Merry Christmas

The Auldridge family wants to wish you a very merry Christmas!
We have been so blessed in years past to serve members of the military community far from home during the holidays. We are grateful to spend it with our family this year (with the possibility of snow in Pennsylvania!)
We're looking forward to moving our family to Germany to provide ministry in a new military community with Cadence International. Maybe next year we'll celebrate a German Christmas.

We pray that you will take some time to reflect on the birth of our Savior, God's provision for our redemption. And spent some time loving each other well.

Merry Christmas,
Wes, Elaine, Ada, & Silas

Here He Comes

If He is King, why won't I let him command? If He is Father, why don't I accept his embrace? If He forgives, why won't I accept his forgiveness.
I have a constant battle with myself. I forget. I forget all the time. I want to pray for you and, most importantly, for me that this Christmas season we remember. Who He is. What He's done. We must remember, He is willing, He is able, and He loves us so much he sent his son as a sacrifice for our sins, struggles and imperfections.

Remember He is coming! Oh and Merry Christmas!

wes

FUNdraising

     This weekend the ladies of Cleburne Bible Church are holding their second annual Craft Bazaar.  I'm only semi-crafty even when I have all of my stuff accessible.  But I told them that I'd love to help with my craft of baking. All the while knowing it would really hit the spot for my need to bake and not eat it all.
     So, I'm donating four dozen cookies to the concession table and I've baked more to bag and sell on my own along with a dozen loaves of Honey Whole Wheat or Cinnamon Swirl bread.  While I was telling some ladies at church about my breads, one of them asked about other baked goods.  I assured her that I bake lots of things and am up for a challenge. She asked if she could buy a loaf of Zucchini bread from me for Thanksgiving.  Is it possible that this is the start of a trend where I get to lick the spoon, smell lovely baked goods, and don't have to have them staring at me from my counter for days? I think so!
     All of the proceeds from my bake sale will go toward our Cadence start-up fund.  I hope to get the occasional order for homemade goodies, those profits will also go to Cadence. The idea is that everyone loves homemade stuff, especially with an increasing awareness of "non-food" in processed grocery store items.  Lots of people don't have the time or energy to bake themselves (and I'm realizing that some people don't even like to bake *gasp*). Hopefully I can help them, and they can help me.
     The name "The Art of Homemade" I chose because I like food that looks and tastes like food. All of my bread is made from scratch, by hand. I use things you're likely to have found in your grandmother's kitchen.  Some people are really creative and make a cake look like a real live fish bowl. That's great for them, but I'm not really into that.
     

Thanks for reading!
Elaine

Our Co-workers

(Missionaries and the Pastoral Care Team at the Member Care Retreat 

in Monument, Colorado October 2012)

We don't often talk about having co-workers, but Cadence has about 200 missionaries, as well as some great office staff.  At the beginning of October we were blessed with the opportunity to spend 4 days with some of these great people at the Member Care Retreat. The retreat serves as a time to rest, reflect, share with each other, encourage, and pray for each other. All of us are on Home Assignment, or have just finished it.  I'd love to introduce them to you, and share a little about their ministries to give you a better picture of Cadence's mission (it goes to say that we love all of them, lots!).

Starting in the front row left, Dick & MaryEtta Reynolds:  Dick is the VP of Human Resources MaryEtta is the nourisher of all things creative, homey, and hospitable. They have experience directing Hospitality Houses in Europe and raising children "in the field".

Front and center, Milt and Jeanie Bryan: Milt has been a counselor in private practice in Denver for many years and has recently joined Cadence in the capacity of Pastoral Care. He and his wife cared for us very well while we were in Denver, providing lots of counsel and friendship.

Front left, Gene and Anne Poppino: Initial Pastoral Care team with Cadence. Its their job to love us, even pastors (missionaries) need pastors. Gene visited several times in Alaska, meeting with us as a Team (with the Evans') and as couples. They live in Oregon and travel the world helping to make sure Cadence missionaries are healthy and growing.

