didn't have to be anywhere just yet, we'd extend our trip for a little more family and sunshine time! :) 

I'm finally getting used to the idea of moving to Canada. It kind of struck me tonight that I have not been the most willing and excited Christian to go on the journey the Lord is leading us on. We listened to a couple sermons by Tim Keller today that I think finally instilled that in me. It was a good reminder to me today that God doesn't mess up and have a plan B. He leads us in his soveriegnty and today I am realizing that it appears to be in Canada. I have had this half in half out attitude that wants to stay in the states and is waiting for the Lord to mysteriously open up a church in the US. As we go forwards with making decisions I'm realizing how selfish that is.  I keep wanting him to guide and lead us, yet in my own mind I still have a slight pull that God couldn't want us in Canada right? Wrong. The Lord has made it clear at this point as he has provided us with two wonderful opportunities to serve His people as he chooses! 

Last year in a bible study at Reedemer, I was really hit with the idea that I have ways in which I want to serve God and yet those aren't always they ways in which I am able to because of a particular season in our lives, be it location, lifestyle/family, etc. but just because I am not serving God in that way, doesn't mean im not serving God, nor does it mean I just stop trying. It's selfish to think we can serve God the way we want to. I am reminded again of that today as we look on to see Gods providence beautifully leading us towards something new. He has been so faithful to us throughout our endevours and its was an amazing reminder to see his grace leading us to a church in Canada. 

The Lord is constantly teaching us to follow and now I pray that we can joyfully follow and not follow hesitantly. Serving His people where He has called us, what could be better! To God be the glory!

I leave you with this devotion by Spurgeon that we have come back time

 and again in the last year and half...a beautiful reminder of Gods good plans.

"He shall choose our inheritance for us." 

Psalms 47:4

Believer, if your inheritance be a lowly one you should be satisfied with your earthly portion; for you may rest assured that it is the fittest for you. Unerring wisdom ordained your lot, and selected for you the safest and best condition. A ship of large tonnage is to be brought up the river; now, in one part of the stream there is a sandbank; should some one ask, "Why does the captain steer through the deep part of the channel and deviate so much from a straight line?" His answer would be, "Because I should not get my vessel into harbour at all if I did not keep to the deep channel." So, it may be, you would run aground and suffer shipwreck, if your divine Captain did not steer you into the depths of affliction where waves of trouble follow each other in quick succession. Some plants die if they have too much sunshine. It may be that you are planted where you get but little, you are put there by the loving Husbandman, because only in that situation will you bring forth fruit unto perfection. Remember this, had any other condition been better for you than the one in which you are, divine love would have put you there. You are placed by God in the most suitable circumstances, and if you had the choosing of your lot, you would soon cry, "Lord, choose my inheritance for me, for by my self-will I am pierced through with many sorrows." Be content with such things as you have, since the Lord has ordered all things for your good. Take up your own daily cross; it is the burden best suited for your shoulder, and will prove most effective to make you perfect in every good word and work to the glory of God. Down busy self, and proud impatience, it is not for you to choose, but for the Lord of Love! 

"Trials must and will befall- 
But with humble faith to see 
Love inscribed upon them all; 
This is happiness to me." 

Kelowna, BC Canada (January 4)

Kelowna....wow, who knew Canada could be so beautiful!!! The drive from James' parents house was about 4 hours (5 hours with the snow) and what a beautiful 5 hours it was! We left Elijah home with his Oma and Opa because we had all been sick and we were worried he might get sick too.  The weather was also bad and we were traveling through the mountains in snow, so if anything went bad we wouldn't have Elijah to suffer the cold. Plus he got extra Oma and Opa time! :)

For those of you who don't know, Kelowna is a beautiful vacation spot!!! Skiing in the winter and water skiing in the summer! I have to tell you, Kelowna is a very attractive package on the superficial level for sure! James was pretty sick going. He had the flu with a sore throat that left him hard to preach since he was losing his voice, a slight fever (which turned very high after we got home), and congestion. Talk about a bad weekend for all of this! Despite that, the Lord gave him the ability to get through the back to back services. We met up with some of the people in the church the night before and had a little time of gathering at church. We did not stay long after church since James wasn't well and I wanted to get home to my little man! It was a very nice visit.  Our drive home was soooo snowy and we found that Canadians don't like to plow the roads! Good thing we had James' parents 4wd truck! :) Yesterday, we received word that despite the hard time James had preaching due to illness, they would still like to extend a call. Please be in pray as we consider the two offers on the table!  The Lord has been good to us and we pray that the Lord will prepare us in this time for the church he calls us to and to help us to adjust to all the changes well.

Bellingham, Wa (December 29 & January 11)

Although we were sad not to get the call in Michigan, it worked out for us to be home with family for the holidays! The Lord ordained opportunities for us in the Bellingham area (which is 20 minutes from James' families house). We flew out December 16th and spent a lot of fun time with the family. James worked a lot the first week on the farm and LOVED hanging out with his parents and brothers! It was so nice to be near family and I think they loved having Elijah there for the month :)

We had two preaching opportunities at the Bellingham URC on Dec 29 and Jan 11. We had lunch with a few families in the church both weeks and it was nice to visit with them.

James also was allowed the opportunity to preach New Years day in Lynden. He has been given a lot of opportunities this month to preach and for that, we are grateful.