#Giving Tuesday 2017

(Remember TL:DR is a summary at the bottom if you don't have time to read the whole update)

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This summer I was introduced to the term "History's Handful". Individuals in this group have purposed during their lifetime to give One Million Dollars towards the fulfillment of the Great Commission. Something within me stirred; this is something I'd love to do! From Adopting/sponsoring kids to drilling clean water wells to completing Bible translations in the heart languages of Deaf individuals around the world - these veins run deep within me! Those of you who know my financial situation and socio-economic status might smile and think "bless your heart". I'd agree with you - I have no where near the capital needed to give away $1 million dollars over the course of my lifetime.. Maybe if I write a book, and give all the proceeds away I could get close.. Or if I came up with an app, and donated all the revenue.. I have many inventor/creator type ideas, but no entrepreneurial wit or patience. (If you have that ability, I'll share my ideas and we can split the donations of the proceeds to our charities of choice? deal?!)

I am also encouraged to read about people who live on 10% of their income and give away 90%.. We're struggling to live on the 90% currently, but to live on less and be able to give more is always our goal! Currently we strive to be good stewards of what we have and to give as generously as we are able when a situation arrises - exhibit A: While traveling home, we ended up filling the tank of the Turkish visitor at the gas station the other day and giving him the $50 Aldi gift card we had so he could purchase food for his family since he left his wallet at the hotel during his travels and had yet to reclaim it.

I start out with all these examples because I know that it can seem like I'm always asking for monetary donations ((cuz I am ;) I can't do this work that God has given me on my own, and the part I need the most help with is the money part)) BUT - I don't want you to think that my attitude towards the money you give is indifferent or demanding. I'm on the front lines with you! I want to be a generous giver just as much as I challenge you to be one! I subscribe to a blog entitled Gospel Patrons which endeavors to engage people who desire to be involved in a similar mission as History's Handful - without the one million dollar number attached ;) Their goal is to reflect God's generosity in advancing the message of Jesus.

An article they recently published is a great reminder of how we are all in this together. Some are the suppliers and others are the order fulfillment department while still others (to take the analogy further) are the shipping team and the customer service reps ;) Somedays I'd love to leave the customer relations job and be on the supplying end - to have the knowhow to develop products that customers purchase with money - to get something tangible and less messy than working with people and their brokenness all the time. I can easily become disillusioned that I'm just peddling myself and my talents for no real profit, or that the "gospel that I'm selling" is not as cool as the new iPhone and all it's features..

Often I think it would be easier to just earn the money to pay for the ministry in a "one-man-band" capacity and therefore not be a burden to any one else rather than to trust God to provide. But then I'm reminded that the grass always seems greener on the other side, and if I'm not walking out in the faith that my God will supply all my needs (and that of the ministry) according to His glorious riches, then I'm squandering my own green grass ;) as well as robbing you of the opportunity to join me in the gospel pursuit.

I've put "Joining History's Handful" on my bucket list, and will continue towards that endeavor - and I want to invite you to join me in pursing that in your own lives as well. One Million is a lot of 000's.. But don't let that intimidate you - You all know the story about the boy throwing starfish back into the sea.. "You can't help them all.." he's challenged by an onlooker. "No," He replies, "but I can help this one."
This week, many people will take part in #Giving Tuesday.

⇨ Please prayerfully ask our Abba "which one is my one?" and start there! ⇦

 I'd love to have this ministry be your one - but more than that, I want your finances to not control you or limit your ability to give. If this Tuesday is a step breaking the chains of consumerism and giving control of your budget to God, then that's a great first step! If you would be lead to join the ministry partners that fund this ministry I have a matching grant for this calendar year for that expires December 31st. I've raised $9,620 toward the matching amount, so in the month of December, every dollar raised will be doubled up to $10,380! Please join me in pursuing the heart of our GENEROUS God and imitating him in providing ways for others to hear (in this ministries case - SEE!) the gospel and respond!