Back Row from Left to Right:
Jim & Martha Bowden: They have just returned from 4 years as Hospitality House Directors at The Lighthouse in Yokosuka, Japan. They have served as fill-in missionaries since 2002.  Jim is a property owner/manager by trade and Martha a homemaker. All of their children are grown and live in Michigan with a bundle of grandkids. My (Elaine's) initial contact with them was at Moody Bible Institute. Their daughter was an MBI student who came to England as a Cadence Intern one summer (in a way, they are the reason I ended up at Moody and in turn, serving with Cadence).

Dave & Andrea Hutchings: Andrea is the daughter of Cadence Missionaries and has grown up in Hospitality Houses around the world. In 2008, after 2 weeks of marriage, they went to Okinawa, Japan to begin working with Marine Corps kids through Cadence Student Ministries. They established a fruitful ministry there through all of its growing pains, as well as started their own family. They plan to return to Okinawa next year (they are also MBI alumni, although none of us knew each other as students).

Rick & Jan Utecht: Rick is an F-16 pilot retired from the US Air Force. They have just served 4 years in Misawa, Japan.  This was their first assignment with Cadence.  Their ministry included Americans and Japanese.  They were forced to leave the field due to major health issues. Thankfully Jan has recovered completely and they are doing well in Wisconsin now.

Eric & Janet Thimell: They have worked with Cadence for 28 years. They've served as Hospitality House directors in Panama, Europe, and South Korea. for the last 12 years Eric has worked at Headquarters in the IT department. They have recently moved to Mountain Home, Idaho to minister to the Air Force there.

Wes & Elaine Auldridge: Missionaries Extrordinaire, Novice Parents (or something like that.) After college they served for three years in Alaska, having each completed internships in England as single people. Their hope is to return to Europe to minister the the Soldiers there, stationed far from home. They have been assigned to Wiesbaden, Germany to establish Cadence's first Hospitality House ministry there. Please help spread the word about their ministry and the plans to plant this ministry! (also, they have the cutest kids ever!)

Thanks for reading. I hope this gives you a little broader picture of who Cadence Missionaries are, and our heart for serving military communities.
God Bless,
Elaine

p.s. most of this is written from my memory, as I met most of these people on the retreat. So, some of the numbers/details might not be exact but they still paint the broad picture of the people who make up "Cadence".

Patience

Patience is a funny thing. The moment I decided to sit down and write this blog Silas began to cry. All I want to do is write and he keeps crying. Ada on the other hand, has been lying in bed for over an hour singing to herself. My kids both need naps. Not for their sanity alone but for mine as well.
As Silas continues to cry I begin to get more frustrated. How long until Elaine gets back from the store? Why won't he take his pacifier? Will she ever fall asleep?
...and the cycle continues. What's funny about all this is that it is on top of what I am already feeling about life. How long will we be in Texas? When can we get to Germany? How in the world are we going to get the money raised to go? It all adds up. I become more frustrated and less patient.
A few days ago I was hit once again by the grace and truth 2X4. It happens from time to time. This time I was reminded that life is not all about whats going to happen next. It's about right now. God (due to his nature of being outside of time) is never concerned with the future. He is concerned about our now. The Lord desires prayer without ceasing. That is not future prayer that is prayer now. He desires we rejoice in him always. That is not future rejoicing it is rejoicing now. Wait, maybe that is some kind of secret to life. We should never primarily focus on what's next but what happening now. My kids are growing up, now. My wife deserves to be loved, now. My God has a ministry for us right here, right now. Our hearts may long to return to the field and that's ok as long as that is not our sole focus in life, but there is life to be living here and now.
I'm sure I connect with many of you about our constant struggle to be present in the present. Please pray for us as we try to do a better job of abiding in Christ now.

Convicted,
Wes
Missionary in Texas for Now

Cooking for Friends

Grilled Sweet Potatoes with Cherry Salsa 

This was an adventurous dish that went over moderately well, it would 

not be a hospitality dish because its just a little too "out there" ;-)

For the record, I liked it.

