If you've been apart of our lives the past two years, then you have walked with Brooks and I as we have been preparing to move overseas to Saudi Arabia. Brooks signed on to this project the week Gavin was born and we've been waiting to head over there for almost 2 years now. Yet, we're still not there. Many of our friends and family have had the opportunity to pray for us and encourage us as we get ready to leave the comfort of our home, our church, our friends and family, and our daily lives. I think it's appropriate to say that this move has not always been the easiest thing for us. It has taken a lot of prayer. It has caused a lot of conversations. It has been the source of excitement (for Brooks). A source of fear (for me). And I'm sure a source of worry and heartache (for family and friends).
I'm writing this post with a heavy heart (in a good way) realizing that this is actually happening and that our lives will be changing and we will be changed forever. We have experienced various stages in this process, both mine and Brooks being very different stages, however, as our move gets closer, we have both praised God for his grace and love and mercy and comfort while HE has been the one that has gotten both of our hearts where they are and where they should be in order to make this move. I remember last December thinking, there is NO WAY I'm going to do this anymore. I'm done. I quit. We're not doing this. Let's just forget it. Then, I heard a sermon where the preacher said, "God is not going to send you somewhere that HE hasn't already been." That's all I needed to know! From that moment on, I have embraced this move, accepted it, and found it in my heart to see this as a huge opportunity for Brooks and I am supporting this FOR HIM. We are both grateful for the past two years and how we can see past the struggles of making this decision and we have gained a vision for what we feel and believe is our purpose for the next 3-5 years.
I write all of this to share with you a video that was shown at our church this past weekend. Brooks and I had the opportunity to share "our story" regarding us moving overseas. We spent an hour and a half filming and we discussed numerous topics that focused on where we've come in making this decision, how this decision has and will effect our lives, as well as what our church has done for us in preparing us for our new vision and hope for our move.
We shared testimonies of our friends who go to the same church and the joy it's been to watch them come to know the Lord, rely on HIM, and believe in HIM and HIS word and that being the focus of our vision to reach the families who will live on our compound. We want to share God's love with other believers and nonbelievers.
We expressed our sincere gratitude to our small group who has been a huge support system for us and the relationships we've created from our community...we need that and we want that while we're overseas.
We also discussed the sacrifice of knowing we have to leave our families and the difficulty of walking away from what we're accustomed to having and being around and our family traditions. The adjustment alone of dealing with family not being around the corner or a few short hours away (either by car or plane) is tough to handle.
Brooks and I also shared our hearts individually on this move and it was truly a blessing for each one of us to hear the other's heart and motives for this move. It deeply touched the two of us and created a unique bond towards this move, that we hadn't made yet. We've also realized with this move that we won't have a "church" to walk into on Sunday mornings. Gavin won't have a nursery to go into and play, sing songs, and hear God's word. Brooks and I have learned and accepted that WE are going to be the church. We have to be that for Gavin, for ourselves, for each other. Our hope in sharing that part of our testimony was that other's would realize the importance of appreciating the church they have and the opportunities that the church can bring and provide for them. It's so important that doesn't get taken advantage of. So, we shared all of that and it was condensed down to a 3 minute video. We're excited to see what God has in store for us and we can't wait to see in 3 or 5 years how God worked and used us.
We hope and pray you are blessed in some way by God this week.
**You will need to scroll down to the bottom of the blog and pause the music to hear the video.
Brooks and Lindsey Perry from Clear Creek Community Church on Vimeo.
1 comment:
Look at an image of Christ on the cross and be reminded that your suffering hangs there. Your suffering has already been defeated when He defeated death by dying on the cross! Praise God!
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