It has been a while since I have written and I do apologize for that. You know you are doing something right when obstacles begin to block the way and all you can do is pray through them. One of my favorite verses is " My grace is sufficient for you; for MY POWER is made perfect weakness". We have had a season of "weakness" at the Goerke house. We have spent the last 6 weeks battling Influenza A, Strep and Influenza B. It is so hard to function when your kids are sick and no one is getting much sleep but thankfully; for Today, everyone is well! Thank you to those of you who have been praying for us through this! Well enought about us and my excuses; On to Africa!!!
Since I wrote last a team has been to Africa to visit the "A team" as they were known to us here in the states. Karolyn Schrage who is one of the women who went on the trip is so precious and made it a point to call me when she got back and recount the stories as detailed as she could so i could pretend I was there with them. My words were few, for those of you who know me that is in itself is a miracle, as I could only imagine the reunion that took place. I am so grateful for the encouragement the mission team took with them there. Denise said that when they had gone home, Karolyn had left her clothes there for Denise to have and Denise said they familiar smell of Karolyn still at the house made her cry. They are so Strong but they are homesick too.
A few weeks ago another team was able to take in the supplies that the mission team from here couldn't take over and the things we shipped over a long time ago arrived too! Talk about a BLESSING!! They opened their christmas gifts, their mattresses came in, denise has a stove and the kids were so excited for the oatmeal and hot chocolate we sent! Isn't it ironic how spoiled we are here!! And just in case the kids didnt stick out enough being white; my dad sent them a trampoline!! I think it is hilarious but that is what they wanted! I can only imagine what the natives there are saying about the bouncing white people! The team continues to go through adjustments, transitions and establishing "home" in a unfamiliar land; please continue to pray for them.
This last month Paige turned 2 and Tatum turned 6! Birthdays are always a little hard for me. My sister was with me when my kids were born and has been to every major event in their lives; it is a hole that is very evident when we celebrate without them. I have yet to write a blog without crying and this one is turning out to be no different. I still struggle going to my mom's house and seeing Dylann's "red pilly"; I tear up when I hear my kids talk about "the beck kids"( I know it is weird that they call them by their last name), a friend of ours made captain at the fire dept and i cried bc that would have been Josh if they had stayed. I know that as time goes on some things will get easier but I know that even if they came home today their hearts would still be in Africa and God's calling in their lives has not changed. They are where God wants them; despite my own struggles- God is the one who supplies a peace that passes understanding!
The fundraising continues!! I still have some tie top purses if you are interested and lots of coin purses. The purses are $15 and the coin purses $5. Thank you so much for those of you who continue to lift us up in prayer, who have supported our fundraising efforts and who continue to send ideas my way of how we can reach our goal! Well the kids are coming trickling in and of course, one is bleeding so time to go! Love you ALL!!!
Goerke Family
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Friday, January 21, 2011
The First Visitors have arrived...
For the last week our family here has been gathering , wrapping, shopping and packing things to send to Africa with a team that is going from College Heights. The mission's team always sends a group that acted as the mentors for the team while they were here to go and check on them around their 6 month mark on the field. I am so excited for all of them and to get our hugs and special gifts from the sweet group that went to ecourage them. I choked up a few times trying to talk Karolyn (one of the ladies going) about her upcoming trip. It is so hard sometimes. Part of our hearts are there and everytime someone goes; that left behind "wound" is reopened.
On a brighter note, I am still collecting money for t shirts and do have a few left if you know of someone that is interested. It has been so great seeing so many people wearing them and knowing they are thinking of our family too! As soon as the money is in and we save up a little bit more we can get our passports!!!! That is the first big step to take and I am so excited to hold them in my hands. We will not leave any kiddos behind so getting all 6 is a big deal!
I am not an extreme people, person who is not keen on change so needless to say God has been opening my eyes to show himself as my constant! In 2010, My closest friend/sister moved to Africa with her family, we moved (which wasnt too far), my friends have changed some and my children started school, trinidy got a new job and my schedule changed. As we speak my best friend is at a meeting which will possible move her family far away too. It has been and may continue to be a struggle for me to deal with the lose of soo many people that have been involved in my day to day life. Even as a tear up now with the thought of "losing" another loved one I am so thankful GOD IS IN CONTROL! He is our EVERPRESENT and He knows when we are struggling. I know that GOD already has a plan to reunite us again and he knows we need that ( I think that is why He brings us ALL to heaven together!) Thank you for reading my rambling; we love you all and are so greatful that you are in our lives!
On a brighter note, I am still collecting money for t shirts and do have a few left if you know of someone that is interested. It has been so great seeing so many people wearing them and knowing they are thinking of our family too! As soon as the money is in and we save up a little bit more we can get our passports!!!! That is the first big step to take and I am so excited to hold them in my hands. We will not leave any kiddos behind so getting all 6 is a big deal!