TL:DR

** I wanna join the History's Handful club (a group of people dedicated to donate $1Million to the great commission), but I can't without your help. **
** This article is worth your time and consideration. **
** If you choose to be a supplier (see the article) - I have a matching grant for all donations made in December - up to $10,380! I'd love to be the recipient of your generosity! **


Soli Deo Gloria

Word 'Baby' #1 - 'born' just in time for Thanksgiving! ;)

In my last update, I mentioned being pregnant with WORDS.. Since then, while watching a brief interview with a man named Bob Goff, something triggered my 'pregnant with words' self into the labor of 'write-some-things-out-NOW!' Here's his statement that served as todays 'word-birthing' catalyst:

"I want to say true things. That wasn't my idea - that was [the Apostle] Paul's idea. Don't tickle people's ears.. people are listening to you - we're teachers - so just say true things."

Honestly, this last year has been a painful 'pregnant with words' time for me.. Many an update/blog post swirled around in my mind and in my soul, but I did not have peace to share them for a few reasons - mainly because of my desire to stay true to who our Adonai has made me to be while still desiring to encourage those of you who are my ministry partner team reading these updates. I've gotten counsel to be more succinct in what I send out, to not be so long winded.. And I've wrestled with how to do that since 'short and sweet' does not come naturally to me. Whenever the Holy Spirit places a topic on my heart, the content of what I write tumbles out effortlessly. Every time I've tried to cut down a post to a snippet or a 'sound bite' though, the well drys up and I have nothing to say. Attempts at short and sweet become blunt and bitter, and that's not my desire at all! It's been a journey for me to find out how to try to be "both/and" - imitating Paul (in 1 Corinthians 9) by becoming all things to all people - in this endeavor. 

In His perfect timing, the Lord allowed me to come across that quote from Bob Goff in order to start a new segment of these updates and He allowed the peace to post to return. Yay! Here we go! ;)

So, what to expect for the foreseeable future? Here is my new rubric:

UPDATE/POST: 

All updates and posts will have a section at the end of each installment that will say "TL:DR" - for those of you who don't have teenagers living at home this means "To Long: Didn't Read". If you are crunched for time, or just want the Cliffs Notes - scroll down to this section where I'll bullet point the above message. 

I seem to do better when Calendar updates and Life updates are separate, so I'm going to go back to my previous schedule of "What'Sup Wednesday" posted on the first Wednesday of the month, and give a calendar overview of what events I have coming up. This should allow you to see when I'm traveling and to know if you should be tuning in to an :LIVE: event that Cru is hosting soon or if there are recent videos of my work available to view. 

The other posts that I write -hopefully once a month, but no promises on the frequency- will be these "True Things" that Bob Goff mentioned should be our priority to share. These will be the things that I am learning and that the Holy Spirit brings to my fingers, things that will include updates about my family, information and insight into the Deaf community as well as nuggets of truth I've uncovered on my current journey with our Great Cattle Rancher (aka Provider).

The final option that I'm going to add is a non-electronic update.. That means if you would like to cease receiving the e-mail version, but instead would like an envelope mailed to your person, then I'll send a quarterly paper copy of my last 3 months posts in a consolidated newsletter update. I need you to reply with your physical address if this is something you would prefer so I can get that list together and make sure you have that mailed to you.  

Hopefully the 'birth' of this first 'word baby' will help the siblings (twins, triplets, I'm not sure how many 'word babies' have been germinating this year) out onto the page as well! ;)

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

Did you hear/see it?

   You know the saying, "If a tree falls in the forest, but no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Scientifically speaking, yes - the noise will happen regardless of a persons presence but theoretically the thought remains. Lately, I've been wondering a parallel question, "If a missionary is overwhelmed with ministry work, but there is no one there to document it as it happens (Instagram picture, Facebook feed, YouTube video, Blog post, etc), did it count as part of the harvest?"
   This wonderment comes not from contempt at seeing missions work overshared on social media, or annoyance of 'do-gooder's only seeking recognition for their "help" but rather out of a place of "plentiful harvest and too-few workers".. I've been quiet here on the blog/newsletter recently, as I've just been overwhelmed with ministry related work, and underwhelmed at the amount I can do as a 'one-man band'. I have regularly felt the tinge of 'you should post to let people know what you/the ministry is up to' as I shuffle to the next thing, but I've not yet been able to sit down and collect my thoughts in an intelligible way. To those of you who have recently joined my support team, I really am truly grateful for your partnership. I hope to update soon - see below. For those of you who have walked this journey with me for a while, I appreciate your patience. Updates and encouragement are coming - stay tuned! ;)

** Honestly, I feel pregnant with words as of late.. re-read that >>WITH WORDS<<.. and similar to how due dates and baby's delivery dates often don't coincide, I can feel that the messages are coming, they just aren't quite ready yet.. so I am trying to let them simmer a lil' longer and giving the Holy Spirit time to refine them before I birth them onto the page. Soon..

