Headed to the Philippines

For 3.5 months.

We’re going with an amazing team.

This is the longest either Jess or I have been overseas.

It’s the first time we’ve travelled internationally with our kids.

We’re going to plant a Bible Core Course (@bcchonolulu) at YWAM Davao.

Jess and I have both commented this week leading up to our departure, that we think we should feel more nervous, or anxious or something.

I think we’re experiencing Philippians 4:7. The peace that transcends understanding.

We managed to fit everything into a large suitcase, a medium suitcase and a carryon roller. We’ll have our backpacks too. But that’s pretty good for a whole family, for 3.5 months. This will be “J’s” first flight where she will have her own seat. (Read… no more infant in lap free ticket anymore)

I gave up coffee about 3 weeks ago. It was something I’ve been wanting to do for a while, especially before this trip. I didn’t want to get to a foreign country and be jonesing for coffee on top of all the other adjustments.

I like to start winding down after the kids go to bed, and I like to go to bed early. Last night I needed a pick me up to keep packing, so I clicked on “energize radio” and the first song on the playlist was from Trapt, a band I loved in my early twenties. It took me back to my 96 Red Dodge Intrepid where I listened to their album on repeat…

It took me back to my very first outreach with YWAM (20 years ago) during my DTS. Sleeping in a church basement in Nashville, about to fly into a closed country. 19 year old Jim was amped and scared.

I remember the night before we left, because of the nation we were going into, our staff had us unpack our bags to make sure that nothing we had on us was blatantly Christian or had any ties back to YWAM. I remember having to sharpie over some of the writing on some of the cd’s I was taking with me. (Haha, cd’s)

It’s fun that there are two teams headed to Asia this weekend from the YWAM Honolulu DTS, I wonder if they are feeling similar things to what I felt 20 years ago. I’m sure they are.

When you pack up everything you own, to move across the world, it gives you pause for reflection.

Besides my first YWAM outreach, I also vividly remember the first time I moved to the Big Island in 2008. I had all my bags packed and I stayed up through the night so I could sleep on the plane. I’m not sure how to explain that feeling fully.

I remember leaving Jamestown NY to move to Indiana, and sleeping on an air mattress before loading up and driving our moving van.

I also remember the night before we left for Hawaii in 2018 when we got rid of everything we owned in Tennessee and loaded up my at the time pregnant wife and shipped our dog out here.

So maybe that’s why we aren’t feeling a ton. We’ve done this before.

Or maybe we have peace because we know this is God’s will.

Besides giving up coffee, I’ve also really limited my time on social media. I’ve deleted all the apps off my phone and if I want to check something I have to get out my computer, which helps put one more step between me and the endless life sucking scrolling.

I’ll tell you, giving up coffee has made the things that used to make me really angry, now just annoying. And I’m sure that being off of the 24 hour circus of controversial outrage has helped with that too. I’m really grateful I’ve made the choice to give both of those things up, it’s brought a lot of peace to my life.

But I wanted to hop on, and say hi. And let you know we’re headed overseas for a while. Oh, and I wanted to show you Jess’ new haircut. Isn’t she pretty? She’s always pretty no matter what her hair looks like. Practical new “do” for the hot weather of the Philippines.

If you’d like to partner with our trip, we still need to raise about $3,000 to cover the kids plane tickets. We will also have more expenses while we’re there along with maintaining the majority of expenses in the US.

I wrote this in our ministry update. “Missions as a single is an adventure. Missions as a family is a bit more of a sacrifice.”

But we believe that this is what God has created our family for, and even thought I’d be easier, more comfortable, and cheaper to stay, GOING will be the best for our family.

We’re excited for this family adventure of planting a Bible Core Course in Davao Philippines.

We’re excited to sow into what God’s already doing in the Philippines.

We’re excited to partner with hungry Filipino missionaries who want to study the word of God more in-depth and let it transform them. We’re excited to see new Filipino Bible teachers, missionaries, and evangelists trained and sent all over the world.

If you’re the praying type, please pray for safety and health for our family and fruitful ministry. A huge thanks to everyone who has already given. And a huge thanks to @hannahmld for hanging out with our kids this week so we could focus on packing.