CHANGE OF PLANS 2013

Life sure has some unexpected twists and turns!  Most of you know that we have been preparing to move to Mozambique for the last few months. We are writing to fill you in on a pretty big change in our plans:  We are no longer going to Mozambique!  And we are going somewhere else…

What Happened?

So, what happened? After deciding to move to Mozambique, the iReachAfrica board (whose members all live in Africa) established some vaccination policies.  We made the choice to not vaccinate our kids several years ago when Judah was born, so we had to decide whether our position on vaccines would change in light of moving from a first world nation to a developing nation. After several weeks of intensive research and prayer, we felt that our position was the same as before, and that our conviction to not vaccinate grew even stronger.  This conviction was based mostly on evidence about the harm vaccines cause, and the lack of scientific and empirical evidence that they are truly effective.  We have chosen a more natural route for keeping our family healthy and preventing disease.  We had some dialogue back and forth with the board and in the end we felt that we could not go against our conviction on this and they also felt like they could not make any “exemptions” from their policy.  Our end goal is the same: health and safety, but the way we “get to that place” is different. Regardless of your thoughts on this issue, I’m sure we can all agree on the fact that each family needs to do what they believe is the best for their kids and not violate their peace, no matter how amazing the opportunity is that is at stake. Tracy and her board members who we were processing through this issue with were all amazing! They were honoring and respectful towards us and we honor and respect them as well.  We will continue to stay in touch with them, pray for them and support them however we can.  

But, What do you do When “God Said?”

The most challenging thing to work through for us initially was the fact that we felt like God was so clearly leading us towards Mozambique and specifically this ministry.  We had an amazing visit with Tracy recently where she shared some experiences in her life in which she felt clearly led in one direction and then the doors closed.  Even the apostle Paul had a “not so clear cut” journey… he would feel led to one place and then would be redirected!  The beautiful thing in moments like these is that there ARE some absolutes…  some things that we know for sure, even when other things don’t makes sense.  We know that God always brings good out of every situation.  We know that He has GOOD plans for us to give us a hope and a future! One thing we have experienced without a doubt is that God has been SOOOO incredibly present with us in “the process” and that the things we have learned and gleaned have been invaluable.  We know that in situations where there are “unanswered” questions we have the opportunity to learn to trust God in ways that we wouldn’t if everything made sense and was going according to plan.  We know that we could be disappointed and confused but we feel more “hope filled” and alive than ever before! We still believe that God has spoken to us about serving in Africa at some point, but for the immediate future- some other plans are unfolding...

What Now?. . . .Oregon Here We Come!

Several weeks ago, as we began to realize that the door to serving in Mozambique would likely be closing, we started dreaming of what else the Lord could have in store for us.  We felt that our decision to move overseas got our “ship moving” and the desire of our heart was to still be able to pursue more intentional “ministry” as a family.  As we have said for years, who we partner with is a greater priority to us than what we do or where we do it.  The kingdom of God looks like family!  The Jarvis family (Joben & Mica along with their 3 amazing kids) are a family that we have known and been close to for years.  They have grown up, lived, served and been influential leaders in the Eugene / Springfield area for many years and have a huge heart to see God move in that community!  One of the “options” that has been on the table for quite some time now is to move back to that area (which is actually where Aaron is from) and partner with them and what God is doing!  This was actually something we were seriously considering around the same time we decided to move to Mozambique.  The Jarvis family moved down to Redding a couple of years ago and Joben will soon be graduating from the 2^nd year of the School of Ministry at our church.  They will be returning to Eugene this summer and we have decided to join them on this adventure!  We all have “big vision” for what life and ministry could look like there but are starting by laying a foundation of prayer, asking God for the specific steps to take and the “blueprint” of what He wants to do in that area.  It is likely that this could result in a church plant, school of ministry or equipping center (or all of the above). Our desire is to see a move of God in that region, through the whole church, not just through one group of believers, and we will work and pray towards that end. What we know for sure, is that everything we do will be built from a place of covenant relationship, seeking God through prayer and moving in His timing, enabled by his grace.  

Joben and Mica Jarvis ARE AWESOME!

What About Bethel?

As you know, our desire since coming to Redding was to partner and be “sent out” by Bethel.  Though Bethel is not currently “planting churches” in the USA, we will continue to stay in relationship with staff and friends we have been connected with.  We have kept doors open with the mission’s pastors and other friends in regards to future opportunities to serve overseas as we still believe this is part of our future!  We trust that the right doors will open in God’s perfect timing.  We also believe that when we go we will be better equipped through the experience we will gain in Oregon in this season!  We know that Bethel Church will always be “family” and that our paths will continue to cross with those we have gotten to know from that body. 

Staying in Touch!