Until then - thanks for keeping-on-keeping-on in whatever place the Lord has you at the moment, and may we continue to go higher up and further in as we walk with Jesus on this journey called "life"!

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

A few NEW thing - Welcome!

So, I kinda knew this would happen, but I kinda didn't. I was hoping that I would plan things better, but I knew I wouldn't.. Thus here's two NEW things for the New Year :)

First off, I'll be doing a new approach to my updates, as I've gotten some good feedback from many of you. I've learned I'm not "pithy" enough ;) and that, if I could give more "cliff notes" versions, ya'll would be more inclined to read it.. So, I'll start with bullet points at the top of each update that are succinct and hopefully clickable. It'll look like this.. 

** Cool thing happening in Baltimore! Check out this link for more details.. ( Links in ASL and English)

** Remember that 90's commercial with Bob "WeHadABaby-ItsABoy".. ? (Link in Spoken English and written transcript)

** Matching Grant expires tonight - every little bit helps!

(I'm trying to figure out how to code so that the bullet point will take you down to that part of the update if you are one of the people who said you still like to get the "meat of the story". For now, you'll have to scroll down to the corresponding headline.) 


COOL THINGS!!
Right now, students are gathered for Cru's annual Winter Conference in places like Indy, Denver and Atlanta. However, if you clicked the link for Baltimore's conference Live Stream you will see that they are the only one offering the main session with an ASL Interpreter! This is the second year for the conference to offer the Interpreter on a live stream feed, and the staff has been great to work with us. I'm so grateful for their willingness to help us reach the Deaf community with this solid and refreshing content about God's character. Our hope is to expand this to more conferences next year. If you've got a few minutes, check out the video archives! :)

(Second New thing - BABY!)

WE HAD A BABY - ITS A BOY :)

     He was around 41.5 weeks, "a week late" by medical standards, but when he decided to come it was a fast and furious hour and a half labor. Daddy caught him, the midwives didn't make it in time! As soon as we shared with family and close friends the replies came back - "what's the story behind his name"?? Like with Jaelyn, it took us over two days to decide for sure what his name would be. I always tell people, "It's so hard for me to name a human! It's not like a cat that I can change their name later if I don't like it." ;)
     For Azael and I, the names of our children provide an opportunity for us to create an Ebenezer. We want to honor the Lord in the names we choose for our kids, and allow them to be constant and visual reminders for us of where He has brought us on this journey called Life.
     When you look up Kaspien (pronounced like Caspian) on baby name websites, they will say, "We don't know what this name means, can you help us out?" So I guess we get to decide what it means.  :) It's counter part Caspian - as in the Caspian sea - is near where Azael and I went on a Vision Trip with Cru this past May. God used that trip to stretch us in good ways, so part of the name comes from a reminder of our time there. The spelling of Kaspien includes "aspen" - as in the trees. Aspen trees grow in a communal root system. Azael and I have been in search of "community" since we married, not really finding a thriving place to root ourselves. Our move to Iowa has been a bountiful place to bloom, and connect deeply with like-minded SIGNING (Deaf and Hearing) couples and it's been a breath of fresh air for us. So, to us, Kaspien means "Finding home, settling where community thrives."
     When Azael was offered the opportunity to work in Iowa on the ASLV Bible Translation team, we had only been in California 2 weeks and were quite unsure if we should pick up and move again. The name Adoniram kept coming to mind for me, and I found it odd (since we didn't know if Baby was a boy or a girl). I knew of Adoniram Judson from reading about missionaries when I was younger, but I didn't fully remember his story so I googled him. Adoniram Judson lived in the 1800's, and his main work in Burma was Bible translation. Azael and I felt confident that this was God confirming for us to yet again pack up and move, this time to Iowa. We chose to keep the 'a' in Adonai - the name of the Lord in Hebrew, and were also blessed by the opportunity to honor Azael's mom in the process with her name 'Dona' being included in the spelling of Adonairam.

