Change of STATE!

"For I know the plans I have for you', declares the LORD, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"  

Jeremiah 29:11

Suitcases, bags, boxes....ALL unpacked!  This is the first time in a year that Kaleb and I have NOT been living out of our suitcases....crazy right! ;)  I must admit that I am quite happy to have a place to hang our hats for a bit while still here in California.  We have been continually praising God for helping us find a place!!  I have thoroughly enjoyed "nesting" in our little home together.   This past month has been quite the busy one as we have been getting settled into our apartment, going about our normal work, and support raising.  We also just got back from NY a couple weeks ago where we celebrated the graduation of Kaleb's youngest brother, Ben, from West Point.  After that, we got to continue the celebration with a wedding where Ben married his long time sweetheart, Jenny.  It was a great week!  Overall a busy, busy month but what a great one!!

With all the sibs after Ben's graduation.  That's our little nephew in the front - starring in awe at his Uncle Ben ;).

CONGRATS Ben!!!

BEAUTIFUL wedding joining two wonderful people!!!

Now that we are back, we have some very exciting news to tell you!  There have been some changes within Lifelines.  Changes?  You might be thinking.  Yes, changes – and they are ones for the good that will help further the growth of the ministry (which is one of the many reasons we are so excited!).  For several weeks now, some restructuring has been in the works regarding Lifelines role and where staff are to be located.  Lifelines has been asked to now be a part of what is called the Leadership Development Team within the Campus Ministry of Cru.  This means that Lifelines staff will now not only be leading college students on trips year round, but also helping to train other Campus Staff within Cru to use the programs Lifelines uses to better reach non-Christians on their campuses (where there might not be any Lifelines staff).  To do this job better, leadership has decided to create regional hubs or headquarters for Lifelines.  Their goal is to eventually have a Lifelines hub in every region.  We have been asked to join the team in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  New Hampshire is where the Lifelines hub for the Northeast will be.  After taking some time to pray about it, we believe without a doubt this is the direction the Lord would like us to go.  Before our Vision Trip to Maine and since, we have felt continued confirmation that the Northeast is where we should be headed.

Plymouth was chosen because it is most centrally located to the most major Universities in the Northeast.  We will be closer to and able to reach more campuses, be working with a bigger team (we will still be working with the team in Maine - as they are moving to NH - as well as some of the team from Lifelines Vermont that will be moving there), and will have a vast array of outdoor activities/trips to offer to students in the town.  Plymouth is located in the foothills of the White Mountains, which are a popular destination for skiing, hiking, rock climbing and more!  This is another big plus of the relocation -in Maine staff were driving an hour or more one way for trips. The possibilities are numerous with this relocation and restructuring of Lifelines – we are very excited to see how God is working within the ministry to grow it and are even more excited that we get to be a part of that!  It's crazy how God works - I mean, if we would have been reporting this summer, or before...we would have been moving to Maine and then having to pick up again and move to New Hampshire before the fall -with a baby on the way! haha. God certainly knows what He's doing and HIS TIMING is definitely perfect!  So, the state we are headed to might have changed, but God knows best and all we can do is follow where He is leading!  Like He says, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts….” (Isaiah 55:8) …what God had in mind is so much better!! 

For those of you that need a visual of where New Hampshire is ....yes, we had to look it up too ;) haha.

The White Mountains in New Hampshire. 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  

Isaiah 55:8-9

In other news, we have taken a leap of faith and signed a lease with our apartment here through the end of January.  We are not sure how much longer we will be here and how much longer we will be raising support (we are presently 40% of our monthly), but we are praying that by the end of January we will be at 100% of our monthly support or very close to it!  We know that God has a plan and that He knows when He wants us there...so we shall see what He does!

We will leave you with some more pics....we took a few snap shots the other day - our baby girl is definitely growing a ton, as you can see by my bulging belly ;).  I am now almost 31 weeks pregnant!!!!  We SO cannot wait to meet our little girl!!! 

Until next time......... :)