Some of you received our Africa support letter- and many of you gave us your address but never received one since we stopped mailing them when our plans became uncertain. For those who felt led to pray for us on our Mozambique adventure, we will still take you up on that for our ministry in Oregon!!!  We are embarking on a journey with a lot of variables and unknowns, so your prayers on our behalf are invaluable.  If you already received our family prayer card feel free to cross off “Mozambique” and write in “Oregon”- ha ha!  A few people have asked us if there is a way of still receiving tax deductions if they want to sow into our lives and ministry in Oregon.  At the moment, we have no way of doing this.  Sorry! We will likely be moving around July or August.  Since our desire is to spend as much time as possible pouring into people and serving the community, we would like to keep our costs low and find flexible, good paying work.  If you are from the Eugene area and know of any low rent situations or trading work for rent, let us know! Or, if you have any job leads (for Aaron) or shops/boutiques that may be able to sell Crystal’s jewelry, baby headbands and other creations let us know!  For all our friends and family in the great state of Oregon- we look forward to being closer!!!  The best way to “follow” our journey is the same as before- to sign up to get our blog updates. We hope that you all are doing well and that you are growing, learning and thriving as you journey through life!  It’s amazing to serve a God who is so trustworthy and good! 

With much love,

Aaron, Crystal, Judah & Ciella

Raw, Healthy Chocolate - Are you Serious???

I have been wanting to start a blog specifically for all of my random “domestic” adventures but it hasn’t happened yet, so I am posting this here… if you signed up for our blog to hear about our family adventures and deep, spiritual insights (ha, ha) then you can skip this one.  But, if the title roped you in then keep reading.  You will not be disappointed. 

Several years ago the Lord told me very clearly to fast from refined sugar for a year.  Long story, but I knew it was not a thought I came up with and I didn’t even want to tell Aaron at first because I didn’t want to be held accountable to it.  (Ok, I confessed it!)  But I did, and he joined me on this fast.  I knew that sugar was an “addiction” in my life, and I broke free of it in that year.  It was amazing!  Since then, I have gone back and forth between fasting from it and trying to do moderation.  For me, it’s often easiest to just fast from it and “get it out of my system”.  I feel better and lose my cravings for it after a few days.  BUT, I still LOVE chocolate! Recently, my friend shared her chocolate recipe with me and I have been experimenting with it since then.  It is SO simple and the ingredients all have health benefits! And, get this… there is no sugar or butter in it! So, what IS in it? Raw honey, coconut oil, cocoa and almond flour (or almond butter)! Seriously? Yep.  And it’s DELICIOUS.  Now, don’t get me wrong.  I’m not saying this isn’t fattening and to be eaten in large quantities but it’s an amazing “treat” that you can feel pretty guilt free about. 

Here’s the basic recipe:

½ cup organic coconut oil

½ cup almond flour (or almond butter)

½ cup cocoa powder

¼ cup raw honey (creamy/solid form)

pinch of salt (optional)

Variations:

1-2 drops peppermint essential oil

grated coconut (you decide how much!)

Whatever else you can think of! (Chopped nuts, dried fruit… whatever!)

1)    Mix all ingredients together with a fork till smooth (get all the honey lumps out)

2)    Pour into mini baking cups, candy molds or pour on a piece of parchment paper

3)    Refrigerate! They should be ready in less than half an hour (depending how thick you pour them).  If you just pour it on parchment paper you can break them into pieces.  I always store them and eat them straight from the fridge as they melt quicker than other chocolate… ENJOY!!!

To Possess or be Possessed? That is the Question...

I remember the day I (Crystal) took almost all of my worldly possessions to the thrift store. My family still refers to it as the “great purge.”  It was great! I could fit everything else I owned in my car… plus passengers! At that time, I was in my first year of college. Although I had known God “my whole life” there was a fresh hunger that rose up in me so seek him more intentionally and I began to spend more time in his presence – devouring his word and praying.  I also began to form some new friendships with people that had more radical outward expressions of their faith.  We would read about past mystics and desert fathers who rid themselves of all their worldly possessions, moved out to the desert, sought the face of God and came back full of the spirit.  If it worked for them, it should work for me, right? I also shaved my head and destroyed all of my make up; just to be sure that vanity would not be a distraction!  Of course, I don’t think everyone needs to do these things, and I don’t even believe the Lord required it of me, but it was my simple expression of devotion to the Lord and I think it probably put a smile on His face.  Mostly because He saw my heart and my desire for Him through these actions.  The not so good part of this season was the judgements that can creep in of others in regards to how they handle material things.  I remember at one point a friend of mine could not figure out how a fellow peer (who was a worship leader and devoted Christian) could really love the Lord and have such a nice car!

