fall update

The annual “Big Trip” from Jason

 One of the highlights of the program here at Moody Aviation is the Extended Cross Country project.  I’ve gone with the students the past several years and this year I was entrusted with leading the group.  This gave me a great perspective of how each person responds to the trip and all the learning opportunities there were along the way.  We took them on an 11 day loop of the western U.S. which included flights in busy airspace (San Francisco, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and Salt Lake City), navigation in unfamiliar areas, mountain flying in Utah & Idaho, and plenty of character building as we spend all day every day  together. 

The trip provides application of the principles they’ve learned and deepens their experience level with the benefit of supervision rather than jumping into the deep end once they’re on their own.  Each student returned from the trip thankful for the experience and all it taught them.  I really enjoyed pointing out to them how great it is to be a part of the body of Christ as we interacted with people along the way.  A highlight of the trip was our stop in Salt Lake City where we stayed with gracious supporters and visited Southeast Christian Church.  Thanks so much for being a part of our ministry!

Because we can’t resist adventure from Jen

I’d like to think that we’re fairly adventurous people.  In the 11 years that we’ve been married, we’ve had our fair share.  This summer our latest adventures took us, along with the Schwab clan, to Glacier National Park and Yellowstone for a fabulous family vacation.  Adventure is the Schwab family’s middle name so there was lots of fun to be had! 

Last year I took  a flying leap off of a cliff and started a photography business.  Adventure is my middle name too even though I only married into the Schwab family.  It has been a really rewarding year and one of learning to set boundaries, trying out new ideas, getting taken advantage of, meeting new people, and having lots of fun.  I’ve been so thankful to be able to have a creative outlet.  It makes me feel like I finally fit into my side of the family, whose middle name happens to be Art!

Lately we feel like God has been calling us to a new adventure.  It has been an adventure that has been in the works of my heart since I was in 6th grade and my aunt got the call that she could go and pick up her precious little boy from the hospital.   It’s been a calling that has been a point of discussion since Jason and I met.  It has been a source of heartache and frustration as it seemed it was never the right time over the last few years. But the time is here.  Now.  Finally. 

 Adoption

After years and years of thinking and dreaming about it, I had completely given up on us ever adding to our family.  I started a business last year because I knew that both of our kids were going to be in school full time this year and I had transitioned in my mind to being a mom with time on her hands.  So when Jason came to me this spring and said now is the time, I resisted.  I was done changing diapers.  I was done with high chairs and Cheerios on the floor.  No way.  But this summer the Lord has been picking away at my heart.  Revealing my selfishness.  Challenging me with the bigger picture of who He wants our family to be. Inviting me to be a partaker in His faithfulness.  So I considered.  Then, I said only if we could bring 2 kids home.  Jason agreed.  The kids are stoked.  Things will never be the same.

The subject of adoption didn’t just bring up concerns about car seats and sippy cups though.  How could we possibly raise the money to bring 2 kids home?  How will we be able to support a family of 6?  How?  How?  How? 

God keeps whispering this word in my ear.  Faithful.  Faithful.  Faithful.  You will find Me faithful. 

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations.”  Ps 89:1

This decision will change the fates of generations.  My heart’s cry is that generations of Schwabs will be singing of His love and faithfulness. 

We think we have an advantage in being in missions the last 10 years.  We have seen God’s faithfulness over and over again.  We can look to His faithfulness every month when he provides us, through you, the money to pay our rent and buy our groceries.  I know that if, after 13 years of talking about adoption, He could get Jason and I to the place where we both said “Yes Lord” that the money to bring home 2 kids and provide for them will be easy and nothing more than a drop in the bucket to Him who is able.  Faithful.   

I’ve spent the last few weeks writing adoption agencies. Looking at one country and then the next.  Looking at houses that would be better able to accommodate a family of 6.  I feel like my head is going to spin off of my body.  Yesterday I managed to lock myself out of the house and then lock myself into the back yard.  My hero had to come rescue me.  Thank goodness my kids are in school because I would probably accidentally leave them in Target on a trip to buy toilet paper.  Things feel a bit like I’m in the middle of a whirlwind right now. But that whisper just keeps coming.  Faithful.  Faithful. Faithful. 

 Are you excited?  We are.  Do you hear the whisper?  Get ready for the adventure.