Remember the REASON for this busy season...

Can you believe that it's almost 2009?!?! Where has this year gone?!

Reflecting on this year, the word that comes to our minds immediately is FAITHFUL. The Lord has, once again, shown Himself to be so faithful and true. His Grace is so sufficient and complete for us.

We pray that each of you are able to reflect on this year and give God the glory for what He has done and is continuing to do in your life.

Reflecting on His goodness...

It's so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is here and Christmas is just around the corner! In some ways, this year has flown by...
We have finished up our last conference for the year and are now looking forward to enjoying some time with our families through out the holiday season.
We will be able to spend Thanksgiving with Amanda's family in Florida and are hoping to have some warmer weather than what we've been experiencing here in the Carolinas!

Home in Raleigh

Amanda and I are back in Raleigh now, and I am finally back to "normal time". The trip went well, I really had a great time. We are in Kansas for the next couple of Sundays, I will be flying out there as Amanda just had dental work done and is still recovering. 

Ethiopia E-mail #1

I was so excited this morning when I woke up to see this e-mail!

"Amanda,

We are here and doing well. I slept well last night compared to 2004! Eric is my roommate. We had bugs in our bed, but other than that and an uncomfortable bed, it was ok. We are going to SIM today to see if they have any room, if they do than we might move. I am emailing you from Dawit's shop. The city has grown some and even looks more modern. The airport is alot nicer and there weren't as many beggars outside the airport. The city even has a McDonald's from what we here! It seems like it is a bit nicer than before. Last night when we arrive we ate injera. It was good! We ate outside by a fire. Today, we went to a cafe for breakfast...I got toast. The plane ride was long! We had NO layovers so it was about 15 hours on the same plane which included a refuel. It was okay...but very cramped and full!

Hope everything is going well. I love you and miss you very much. Tell M&M hello!"

...I am so thankful for the modern ways of communication like e-mail! I know that 20 years ago or so I wouldn't have had the luxury of talking to my husband who is half way around the world! I will keep you posted...

They have arrived!

I got a call tonight about 4:30pm from Craig...man, was it good to hear his voice!  The team arrived safe and sound in Addis Ababa and were getting ready to go to bed.  

Thank you all so much for you prayers for all of the men's safety!

And, of course, I will update the blog as Craig updates me via e-mail!

Next Stop: Ethiopia

It's hard for me to believe that it has been 4 years since we took our first trip to Ethiopia! Time has flown it seems. As most of you already know, Craig is on his way to Ethiopia in search of a home, a vehicle, and much, much more. I will try my best to keep the blog updated as to his travels and adventures. And there are sure to be adventures...he is making this trip with 6 other men!
Please keep them in your prayers and I know that you are...we have received so many precious e-mails and cards with encouraging words and prayers!
Waiting (anxiously, I might add) to let you know that they have arrived safe and sound,
Amanda

Delays...

I actually like sitting in the airport. For some reason it is enjoyable watching all kinds of people walk back and forth frantically trying to get somewhere. Perhaps home, or a vacation or even work. Last Saturday I was able to sit at the airport in Raleigh waiting for a flight to Texas to present in a church. Amanda dropped me off at the airport right at noon. I sat there...and sat there...and sat there some more! Finally, after sitting on the plane for two hours after I had waited in the terminal for 5,my flight was cancelled so I jumped off the plane and called Amanda have her come and pick me up.
Nothing like being at an airport all day and never actually going anywhere.
Oh well, it makes for a great story!
Craig

A long awaited update

Yes it has been a little under a month since we last posted, but it was also a very busy month! Amanda and I headed toward Springfield MO at the beginning of May for fellowship week and to visit a couple of church. First we headed to Illinois to drop the dogs off at my parents and then we had a great time at Fellowship week. We visited a church in Kansas City which was wonderful and then after a week in Illinois we went to Arkansas to present at another great church. That Sunday night after church we hit the road and drove thirteen hours and arrived home on Memorial Day around lunch. Overall we had a great trip toward the midwest and and now at home for a relatively quite June. My trip to Ethiopia is coming up quickly, we will continue to update as it gets closer.
Craig

Song of the Week

Here is another song that has always been special to me. Once again, powerful word. Amanda and I are doing good, we are getting ready to leave Friday to head to Springfield MO.

Sometimes I believe all the lies
So I can do the things I should despise
And every day I am swayed
By whatever is on my mind

I hear it all depends on my faith
So I'm feeling precarious
The only problem I have with these mysteries
Is they're so mysterious

And like a consumer I've been thinking
If I could just get a bit more
More than my 15 minutes of faith,
Then I'd be secure

(Chorus)
My faith is like shifting sand
Changed by every wave
My faith is like shifting sand
So I stand on grace

I've begged you for some proof
For my Thomas eyes to see
A slithering staff, a leprous hand
And lions resting lazily

A glimpse of your back-side glory
And this soaked altar going ablaze
But you know I've seen so much
I explained it away

Chorus

Waters rose as my doubts reigned
My sand-castle faith, it slipped away
Found myself standing on your grace
It'd been there all the time

Our God is Mighty to Save!

Over the last several months, this song has been a source of encouragement to Amanda and I. We are so amazed at how good God is in giving us what we need right when we need it. That's how it was with this song. The first time we heard it, the words spoke to us right away. We had no idea at the time how much it would speak to us and is still speaking to us now!

Mighty to Save
Everyone needs compassion
Love that’s never failing
Let mercy fall on me
Everyone needs forgiveness
The kindness of a Saviour
The hope of nations

Saviour, He can move the mountains
My God is mighty to save
He is mighty to save
Forever, Author of salvation
He rose and conquered the grave
Jesus conquered the grave

So take me as You find me
All my fears and failures
Fill my life again
I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in
Now I surrender

Shine Your light and let the whole world see
We’re singing for the glory of the risen King

Back Home

Amanda and I had a nice visit with her family and now we are back in Raleigh. This weekend we will be in Columbia SC and then we will be at Mid-Way's Missions Conference. Last weekend we went to the Passion Conference in Atlanta GA. We really had a great time.

