Beginning a New Journey-and LOVING IT!

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.

Wow how time flies! Let's put some things into prospective shall we?

• 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 :)

We're Married!!!

Yeah for being married!!!!

Our new nickname (Mary and Jacco Oldenkamp)

A God honoring painting performed by Brian Dainel...here is a youtube link to it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HaI9Hk-i6c

It was so sweet to have all of our family together at one time in the same country! Notice the heart formation we naturally made! No kidding!

I love this picture of J and his brothers!

Dutch tradition...you would see each other before the ceremony in an unveiling ceremony. This is when J and I saw each other for the first time!

I had to do it...just like old times...me on the radio at FBCW!

Me and my husband!

It was wonderful to be married at my home church!

We went for low lighting and candles everywhere...we had almost 90 candles!

Awesome painting...my favorite part of the ceremony!

Mr. and Mrs. Jacco Oldenkamp!

Hello precious ones! Well it's been almost a month officially that I have been Mrs. Oldenkamp...and I couldn't be more excited. I love being married...and to a wonderful man of God who treats me like a princess. I am so thankful to God for the gift He has given me in J and look forward to our lives together.

We had a lovely time with J's family visiting for the wedding all the way from Holland. It was such a precious time to have his family and mine all together at one time and in the same country...something that probably won't happen for quite some time. After the wedding we traveled to Hilton Head Island for our honeymoon and enjoyed waking up to beautiful sunrises each morning. J had never seen the sun rise over the ocean before.

There have been a lot of first things for J to see and experience while we have been in the States. His first time eating mexican...first time seeing a mega church...first time eating okra...oh and first time shooting a gun...that's right...my crazy cousin had us do that on their farm. It was fun and J LOVED it! It has also been a great time of refreshment for me personally as well as a time of encouragement. One thing that has really left impression on both of us is just how encouraging, friendly, and generous Americans are. Makes me proud to be one!

We have been here almost 3 months and sadly our time is coming to an end. With less than 2 weeks left here...we are packing up and saying our goodbyes to friends and family. It has been a precious time here....but we are also ready to start our new lives together in England.

We officially leave the end of this month but still have some time to say goodbye and share about the work we are privileged to be doing in England. Many of you know that we will be working still with OM but now with our international office. J will continue in his line of ministry of multi-media (camera work, editing, IT)...and I will, Lord willing, will be helping to initiate a new ministry within OM specifically to become a resource for other OM fields in the area of Conference and Event Services. I am honored and super excited to be taking on this role. But more than that...I am honored and LOVE LOVE LOVE...to have my first and most important role as wife to my husband. Did I mention I LOVE him??? :)

So there is still time to connect with us and here are some opportunities to do just that!

• Wednesday March 24th-6:00pm-Parade of Nations at FBCW in the Worship Center (we will be available at our designated table afterwards to chat)
• Thursday March 25th-7:00pm-Coffee/Tea and Dessert night-Home of Cindy & Dave Holder-549 Fairway Dr, Woodstock, GA, 30189-rsvp to cindy.holder@fbcw.net

Many of you have asked about our specific needs to go onto the field...so we thought we would list them out for you:

• We are supported by 100% faith based support
• Our monthly support to be raised is $3939
• We are currently at 72% of our support. What does that mean?

Monthly breakdown of support still needed:

· Total of $856 more to go per month to get us at 100%

· How can you help...every little bit adds up to A LOT!!!

o 17 people at $50 per month

o 29 people at $30 per month

o 42 people at $20 per month

o 85 people at $10 per month

Set up costs breakdown of support still needed:

o House Set Up @ $3000-We only have a twin bed!

o Return airfare @ $1500

o Driving License and Lessons for Mary @ $1627

o Moving expenses @$1000 -Covered!!!! :)

o Mobile Phone Purchases@ $250-Covered!!!! :)

o Visa associated cost for Mary @ $200

Further Field Training Travel @ $1000

Further Field Training Conferences@ $1000

If you would like to give to any of these...please contact us at mary.wallace08@yahoo.com

and we will let you know more details on how to do just that.

Thanks again for all of your encouragement and prayers and support...we feel so blessed!

American 101 & God's provisions!

My poor honey...his first day in the States and all tuckered out! He probably will kill me for posting this but I think he looks so cute!

Hey! Look at us...this is what we would look like as a family...J looks like a natural! Baby provided by Marie and Jeremy! :)

A book of prayers for us from our wedding shower!

