In The D!

Well, we have been to Utah, Texas, Louisiana, Missouri, and now Michigan.  We have been spending so much great time with so many friends, new and old that we have not had time to blog. 

 One of the highlights of our trip came when we were able to visit mom Grant in El Paso on mother’s day.  It was so great to see mom, the new house, and help in the process of getting settled.

As we continued our journey east we settled in to the city of Austin.  Now if anyone knows me at all they know that I am not a huge fan of Texas the state or the football program, but as we met people and caught up with family we began to fall in love with the city.  The sun, the people, and the food (Rudy’s BBQ, Chuys, and Freebirds to name a few) were all part of the amazing experience of Austin.  We both agree that we will be going back there when we come back into the states.

Getting a Rudy's BBQ hand washing experience!

As we traveled over to Louisiana and up to Missouri we were able to see a little bit of the damage that had been done by the tornados, which was a first for the both of us.  We also managed to go over the Mississippi River and not through it.  As we think of all the disaster in the area and all the miles of road we have covered it truly has been the Lord’s protection to get us safely here to Michigan.

So does anyone know where Panera Bread started?  Well, I did not know either until going through St. Louis.  In the picture you will see that Panera was in fact started in St. Louis.  I have this thing I do with coffee there now that it is summer and blazing hot.  I buy a coffee, fill the cup with ice, cream, sugar, and then pour coffee on it.  About eight cups later I am ready to hit the road again.  So now I am sure you wondering “Wouldn’t you just have to hit the bathroom just a few minutes down the road?”  Well, yes but I will anyway because of the ever growing baby girl riding shotgun.

In St. Louis I was able to meet more of Nan’s family which was so great!  Among others I met the original “Jane” which is where Nan gets her eyes…and a few other characteristics ;)

With Grandma Jane

 It has been such a blessing to see so many great people, have so many great conversations, make a ton of new friends, and be able to share how Christ has brought us to this point in our lives.  We are honored to have the partnership team that we do so thank you so much for all of your prayers and financial support!  

In the Detroit area celebrating a cousin's graduation

Gracie, Papua, and Texas Bound...

Recently there have been a couple notable updates in our lives.  First of all, we are having a GIRL!  As one of my great friends puts it and still makes me smile "Welcome to the scary club."  I (Papa Grant) plan to keep her distracted with animals, airplanes, and two languages to learn ;)  Nan on the other hand  just cannot wait to dress her up.  Although, we have no idea what it takes to raise a girl we know we will be surrounded with a lot of great mentors.

Gracie about to suck her thumb

The second big news which was totally unexpected was finding out our assignment to Indonesia.  We knew it was going to be either Kalimantan or Papua, but really did not expect to find out until we arrived at language school.  We will be serving in Papua!  We are so excited to finally be able to start researching the area.  A snapshot of how Mission Aviation Fellowship serves in Papua, Indonesia...

38 MAF missionary families, two short-term staff, and more than 80 Indonesian staff members serve from six bases in Papua. Thirteen MAF aircraft, as well as three email hubs and communications networks, multiply the effectiveness of some 65 agencies and hundreds of churches ministering in Papua.

Finally, we just wanted to leave you today with a couple of photos from our road trip thus far.  Thank you everyone for all of your prayers and financial support.  Please pray for more partners as we head toward our goal leave date of January 2012.

A trip to Crown Burgers in Salt Lake City, UT.  Also seen on Man vs. Food

With mom in El Paso, TX

Kids and Candy Airplanes

We are currently in Redding, CA which is our last stop northbound on I-5 before heading home to Portland/Vancouver.  Yesterday we had the pleasure of being guest speakers at a Bible school in Red Bluff.  It was great to share our hearts with the 3rd to 5th graders as well as some adults.  

We had an activity that is probably pretty familiar to any MAFer who has worked with kids.  It consisted of a stick of gum, a rubber band, two life savers, and a long tootsie roll.  What does that make (without cheating and looking at the picture)?  I never knew an airplane could be made with these materials, but sure enough they can.  

Just for the record the pictured airplane was not constructed by me (Will).  I know that in this set up the relative wind would rip the skin of the wings right off.

Anyway, that is a snapshot of us right now.  We will be home for Easter!

17 Weeks and Kicking!

This is what Nan looks like at 17 weeks!  Baby Grant is finally kicking!  And just two and a half weeks until we find out if we are having a boy or girl.

Ok for a non baby update.

We are currently nomads, homeless and on the road for the next four months.

It has been so great to catch up with old friends, family and meet new friends as we have finally settled into this new season of life.  The sunshine has also been a huge blessing.  Why? Well, after a crazy week of selling our stuff and packing our lives up we were a little stressed at times.  So when we finally crossed the California border there was sunshine and my beautiful bride came back to life.


There were several interesting events that happened in the Bay area, but the one I still cannot believe is the house I spent the first couple years of my life in was just on the opposite side of the neighborhood pool from a college friend's house.  So that was exciting.  The only memory I have at that age was walking across the hot street with no shoes on my soft baby feet headed to the pool.  Ouch!

