Happy 13th Birthday Orion

Orion is now a teenager...imagine that!!!  Orion was 7 years old when he came to live with us...he has grown so much over the last 6 years!!!  I'm very proud of him!!!  I know the Lord will use him, he has such a heart for people!!  My prayer to God is that he would mold my son into what he would have him to be, to be a great man of God that would be a great witness for him!!

Orion and Bri in Charleston, SC

 

Briana's 20 ~ Oh MY

Wow...my precious little girl is 20.  Where have the years gone?  She is now out of teendom....and heading full speed in to adulthood.  But to her own admittance, she would love to turn back time and stay a child!  The fears and anxiety of leaving mom and dad and going out on her own is something that frightens her to the core.  We have told her to pray and seek God's will, then pray for peace in what he would have her to do and have her to go, or even just to stay still until further notice. 

With that off of my chest, I want to wish my daughter Briana, a very Happy 20th Birthday!!!

Ukraine ~ EuroMaidan

 

For those not keeping up with current foreign affairs...here is a link to the Kiev Post.  A great source for information on what's going on in Ukraine!

http://www.kyivpost.com/hot/euromaidan/
 

So Close...Yet so Far Away

In the beginning of 2013, it was a struggle.  I struggled with whether God's was really calling us to Ukraine, struggling with the seemingly empty deputation schedule, struggling with the fact that no one seemed to care, so I started not to.  The support was not coming in and we didn't have as many meetings as I thought we ought to. But you know, the Lord has helped me grow through all that.  Strengthen my faith through those struggles.  Building my "faith" muscles!  I have heard over and over that your time on deputation helps you with the situations you will face on the mission field.  And I do believe that now.  I am defiantly more dependent on God now than I was 2 1/2 years ago!  I started to pray more, and trust God to work.  Yes, my husband stands before and church and shares our burden, but that is just information.  Behind the scenes, we prayed and put the raising of our support in the hands of the one who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The one who can turn the heart of man like water.

The last part of 2013 was the opposite of the beginning. We have seen the Lord work and move in the hearts of Pastors and people in support, prayer, and giving.  I think the Lord has rewarded our complete trust in Him as Provider!  And now, we are only 12% away from stepping foot on Ukrainian soil, to begin our training... I am so humbled by my Lords kindness to me and my family!  I am no stranger to GRACE... and never get tired of experiencing kindness that we do not deserve!

 

Merry Christmas from The Faulkner Family

Merry Christmas from The Faulkner Family
 

 

 

A look back.....

My oh my...it has been a very long time since the last time I posted anything.... I guess it's just the business of deputation.  We have been all over the US...and are currently at 81% support.  Getting anxious and excited!  I have been mentally preparing all the things that need to be done in preparation to move.  Passports, visas, and packing....

I have been thinking a lot about when we first started deputation and how heart breaking it was for us to experience life as a missionary.  When we first started deputation, we thought that everyone would be so excited for us and for the call God had placed on our life's.  We had a specific work to do for him in a specific place!  Just like when God calls men of God to the pastorate. But we were so wrong.  People and Pastors that we knew seemed to not want to have to much to do with us after we submitted to go to the mission field.  We saw pastors that we knew at meetings, and they would see us and turn around and walk the other way.  How that made my heart break.  Here we are, willing to leave our home, our families and friends to go to Ukraine, and we are treated like we have the plague.  But after 2 1/2 years on deputation, I have come to realize that there are churches and people out there that love missionaires and do what they can to be an encouragement because they know that we will need the memories of all the good times and times of being edified to make it through the tough times on the foreign field.  Those times when we desperately miss our moms and dads, our family, our church family, or even our favorite comfort food (mine being salt and vinegar potato chips) :)  But despite all this, I am ready to go. 

I get knots in my stomach thinking about my mom, and how she will be here alone, with no family to help her.  She is almost in her 70's, but very independent and in good health.  My brother lives in Korea, so both of her children will be overseas.  What if something happens to her while I'm gone, what if I can't come back when she needs me most?  But in all this, I just need to trust the Lord. Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:  Isaiah 26:4

 

Mission Possible

 

Mission Possible should have been the theme of this missions conference in Charleston, SC.  This was one of the top 2 missions conferences we have ever attended.  The people were genuinely kind and caring. The Pastor and his wife had a passion for missions and for missionaries, and so did the church body.  The preaching by Bro. Scott was deep and really made you do some soul searching!  Over all, 5 out of 5 Stars

 

During the conference,  unbeknownst to them, God provided for our needs.  Items we had been praying for were provided by this church!  PTL!!!!  We needed luggage for our children for when we flew to Ukraine, and PTL, they got each one of our kids a piece of hard case luggage, and even in there favorite colors!!!!  Also, my husband got 2 brand new suits.  He has been rotating 3 suits for the last 2 1/2 years on deputation.  This was truly a blessing for him!!!

 

We had the privilege to sing at this awesome missions conference!

From L to R, Bro Scott, Brian and I,  Bro. and Mrs. Worley, and Pastor and Mrs. Sears.

And met some wonderful people while we were there!!!

 

 

They took us to Fort Sumter, the boys absolutely loved the guns, cannons, and ammo on display! My favorite part was riding the ferry and seeing the dolphins jumping in and out of the water close to the ferry!!!

 

 

They also took us on a tour of downtown Charleston :)

 

 

The boys made some new friends as Mrs. Clark (far right) volunteered to take my children to the Fire Museum, as all the adults went shopping :)

 

We came out of this missions conference with renewed energy to keep on going.  Deputation can suck the life right out of your being, and can really hurt you spiritually if you do not stay on top of your personal devotions and relationship with our Lord.  But knowing there are brothers and sisters in the Lord that are truly concerned about you and your ministry and that they will be praying.  It sure does help when you have to deal with the negatives of deputation.  I can think back to this meeting a smile, knowing that we are not alone in the ministry God has placed us in.

 

To see more pictures from this missions conference, click on the links below....

 

Costal Light Baptist Church 2013 Missions Conference

 

Downtown Charleston

 

Fort Sumter

 

Fire Museum