The Great Commission

One of the coolest things that we are experiencing here at the Crossworld is the intentionality of the staff and other candidates. Yesterday Brad was in line to get lunch while holding Barrett and Dale, the President of Crossworld served him a grilled cheese. Then tonight we sat at dinner with one of the VPs and an International Direction of Crossworld. These same men and the ones who are teaching each of our sessions about disciple making and all the other topics. Each meal we are sitting at a different table with different staff members who are asking great questions and genuinely interested in what God is teaching us or what we have been learning. We are so humbled that we are even here.... we are so thankful for all that was provided by God and through God to even have this opportunity.

I wanted to just recap a little bit of what we learned today during our Making Disciples session. I wish I had more energy and time to explain it all because man did it blow off our socks. But anyhow the point I wanted to throw out there is this: what does it look like when we are not following through with what Jesus commissioned us to do in Matt 28? Go, make disciples of all nations, teaching them and baptizing them. Dave  who is an International Director here at Crossworld served in Haiti for 21 years. He spoke about the church in Haiti something like this... Haiti is considered a reached country for missions. There are churches everywhere. But, church is happening and discipleship is not. That is why church is a mile wide and an inch deep. Did Jesus say, "Go plant a church then make disciples". No. Don't get me wrong, church planting is very important. But, similar to our church in America, we aren't making disciples therefore the church is shallow.

Think about this...have you ever been purposely discipled? Have you purposely discipled anyone? Why haven't we? Im am still ponder that question. What is it about me that inhabits or hinders my obedience to the great commission?

I'll finish up with three questions. Dave gave us these three questions in order to start the process with ourselves of where are at with making disciples:

1. Where am I now? (not physically but spiritually)

2. What do I need to learn next? (in relation to what I discovered above)

3. What Biblical truths relate to this?

The purpose of this is hopefully help us recognize where our hearts are at. Starting from scratch. What does God want to reveal, teach and change in me and how does that relate to scripture?

I am so appreciative of this process and look forward to sharing more to come. 

Kansas City

Today is the first day of our Candidate Orientation with Crossworld. We arrived late last night in Kansas City, MO. The kids did well traveling but we are all kinda fighting a cold that has been lingering for 3 weeks.


As we woke up this morning and went for a walk in beautiful Missouri, Brad and I reflected on how surreal this moment is for us. We have been talking, praying and processing about these next two weeks for a long time. The Lord has given us little bread crumbs along our journey and they seem to be just big enough for us to work through and not too daunting. It would be so easy to have minor (major) freakout moments when we take the whole picture into account. Today was the first time that Thailand felt tangibly real. I could feel it. In my heart. Quick get me a paper bag to breathe into! 

Our next two weeks are full of assessments; Bible, personality, language aptitude and interviews.We also will receive training on raising support.  We are going to be pretty busy, but there are a couple days off. The kids will be in classes as well. Since Sawyer is home schooled, she will continue to do her school work but also will be going through studies on missions work and moving. Barrett will do the usual, playing and eating! Both the kids are having fun thus far playing and running around outside in the crisp weather. 

We are staying at Crossworld's training center. There are 7 other family's or candidates here for the CO and 8 other families that are doing their Pre-field orientation. We each have our own rooms with 2 bathrooms, a living room area and a kitchen. Its sort of a merge between hotel and dorm. Its roomy which is nice for antsy kids. We were able to walk to the grocery store and by food and snacks for the stay. 

I am going to try and write a couple updates during our stay. 

We walked to Dunkin' Donuts this morning to get some treats and Vanilla Chai!

 "This is deer country!" from none other than Brad

Sawyer loves seeing actually leaves on trees that are red and yellow!