I (Elaine) love to eat cook.  Its a really big part of my role in a Hospitality House. Its how I became connected as an Airmen to the Hospitality House.  I peeled potatoes, peeled tomatoes (before learning about blanching!), turned a messy pan of brownies into a lovely torte, made pie crust, soup, cookies and loads more.  As the director of a house I do the planning, shopping, cooking and cleaning for meals.  I really like employing Airmen in these tasks too, as was done for me. Like the time I made Steven grate three pounds of cheddar cheese by hand! Or the time I had Chris chop several cups of pecans, by hand (he came back the next day with a nut chopper for me!). And I'm sure that almost everyone who has come through my front door has been handed a spoon and told, "here, stir this" at some point.

As we've been staying with family for 6 of the last 8 weeks I've been able to stretch my "cooking for more than two" muscles.  My "Food" board on Pinterest has always been the fastest growing.  I've spent the last year collecting recipes and constantly brainstorming on how to turn one lovely family meal into a lovely family meal for 30 people.  What ingredients do I need? What tools do I need? How can I pull this off and not feel like a cafeteria?

I've really loved cooking for our families again and its a nice little jump start before we head back into field ministry and I'm feeding the masses. If you've been the benefactor of this food, thanks for not wrinkling your nose at my new recipes or odd combinations (I'm not good at pairing food yet--waffles and coleslaw anyone?).  If you find a new, yummy, challenging or interesting recipe please pass it along!

Nothing makes someone feel at home better than a good meal or a hot beverage on a cool evening.  But we know that "man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God" (Matt 4:4). We're not a restaurant, we're a body. And we love it.

One last thing...if we end up getting assigned to Germany I'll need someone to help with a comprehensive lexicon of English to German food and cooking terms! Thanks.

Elaine

K-Love Pledge Drive

If you are like me you change the radio station every time K-Love does their pledge drive. I'm sure this is a maturity issue with me, but I can't stand the idea of being asked for financial support all-day-long. I just get annoyed with it. But like many areas in my life, when the Lord wants to shape me (my patiences, my pride) he hits me where it hurts.
Every time I have Tweeted, Facebook messaged, Blogged or asked someone for help during this support raising phase of life, I feel like I am doing unto other what I hate done to me. So I struggle with doing what God is asking us to do.
This is just another thing God does to remind us of the Truth. You see, the truth is, Elaine and I can't minister to the military without others. We are in need and cannot continue on our mission (just like K-Love) unless we ask. Please understand this blog is merely a confession to all of you about where my heart is right now.
Let me end by saying this if you are starting to get frustrated with us constantly asking for financial help during this season, please bear with us. It will be over soon enough. God is definitely moving right now and we are getting closer and closer to to heading back to the field. Personally, I can't wait to share the stories about ministry on the ground once we are back in the field instead of asking for help all the time.
Please continue to pray for God to shape our hearts and minds and to provide for our needs to get back into the field.
We love you friends,
Wes

MISSION-33

What is MISSION-33? This year I (Wes) turned 33. It got me thinking, 33 is a pretty good number. It’s the approximate age of Christ when he died for our sins. King David ruled 33 years in Jerusalem. It’s the atomic number of arsenic (not sure how that fits). It’s Larry Bird’s old number with the Celtics.

As you can see there is great meaning involved with this number. In my search to discover more facts about this number I found countless websites dedicated to the conspiracy theories involving the number 33 as well as a lot of bad information being referred to as facts.

Well, you’re probably wondering what my interest in the number is. I’m thinking more along the lines of finances. $33. Would you be willing to adopt us, support us, send us, supply us, finance us, employ us for only $33 dollars a month? If we can get 33 people to to give $33 a month we would be much closer to meeting our monthly goal. Do you believe in our ministry? Do you believe in what we are doing? Will you give $33 a month.

Click here (MISSION-33.com) to find out the various ways to give.

