After a few years of Steve and I talking about what the next stage of our lives would look like, it is now upon us. We have talked about missions and wondered if that is where we would end up. Knowing that Steve's retirement from the Highway Patrol was going to happen in April of 2011, we began researching where we felt called. We took 20 teens to Gabon, West Africa in 2008 and fell in love with the Gabonese people. We also had heard about the Black Forest Academy in Kandern, Germany and being Dorm Parents there sounded like a fit too. We began to pray about where God wanted us. Was it for us to go or for us to help others go. As 2010 started we felt like it was for us to go, so we put our house up for sale in the middle of winter. 30 days later it was sold. A good sign that we were moving in the right direction. By Sept., BFA was the place we felt God calling us and we sent in the official application. The next 4 months went back and forth with interviews, background checks, references and finally on Jan. 20, 2011 we found out we were approved (we were in Fiji on a second honeymoon).
So the next chapter of our life is starting. Raising support to go to the mission field by August is the next step. We know this is where God wants us and are trusting in Him to help us find the prayer and financial support we will need for the next 2 years or more if we are to stay.
Please join us in this new adventure, as we will be sharing what is happening in the process of getting to Germany and then learning how life works being "parents" to 20 teens 24/7.
Stacey and Steve
preparing for the mission field
