Where we are…
Gosh we are bad at updating this blog.
I think that a reflection on the past year could be appropriate. It is REALLY hard to believe that it’s been almost an entire year since we left our old jobs and our old life and packed everything into a 1983 camper van to set off and find something more meaningful.
The trip had it’s ups and it’s downs. The downs were very trying on us. We lost our beautiful pink campervan after only two short weeks and endured 5 months living out of a Cavalier. We missed our family and friends more than we imagined we would. We missed Ohio and Columbus.
On the upside we learned more in 5 months than I think some people learn in a lifetime. Lessons on love, life & the sameness of the human race. Everyone is essentially trying to figure out the same things, regardless of where they live or where they have come from.
We met some amazing people along the way. People who helped us more than they will ever know and others who taught us hard but extremely important lessons. I wish some of you could know the impact you have made on our lives.
What a good feeling it was when we ended our journey and came back to Columbus. We got to see our families and sit on a porch with our friends into the wee hours of the morning.
We came back to Ohio with a mission in mind. We felt that God had been pushing us towards this mission the entire trip. We were to start some sort of communal house in an urban area of Columbus.
We prayed. We looked at houses. We asked for money. We got jobs. We saved.
And today we are still doing all of this. God is still responding and pushing us along. We know that eventually it will all come together and that we will find the right house in the right area and will have enough money to buy it. I can’t wait until that happens!
In the meantime we are trying to build a small community of believers. We get together with a few of our friends to talk about Jesus once a week and have a dinner every Sunday night for anyone who wants to come.
I know it’s not much at this point. We have yet to develop any big plans to help our neighbors. I am going to start volunteering at the Central Community House soon. It is a long standing United Way agency that has been helping our neighborhood since the 1930’s. I really hope and pray that this helps me to become more active with our neighbors and gives me the opportunity to meet people who are in need.
I’ve realized that if we ever expect to help the community once we have the house, we had better start doing it now.
We appreciate all of the support that you all have given us. It was so good to know that so many people were thinking about us and praying for us while we were on our trip.
Please continue to pray for us and for our house. Please pray that we clearly understand God’s will for us and that we are obedient. I like this prayer from Thomas Merton:
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
If anyone reading this (and I’m not sure that anyone does read this anymore) needs prayer for anything please let us know. Our email is .
If anyone would like to be a part of the things we have started we would love to hear from you as well. And please, stop by for Sunday night dinner sometime:)
Best wishes in 2009!
Please leave comments below or e-mail us at SimplyOneLife@gmail.com.
Comments
I still read this everyday you update. I love your pictures and your posts both comical and serious. I like checking the donations everyday and seeing it go up, just seeing how much people have given and how much you’ve raised shows that you’re at least close to the right path. I’ve never head that prayer before but I like it. God Bless.
Pat,
Thanks so much for reading the blog. I’m so glad that we met you on the trip and I hope we are able to get together soon!
Yes, I read this from time to time. As I drive thru the near east side from time to time, occasionally yuou guys come to mind, and I lift you and your purpose up to the Lord. I believe He brings people to the minds of believers so we can pray. Keep up the good work of praying and obeying. That is all God expects of us.
Deb F
Deb,
Thanks so much for your support and prayers. I am so glad I had the chance to meet with you. If there is ever anything we can do for you please let me know.
Melissa