Click here to make a donation or set up recurring credit card gifts.

It Was Over

This a video put together by Lifecairn. It features Brian and Kendra Goodman, friends of ours, who share their testimony and the impact of our Hospitality House Ministry in Alaska.

Moving On/Texas Bound

(Spending time with Hasslers in San Antonio)

Elaine: The clouds are really moving up there.

Wes: The clouds are always moving in Texas. One minute they’re a bunny shape then next...they’re...cloud shape. 

What an imagination he has! ;-)

We left Aurora two Thursdays ago, drove south through Colorado and across the corner of New Mexico, that was a pretty chunk of our drive. Once we got into the panhandle of Texas I (Elaine) discovered something: a new definition to “middle of nowhere.” There is a whole lot of nothing between Colorado Springs and Amarillo, TX. Once you head south from there you pass through a series of populated football stadiums until you hit the DFW area. (Any of you who grew up playing or attending football games at Bald Eagle-Nittany should know that any town with over 24 people in TX has a football stadium, with lights.) I always feel like its a cultural experience, being in Texas. We sat at a traffic light and counted six different fast food taco restaurants in Burleson: Taco Bell, Taco Bueno, FasTaco, Taco Casa, Taco Cabana & Primo Taco.

I’m about to get a much bigger helping of all things Texas. We’re relocating! We had planned to make several road trips this summer but during this trip we’ve really seen God leading us a different direction. To learn more, please click here and read our latest e-mail, Life's Progressive Dinner.

Thanks for the Prayers,

Elaine

Deep in the Heart of Texas

(This was Ada's name tag at Cleburne Bible Church this past Sunday)

We made it to Texas and are hard at work telling our friends, families and churches about our next steps with Cadence. We have been busy. Between showing Silas off to my side of the family for the first time and meeting with various pastors and friends we are getting more and more excited about our next assignment. We do need prayer as we consider some big changes in our current plans to raise the funds we will need. Please lift us up in regards to making the right decision as well as God providing for all our financial needs by the fall.

If you are in North Texas and want to get together with us please email me and we will set something up (our emails are at the bottom of the page)

Seeking His Glory,
Wes

Call us crazy...

...but we're beginning our summer of travel with a small car, two kids and a rough itinerary! We have recently made some modifications to our car to help avoid baking our babies as we begin driving across America's great flat states. There are 3 possible routes that will all takes about 13 hours to get to Ft Worth. In our younger days that would be no problem with ample snacks, beverages, and an iPod charger. But with a toddler and a newborn we'll make it a two day trip. I'm excited about any of the routes, as I've not been to most of these states out here, and am intrigued by vast flatness.
We'll have about 10 days in Texas and look forward to seeing lots of friends, if you're there I hope we get together, so please let us know (don't be afraid to initiate, and follow up. It would be a big help to us!). We plan to be at Cleburne Bible Church on Sunday the 10th. And I'm hoping to return to Colorado via San Antonio.
Please pray for safety with our overall travel. Patience with each other and our babies. Great family bonding. Healing for Silas' diaper rash before we strap him into his carseat for a long time. Good meetings with people interested in our ministry.

Ada is getting packed...                                                Silas is helping too!


Thanks a bunch! Elaine (with Wes, Ada, & Silas)

Help Wanted

Dear Friends,
The time has come for us to really begin raising support for our next assignment with Cadence in Europe. Our goal is to be in the field by the end of October this year. That leaves us with our new job, no more resting, now it's time to ask for help.

First, we need everyone to begin praying that all of our financial need will be met. Second, we need all our friends and family to consider coming on board with us either monthly or with one-time donations. This is the help we need to get us back into the field and continue this mission God has called us to.

So, would you consider helping us? Maybe $25, $50 or $100 a month? Maybe a one time gift?

CONTRIBUTE HERE

Our travels begin in two weeks as we head to Texas. If you would like to meet up with us while we are down there to either reconnect and learn more please e-mail me.

