(our team being commissioned by Greater Europe Mission)
I can't believe how long it's been since I last blogged.
I think I am just now coming up for air since January (thanks to preschool mornings).
So much has happened... so much IS happening.
In April we had training with our sending agency, Greater Europe Mission. They are a great organization that trains and supports missionaries on the ground in Europe. They don't contribute money but they contribute support (advice, counseling, training, team meetings/support with other missionaries) and strategy. They also enable people, LIKE YOU, to give to us in a tax deductible way!
If you would like to partner with us go to: bit.ly/sojournlyon-lewis
They also taught us a lot about partner development... aka fundraising and that's what we've been doing ever since.
Greater Europe Mission and Sojourn Community Church have both officially commissioned us (along with our team) as missionaries to Lyon, France!
Back to the fundraising. We need approximately $5000 a month in addition to the salary Drew will be receiving. This is the basic minimum for a family in France according to several missions agencies(accounting for the 30% cost of living increase as well as the strength of the Euro over the dollar).
We also need approximately $45,000 in launch funds to cover training and support costs with Greater Europe Mission (GEM), language school for a year, relocation agencies, and basic set up in our apartment. "You can't take it with you"...we are applying that principle to just about everything we own!
Since April we have met with people on average 5 out of every 7 days in the week in Louisville. We travelled through Texas during the month of August to see family and raise support.
Today we are thankful to be at 50% of our total need.
However, this is still 50% short of where we hoped to be by this date. Our original plan was to move to Lyon in July, but because of things on the business end of things we were postponed until October. Now we are having to postpone again until we can finish raising the support we need to live once we are there.
Our new launch date is January!
We will remain in Louisville through October and head back to Texas in November and stay until we leave for France.
Sad is not even an accurate word for how I feel about leaving Louisville. This is my home and I love this city. I love our church and our community. I am thankful for SJ's new preschool and all her sweet little friends. I LOVE fall in Louisville.
However, I am happy to have more time with family. I am happy SJ gets more cousin time! I am thankful it won't be 100 degrees while we are there this time.
I am also confident. I am confident this is what we are supposed to do right now. We were planning on saying goodbye to our Louisville family in October anyway and so this is not much different. I am thankful for the amazing renters we have to live in our home while we are gone.
Even though this was not our plan A, we are confident this is His plan!
We are forgetting what lies behind and looking at what lies ahead!
We are savoring all our favorite things in Louisville. Favorite restaurants, picking apples, watching the leave change, walking in all our favorite parks and spending time with our community and church.
I am rejoicing that I will get to see another nephew brought into this world and get to see The Hunger Games movie! I rejoice that I will have a true Thanksgiving with my wonderful family and celebrate birthdays and Christmas with them one more time.
God is so good. Even in the midst of major changes and uncertainty about the future, He reminds me of the joys I have ahead of me and the love He has provided both in Louisville and Texas.
Please pray for us through all these changes and please pray about partnering with us in financially support.
To give: bit.ly/sojournlyon-lewis
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