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