Fast forward several years and I was in Mozambique, Africa living on a very crowded missions base.  I was living in a simple dorm room with about 35 other women.  We were surrounded by dirt & poverty.  I had been there several days when I caught wind of a rumor that there was internet access down the road at the “Pemba Beach Hotel”.  It didn’t take long before I made my way down the road to check it out! I arrived and what I saw took my breath away.  Marble pillars, water fountains, clear pools overflowing into the ocean, beautiful gardens… only this time instead of responding in anger that someone could spend so much money on a 5 star hotel in the midst of a poor community, I was overcome by the beauty of it all! I walked in and literally began to weep! I felt the Holy Spirit washing over me and refreshing me in deep ways- just by what my eyes were beholding.  Then, He began to speak to me about how He is a God of beauty! He cared about the details of how the temple was made in the Old Testament, and as you know it was no cheaply made structure! He has also created a place for us that would put any 5 star Hotel to shame with its streets of gold and pearl gates!  I began to realize that God is in simplicity and God is in extravagant beauty and even nice things! What matters the most is what is in our hearts… are we simply enjoying what God has blessed us with or is our “desire to acquire” distracting us from the things that are most important in life (God and people!) Do we possess things or do they possess us?  I still prefer to keep my life pretty simple and I do purge or fast from things from time to time to regain focus but it’s refreshing to know that my appreciation for beauty and quality is God given and not something I have to fight or do away with.  As I look around at God’s creation I’m certainly thankful that He made the world and not the ascetics that I studied in college! So while I keep the kingdom first, loving God and those around me, I will enjoy the “good things” that He has given me without apology.  And I will remember that the only treasures really worth pursuing, and the only ones I can “store” are in heaven, where moth and rust cannot destroy and thieves cannot break in and steal.  And that is where my heart is… 

Believing God is who He says he is- A Key to Overcoming Fear

One of the questions I’ve been asked the most since deciding to move our family to Africa is, “How do you feel about taking the kids there? Are you afraid?” I can honestly say that I have complete peace about it.  Having been to Africa 4 times now and knowing plenty of people that live there, I am well aware of the risks, but fear is not something that I feel at all! Having said that, I know that it’s been a process to get to this place and I wanted to share a bit of that with you.  I know that most of you are not in our exact circumstances but there are always things that could tempt us to be fearful, especially when raising kids! I remember as if it were yesterday having to choose whether to go on an already planned missions trip to Mozambique that Aaron and I were leading when I was 7 weeks pregnant with Judah. We found out about a week before we left that I was expecting, and being that the area we were going to was a malaria zone and when you are pregnant you can’t take any form of prophylaxis, I had people telling me I was crazy to go.  I felt the weight for the first time of making a decision that not only affected my life, but the life of my baby! My first instinct was to stay back (which would have been totally fine! I had freedom to do so.) But, as I prayed about it peace filled me and I knew it would be fine! I went and didn’t get a single mosquito bite!  (Having said that, if I hadn’t had peace, I would have stayed.  It’s simply about hearing what God is saying and then following him and the grace he gives us!)  

After that trip though, there were a lot of questions and concerns I had about moving our young family overseas: mostly having to do with finances, health and safety.  Tracy (the missionary we’ll be working with) has been wonderful at helping me process many of those things- it seemed like every time I saw her I’d have my list of questions and time and time again, she would point me back to scripture… seek his kingdom first! God will take care of our needs.  Don’t be anxious about anything! God is with us… he’s inside of us… his angels encamp around us… he is GREATER than he who is in the world.  God heals ALL of our diseases. Do we really believe it???  I have been chewing on this for several years now.  The moment I knew it had sunk in was when we met with Tracy just a few months ago… the visit that was instrumental in us deciding to go and I said to her, “I feel like I’ve worked through my fears.  I’m so open right now and don’t feel like I have to have every duck in a row anymore.  I’m just so ready to do what God is calling us to do!”  And I knew deep down that it was true!  If I have any concerns or questions now, it’s things like, “Are we living to the fullness of what God’s called us to? Are we positioning ourselves to see the maximum yield of kingdom fruit from our lives?  Are we thriving or just surviving? Are the lives that we are living going to inspire and challenge our children to live to their fullest?”  These are the types of questions that I want my decisions to be based on.  Not whether my kids could get bitten by a snake or get malaria.  We could stay here in an effort to protect them and they could get shot at their school! Or worse… they could live with parents who never really went after their dreams because they were afraid… or were always preparing for what they are called to but never actually doing it.  I know it’s easy to write these things before having gone, before facing the challenges that Paul says will surely come when you embrace Christ.  But, I look forward to embracing the full gospel.  The gospel that also holds the solution to all our trials and challenges.  The gospel that is full of hope in every situation.  I look forward to pulling on God’s word and his strength like never before.  May this year be a year for all of us, where we move past our fears and truly believe that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He will do!