For His Glory!
Wes

What a Week (Video)

(Me and my buddy Dan Stehley. More about him later.)

   You should all know by now that one week ago we welcomed our first son Silas into the world. It was an incredible moment in our family and we were thrilled to experience it together. Most of you don't know that last week held a few more surprises than just that. Let me go back and tell you an awesome God story.

   The Sunday before last Elaine and I were sitting in church listening to the sermon when Elaine handed me the bulletin pointing to something at the bottom. It said that on the following Sunday our church, Eastern Hills in Aurora, would spotlight on Cadence International. I about freaked out. I have spent some time over the past few months trying to get my foot in the door with our church to get some help raising support. I didn't get very far, until the Lord dropped this in my lap. I immediately started asking questions about the possibility of a booth that Sunday as well as some face time with the congregation. I received a phone call on Tuesday asking if I could meet with a few of the pastors to work out the details. I said, "I would love to meet as long as my wife isn't in labor!"

   The meeting Wednesday morning went really well. I was going to get 5 minutes in all three services to talk about Cadence and the next steps for us a family headed back into the mission field this fall. This was all great except one little detail, Elaine was about ready to pop. Well as God would have it Elaine went into labor that night, delivered Silas on Thursday and we came home from the Hospital at 2pm on Saturday. That was just enough time for me to compose my thoughts, grab a shower, change clothes and head to the church for the Saturday night service.

   What pleasure it was to share with congregation all God was doing to move us back into the field. Another blessing in all this was that I had ordered a video from LifeCairn to use in churches as we go around and speak. It also arrived last week and was ready for the service. Check it out!

   Words can't describe how amazed I was to see God's provisions for us last week. He has jump started our Partnership Development (aka. financial support raising) and given us a big thumbs up to move forward. What a rewarding life it is to walk in the Light!

All For His Glory,

Wes

Welcome Silas Levi Auldridge

Here are a few pictures of our new baby boy!

 Mommy and Silas shortly after delivery.

 Ada meeting her baby brother for the first time.

Our little man wide awake.

   Silas Levi was born May 10 at 2:44pm, 7lbs 11ozs, 20.75 inches long. Both mom and baby are doing really well! Thank you all for the prayers and support via Facebook. It really meant a lot to us.

For HIM!

Wes (For all four of the Auldridges)

Andrew's Testimonial

Here are some thoughts from my buddy Andrew Brammeier about Cadence International and us. If you want to do a quick video testimonial to post on our blog we would love it, so please e-mail me. If you would like to contribute to help get our family back into the field in Europe, please click here for more information.

In Christ,
Wes

I Wish I Could Time Travel

Don't you just wish sometimes you could go back and undo something stupid. I am working really hard to get a monthly e-mail Newsletter put together to try and reach more of my friends and family with information about our next assignment. I started using MailChimp and had so many bad/old e-mails they locked my account. Then I was to go through a lengthy process to have people sign-up again. So this time I had to send an e-mail from my personal e-mail address asking everyone to join my list again. (Here comes the stupid part.) I put all 290 emails in the "To:" box and hit send. (This is such a huge pet-peeve of mine.) Now I have shared almost my entire e-mail list with everyone on my e-mail list.

I am so sorry. Again, I am so sorry. All I can ask is that if there is someone out there who likes to make funny comments on mass e-mails and hits "Reply to all," DON'T.

Finally, I you wish to receive these e-mails please click HERE and sign-up.

I feel like a dope,
Wes

Lent

No...not the stuff you pick out of the dryer. That's lint. This is a season in the church calendar, like Advent.

Take a moment and let me share a song from one of my very favorite singer-song writers, Andrew Peterson.  Lyrically a fantastic song, especially for the season. Hosanna!

Have you ever done the lion's share of cooking for a big holiday meal? The kind where all the extended family comes out of the woodwork to eat their fill? One can spend the better part of a week actively preparing dishes for such a big meal. And in 20 minutes, 30 max the meal is done and you're left with a week's worth of dishes. That's how I feel about the day after a holiday. December 26th, Easter Monday, July 5th, April 4th (or whatever the day after your birthday is)--you've looked forward to these occasions of celebration for a whole year and all of a sudden like that, they're over.