Some of the shower attendees and of course 2 of my bridesmaids on the right...Kelly and Andrea!

The Usual suspects...those responsible for our lovely shower...missing are Kelly and Andrea! The little girl is our flower girl.

Peter Doyle took some pictures for us!

I love this one...it really shows J's personality!

J's first encounter with an American supermarket..."Honey...do they have chips and drinks somewhere?" Mary...UM...YEP...take your pick!

A little stunned with all the choices!

America's favorite pastime...a trip to Wal-Mart...here is J's first time!

First time for everything...here is his first encounter with Mexican food! He LOVED it!

First time at Chick-Fil-a...he loved it too...notice his shirt...way to represent Atlanta baby!

Hands down...his favorite...Outback! Want to make my honey happy...Outback gift cards!!!

Getting fitted for his suit for the wedding!

My honey's birthday. Notice the awesome hat I gave him...doesn't he look cute! This was only a few hours before THE sickness set in with me...but I was able to celebrate my honey's birthday just before that happened!

Yeah for birthday dinners!

Here my dad presented J with tickets to the Men's Conference at our church. He was so excited!!!

So we stopped by my brother's work and in the shop was a really nice car...forgot what it was. So we thought it would be funny to take a picture of J in it!

Walking through the mall...in mid conversation my honey stops and says in an excited voice...APPLE!!!!!! He is one of Apple's biggest fans...another thing that would make him happy...Apple store gift cards!

4 WEEKS: Time we have been in the States (my how time flies)

18 DAYS: Until we say "I do"

54 DAYS: Until we say goodbye again and head to our new life in England

EVERYDAY: Time to praise God for what He has done and is doing for us!

These past 4 weeks have been such a busy time. J has been getting acclimated to the States and loving it by the way. His favorite food so far...Outback! In addition to our many date nights spent at local restaurants...we have also been soaking in all that we can at my home church. In particularly we have been so blessed to be a part of a Sunday School class just for engaged couples and have learned so much.

There was a little set back a couple of weeks ago when my body was attacked by a stomach virus. I was so dehydrated from lack of being able to keep food or drink in my body (I will spare you the details)...that I had to go twice to the Hospital for IV fluids in one week! But God was faithful and brought me through it!

This past week our pastor preached on "crossing your Jordan" and how sometimes that takes a lot of faith but you have to trust God and move out. I also took to heart what Pastor said about don't be surprised when there is opposition waiting for you on the other side. Well needless to say this past weekend is when we were standing at our Jordan.

After my illness, as soon as I had some strength back, we hit the ground running and it was back to wedding planning galore (with less than 3 weeks left)...and support raising... and connecting with those partnered with us in the ministry...and the list goes on and on. Needless to say we hit a brick wall this past weekend when we both realized that we are just doing too much at one time and exhausted. Then enters the emotions and to be totally transparent...our first tiff as a couple. Through a lot of prayer and help from our pre marriage counseling...we recognized some short comings and that neither of us are perfect...that we must stop to rest and make sure we are keeping totally connected to the vine of Jesus! (John 15:5)

By the way...God helped us cross our Jordan...but there was opposition waiting on the other side. Our funds have been very limited to say the least with paying for a wedding...however...praise God...if we are careful we are able to pay for everything. At the same time we have been challenged by being receivers of such generosity from others...that we needed to give more in a certain area as our gift to God...not to get praise or super spiritualize anything...that is just what was on our hearts.

Enter...Mary opening a bill from the hospital. Remember me telling you that I had to go to the ER while I was sick? Well...as I opened the bill my heart sank... as it is a quite substantial bill. So I contacted my insurance company to see what they could pay towards it only to find out I had not met my deductible so I would be responsible for the entire amount. We both prayed and cried out to God saying "Lord you know we don't have the funds to pay this...we are just barely making it". But we both felt very strongly that He would provide somehow and that we should definitely continue to give towards something as we had originally decided. So we asked others to pray along side of us.

As I slept through the night I was woken by the TV (I drifted asleep without turning it off). On the TV was a pastor preaching on 2 Corinthians 9...about sowing generously. The verses that spoke to my heart in particularly where 2 Corinthians 9: 10-12 & 14-15

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

This service you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but it also is overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. (Verse 14) And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

I quickly fell back asleep with a peace in my heart and a mental note to read that again in the morning. I felt that everything was going to be okay and that we are on the right track to do what we had planned with our giving and that God would provide through others for our needs that He knows we have!

