Off and runnning...

Again, sorry for the long lag time between posts! Now that our routine is actually becoming routine, I'll be updating this more regularly.

We've had an 'interesting' two weeks here in KC, including all kinds of fun (please do not take that literally) getting our internet and e-mail hooked up. My left ear is still swollen from spending 3 hours on the phone with a guy named Friday who hummed Metallica tunes as he tried to assist me in getting our connection to work...

Anyway - things are starting to feel more like home. Our training is long and like I said, we're getting used to the schedule. The whole family is involved in the training. Today, Chloe and Sophie and the rest of the 3 - 5 year olds joined us in the prayer room with their class. The teaching is deep, straight from scripture and focused on our seeing God for who He really is - a Bridegroom deeply, passionately in love with His bride.

I feel that the teaching is really stretching me, challenging me to learn to see myself through God's eyes - through eyes of love. I think so often we only see ourselves in the times we try and fail to live a life that pleases Him, and we beat ourselves up over our weaknesses. But God sees the intentions of our hearts, our desire to obey and He values that. It's kinda like when Chloe wanted to help me load the dishwasher...and put dishwashing detergent in the dispenser instead of dishwasher detergent. (The difference? A lot more bubbles!!!!) She was trying to help - and to me, that was what was really important.

ALERT! I'vebeen reminded to let you all know that we have a NEW e-mail address! It's nielsenfamily9@sbcglobal.net. Please don't use 'freshfire@tds.net' anymore - that's been loaded into the trunk of a black Cadillac El Dorado with New Jersey plates and dumped in the woods...at least, that's what they told me.

Prayer requests:
- Strength and rest. These can be very long days, especially for the littler ones (and the older ones...meaning me). Tomorrow (Friday), we're in the prayer room from 7:30 am - 1 pm (I can't wait!) with a teaching session from 2 - 5 pm, then back for a Friday night class on intimacy with God from 7 - 10 pm. That's extreme...but you get the idea.
- Finances. God continues to provide - praise Him! If you're supporting us financially, God bless you! If you'd like to, please e-mail us - we'd love to share more of what God's doing here and what's He's doing in our lives with you.
- Speaking of which...we have an offer on our home in Willmar! The potential buyers have a home to sell before they can close the deal on ours, so please continue to pray for that.
- Health. My asthma has made an unwelcome re-appearance after a lengthy absence and Sarah's dealing with some allergy gunk, too.
- Friends for the kids, especially the older ones.


That's it for now. E-mail us at that address above and let us know how we can pray for you. We'd love to hear from you!


Jeremiah 17:7-8 -

John

A Place To Rest Our Heads

Sorry for the delay between postings, but this has been a hectic couple of weeks! First and foremost, we have a place to live! God does know what He's doing...even when we have our doubts. After 3 trips down to KC to find a house, God lead us to a Christian realtor who showed us a brand new home (built by her husband) that might be available for rent. Two doors down from that house, we noticed a 'For Sale By Owner' sign in front of a different house. That turned out to be the house God had for us. Plenty of room, within ten miles of I-HOP and...we can rent it!

We moved out of our Willmar home (still not sold...take that as a big prayer request if you would) last Wednesday (the 16th) and moved in here on Friday the 18th. Now in the process of getting used to a new definition of 'normal' - finding the cereal bowls (something I couldn't do yesterday), adjusting our grocery shopping list to fit a new grocery store, and meeting the neighbors. Sorry to say we won't win the 'Most Kids in the Neighborhood' contest - there are two families on our block with 8 kids, including one right across the street. Our kids have been praying for new friends and God answered in a big way.

Still in the process of getting a new e-mail address and mail for that matter - post office sez we won't be getting mail delivered until next Friday - if we want it, we'll have to go get it. We'd love to hear from you - send those messages to freshfire@tds.net. We're keeping that active for the time being...

A huge THANK YOU to all our friends who helped with moving, cleaning, and just being...friends. We love you!

Prayer requests:
- our home in Willmar to sell (had a showing yesterday!)
- the kids to get settled and meet friends in the neighborhood and at church
- rest for all of us!

Bless you!
John

The Journey Begins

Trust, it's all about TRUST. We have less than 3 weeks before we start our training at the IHOP in Kansas City. We need to sell our house and find a place to live for a family of 9. No easy task in our eyes. Good thing God has different eyes and can see the end. We are excited to see how God is going to move.