Occupying

 Hello, Brothers & Sisters,

 
 Here we are once again. Another week, oops, well couple of months have passed, and there’s not a whole lot new to say. One thing that we do have to say is thank you for your prayers through this past holiday season. We are still here and waiting on the Lord. We have been learning to occupy while still here. While we don’t understand why we are moving so slowly toward our departure to Africa, we know that He has the master plan. There is no better place to be than the center of God’s will, and we will be content to be there, wherever that is today.

 Art and I have both been struggling with what we should be doing while we occupy here in a house that has been pretty empty, with many of our things in Congo, and with our hearts and minds there as well. We spent one day from like 8 in the morning till 11 at night trying to decide to buy a video game system or wood working tools just so Art would have something to “occupy” his time with other than sitting… sitting and feeling lost. Now keep in mind a good portion of Art’s tools are in Congo or have been sold in preparation for leaving for Congo. Please do not feel that we do not appreciate the blessings which we receive each day from the Lord or from each of you in your prayers and concern for us. We cannot express what that means to us as we are waiting on our next step.

So, we prayed and purchased some games and things to do as a family. The following Monday at work Art was talking to a couple of guys about his struggle and decision process over the weekend. A couple of them offered to let him borrow some things (tools) indefinitely. This was awesome! Art was also able to get a free surface to make a routing table out of from work that was sitting around. Over the next week or so Art was able to not only get a router, and material to build a router table but also a table saw. All of this was done without much of any cash out of our pockets. Part of this was through being able to borrow things, others through working for my mom and her wanting things built for her home so she paid him ahead of time in a table saw. This has been an incredible blessing and proof of God’s hands guiding every step. Art is now happily building many things for other people (and me, but more on that in a minute) and enjoying the time spent working with his hands and keeping “sharp” while waiting on the Lord.

 As time creeps on Michael is growing up in front of our eyes. He is beginning to act like a teenager. Don’t take that as a negative. He is becoming a young man. He has been doing some pretty in-depth studies in 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Joel and now in Acts. It is really cool to be able to hear his insight on the word of God. He is also now spending time in the basement wood shop with Art, building and learning at the hands of his father. There has been a neat layer that is developing between them as of late. Art is becoming more and more Michael’s teacher and friend. Michael is starting to rely on me less and less. I am beginning to be here only for guidance and less as a mommy. While I know many moms understand the catch in my throat as I write this, you also understand how wonderful it is to watch a little boy want to be more like his father. Michael now can’t wait to do maintenance in Congo with Art. I think he feels like he will have something to contribute while we are there.

 
 While I sit here and try and occupy and stay sane I have been doing some sewing for other people as well as myself. Most of my projects till recently have been just for something to do. I had gotten some jobs but was seriously lacking in space that actually worked as a sewing area. Through Art receiving all sorts of free materials, he and Michael were able to build a sewing table and cutting area, all attached. What once was our living room is now a fully functioning sewing room. All of these items were free, remember. This is, has been, and will be such a blessing to me. I now am doing more than sitting at my computer and IM’ing people. For me being able to occupy in a way that I don’t feel lost has brought me closer to the Lord each day. I feel a little more established in our current season. While we have acquired many things over the past few weeks, please don’t take that as us settling back in. I know that both of us would much rather be in Congo. We are more than willing to pack up and move at a moment’s notice. People have already graciously offered to store some of these items for us so that Art and I will have a way to help support ourselves while on home assignments. We have been struggling with feeling like we are settling back in but strive to be where we are called to each and every day.

 
 In 3 weeks time we will, Lord-willing, be able to take a trip to Leesburg, VA to visit with Mt. Hope church and our wonderful friends and supporters there. This trip is just purely for the opportunity to get to know everyone a little better and enjoy the fellowship with new and old friends. While we are there we hope to be able to spend a day in DC (this was part of Michael’s Christmas present as we didn’t want to purchase useless things). The memories of time spent together checking out Washington DC will last much longer than some silly toy or similar thing.

 
 We have not gained any more support since the last time we wrote, nor have we sold the house (if we had you probably would have heard about it immediately). We are praying that we will be able to leave for Congo in September of this year. Why then you ask? Well, the Harvey family will be returning for their furlough in June(ish) this year and we hope to be able to return with them in September. We have been praying and hoping that we would be there long before they returned for home assignment. They left in August of 2007, and here we are still waiting on the Lord. So we are once again asking you to send up fervent prayers on our behalf that we are able to get there soon. Please also pray and share the Lord’s leading in our lives with your friends and family. We have another almost 50% of our budget to raise in order to go. So not only do we need to sell our house, but we need to gather the rest of the financial support before we can leave. This can only be done with the Lord’s guidance as there is certainly no human way possible.

 This is also another reminder: don’t hesitate to send your prayer requests to us. And if you just feel like making a comment in reply to our updates, we would love to hear from you! We hope that you are enjoying the beginning of the new year. Lord-willing, I’ll be back next week umm .. ish. Until then, God bless!

Yours in Christ,

Art, Danielle & Michael