I sent this email out on Monday, March 11th to our friends and family. I was encouraged by several people to blog this email and the following ones. I hope you enjoy reading about what's happened in our lives over the past month.
As you probably well know, Lauren and I have been trying to figure out what we'll be doing in September for quite a while now. My 2 year commitment at LeaderTreks ends in August and we need to make a decision very soon regarding whether or not we'll stay here for another year. We've been praying and seeking guidance from lots of people, filling out applications for several different International Christian Schools and looking for jobs in the Wheaton area as well.
As you probably well know, Lauren and I have been trying to figure out what we'll be doing in September for quite a while now. My 2 year commitment at LeaderTreks ends in August and we need to make a decision very soon regarding whether or not we'll stay here for another year. We've been praying and seeking guidance from lots of people, filling out applications for several different International Christian Schools and looking for jobs in the Wheaton area as well.
Last week however, we received an email from the father of one of the girls that used to work at LeaderTreks with me. He is the principal at El Camino Academy (ECA) in Bogota, Colombia. We Skyped with them on Saturday and they really want us to come work there. He would like me to fill the role of chaplain at the school, which is actually a position that they've been wanting to create for a while, but they just haven't had the right person to fill it. This role would involve discipleship, teaching, leadership development and the implementation of a new discipleship program that I would create. He has a vision for the teachers to all disciple one student and for the high school students to disciple middle school students, and for it to be an environment where real discipleship and growth takes place. It sounds like the faculty and staff at this school are dreamers, which Lauren and I really love. We don't ever want to stop dreaming about how God can use us! This opportunity is something that has us very excited! We would love to do this!
They have invited Lauren and I (and Annie and Lincoln) to come down to visit at the beginning of April. I would be teaching at a Middle School retreat for 2 days (3 sessions) and we would also have a few days to check out some places where most of the teachers live, look for possible housing, and just get a feel for what it would be like to live there.
We have not made a decision yet about whether or not we will go in April, but it makes sense to take a "vision trip" to check things out and seek out confirmation from the Lord during our time there. We need to make our decision and let them know about the April trip by this Friday (the 15th). One huge obstacle is the cost. The school can't pay for us to come down and flights are around $800/ticket, plus we would need to get Passports for Lauren and the kids (which we know we could get in 14 days or less). The total cost would be a little over $2000.
As we've been praying about this trip and seeking the Lord's will in the matter, I've had my doubts about whether or not we should go. It seems like a lot of money to spend, just to go for a few days. On the other hand, it would be extremely helpful for us to be able to do this. Then, this morning I was reading in 2 Kings 4:1-7. A woman loses her husband and the creditor is coming to take her 2 children to be his slaves. She has nothing in her home but a jar of oil. She brings the problem before Elisha and he instructs the woman to go to all her neighbors and borrow empty vessels from them. She then begins to take the jar of oil that she has and fill all the empty vessels - a miracle from the Lord. She was then able to sell the oil, pay off her debts and live with her children on the rest. As I was thinking about this woman, going door to door and asking all her neighbors for these empty vessels, I wondered what the neighbors were thinking as they gave or lent these vessels to her. I wonder because I often wonder what people think of me when I come before them with a need, asking them to help meet that need. We don't know what her neighbors thought, but regardless, she had the faith to go and ask. I feel that God is asking us to do a similar thing.
While Lauren and I aren't worried about our children getting taken into slavery, we do have a need that I feel God wants us to bring before our neighbors, friends and family. Many of you are monthly supporters of us already, and for that, we are so thankful! We have tried to be faithful stewards of those gifts that have met our monthly needs to this day. Our request now is that you would help us get to Colombia in April, so that we can see the place where (we hope) we will be serving for the next several years. Would you be willing to give a special gift for this? If so, you can make checks payable to LeaderTreks (for tax deduction purposes) or you could make them out to one (or both) of us.
Again, we need to give a response by Friday afternoon regarding whether or not we will come. We will evaluate our financial situation Friday after the mail comes. Thank you so much for your prayers and gifts ahead of time. Lauren and I are so thankful for you all.
For Him,
Robbie (and Lauren)
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