Us being introduced at the Global Impact Celebration at my home Church in Atlanta GA USA.
It was such an amazing service! Very God honoring!
It was so overwhelming to receive a "hero's welcome home"!
Here our missions pastor talked about "how beautiful the feet".
Found this when we arrived at the airport...England is very tolerable of all religions. But we know the one true Savior! :)
Our First meal together in our house...my honey is loving my cooking and I have discovered a passion for cooking! I love making him happy too and food seems a good way to do that! :)
Easter 2010
Team life: Here we are having a 50th Birthday Party for our boss
Life is beautiful here...many neighborhoods have their own private garden only accessible by those who live near by.
The town center of Carlisle...a busy place.
I love the front of homes here...they paint their doors vibrant colors and have beautiful gardens adorning the entrance.
J is so excited about the purchase of our new I Phones...we were blessed by a supported to be able to purchase these...but the Lord had a blessing even more and we got them for free with our contract!
The Flowers are in bloom...spring is around the corner...usually starts in May.
Our car! It has a sunroof! Thank you Lord for providing!
Our prayer for all those future guests who come for a visit!
Our new bed! Thank you for your provisions again Father! :)
So we like to keep up with friends and family in both our home countries (NL and US)...so we came up with this idea of having 3 clocks...one for each time zone as well as where we are now..the UK.
- 59 days...how many days we have been married (and it keeps getting sweeter)
- 23 days...how many days we have been living in our new home (the UK)
- 5 days...how many days we have been back to work officially
So we finally have arrived here in the UK and are so excited to start our new lives together. We spent the last few weeks of March in the States with supporters and just being plan ole'd loved on! It was so encouraging to be part of my home church's Global Impact Celebration where they brought in over 37 families serving overseas in various forms of mission work. We really felt the love and support as we had a celebration evening with the church where over 3000 people showed up to give us a "Hero's welcome home" as they called it. We were so overwhelmed as they entire room stood applauding for what seemed ages...it really brought us to tears. Thank you sweet church family of First Baptist Church Woodstock...we love you!
So after a world wind couple of weeks...but again...so great and encouraging...we then said our goodbyes and headed for our new home. We met up with good friends Ludie and Barbara Creech in all places...the Atlanta airport...as they were heading back to Ireland (they were part of the conference as well). It was good to hear that someone else was having the same emotions of "really feeling deep down what obedience meant". You see when I first left my home for Ireland almost 2 years ago...I thought it was just for 2 years...and had no idea God had other plans. When I left this time...I knew it would be for a more indefinite period of time and I was so sad to leave my family, my home church...all those I loved. As we boarded the plane and got settled in our seats I looked to my husband and began to ball... it sunk in just how we are to be OBEDIENT even when sometimes we don't feel like it...and how privileged and sad I felt all at the same time. It was a precious moment for us...as we both praised God right there in our seats as others around us were still boarding.
After arriving in the UK...we hit the ground running with setting up our home. We were blessed to be given finances to do so and enjoyed looking for new furniture (a bed and couch). We are now getting settled but still need prayer in the logistics of making me a resident here. Still applying for new visas to allow me to stay here for another 2 years...setting up driving lessons so I can then Lord willing get a driving license...and getting me registered with a Doctor. But all in all...we have been able to do a lot in such a little time and hope to be settled fully before we start our busy traveling/conference season which begins in June.
In the midst of setting up our home we have also officially started back to work. I felt so welcomed from the minute I stepped into my first prayer meeting with the International team. They are taking good care of us and supporting us so much. We have had many dinner invites and feel so popular! :) One of the things that really spoke to my heart was our initial welcome meeting with our new boss. As we sat down all excited to hear about where the team is heading and all the new happenings since J has been gone...he first opened up with "I am glad you are here but I want you to hear something...I know you both will do great things for the Lord...but I care more about your worship and your relationship with Him then I care about what you do for Him." I knew that we were in the right place for a time such as this!
So J and I have been giving guidance and are seeking the Lord...in what they would like to see happen within the team. J will continue with his role of cameraman/IT administrator for the team...but also has taken on the natural role of mentor for a lot of the newest team members...all quite young. He will be great with that...as he is so patient and loving and kind. I was asked to help develop a new part of the ministry (Event Services) to be able to expand us to a wider market of Christian conferencing/events. Lord willing I will be working on getting the word out about OMNIvision and all that we have to offer. We hope to eventually have the capability to be a sort of one stop shop Events Management resource....not only with Video Production but also with perhaps marking, branding, event planning...the sky is the limit. And with the new blessing of a mobile book unit...we now have that to offer as well. Just so you know...the closest Christian book shop from where we live is about 50 miles! So the local churches are already asking us to offer our services of the book mobile. We are excited to begin working and look forward to the near future to see what God is up to!
On a personal note...please pray for us as we are in the process of searching for a church home for our family. We pray that we will go where God wants us to not only worship Him with a group of believers but also to serve where He sees fit. Also please pray for my health as I have been battling hives, muscle aches, high blood pressure, and headaches for the past couple of weeks. It has left me exhausted and by the end of the day...especially now with working again...sometimes it is all I can do at night to make our lunches for the next day before I crash. I experienced something similar about 3 years ago that lasted for 6 months...and after many doctor visits...they could not come up with any direct cause. So much needed prayer in this matter...would be appreciated!
So we will be seeing you all soon on our live video updates...don't forget to visit us at our website. (www.voicebehindyou.com). We will be starting our conferencing in June and have plans to be in Ireland, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, and Holland...Lord willing. Please pray for safe travels and that God would be glorified!
We deeply love you all and thank you so much for being part of our lives!
Love
MOJO
Mary and J :)
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