Fresh and full of hope and life.
We have been in America for 20 months and Pete is about to complete his second year at BSSM. Second year has been incredible for us as a little family. There are so many stories we could tell and breakthroughs we could share.
At the beginning of this school year I felt God speak to me about saying YES to Him and walking in His pleasure and destiny. Its all about Him and all this if for Him. Staying in His YES is the best place to be.
This time I feel God saying… “Lisa, Its time to wake up and dream.”
Whats next?
Over the last few months we have had a big question on our hearts. “God, whats next?” These two years have totally transformed us. We have been taken through valleys and have conquered mountains; stretched beyond what we thought was possible and have been loved more than we thought we were worthy of. God is SO good and this we know.
He covers, empowers and applauds us and He LOVES it when we look to Him and take steps that require His strength and not our own.
There is no fear in perfect love and nowhere we can go without Him. Saying YES to God requires everything, but the rewards totally outweigh the cost.
Pete and I decided to keep moving where our hearts were leading us. We both feel that our time here isn’t over and we need to stay in Redding for another year.
Third year for BSSM is an internship program where students can work with and serve various pastors and staff members of Bethel Church.
In our case we both felt that Pete should apply for an internship position with Steve Backlund. Pete recently went to Oklahoma City on a ministry trip with Steve and something exploded in his heart. We both felt that working with and under Steve would lead us into a part of our destiny.
This intern position is a very sought after position because Steve and Wendy Backlund are great mentors and carry an incredible message and ministry called Igniting Hope. Steve and Wendy are also linked with Global Legacy.
We decided that we would knock on this door and only this door. If it opens then we will step onto the water and if it doesn’t we will return back to South Africa and wait for further instruction. Our hearts were at peace either way.
Within a week we got the news. The door opened and Steve invited Pete onto his team! We consider it a massive privilege and we are very humbled and excited. We know its right.
We feel that this third year will be a very significant year for our family, as well as a strategic year to launch us into ministry. We have done two years of ministry training but NOW starts the activation and adventure.
What about the logistics?
As an international, being an intern still requires that we remain on an American student Visa, which means we can't work and earn any money during the year. Our visa's will have to be renewed over the summer (June and July), which means that our little family will be making the long trip back to South Africa to attend to the visa process as well as spend some much needed time with family and friends.
These last two years have cost us everything and our South African funds will be dry for our next adventure. This means that we will be completely living by faith for our finances during our 10 month stay for third year. Normally this would scare me … but not anymore! God is too good and His YES is big enough.
Its going to be a good year.
I will be writing another blog with more detail about this.
The girls...
Our girls are flourishing like the flowers in spring. Amy will be turning 6 in October and Katie is 3 in July. My season here in Redding has been incredibly profound and I have been blessed so much even though I haven’t had the opportunity to attend BSSM.
God has been gently training and shaping me in a secret place and I have noticed that every time I receive a breakthrough or a victory, my girls seem to walk straight into the blessing and favour of God. Being a mother is something incredibly important to me and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to train my girls as I am trained by God.
I plan to continue homeschooling Amy and Katie as well as being involved with Pete in his internship.
I also have some dreams of my own and I am excited to dream some more :) I feel like there is a rumbling in my spirit and something is about to explode.
“Its time to wake up and dream."
