This last week has consisted of organizing, packing, and more organizing. I am not even sure how we came to acquire so much stuff in the last six years! (And most of it was probably within the last four years, since we have become parents...) This past week has been very tiring, going through stuff and putting them in piles only to go through them again to make them smaller piles. At that point, we put them into a tote and then sorted them one more time before packing it into the van to make sure it was all something we might use on the road... WHEW!
It has been some hard work, but we have finally gotten the van packed with pretty much everything we own. I knew when we heard God calling us to this adventure that I would learn many valuable lessons from it, but I didn't know it would start so soon. We haven't even hit the road yet, and God has me learning that my possessions -- the things that I thought I had to have -- are just that... things. Aside from a few totes of memorabilia from my childhood or pictures that Aurelia has made for us, everything is replaceable. We know that God is a God of provision, among many other things, and so we have decided to take a giant leap of faith and let Him provide for us by giving away all of our earthly belongings that we don't need on our trip.* It has been challenging, but now that we have finished the task at hand and have just what we are planning on taking with us, I can already feel my faith being restored. The verses of Matthew 6:19-21 came to mind often in our sorting: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth nor rust destroys, and thieves do not break in and steal; For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Tomorrow, we set off to see our friends in the thumb of Michigan, and we hope to reconnect with old friends as well as make some new friends to love, serve, and encourage. If you know of a place that needs some extra hands for a project, some good music, or someone who just needs some encouragement, please let us know -- we would love to add them to our list of places to go!
Thank you for your prayers and support as we make this decision to throw off everything that entangles us and follow Christ. We love you all and would not be able to do this without you!
Pictures to come of our new 'home' all packed and ready to go!
*The only thing that we have in storage right now is a few totes of keepsake items and a few large musical instruments that we are thinking of possibly selling...
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