Send Me!

My heart is absolutely bursting!

Ok, you know how I wrote about how God Gives Scary Dreams? I’ve got one coming true this summer, and I’m absolutely pee-my-pants terrified-excited bout it.

When I was little, I dreamed of becoming a medical missionary in Africa. I imagined myself in a khaki button-up with matching shorts, boots, a sweet hat, and maybe a red bandanna tied around my neck. I would tromp through the Sahara with my backpack of life-saving supplies rescuing people from snake bites and telling them about Jesus. This was my dream… so much so, that I started college in 1998 as a pre-med student. Then I took Chemistry and it all fell apart. (wah wahhhh)

But the seed that was planted in my heart has never disappeared. Living in Europe as a military brat opened my eyes to a world beyond our borders, and I’ve been absolutely obsessed with travel ever since. In high school and college, I had the opportunity to return to Europe two other times. I even got engaged in Paris! (Way to go, Kurt! I can’t believe you pulled it off.)

So in January of 2015, when God arrested my heart and spoke to me about global outreach – not just for me, but for my whole family – I was ready to go home, pack my bags, and get on a plane. (Of course, I was four months pregnant with baby #5 at the time, so I knew maybe God meant later on down the road.)

Lifegate  (my local church) actually has a campus in Novi Sad, Serbia, which is so totally awesome. It’s not a church plant. It’s a true expression of Lifegate – they’re us and we are them. Kurt got to travel to Novi Sad last year to support the worship team in an outreach event there and loved every minute. (He left me with a three-week-old and four other kids, but I’ve almost forgiven him for it… haha) While there last year, Kurt, Pastor Jake, and Darijo discussed hosting a music camp for kids sometime this year. And guess what?!

Kurt and I have been asked to lead a team of musicians to Novi Sad, Serbia this summer! We are leaving at the end of June and will be gone for about 10 days. We’ll play at this (now annual) outreach festival, and then put on a 4 day Music Camp for middle-schoolers in the Novi Sad area!

I can’t believe I get to do this. My heart for ministry, my education in building ministry events, my love of music, my passion for the nations… it’s all coming together in the most incredible way, and I’m just… I’m blown away.

I know this is one step in a series of events that will unfold for Kurt and me and our entire family. I know God’s got big plans in mind for my kiddos, and I can’t wait to see what’s in store. We won’t be bringing them along on this trip, but I’m hoping we can make some connections and set something up in the future for all of us.

Would you consider partnering with us?

Would you consider committing to pray? Pray for us leading up to the trip, and for while we are gone? I know it’s easy to say, “I’ll pray for you,” but you have to know that your prayers do make a difference. The Balkan area has been through SO much this past century or so. Serbia just became a fully independent nation in 2006, so these kids are growing up in a different environment than even their parents experienced. We want to go over there and love on them, expose in them the gifts God has placed in their hearts, and push back darkness by being living representatives of Christ in that region.

Pray for provision, for safety and smoothness in the logistics of travel, for the health and well-being of our team, for my kids and their caregivers (especially their caregivers!!!!!) while we’re away… If you’d like to be one of our prayer partners, specifically, shoot me a message and I’ll add you to our Facebook Page!

And, if you’re able, would you please consider contributing to our trip? Your tax deductible donations will go toward our specific team’s expenses and will directly impact families in the Balkan area.

You can contribute at Global Journey Giving. You’ll be asked to create a login for the security of your information and so that you can receive tax documentation. Choose the Serbia – June 2016 option in the drop down!

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My mom asked me if we couldn’t just continue to minister and serve here in Omaha. The answer is yes, of course! We can and we will! But (AND) part of this Called Life we’re living is about living a life of surrender and openness to what God has in store for us. God asks us to do things all the time that “don’t make sense.” And I know leaving 5 kids at home and traveling half way across the world doesn’t really make sense. But we’re in counsel – we’ve received confirmation after confirmation that this is the path laid before us, and we’ll continue to take one step in faith at a time until He closes the door or directs us elsewhere.

Thanks so much for journeying with us. I love living this crazy life with you all!

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?” I said, “Here I am. Send me.”  – Isaiah 6:8