That's why I like the seasons of the Church Calendar. Advent and Lent are the most familiar, Advent leading up to Christmas, and Lent the 40 days leading up to Easter. Resurrection Sunday should be the Christian's biggest cause for celebration. What better news? What better gift than our Savior defeating death and sharing it with us? It's far more than one can contemplate or celebrate in one Sunday, or even in one week (Holy Week is the week leading up to Easter, with its own significant observances). Neither Wes or I come from church traditions that make a big deal about Lent (which is fine). But this year I decided that we should (or I'd like to) observe Lent with a sacrifice of some sort, which is the tradition. Something that would help me think about Easter, Jesus, his sacrifice, his miraculous rising, and our promise of New Life through the busy weeks leading up to Easter Sunday.

This year we have given up secular music for this season. I know that occasionally it is good for me to quiet some of the extra voices in my life. Since I like music, I listen to it it quite a lot. Over the past few weeks I've found myself turning the radio off a little more (because when you take away secular music the selection gets much smaller!). It has been good to sit or drive in the silence for a while.

I didn't choose music because I think there is something wrong with secular music. I quite enjoy it. It has been a sacrifice for me to go without it, and it's been a sacrifice of my pride and preferences to have my car radio set to K-LOVE for the last several weeks. I recognize that for this season it's more imoportant for me to hear the words focused (mostly) on God than anything else, it helps my mind wander in good directions.

Have you ever given something up for Lent? What is your experience like? I hope it has helped you focus on God's amazing love for you, and your need for Jesus' sacrifice.

God bless,

Elaine

P. S. It's hard to even write this post using the labels "secular" and "Christian" for music since that is another whole conversation, but they work for getting my point across.

Pressing on towards the goal

(Rebecca Hawkins serving the Hospitality House in England in 2007)

Life is so hard to plan. I am trying my best, but it seems like everything is waiting on everything else. An example of this we cannot get a specific assignment until we have enough funds. I believe we won't get enough funds until we have a specific assignment. Paradoxes like these are what requires us to live by faith. Right now I am in the moment of wanting to "do." God continues to tell me to "rest." You see my dilemma.

Well we do have a plan at least (even if God makes a few tweaks to it). Elaine and I have decided we would like to be back in the field by October. That will give us enough time to adjust to the new baby boy, time to visit many of you and time raise the funds necessary to survive in the field.

I understand that in the upcoming months hearing me ask for support might get old (and I understand that) but please understand it is our livelihood and we must do it. It is the very nature of the calling we have accepted. So please if you can see our vision and want to help, we need your support. We really desire to see the dark and lonely lives of unsaved servicemen brightened by loving hospitality, family and fellowship of believers.

For His Glory,

Wes

(A group of Airmen outside our house in Alaska having a little impromptu prayer)

Then There's Just Life

Hello friends, Elaine here. Wes asked me to write a blog update, and since he's been working so hard trying to get us caught up on all sorts of communication, its nice to give him a break.

Since we talk about things of substance frequently, I don't feel bad bringing up the weather. Today is beautiful here in Aurora, CO. It's sunny and 65 degrees. It's a great change from our former home, where yesterday the Iditarod commenced, and "spring" is still two full months away. Now, our forecast has snow in store on Wednesday, but that doesn't change today.

Ada and I just returned from a walk to the park where we played on the swings, watched the kids, and slid down the slide. She is not quite walking yet, but I think the park will be much more fun for her once she is.

Yesterday Wes installed a screen door in our kitchen, which otherwise has no windows and is a dark, unpleasant hole. Today it is pleasant.

Our baby prep for Baby Boy is coming along well. We've toured the maternity ward at our chosen hospital, assessed sleeping arrangements for the new addition (they do sleep, right?), realized we were waaaaay more concerned about being prepared for Baby #1 than this one, and helped Grandma make her travel arrangements to come help with the big one and welcome the little one.