So, that's the story behind his name..

GIVING
I'm trying to make the transition from the event based budget I've had in the previous years to a continuous operating budget starting in 2017. In order to make that transition, I need to end this year well and start next year strong. Thank you to everyone who has already given. Thank you also for your consideration to steward your resources well! If you've not yet given, click this link for secured online giving. Thanks for your continued support!

May the new year find us doing more kingdom work than before!

Soli Deo Gloria

:D

Meditations&Musings4Mondays: Things pondered..

Monday's postings are longer, more in-depth thoughts or stories that I feel the need to share. If you don't have time to read this now, you can look at the cliff notes versions in the bullet points at the beginning of the posts.. When you have the time, please feel encouraged by the stories God is telling, and musings that he brings to my mind. 
HAPPY MONDAY :D
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* For those of you who've labored (birthed a child):
          Thoughts about the "round yon virgin"..

* It's not about the $$, its about the ministry (yours AND mine):
         Thoughts on year-end appeals, and monetary giving and motive..

* "Drudgery is the test of genuine character. The greatest hinderance to our spiritual life is that we will only look for big things to do." - Oswald Chambers

 MOTHER AND CHILD
    As we are in the season of Advent - I being in my own personal season of waiting on this baby inside of me to "finish cooking" - I was struck by a wonderment the other day during a conversation with my midwife. I experience "toning or practice contractions" (also known as "Braxton-Hicks") for two months or so before my baby is actually born. They started daily in June with Jaelyn, and she was born the first week of August. With this baby, it was about the beginning of November that I've daily had partial or full-uterine contractions. I know this is not common for everyone, as I have a friend (who has birthed 6 kids) tell me she only has contractions on the day she delivers.
    On social media there is a trend now to "tell the birth story" of your child's entrance into the world but I suspect it's been a word-of-mouth tradition shared for ages past.. However, the gospel writers, being men, left out that part of Mary's story, only telling us that "she brought forth her first born son" .. and so it causes me to wonder.. Did Mary have "practice contractions" leading up to the birth of Jesus? As she rode on the donkey, did she sometimes have to catch her breath at the intensity of her body "preparing room" for Jesus's entrance? Hollywood would like us to believe it was a dramatic arrival to Bethlehem with her in transition as Joseph frantically searches for a place for her to give birth.. But still, I wonder.. Maybe they got to Bethlehem, found a place, then her water broke the next day and Joseph had time to track down a local midwife to come help with the birth. It being her first child, I don't know all the Jewish customs, but I have to assume that there was help from a local midwife.. How long was Mary's labor? A short 5 hours? or a taxing 24 hours?
As I wait for this second child of ours to come into our arms, these are my ponderings of late.. :)


JOYFUL GIVING
    From November 29th to December 31st it seems as though we've entered the era of social media pressured giving. As much as I want to take advantage of the social media trend, I also feel a tinge of remorse. I want to be an outlet for God to use your gifts, talents and resources to meet a need that I feel is very blaring, but I don't want to do it at the expense of you spending time with our Abba and asking Him where it is He wants you to invest those things. I am not a "one-man-team" and can't do it all on my own - so I need you to partner with me to accomplish the things that He's given me the vision to do. But I also don't want it to only be a check-mark on your financial duty to "give". I want you to want to be generous because you realize that you've been given much - and in that "much" you want to be blessing to others. I want to be a conduit of blessing for you, not a sieve of gilt on you.
   So I wax and wane in my support-raising efforts during this time. I did try to capitalize on the #GivingTuesday wave, as I keep hearing the saying, "People want to be a part of something bigger than themselves".. but I struggle to keep the fundraising side of things at the front of what I do, because I don't want you to give out of obligation - I want you to give because you see the vision, you can feel the need, and you want to be a part of the bigger picture too..
    And maybe that's where I've failed you in the past.. I've not painted you that picture, given you those stories - the Evidences of Glory - that are happening on the college campus with Deaf students right now. I've neglected to broaden your horizon's about the Deaf community and the lack of understanding they possess when it comes to Christian things *mainly* because of the lack of information available to them.  I hope to do a better job in the coming year of raising awareness regarding a Deaf individuals access to Christian resources as well as introduce you to some of the key players who are working alongside me in this fledgling ministry. Thank you for your time and patience as I learn how best to bring these things to your attention. And thank you for those of you who have been joining me on this journey from the beginning. I truly do value your partnership, and am grateful for the team that our Heavenly Father has provided thus far. May we continue the journey together, further up and further in! :)



