Exploring next steps.

Fruit on our "Lamood" tree.

This month has held a dramatic change of pace for our family! After closing Sauced & Tossed last month, we have had the freedom to do a lot more hosting and investing in previously established relationships as a family. Being able to be together as a family in the evenings has been such a gift and has already contributed to some much healthier family rhythms, which we are so thankful for. Ryan has been able to throw himself into language acquisition and pushing himself to more fluency and broader vocabulary, as well as spending a significant amount of time seeking the Lord and gaining information to help us step into the specific ministry God has next for our family.

Although we feel so thankful and at peace about closing our Sauced & Tossed chapter, we admit that this "in between" season is not the most comfortable for us! We find ourselves wanting to make a decision soon and go ahead and jump into the next thing. But it is good for us to lean on God in a more tangible way and learn to rest and delight in Him, even as we wrestle with unanswered questions.

We were able to visit Matt and Kait's sweet family in Chiang Mai this month as we learned more about their BAM (business as missions) venture, Expat Homes. They have been mentors for us since the beginning of our journey and have modeled BAM so well for us. We spent a few days together encouraging one another, dreaming together, and just enjoying family time together on the other side of the world. 

Esme making some friends in Chiang Mai.

Some rice fields being prepared for planting.

We were also able to visit some friends of ours for the first time who do coffee farming, roasting, and distributing in Chiang Mai. We have been connected with them in the BAM world for a few years now, and were finally able to see their business and ministry in person. Observing their BAM model and hearing more about their story was exciting and got our wheels turning with what God might have for our future as well.

PRAISES & PRAYER REQUESTS:

- praise the Lord for His grace in this "in between" season. Pray that we would walk through this time of exploring with hearts of surrender and joy in the gospel.

- pray for the Lord's direction for our family's future. After the conversations and interactions we had this month, we feel we know what steps to take and what questions to ask to continue moving towards a decision. Pray for trust and surrender to God's timing.

- pray for those we are in contact with who have expressed interest in the gospel. Pray for soft soil in their hearts and boldness/clarity as we engage with them. 

“Once I was free in the shackles of sin:
Free to be tempted, just bound to give in;
Free to be captive to any desire;
Free to eternally burn in hell’s fire.
‘Til Someone bought me and called me His slave:
Bound by commands I am free to obey;
Captive by beauty I’m free to adore--
Sentenced to sit at His feet evermore.”

(John MacArthur)