Boy Is It Cold!

It's been wind chill of up to 20 below the last several days here in balmy Kalamazoo, Michigan. Marge and I are finishing up an assignment called "Grey Areas". It's a tape series about dealing with life style issues to which scripture does not make a definitive statement.

Obviously, this will be an issue requiring maturity on our part as we join with a team of missionaries who are from various background in a culture that is foreign to our own.

After that we will be studying up for our doctrinal oral exam. We also are supposed to review a book that is designed for study with new Christian. They would like us to go through it with a new Christian. We are going to go through it as a family first, and then think through who else we could study it with.

The other preparation work is financial. We are looking at our debt, which is small by most standards. If we sold our house today, we would likely pay it all off. We aren't waiting or that, so last night we sat down and planned out our savings and checking cash flow, tax returns, and some reimbursements that we'll be getting and what we'll be able to put toward debt.

We've cut out things like home internet access, and video rentals. We are also checking with each other before we spend any money not on the list. That's no fun. However, the cool thing is that we are planning on building up a small cash reserve. We haven't had that so that unexpected expenses always turn into credit card debt.

We'll shortly be developing a missions wish list, because there are certain items that we'll never be able to afford. We're discovering that there are people that want to help out. Things like a projector and lap top for Presentations at churches. The lap top will also help with studies, etc. It feels funny asking for gifts. I want to earn everything on my own, but I know that part of the way others participate in our missions journey is by giving. So, I'm learning how to receive.

By, the way, I'm setting up a missions newsletter. If you would like to receive it, please click this link, send me an e-mail, and request being added to the e-mail newsletter.

Adam