Countdown

When I was a kid and I was in school and there was a space shuttle launch happening during school, they would always stop everything, roll in the big CRT TV on the cart with the strap on it. The teacher would start moving around the big rabbit ear antennas to get some good reception of the launch on the local tv station. We would countdown aloud from 10 and watch it blast off, soon after we would turn off the TV and return to our school work.

As a kid we only saw the most exciting 5 minutes of the whole process, and it wasn’t until I was older that I learned that it takes years of preparation to get to the Take-off.

T-minus is all the time that goes into preparing for takeoff, the crew selection, the spacecraft construction, the mission objectives, training, etc.

Well, God has called our family to Chile and we are at the beginning of a long countdown right now, a countdown to get on a plane and head to Chile. Now we would love to jump right to the most exciting part of the whole process and get on that plane. But Only after lots of prayer and planning can we reach the point of takeoff on schedule and ready to begin a new life and ministry. So right now, we are at T-minus 2 years (or so) till takeoff. Here are some of the other things that are a part of our countdown process that will need to be in place for us to takeoff.

T-Minus:

1. 2 years- Decide to go (check)

2. 20 months- Yard sale (check)

3. 18 months-

4. Sell house

5. Find my replacement

6. Missions Conference

7. Start homeschool

8. Missionary in Training conference

9. 18-12 months- Raise support

10. 12-3 months- Language school

11. Summer 2018 get on a plane and head to Chile-Takeoff!

So patience, perseverance and trust will be very key to get through these next many months. We are excited to get there, but you can’t oversimplify or cut short the transition that needs to take place.

Even once we are there, then the countdown starts counting up! As we start to fit in and finally begin to tackle our mission objectives.

T-plus:

1. One week-

2. move/settle in a new place

3. Find a church

4. Winter camp starts

5. Start school

6. Begin a new life and ministry

Through all of this, there will be changes. I have a plan and I hope it all happens in schedule, but we will need to be flexible and listen to the Holy Spirit for course corrections.

“The mind of man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

#chile #transition