One day at a time, things are fairly straight forward here. Eating vegetables, not eating things off the floor, trying to get out and have some fun (I'm looking forward to exploring two fabric boutiques I just discovered, later this week). Thank you sincerely for your prayers and support. And thanks for keeping up with us!

God bless,

Elaine

Fund Raising Season Approaches

If you visited our blog in the past day or so you may have noticed the "Fund Raising Thermometers" over on the right. I (Wes) recently had a chat with Cadence's HR Director and asked for a tentative breakdown of what it would take to get us back into the European field. After a couple weeks they got back to me with these numbers (see the numbers in the sidebar on the right). They are rounded and tentative (always subject to change) but can give us a good idea of where we currently are and what we need to be released. The best news came yesterday when I was speaking with our ministry mentor and he said the odds of us starting a new ministry are slim. That is huge because the cost difference in very substantial.

So please pray for us as we embark on a new season of ministry. And please partner with us financially if you can. (Click here for more info) We will begin planning our trips to visit as many friends and family after the baby is born in May. We look forward to seeing many of you.

In His Service,

Wes, Elaine & Ada

Video Update

A little change of pace this week. Here is a quick video update for all your Auldridge needs. (Sorry there is no Ada or Elaine. I will add them in the next one.)

Wes

Just Because I Can

I am pretty sure I have the cutest daughter in the world. This got me thinking. I am unbelievably in love with Ada. She is wonderful and perfect and sweet and special. She is mine. She could do nothing in the world to earn my favor any more because I am completely in love with her. The problem is I don't really believe God loves me like that. My insecurity causes me to spend a ton of time doing whatever I can to earn his favor. I'm sure many of you can relate to that feeling. It is so frustrating.
Kids are such a blessing. But, of course, mine is more than yours!
Wes
(This post featured some very cute pictures of Ada, why? Just Because I Can :)

We've Been Assigned!

It is my pleasure to announce that The Auldridges have received word that our next assignment will be in Europe! This is very exciting for us because Europe is our first pick over the Asian and American fields. We have no firm assignment yet because we have a long road of support raising. Once we can estimate when we can depart, our leadership team will assess what is available. Thank you for all you prayers for us. We are really doing better on our road to rest and recovery.

In Christ,

Wes

Emulating Christ

Recently, I sat down on the couch and began working on a few things. Ada decided that the one thing in the room she couldn't live without was my computer. I sat there for a while, tried to fight her off and continue working. What I didn't factor in was her persistence. After a few minutes I realized this wasn't going to work. 

At Christmas Ada received a toy laptop from my mother. It sings songs and makes noises and is exactly what she really wanted, although she didn't know it. I went and got it for her sat her next to me on the couch and we got right back to working.

There are so many lessons I can learn from this event. First, I, like Ada, want things I cannot have. I'm not content near enough with the things I have. Second, I don't really want what I ask for. And if I got it I wouldn't even know how to use it, which would make me discontent and lose interest. Lastly, what I want (what I really want deep inside) is be like my Father. I want to get up on the couch next to him, watch him and do what he is doing. Although my flesh dictates I do other things all the time deep down inside I just want to emulate him.

Hope everyone is well. I'm currently trying my best to reconnect with old friends and would love to hear from you if it has been a while. Send me a message and hopefully we can chat soon,

Wes

Enjoy the Silence

We hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are enjoying this New Year. Elaine, Ada and I are getting rejuvenated here in Denver and are looking forward to hitting the support raising trail. We miss seeing our friends and hopefully we will be able to see you sometime this year. We recently sent out our newsletter and it can be found here. Lastly, we want to apologize for the silence our blog has taken over the last few months. To bring you up to speed we are resting well in Denver, Elaine did not have altitude sickness, Ada is as cute as ever and we appreciate all your prayers.

Wes

Sorry, Baby Boy A was not in the picture up top.