Hello everyone, 

  It has now come to the time for us to leave for Ghana Africa.  It has been a bitter sweet week.  We sold what we could and gave to charity everything else.  All we have is what we could fit into our jeep.  It was exciting to be able to get it all in the jeep, but sad because everything we own can fit into the jeep. 

 We have been saying our goodbyes and shedding lots of tears.  It is hard to leave family behind.   I asked God to keep my daughters safe and keep them from getting too lonely or missing us too bad.  I honestly think it will be harder on me.  I am excited to get to Africa and start working. Eager to  embark on our next adventure with God.

   As we were preparing to go alot of emotions and feelings were running through me. And I had began to feel a little proud of myself for selling everything and giving to the poor.  I didnt walk away sad like the rich young ruler, I did the right thing, what Jesus had asked.  I dont know if you have ever felt good about something you did for God, but I did!  I thought "boy, I'm really doing a good thing, God is gonna bless me for this"  You probably never do that!  As I was feeling good about myself we had some friends come over to say good bye and the pastor (not knowing what was going on inside of me), said that he had moved his family here from Nigera and  thought God would surely reward him for this. But, God told him, "I  OWE you nothing". Boy did that hit home with me.  God has already done it all. He gave His only son, saved me from my sin,and so so much more.  The sacrafices I was making  was so much less than He deserved!  I realized that even my life was too little to give Him.  But, my life is what I have to give, although it will never be enough I give it freely with no strings attached. Knowing He owes me nothing.  I owe him everything.  So, I will gladly go to Africa and be a living sacrafice for Him.  I will be His hands and feet.  I will touch the hurting, because He cares for them.  I will preach the Good News to the poor, because He died for them. 

 I love Him more than the breath He gives me.  No matter what I do it could never be enough. I serve Him because I love Him.  And He owes me nothing!                     Gena

  I dont want to go through my life not having done something with meaning and with everlasting effects.  I want to  touch someone's life, love someone, help someone, teach them, and lead them to God.  I dont want to live this life for nothing, having nothing to show where I have been. 

  Lord, give me your eyes to see the hurting humanity, your hands to heal, your feet to go to the unreached. Your voice to speak, and Your tears of compassion, mercy and forgivness.  Give me your love for humanity.

Purpose without submission and obeidience is useless!  You can have a calling or have a mission, but if you never fullfill it, It's like a well that has dried up.  You can see the hole or place the well was meant to be, but it is worthless because it is empty.  It will help no one!  The waters from the well that is fullfilling its purpose can quench the thirts of many families.  

I want to be a well that overflows with the sustaining water of life that is meant for the nations.

  Here Am I Lord, send me.      Gena

I have been praying and seeking God about Criag and I moving back to Africa.  I am excited but nervous also.  I will miss my girls so much that it hurts! I know that they both have their own lives and will do fine without me here but it is still hard.

 I will miss going shopping for christmas presents for them, putting up a tree and watching them open them.  I will miss the dinners we have and going to the movies on weekends.  Shoe shopping!  There is nothing better than us girls going shoe shopping! I will miss hearing about thier day.  I guess I will have to make up for lost time when I come to the states to visit. But that doesnt make it any easier.

People ask me if I am excited about moving back to africa and I have a hard time answering that at times.  Yes I am excited to do what God has called us. To preach to the poor and help the needy, plant churches and reach people who have little hope.  But, excited to leave the comforts of home.  Not so much.  But especially not leaving the girls.

I know that I wouldnt be any happier not doing God's will if that makes any sense. I know that being in God's will is the best place to be for all of my family.  But, it is still hard. I consider it an honor to do what God has called out for us.   If I preach you should go and then I ignore the call what kind of example would I be to my children.  Or to anyone for that matter.  Doesnt make it easy, just makes it the right thing to do. 

So, it is bitter sweet I guess I should say.  For all those who always ask "are you excited?".  Here it is straight from my heart.   Yes and No.

   Pray for us as we prepare to seek and reach the lost, regardless the cost. 

Gena Rogers

  I stand on the ocean's shore looking at the vast waters of blue

I hear Your voice calling, I feel the tug on my heart

  My tears water the sand, as my feet refuse to move

I try to resist but I know that it is no use

My heart is aching from the uncertainty of whats before me

But even more dreedful is my fate, if Your voice I do not heed

I can only see so far, and nothing seems clear

The path is not mapped out, Narrow is the way, is all I hear

There are no guarentes, no "For Certains" to declare

No sure thing, except, He will be there

Leave the shore, I hear You call from the deep

Abandon all, and your life I will always keep

I feel the tide splashing at my feet, I take a step, and then one more

You beckon me with each oceans roar

Deeper and deeper I hear you call, until the shore where I once stood

now looks so small

The crashing waves have become so still, and the Peace I feel

is in the waters I once feared

From a distance I see the shore, with millions of people standing where I stood

They stare out to sea, as I once did

Some step in when hearing God's voice, while others turn away sadly

As they make thier choice

Not willing to desert the safety of the shore or to abandon

thier life to follow the Lord

In the end the sand castles that we have made

are all swept away by the wind and the waves

For those that choose on the shore to stand

The father will say "I dont know this man".

                                                    poem by Gena Rogers