Bodlien Headlines- Special Edition

Joanna and I wanted to send out an update on our family and what has been going on these past 2-3 months. Many of you have reached out to ask us how we are doing and to see if we need anything or have arrived at any decisions. So we wanted to send out a general note to communicate and let everyone know where we are in the process.

I am grateful to Word of Life for this important time and space to not only process our departure from Chile, but also explore options for our next move as a family. Right around the time we left Chile, you received a letter from us and from Word of Life that mentioned our time of sabbatical, projecting to make a decision regarding our future by June. We feel that we are still on track to make that decision soon. Thank you for your understanding, prayers, and support during this time.

The family is well, we are focusing on school work with the girls and looking at our options to use our gifts and passions for the Lord in a strategic way. In order to make this a purposeful time of waiting on the Lord, we have set up some healthy boundaries and have turned down many knobs (social media, entertainment, etc) to remove distractions in our lives so that we are open and attentive to the Lord's teaching and guidance. During this time we have been able to:

• Attend a family missionary retreat/debrief

• Travel to Florida to meet with Word of Life leadership

• Connect with our families

• Host many dear friends who have driven very far to see us

• Speak at a youth retreat, church leadership conference, and Bible studies

• Read important books that speak into our situation

• Spend daily time in the Word and in prayer

• Explore ministry options that align with our gifts and passions

• Talk with each other to process our thoughts

• Receive coaching as we anticipate a decision for our future

• Waiting (for more context into what we are learning click here)

We trust that God will make it clear in His time, where He wants us to go and what He wants us to be doing. These past few weeks our focus has been more on who we are becoming. Regardless of where we end up, we want to have healthy habits and rhythms built into our lives that will keep us on track personally, spiritually, and emotionally.

We will keep you all updated as that decision is made.

Thank you for your part in this season. We are forever grateful.

"Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God."

-Corrie Ten Boom