LAUNCH DAY

Today we officially launched our support raising journey.  I use the word journey because that is what this really is.  It won’t happen quickly, and it won’t always be easy.  But the people and the relationships we will build along the way will be the most 

wonderful part.   In fact, this past 

weekend, we have met with some great people.  I didn’t ask permission so I won’t name names, but the people we stayed with last night sure have the gift of hospitality.  I mean, it takes a special person to host our crazy bunch.  The kids said it was much better than a hotel and they really wanted to stay longer.

This morning we spent some time at our previous church in South

 Carolina, Chapin Presbyterian.   They invited us to get up and share a few minutes about what we will be doing in Peru.  It was good, but a little nerve wracking!  We had an amazing reconnection with the Pastor and his wife, along with several others.  As we leave SC, we head home with sense of being blessed.

SIMGo

What is SIMGo you ask?  Well it is a two week training time at SIM headquarters in Charlotte, NC. for newly appointed missionaries.  The whole family is involved too! 

Fun at Carowinds Amusement Park

Swimming at the YMCA

Everyday our kids attended prayer/chapel with us and then they went to the MK House to their own classes.    They did do some learning but they mostly had a whole lot of fun.  Bob and Gayle Murray and their daughter Amy drove all the way down from Michigan to help out with the kids program.  They are our regional directors and wanted our kids to get to know who they were.  Isn't that cool?

SIMGo training focused on the biblical basis for support raising, how to take care of donors, the necessity for prayer support, and how to transition to a new culture.  It was also a time for us to get to know SIM leadership better, and how things work once we are on the field.  We also had a time to share our testimony.   We enjoyed getting to know all the other terrific families who are preparing to go on the field as well.

Oh, and did I mention that           
we also had to had to get some of our immunizations while we were there?  
Some of us handled it better than others.  I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

The BEST part of SIMGo though was really getting to know all the home-based missionaries and staff there.  We met so many wonderful people.  People who are ready and willing to pour into us and into our family. 

 In fact, they even made a cake to celebrate Adam's 13th birthday!  Amy and Meg made another cake for just Adam and the teens too along with a really neat candy card.  It was so nice.  

 We are grateful to have Charlie and Tami Thorsen as our coaches.  They will be mentoring us as we prepare to go onto the mission field.   And we would be remiss not to mention Bob and Carol Givens who have been a huge source of encouragement for us all.

                                                    THANKS SIM!!

All SIMGo Missionaries.  It was a GREAT group.