So We Did a Conference

So we did a conference back in 2012, and it was a big deal. A big deal to us.  You know one of those life changing ones.  I know it sounds over-kill, but really for us it was exactly what we needed at the time.

It was called Refocusing Leaders and we wrote about it a little here. It is a year long conference that meets four times for 2-3 days at a time.  I know super intense, right? But each Sunday when we finished, we drove home on our moto talking about how much that impacted each of us.  You know in the life changing kind of way!?!

So now that the conference ended almost six months ago, we wanted to tell you where it lead us.

It lead us to moving back to America.  Moving next month (pause for a small scream of nervousness), yup... in a month or so.  Chris has accepted a teaching position at Manual High School located in Denver in the 5 Points community.  Leanne will be attending Denver Seminary for her MA in Counseling (pause for a small scream of excitement). 

Through our conference we were able to take lessons from our past, hopes and desires for the future, Biblical truth, and guidance with friends to create a pretty little package that helped us know ourselves, each other, and the plans God has for us more clearly.

Chris wrote of his desire to be in public schools, a place where most students don't know Christ, and have less opportunity to hear about Jesus than if they were at a Christian school like Logos.  He learned of his desire to help students that live in the brokenness that America brings to our families, homes, communities, and neighborhoods.  His desire is to embody a life that gives wisdom, stature, and favor with God to those in his surroundings.

I wrote of my desire to be in relational ministry.  The kind of ministry where you sit at the dining room table with your neighbors, community, church, and family and friends.  The kind of ministry you see at the Last Supper when Jesus sat and ate and drank with his closest of followers.  To share in the ministry of breaking of bread like we see in Acts 2.

Each us through this time developed a Biblical purpose statement, a vision statement, and discovered our individual values.  We also walked through transitions, timelines, ways we see God work, and even set roles and goals for our future ahead of us.  It was a lot. And sometimes it was heavy. Sometimes it brought tears, and sometimes lingering smiles.

But now it leaves us with Chris starting on July 9th at Manual, a year round school, and Leanne starting Seminary on May 20th with an online class and then fully in August with her first full semester.  It leaves us with a daunting move across the planet...again.  It leaves us with heart wrenching good-byes.  It leaves us flying away from a place we love. 

BUT...it also leaves us with an excitement and peace as we follow God's leading and calling.  It leads us into a long-term ministry.  It leads us into further obedience and dependence on Christ.  It leaves us seeking prayer once again as we move.

Pictured above is dear Khmer friends Phany and Lida and their two boys Daniel and Samuel.  Also Sarah Blaine, who was in my Bible study, and her daughter Clara.  Our season of good-byes has started already.

"How lucky am I to have something that makes saying good-bye so hard." - Winnie the Pooh