What have we been up to?

So much has happened since our last update.  It’s been exciting to see how God has led us — here at International Teams, as well as in many other areas of our lives.

My role at International Teams has continued to evolve.  As we’ve grown, and had various staffing changes, I’ve been able to narrow the focus of my role.  The main graphic and web design work are now being done by a really talented graphics designer we’re working with.  This has released me to serve the organization in other technical areas, including using my background in Software Development!

I’ve been developing several systems to help automate, and better organize various things our home office does.  One such system has enabled our donor services group to handle the organizations significant growth in the last year without needing additional staff.  The Ride for Refugees had 37% more donations this year over last, and yet, donor services has been able to close their books in half the time, with more accurate and detailed data in our accounting system to boot.

I’m now working on a project to bring our various database systems together so that we have a simplified, controlled, accurate picture of the information we need to track as an organization.  This will provide great benefit to our mobilization, communications, and donor services departments.

I’ve also been busy maintaining back-end systems for the Ride for Refugees.  This exciting fund raising event has raised awareness of the plight of refugees, and over $800,000 to help with about 100 different refugee ministries around the world.

In addition to these main tasks, I assist in various projects for our national office, and with missionaries as they pass through.

As a family, we’ve been enjoying getting involved in the kids school, and our community. Our kids attend an extremely multi-cultural school.  We have kids who were born in over 30 countries, and half do not have English as their first language.  We’re enjoying building relationships with families of various faiths.  Please pray for us as we seek to be Christ to our new friends!

Grace’s Space

This fall has been challenging for me. Several important things in my life were brought to an end, leaving me sad, hurt and confused. In the midst of this season of change, although painful, God has richly blessed me.

My relationship with Steve has gone to a whole new level. He supported me, spoke on my behalf and continues to pray for me and over me. I am so thankful for my wonderful husband.

My relationship with God has also deepened significantly . At the beginning of this, I spent a dark night of the soul seeking God and He answered. I must confess that I don't exactly like or completely understand His answer. But I am beginning to trust God with all my heart, even when it doesn't make sense.

Through this turmoil, my pastoral couple has come alongside Steve and I.  They have not been with our church for long. And although I really like them, we hadn't gone very deep. As a result of this fall, I now know them much better and have built significant trust with them.

However, although there are many blessings, I still hurt. I must confess that I don't understand what God is doing, or how this will end well.

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to assist a friend as she gave birth.  Before she went into labour, we were talking about how our lives are part of a story that isn’t finished yet. I started thinking about Mary, Martha and Lazarus (John 11:1-44).  I tend to skip over the middle and go straight to the happy ending. I forget about the middle of the story, where Mary and Martha experienced deep grief.  They asked their dear friend, who they knew could heal their brother, for help.  He didn't come.

I can imagine their grief over their brother's death, and that deep sense of abandonment by their friend. Could Jesus really heal? Was Jesus really their friend? Or were the beliefs that those women held dear false?

In this time of grief and deep questioning, I am choosing to hold on to what those two women found out. Yes, Jesus did love them. And yes, His Power was sufficient to bring complete healing in their situation. So as I wait for His power and glory to be revealed, I will strive to remember that He too loves me and will bring about complete healing in His time.

Kids Korner

Our kids are continuing to grow physically, spiritually, mentally and I hope emotionally. Their growth occasionally results in conflict for us, but we are mostly enjoying their new skills and abilities.

Aris is now 6 1/2 years old and in grade one. Thankfully she was put in a class with her closest friends and continues to build friendships among her class.  Aris is apparently very quiet and a good listener at school. French is one of her favorite subjects, although I can't think of a subject she doesn't like.  Aris really likes to learn. She has taken to using French often at home. She likes to pretend that Grace is a francophone and Aris is teaching her English. Steve is greatly amused by this game, as Grace purposely pronounces English words with a strong Quebecois accent.  Aris has also taken a keen interest in her personal appearance. She has started doing her own hair. Yesterday while doing her hair, she decided to give herself bangs. Since this was in defiance of the rule "no cutting hair" Grace had to give her a lecture, but did agree that Aris did a very good job. :) Please pray that Aris will sleep well and for healing of a perpetual sore throat.