In front of the Winchester House

While we were in San Jose my Aunt Lucinda took us to the Winchester House which was extremely interesting.  You can google the story, but basically Mrs. Winchester had her house under construction for about 40 years 24/7.  It was pretty sad to see what someone can do when they do not believe in Christ.

Just excited about guns...nothing unusual.

The Lord has blessed us greatly thus far with great conversations, lodging, and opportunities to share what Christ has done in our lives.  We look forward to many more opportunities to share our lives with people.  Your continued prayers for us as we travel, work as a team, and prepare to be parents are greatly appreciated.

Look for a prayer letter by the end of this month.

Sunshine and one step closer...

The other day was a refreshing moment in time for our little, now growing family... My husband surprised me one Saturday morning and informed me to dress warm and that we were going on an adventure. Which, if you are familiar with Portland, Oregon, that means dress for the rain! I peeked out the window last Saturday morning excited for the surprise date, but saddened by the prospect of the rainy skies that met me at our doorstep.

However, my excitement for the unknown and for a fabulous time with Will trumped the weather.  We jumped in the car, excited for a adventurous day together.  My spirits quickly lifted as Will started to drive towards the beach (a 1 hour drive from our home). I begged to know where we were going and he simply gave one clue - it is a place with a LARGE rock! If you live anywhere near the Oregon coast, you know the LARGE rock is Haystack Rock on Cannon Beach.  This is one of my favorite get-a-way spots!  He preceded to tell me we were going to spend the afternoon on the beach... As we drove closer and closer the rain came down even more rapidly and then blue skies broke through the clouds and yes, even SUNSHINE! We ended up spending a blissful day recharging our batteries together on beautiful Cannon Beach.  It was a day of walking on the beach, laughing, enjoying Apple fritters (Baby Grant LOVES them), sunshine and each other.


Our time at Cannon Beach was another simple reminder of God's faithfulness to us as HE provided a window of time to be renewed together. We found this incredible pattern that the water had formed in the sand.... it reminded me a bit of how God refreshes us and remolds us. HE takes us from dry, gritting moments in life and places us on the path HE has designed.  We must simply choose to stop and be still before our God...

"You sent abundant rain, O God, to refresh the weary land." - Psalm 68:9

A "FEW" Changes as of Late...

Well friends,  it has been a while but here are a few updates for each of you...

As of January 19th, 2011 we were welcomed into MAF as a Maintenance Specialist family and assigned to Indonesia! We cannot begin to express how excited we are to begin serving where God has called us.

We will be spending the next 6 months traveling the country to raise our ministry support. We look forward to spending time with our dear friends and family in the coming days and months!  If we are fully supported by October, Will will complete his Tech/Non-Tech maintenance training at MAF through December 2011. We then hope to leave for language school in Java, Indonesia in January 2012!

Before we leave Oregon, in the midst of our meetings and insane schedule, we are selling all our furniture and extra things on Craigslist, packing our bags and moving out of our current apartment! It is going to be a whirlwind, but one we are looking forward to this crazy process!

AND WE ARE PREGNANT! Baby Grant is due September 24, 2011! We are so blessed. God has provided the perfect little sweet baby in HIS perfect timing... This is such a gracious gift and joy as we miscarried in November.  God has graciously blessed us with another bun in the oven! Baby Grant is healthy and strong from what the doctors can tell. We are already in our 10th week! It is going to be a season of joys and challenges as we will be traveling across the country until we are 7.5 months pregnant :) I am sure we will have many stories to share as we go!

We COVET your PRAYERS in this process! If you want to read more about our ministry or partner with us please check out our website http://www.maf.org/willgrant

Thank you for following our story! We will keep you updated soon...

Love,

Will, Nan and Baby Grant

Peace & Immanuel...

Rushing, buying, wanting, longing... Our American Christmas season has become so encompassed with self and the desire for more that the true meaning of Christmas has become lost.  Instead of counting the sparkling gifts labeled with your name, why not unwrap the gift of a baby who lay in a manger over 2,000 years ago? Jesus Christ came as an innocent child, to take on our yuck, our sin, our selfishness so that we may have life eternally.  The treasure and most priceless gift you could receive this season is to stop and identify the treasure, a child who came to this world to bring you peace - Jesus Christ. 

Will and I have began our new venture in life as missionaries. In the season's hubbub, instead of buying we are simplifying. We have been selling much of what we possess in order to move overseas.  It is refreshing not buying each other gifts for Christmas (we made a few homemade gifts).  We have instead chosen to be grateful for each other and what we have already been given. We are remembering the reason and purpose of Christmas - it all began with a sweet infant baby born in a manger.  Jesus came not to gain anything, but to give of HIS life. What an incredible thought, to give ones life without seeking anything.

It makes us stop and think what is our purpose here? Are we living life for ourselves? Or do we have a greater purpose?

As we are preparing to go overseas, God has been reminding us about the gift that we are giving to the world. We are desire to teach the world about God's peace, hope and salvation.