House for sale, Vision Nights, 20% and other bits and pieces...

Anybody want to buy a house???

Last Monday, I (Dan) met with a local realtor to start the process of getting our house up on the market, and by Wednesday morning, this sign was being pounded into the ground in the front yard, with plans that it will be officially listed in the next two weeks.  I was upstairs icing my arm (still recovering from shoulder surgery) while Holly and the kids were caught off guard by the sign going up so fast and the chaos that selling a home with 3 children was about to kick off.  Talk about a real visual to remind us that this IS really happening- in God's perfect timing! We want to move forward in faith, trusting that the God who called us to this privileged opportunity would sell our home, continue to provide the funding we need to get there, and provide peace in our hearts through it all!  In the few days since the sign went up, we have been looking at this home very differently, not as a place where we will create memories for years to come, but as a means to get where we are supposed to be together!  Home is not a building made of a foundation, walls, and a roof, but rather the place where you and your loved ones are together.  We are looking forward to "moving" our home to the DR in the near future- but ask that you would pray for a quick sale of our current place of residence, an affordable and temporary living space for our family, and the ability to give away a lot of things to others in need along the way!

Support Update...
Last week was a big week in our support raising as well- we are at the 25% mark of our total monthly need raised!  Its crazy to think that it was only weeks ago that we sent out our initial letters sharing with friends and family about this journey of faith that we are on, and yet God has prompted many to give!  We are thankful for all who have joined us in this ministry- because it is more than just a financial transaction, its a mutually transformational partnership that we are engaging in together.  We need resources but those resources are being used by God to grow His kingdom, and our supporters get to be part of something WAY BIGGER than writing a check!  Changed lives through the power and work of the Gospel!  If you'd like to partner with us financially- you can do so via one time gift or monthly reoccurring payments by clicking here- http://bit.ly/1CITArP or by clicking the "How to Partner" link above for more information.

Vision Nights...
We are so thankful for the many friends and family who came out and participated in our 4 vision nights thus far.  It was through these opportunities that we were able to share more specifically about our call to serve in the DR, who GO Ministries is, and what we will be doing down there with GO.  It was a great experience for the both of us to publicly share our story, and we had a very positive experience doing so.  My parents will be hosting one more vision night on Saturday, April 11th in Naperville.  If anybody is interested in joining us for this last vision night, let us know!

40+ students gong on mission in 2015

Students on Mission...
While we could spend full time work hours on raising support, I have enjoyed continuing to lead our students at Glen Ellyn Bible Church.  While we are in a busy season of raising support to serve full time on the mission field, there are 40+ students and adult leaders preparing to serve this summer on the Pine Ridge Native American Reservation in South Dakota and with GO Ministries in the DR!!! I am super excited to be leading these trips and seeing these students hearts open to how God may speak to them about serving the least of these both this summer and in the future.  After all, it was through trips like these that both of our hearts were opened to what God would eventually call us to.  Maybe some of these students will be future team members with GO (Hopefully)!  I'd ask that you pray for them all as they prepare, and for us as we lead them on these trips (Holly is helping lead the DR trip).

The Trips

Last but certainly not least...
The Trips (Maddie, Josiah, and Jackson) are doing well and are excited about the future adventures they will have in the DR.  Josiah is psyched about going on an airplane for the first time, they are all looking forward to meeting new Dominican kids, and all have taken interest to learning spanish. We remind them almost everyday that they won't be able to take baths in the DR and they are sad to hear we'd be selling the only house they have lived in. (They are also worried every time we leave the house that someone is going to take it while we're out!) Please continue to keep them in your prayers as well since the adjustment will be challenging for all of us.

"I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all of my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the Gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"  Philippians 1:3-5

Love and Peace-
Dan & Holly