The Begining (Part 1)

Carolynn here!  I think for me, the journey began about two years ago.  In the fall of 2011 I read the book Forgotten God by Francis Chan with a group of women from my church.  While reading and discussing the truths laid out about the Holy Spirit and His role in the life of a Christian, I realized that I had never really allowed the Holy Spirit to work in my life.  He was a part of me, but not active.  I had not been walking with the Lord for several years in my teens and early twenties and had very effectively drowned out the sound of the Lord's voice.  When I realized that my sin and disregard for His authority was grieving the Holy Spirit I knew that I had to repent if I wanted to experience the fullness of all God had for my life.  I can remember getting on my knees before the Lord and crying, asking the Lord to forgive me for quenching the Holy Spirit and for not allowing Him to have full access to my heart. I had to come to the understanding that if everything I had was taken away from me and God was all I had left, He would still be enough. I then spent some time giving God authority over every area of my life.  I told Him, "Wherever You want me to go, I will.  Whatever You want me to do, I will do."
From that prayer, the Lord began to change the way I thought about what it means to live for Christ. He began to open my eyes to the needs of people around me and showed me how He had equipped Mike and I to help meet some of those needs. Jesus also began to break my heart for people who lived far, far away from where I lived. 
In the fall of 2013 I read another book called Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis.  After graduating high school Katie left a very comfortable life in the United States to become a Kindergarten teacher in a small village in Uganda.  In her own words she says, "I had loved and admired and worshiped Jesus without doing what He said...so I quit my life...I no longer have all the things the world says are important...but I have everything I know is important...Jesus called his followers to be a lot of things, but I have yet to find where He warned us to be comfortable." Katie's words challenged me to think about who I had been living for.  Was it myself? Or was it Jesus?  Does my life, as a Christian, look any different from the lives of my unbelieving neighbors?  What do my behaviors and habits say about what I think is important?  As I examined my life I began to feel uncomfortable with all the comfort I had, if that makes any sense.  I was learning about people who had to walk for miles or days to find clean water.  People who earned less than $1 per day and were unable to feed their families.  People whose lives were shattered by disease, natural disasters, unemployment, persecution, and corruption.  And then I would look around my house and see my comfortable furniture, my fridge and cupboards overflowing with food, my closet crammed with 'not a thing to wear', and the bathroom faucet dripping water for who-knows-how-long before I noticed and turned it off.  And I just couldn't do it anymore.  I called a friend of mine from church who was planning missions trips and I said, "I have to DO something! I can't be comfortable anymore!" and she asked me if I wanted to go to Haiti.  "YES!"  With knowledge comes responsibility and I knew that the Lord was beginning a work in me that would change the way I lived. 
In January of 2014 I saw firsthand all the things I had been reading about.  A short trip to Haiti broke my heart again for God's children outside of the United States.  Still recovering from the devastating earthquake in 2010, the Haitian people were working to rebuild their lives.  Many had lost spouses, children, and other relatives in the earthquake.  Hundreds of thousands were still living in tent cities.  But amidst all the tragedy they had experienced, there was the unmistakable feeling of hope and joy.  The people I had the pleasure of talking to and praying with had a security and a peace that had nothing to do with their circumstances and everything to do with the God they served. Their prayers were never for a change in their physical situations but always for a closer relationship with Jesus and for the ability to help others. I was blown away by their hospitality and friendship. I didn't want to leave Haiti. In a very short amount of time, the people there had wiggled their way into my heart and I loved them. I thought I was going on a trip to help minister to them but instead they ministered to me.  Once again I realized how much I had to learn and how much I wanted to be different. 
Looking back I can see how the Lord was planting the seeds that would grow into the desire to become missionaries but I'm not sure I quite knew it at that time.  A few months later Mike began to express some of his changing thoughts and desires.  But I'll let him tell his part :)

Mozambique?

-Mike- Since last Fall, we have had it on our hearts to go to Mozambique, Africa to attend missionary training offered by Iris Ministries.  Going to Haiti in November complicated those desires a little because I now have a place in my heart for the people I met there!  None-the less, we have pressed forward pursuing the Iris training, while planning the next trip to Haiti with our church.  I will be in Haiti August 16-22! My heart is being pulled in both directions. We are relying on God to close doors that only He can close and open doors only He can open.
The training is called the Harvest School and is 3 months from October through December.  I have found out from the Iris website that this training is very popular. Approximately 300 people attend each session.  This year 2 are being offered.  There is an application process each student must complete that Iris does not accept until June 1st. There is also a fee to attend the Harvest School, and along with airfare, the trip is quite expensive. I have estimated the cost to be about $20,000. Our whole family will be going, Lord willing.
Carolynn and I both feel strongly that we want to serve as long-term missionaries, but admittedly, we have no idea what we are doing. This is one of the first things that drew us to the Iris training.  It made sense to us to receive focused training in a pertinent environment. We also wanted our whole family to be able to attend, which is something not all organizations are able to offer.   
Heidi and Roland Baker are the founders of Iris. Before we began searching for anything missionary related, I had no idea who they were, but I have since read several books authored by them and I am drawn by their love for Jesus. If we could glean some of what they know about experiencing who God is and pouring that out into others, we would be so much better for it.  It is quite easy for me to get caught up in the details of this whole process that sometimes I have to draw back a little and look up. I need to re-focus on why we are doing what we are doing and the need that is out there.  I am in the minority compared to the world when I say that this world can change for the better, and Jesus is the answer. 
To sum things up, we have a few immediate needs, but the main thing is prayer.  We have one month until we are able to send in our application! There are really a lot of options we have for pursuing mission work.  We want to be sure that we are on a path that is honoring to God and will be the best for our family.  Pray if you will, for direction, and for the Lord's will to be done. When it comes down to it, we want what God wants.  We also would like prayer for Haiti and the trip that is planned for August.  We will be attending a summer camp with children that our church sponsors through World Orphans.  I am excited about the relationships we are building through the partnership.
For more information about the Harvest School go to: www.irisglobal.org/missions/harvest/