I am not an extreme people, person who is not keen on change so needless to say God has been opening my eyes to show himself as my constant! In 2010, My closest friend/sister moved to Africa with her family, we moved (which wasnt too far), my friends have changed some and my children started school, trinidy got a new job and my schedule changed. As we speak my best friend is at a meeting which will possible move her family far away too. It has been and may continue to be a struggle for me to deal with the lose of soo many people that have been involved in my day to day life. Even as a tear up now with the thought of "losing" another loved one I am so thankful GOD IS IN CONTROL! He is our EVERPRESENT and He knows when we are struggling. I know that GOD already has a plan to reunite us again and he knows we need that ( I think that is why He brings us ALL to heaven together!) Thank you for reading my rambling; we love you all and are so greatful that you are in our lives!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I WILL Walk by FAITH
The Journey Continues...
A few weeks ago when i got home from picking Tatum up from school Kennedy met us at the door with big eyes filled with tears. Not knowing if she had gotten in trouble or if this was the remnants of a prior meltdown since she couldnt go with me to get Tatum I didnt mention it. She quietly walked back to her room and cried. Knowing that she normally likes her fits to be a spectacle I followed her. She was holding a picture of her and Dylann. As I sat on her bed and listened to her cry and tell me about the pictureI was brokenhearted for her. It was her not understanding of how far away Africa is, the inability to explain how long 3 years will be (the time of their first Sabbatical) and the disappointment that we could not afford to visit. How fun it has been to talk to them about faith, God's provision and our trip that is on the horizon. They ask for NOTHING because they know we are saving money to go to AFRICA! I love that they are learning to trust God in this!!
IF you have checked my facebook page you will see that Denise posted some pics of bags and coin purses that she had a dear friend in Uganda make for me to sell. They will be here at the end of January you can preorder now. Purses are $15 and coin purses are $5. I am also planning to have a garage sale; most likely in Baxter Springs and in Joplin. If you have anything you are willing to donate please let me know and we will come and get it. Dates are yet to be determined. Many of you have asked about more t-shirts and if you missed out on the t-shirt sale and would like one I will be doing another one in a few months.
This next monday a group from College Heights in Joplin get to go to Africa and check on the team and encourage them in this first year. They have been gone 7 months and 10 days; but who is counting :)
Denise also has a blog if you want to follow their work http://www.noturningbeck.blogspot.com/
Our Journey of Faith began long before our Journey to Afica and I am so grateful for that! We have watched God provide food when our cupboards were bare, money when our account was empty and faith when our reserves were spent. Our Journey to Africa is just one more step in our Journey of Faith. THANK YOU JESUS!!
A few weeks ago when i got home from picking Tatum up from school Kennedy met us at the door with big eyes filled with tears. Not knowing if she had gotten in trouble or if this was the remnants of a prior meltdown since she couldnt go with me to get Tatum I didnt mention it. She quietly walked back to her room and cried. Knowing that she normally likes her fits to be a spectacle I followed her. She was holding a picture of her and Dylann. As I sat on her bed and listened to her cry and tell me about the pictureI was brokenhearted for her. It was her not understanding of how far away Africa is, the inability to explain how long 3 years will be (the time of their first Sabbatical) and the disappointment that we could not afford to visit. How fun it has been to talk to them about faith, God's provision and our trip that is on the horizon. They ask for NOTHING because they know we are saving money to go to AFRICA! I love that they are learning to trust God in this!!
IF you have checked my facebook page you will see that Denise posted some pics of bags and coin purses that she had a dear friend in Uganda make for me to sell. They will be here at the end of January you can preorder now. Purses are $15 and coin purses are $5. I am also planning to have a garage sale; most likely in Baxter Springs and in Joplin. If you have anything you are willing to donate please let me know and we will come and get it. Dates are yet to be determined. Many of you have asked about more t-shirts and if you missed out on the t-shirt sale and would like one I will be doing another one in a few months.
This next monday a group from College Heights in Joplin get to go to Africa and check on the team and encourage them in this first year. They have been gone 7 months and 10 days; but who is counting :)
Denise also has a blog if you want to follow their work http://www.noturningbeck.blogspot.com/
Our Journey of Faith began long before our Journey to Afica and I am so grateful for that! We have watched God provide food when our cupboards were bare, money when our account was empty and faith when our reserves were spent. Our Journey to Africa is just one more step in our Journey of Faith. THANK YOU JESUS!!
Friday, January 7, 2011
The Journey Begins...
I layed in bed a few days ago crying as we started 2011. This year was the first year I began without my sister and Josh and my nieces and nephews. I feel like I have dealt with all the stages of grief but there are still times when it is hard. I had done the math and I knew that there was no way in the world we could save the money to visit them. For passports and plane tickets we are needing approximately $11,000! It's impossible... but God whispered to me, "Arent you glad you serve a God who glories in the impossible"! That is when God started filling my mind with ideas to fundraise the money. Today I placed t-shirt orders that a friend help design and I was BLOWN AWAY- We sold 97 t-shirts!!! This is our Fundraiser for passports. IT will cost our family $810 for our passports and it is within reach. Thank you!! It is my plan to be very honest with this blog about money as we are asking alot of you for help. Please continue to pray for us, we dont know when we will be able to go but we know God will supply the money for us to go at the time that Josh and Denise need us. We love you all and are excited for you to take this journey with us!
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