Craig

In Sunny Florida...

Craig at the Statue of Liberty








Amanda and I have just returned from a 3 day trip to New York City. If you have never been you need to take the time to go. It was amazing!

After a conference in North Carolina, we've headed down to Florida to spend some time with Amanda's family and go with our friends to Disney World.

Thank you for your continued prayers - several of you have mentioned that you read this blog. We will continue to keep you updated. I am also working on updating the layout of the blog...So, stayed tuned!

Craig

On the road...

Amanda and I just returned from a trip in GA and WV. We were in three churches around the Savannah area and then up in Fairmont WV where it was cold, snowy and icy. We left after service on Sunday night and arrived back in Raleigh around 3:30 am.

We are off this week and will be going up to New York City on Sunday to visit the area. We are excited! Sunday we will be going to hear the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir and on Tuesday night we will be going to broadway to see the Phantom of the Opera. Thank you for your prayers, we continue to see the Lord give us strength and grace throughout the days.

Craig

Somewhere in the Middle

Lately I have been listen to a song on the new Casting Crowns album called "Somewhere in the Middle". It really has become one of my favorite songs as the words seem so true to where many of us have been or are at now - Craig

Somewhere between the hot and the cold
Somewhere between the new and the old
Somewhere between who I am and who I used to be
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Somewhere between the wrong and the right
Somewhere between the darkness and the light
Somewhere between who I was and who You're making me
Somewhere in the middle, You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves

Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Lord, I feel You in this place and I know You're by my side
Loving me even on these nights when I'm caught in the middle

Update & Appreciation

Amanda and I cannot express our appreciation for the prayers and support throughout the last several weeks and specifically the last few days. Many have been a great encouragement by calling, sending emails and sending flowers. Several of our family and friends took time out of their schedule to come and support us, which meant a great deal to us. Monday was the funeral at Mid-Way Baptist Church and it was a very beautiful service. Pastor Larry Upchurch (Senior Pastor), Pastor Gene Schuyler (Discipleship Pastor) and Pastor Kevin Carson (Ozark, MO) did a wonderful job of emphasizing God's precious grace through the difficulty of life. Thank you again for your prayers and continued prayers in the days ahead.

We are in the process of setting up a memorial scholarship through the Baptist Bible Fellowship for future missionaries in honor of Ava. If you are interested, more information will be available in our next prayer letter. Also, is you have the opportunity to go online and sign the guestbook, we would like to have that as a cherished memory. Just click on the link below.

http://www.legacy.com/newsobserver/Obituaries.asp?Page=Notice&PersonID=102110386


Here are the words of the song we used for a DVD shown in honor of Ava. Powerful and precious words, which I am sure many of us can relate to at some point in our life.

Because of HIS Grace,
Craig

You're in a better place, I've heard a thousand times
And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbye
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now

Update 2 - January 16, 2008

First of all, thank you so much for your prayers on behalf of our family. It has been a great encouragement during this last week, Amanda, myself and soon to be born Ava are grateful for your love and support. The messages both from calling and emailing have been a great source of strength, it is amazing how God shows His faithfulness ands grace through His children. Here is an update since our last email. Last Tuesday they did a test to look at Ava's chromosomes (Amniocentesis) and today we received the results. The test showed that her chromosomes looked normal, which was the best possible news we could receive from those tests. The doctor still believes that something is wrong with her brain, but today's results show that there is nothing genetically wrong with her.
Something else could be causing what the doctor sees, but todays results were the best possible answer we could receive from the tests.
Please continue to pray for Amanda and the baby in the coming weeks. The pregnancy has been tough on Amanda, and we are still concerned about Ava as she grows. They moved Amanda's due date to April 16 and also moved her to Duke Medical Center for her delivery. It is about 30 minutes away from our home, but it is one of the best. As of now we don't know anything more than this, so you can imagine how the next two months are going to feel. Ava and Amanda are in God's hands as He teaches us to completely put our trust in Him.

Thank you again for your concern and prayer. Nothing surprises God, He continues to show that His timing and plan is best.

Because of HIS Grace

Craig

Update 1 - January 9, 2008

For those who perhaps do not know, let me give you an update on what has been happening. Amanda went into the doctor on Monday and found out there are some complications with the baby. The doctor is concerned about her (the baby) heart and the development of her brain. On Tuesday they did tests to look at the baby's brain, on today (Wed) we went to a heart specialist. The doctor believes that there is something wrong with the baby's brain, we however do not get results from those test until next week. The heart specialist today did tests and said that the heart looked perfectly normal which was a wonderful praise! He said that there did not appear to be anything life threatening in reference to the heart and that it looked like it was doing great. We have scheduled a appointment for a month to check up. As far as the other test are concerned, we just have to wait for the results. We know that whatever happens, God has been faithful and will continue to be. His perfect plan is in progress! We are praying for a miracle though and asking the Lord to touch Ava's little body as it develops.

For those who have sent email or called, we are very thankful for your prayers on our behalf. You will never know how much they have meant to Amanda and I, your faithful friendship is something we cherish deeply. Please continue to lift Amanda and Ava up in prayer as we wait the results of these other test. Today's result were a miracle, but the other test are still of serious concern. Please pray that God will give Amanda grace and strength through the next few months and that He will touch the baby's little body as she develops. We do know that God's timing has always been perfect, and He is in control and knows what is best. Thank you again for your prayers on our behalf.

Because of HIS Grace,

Craig