Why are we going?

I promised to try and post each day about the trip and answer some of the questions we had leading up to this adventure with our amazing Creator. It's a lot later in the evening that I had intended, but that happens when you're busy preparing stories for the trip.

Yesterday, I said I would try and answer the question of why Aimee and I chose the Paris trip over others. First, Aimee and I had already prayed and felt God's leading that we needed to be on mission with Him, not just locally, but globally. This didn't mean just using our financial and prayer assets. It meant using our hands and feet to GO. The verse we picked on our wedding day was Psalm 90:17.

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; 
   establish the work of our hands for us—
   yes, establish the work of our hands.

God began to show us that if we wanted to ask for His favor, then the work of our hands should be to help expand His Kingdom. We will lift up His name! What better way to ask the Lord to establish the work of our hands than to be about His business?

Second, we did have the opportunities to join with groups traveling to Venezuela, Netherlands, Mexico, and others this year, but Aimee and I new that we needed a trip that spoke to each of our talents and gifts. Paris fit the bill. Aimee is an incredible teacher of kids: the Paris trip is going to have a VBS-style focus. I am much more comfortable teaching adults, and lately I've been studying discipleship: the Paris trip is going to have an adult discipleship focus.

Third, we wanted to help start a new ministry, be on the first line of offense for the Kingdom in a new place. As I talked about yesterday, this trip engages a people group that needs Jesus and encourages existing believers. I'll talk more about what we hope to accomplish with this mission.

And finally, God has confirmed this trip in our hearts and others who have prayed with us and for us. Not only have people given generously and sacrificially to help, but God has continually shown Aimee and myself His will through passages of scripture we've read and heard from our pastor.

Thanks for coming by. Please keep praying for safety for each member of our team leading up to and through the trip. Pray for God to continue preparing the soil for the seed and fruit He's producing in each of us.

Hopefully we'll hear from Aimee tomorrow about her heart and what's going through her mind about this journey.

In His name!


How then can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?  And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?  And how can anyone preach unless they are sent?  As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’    Romans 10:14-15