MAKING MASTERPIECES IN THE MUNDANE
    And it's that quote from Oswald Chambers that has me thinking about the state of the ministry - where I find myself currently - two years in and still trying to figure out all that I should be doing. I actually prefer the "behind the scenes" work of a conference or event to the "stand in the spot light" side of interpreting. However, in doing the behind the scenes work, I don't always take time to consider that the work I'm doing will be of any real value to anyone other than myself, and those it immediately impacts - ie: attendees, conference planners, etc.. As I've been taking some courses provided by Cru on leadership, I've found myself realizing that in pioneering this trail within the larger organization of Cru, I'm actually leaving blue-prints along the way for those who will come after me. I'm laying foundation that others will build upon. And in doing so, I need to not only look to the here and now, but also to think about the others that will come after me, and how what I establish now will either be the "norms/best practices" for the future or the "draft that gets thrown away for faulty planning".. I long to be the former in my current role. I want to not get stuck in the "drudgery" of establishing a ministry, but I want to make sure I'm laying a solid foundation for the next generation of workers in Deaf ministry to follow. What about you? What do you see as mundane in your current situation that could actually be the formation of Christian character with in you?


Praying that you find this holiday season full of rest and time to reflect. In whatever way our Adonai is prompting you - to do, to give, to rest, to be - I hope you heed His advice and dwell there for a bit. :)

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

Check it out! :)

Hey there.. I've got a few new things up on the blog and I just wanted to point them out so you can look them over for yourself.

I've added two new tabs to the blog, one entitled "Current Needs" (linked here for those of you reading in email) and In the Pape! (again, click the link to see it online).

The Current Needs tab is where I've listed all the things that I need help with to continue this ministry and I'd love to have you partner with me! Please peruse the page to see where you can use your time, talents and/or resources to further the great commission within the Deaf community.

In the Pape! highlights where the Deaf community and this ministry have been featured in online articles. Hope it's a blessing and encouragement for you to "taste and see" where the Lord is drawing Deaf people to himself! :)

Soli Deo Gloria
:D

"When it rains, it pours.."

Hello friends!

I know not everyone is on Facebook that get's my newsletter updates, so I wanted to send out a quick note here. 

We are still on our way to Deaf Missions in Iowa.. However, it's been a doozy of a trip so far. I could give you the play-by-play, but suffice it to say that "if it's not been one thing, it's been another".. We started off the trip with a corroded spark-plug (yes, I know, HOW does THAT happen??) and since then we've been side-lined in Salt Lake City for the past 3 days with our car in the shop having the driveshaft rebuilt because it was "all sorts of messed up" to quote the mechanic. We are currently waiting for another part to come in that is only obtained from a dealer. The repair shop, knowing that we were on a cross-country trip, ordered it to be shipped overnight, however it didn't come today, and they aren't sure where it is. :(

I could go on, but I'll stop here with the lists of trials to say there have been some blessings along the way, namely that we are stuck in SLC at a friends house, and did not break down on the side of the road in a random town causing us to pay for a hotel room nightly. Sometimes I just find myself laughing at all the things that have happened, and a verse from the old newsboys song comes to mind:

Mom & Dad,

I'm fine. How are you? I have joined a
Small circus (that much is true). I'm a
Little malnourished, but try to relax.
Could you find a better photo for the milk
Carton backs?
Send money.

Not exactly the same circumstances, but feels that crazy at times.. I'll send another update when (if? ;) haha) we finally do make it to our destination, but for now, prayers for patience for us, and Jaelyn as she is becoming road weary, and for wisdom as we continue on this trip are appreciated.

Soli Deo Gloria
:D