This morning: J comes into my room with tears in his eyes...saying he had received an email from a supporter in Holland who read his twitter comment asking people to pray for provisions to pay the hospital bill. He then proceeded to tell him that he would be giving us 500 Euros (almost $700) towards the bill! WOW! God used this man as a service to us to show His greatness and for us to PRAISE HIM!!! And the verses I read again this morning made so much more of an impact! Me and J praised God and thanked Him straight away. Now we still have more to pay on the bill...but feel that God will provide!

So praise God with us and thank you for your your investment into our lives. We are soaking it all in as much as we can while we are here in the States!!!!

PS...check out our website for regular video updates: www.voicebehindyou.com

New Beginnings...REJOICE In the LORD!

The entire OM Ireland team came out to wave us goodbye and pray over us!

So happy to start this new "journey" with Jacco.

Here we go!

The night before we loaded "all my belongings"...it only took 20 minutes!

Saying goodbyes to good friends and my last Sunday service at Cherith Baptist.

Our new home! Here is the kitchen where I have cooked several meals for my honey! Jacco has let me move in straight away...while he is staying in family's house down the street. The house belonged to him and another roommie who just left. So I really do feel that this is my home!

Our little kitchen...we treated ourselves and bought a new toaster!!!

Our cozy living room. J made a fire in the fireplace this past week.

A verse very near and dear to us!

Our "borrowed" furniture...but we are thankful!

Me and J-man with our first tree!

This past week marks a new pinpoint in my journey of life as I moved to Carlisle England. As many of you know I will be getting married to a wonderful and loving man named Jacco and we will both be serving within our international coordinating team...located in Carlisle...hence the reason for me moving. It was a week filled with mixed emotions...sad goodbyes of people who left a special impression on me in Ireland...especially my roomie and teammates. But it was also filled with excitement of setting up our new home. Even though most of our furniture is borrowed until time we are able to purchase our own...it still feels like "our home". A verse that kept reappearing through songs and during my quite time was "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" So that is what I am doing...rejoicing in all the the Lord has and will do for me. He is so good!

People have asked me..."So will you still be working with OM? Do we continue supporting you as we have since you are not completing your 2 years fully in Ireland?" The answer to both of these questions is YES and YES. I will be continuing to serve with our organization (OM)...just transitioning to another field...to support my husband's work in multi-media and helping to develop a Conference and Events Services ministry...Lord willing. I am very excited for this move because it will give me the opportunity to work with many more OM fields around the world to help equip and encourage the saints in the area of Conferences and Events (an area I have been working in for the past 9 years). I love that I get to use my practical skills to serve Him and I pray that will continue for many more years to come!

The support is still very much a need and VERY MUCH appreciated! We are 100% faith based supported. Please continue to give as you have...by sending in your donations to OM USA C/O Mary Wallace or you may simply give on line. Me and my future husband will be on furlough in the States January 1-March 28, 2009...to one..get married...and two...Lord willing....be able to share with you what God has been doing this past year in the ministry of Ireland...which I have been serving, but also to share with you about our future ministry together in England and many other areas in the world that we will have the privilege of serving. Please pray that the Lord will draw those around us to encourage us, pray over us, and financially support us to further His kingdom in this new open door. Below are some ways that you can help meet our needs.

MONTHLY FINANCIAL SUPPORT for Jacco and I:

How to give on line:

https://usa.om.org/GiveOnline

*Click on the option "give to a field through a person"

*Then proceed to complete the blank fields

PERSONAL NEEDS

We are in the midst of setting up our home as well as paying for a wedding. If you would like to give towards a particular need that we have...please email me at mary.wallace08@yahoo.com

Items needed to set up our home here in England and wedding related:

1. Bed frame and mattress
2. Couch
3. Kitchen Table
4. Vacuum Cleaner or "Hoover" as they call it here
5. Shelves
6. Shipping expenses (some of my things will be shipped from the States to England)
7. Driver's Licence expenses for Mary to get a UK DL. (About $1500 believe it or not!)
8. Donations towards wedding expenses
9. Donations towards or a donated place to stay for honeymoon (as of right now we do not have a honeymoon sorted)

Something that needs no money...PRAYER PRAYER PRAYER...please! We need this first and foremost as we start our new lives together and continue to serve Him! As always...thank you for allowing us to "get to do what we do for Him!"