Zane is four years old and in junior kindergarten. He has the same teacher that Aris had. Mrs. Gilbert is very kind and patient.  Zane has made at least two good friends and enjoys going to school. Zane is becoming much more independent and can do up his coat without help. He loves to play videogames with his dad and likes watching and playing with transformers. He’s also become a little entrepreneur — collecting empty bottles in the woods by our house and returning them for deposit. Please pray for Zane, and ourselves as we seek to teach him balance in life, self control, and submission.

Kian is now 20 months old. He is finally walking and talking. Although Kian showed signs of doing both before 12 months, he refused to walk or speak until he was 14 and 15 months old. His first consistent word was tickle. :) Kian loves to be ticked and will try to tickle himself. Although Kian is quite spirited and has a temper, he is also very funny and sweet. He loves to give kisses and zerberts.  Unlike Aris and Zane, Kian got rid of his soother before he was a year old and instead carries around a blanket that Grace's mother made for him. He also likes playing with transformers, superheroes, cars and blocks. We are very impressed that he builds with them, instead of knocking towers down like his siblings did at that age. Please pray for endurance and patience for us as we teach Kian obedience and for Kian that he will have an obedient heart.

Transformation Story: Ecuador

God is doing exciting things around the world.  Things that I get to be a part of behind the scenes.  Things that you are a part of through your gifts, prayer, and partnership in my ministry.

I’d like to start sharing some of those stories so you can join in the excitement, and be in prayer not only for what I do, but for all those I serve.



One of our many church partners, Carmen Bajo Church, Ecuador, feeds 150 children with a budget that only covers 115. In this community, so severely limited by extreme poverty, the church offers marriage counseling, addiction support, prison visits and youth outreach programs. Jorge and Maria* are an example of lives being transformed by this program.

Jorge lived for music, alcohol and his friends and would regularly beat Maria. Then Maria began attending church. Noticing a change in Maria, Jorge went to church too where he learned that God has a far greater plan for his life. Jorge entered counseling. Today Jorge and Maria are leaders in the church’s couples counseling program.

*names changed
photo credit: Stephan Alexander

Transformation Story: Rwanda

Our Rwandan partner, the Vivante Church, organizes a feeding programs for street children; basic math, reading and life skills training; micro-enterprise and business management training for widows; medical care for orphans and HIV/AIDS patients; and pastoral support in the Kiziba Refugee Camp, and more. This front-line ministry provides is making an impact in the lives of the desperately poor.

Daniel, for example, was an orphaned genocide survivor. He slept on the street, scrounged for food and suffered from an abscessed tooth so badly infected that it was slowly poisoning him. He showed up at Vivante Church, joined the International Teams feeding program and received medical care. Today he is supporting himself as a Commissioner (Real Estate Agent).

photo credit: Gary Sharpe

Ride For Refugees 2009

This year my family participating in Ride For Refugees on October 3!  Steve, Aris and Zane will be riding, while Grace and Kian volunteer.

The kids are particularly interested in getting involved this year, partly because Steve & Grace have been involved for years, but mostly because they have a refugee friend.  One of Aris's class mates last year was a refugee from Eritrea. His daddy was in jail simply because he was a pastor of a non-state-approved church. This little boy was quite fearful much of the time.  It's broken the kids heart's, and given them the desire to help refugees.

We're joining over 1000 other riders and volunteers in Australia, the USA and Canada to help raise over $1,000,000.

And we're glad we are because...

The numbers are staggering - there are 67 million refugees and internally displaced peoples according to a United Nations 2007 report. Over half are women and children, vulnerable and voiceless while they flee war, persecution and tribal violence.

The RIDE is a way that we can personally connect to this crisis, and it's a way for me to make a real difference in a refugee's life.

Please help support us by making a secure online donation using your credit card. Click on the link below:

Steve:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2368728

Aris:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2351356

Zane:
http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?SID=2351351

Of course, a pledge or gift of cash or check would be equally great! Just be sure to email me so I can send you directions, or pick it up personally.

Thanks for your support! It really encourages us!

Steve, Grace, Aris, Zane, Kian

** Follow the RIDE on Twitter and Facebook:

Twitter - http://twitter.com/Rideforrefugees

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4139343828