A New Season...and How God is Providing

"I don't want to go back to the D.R."  "When are we going back to the D.R.?"  "How long are we here?”  "Where are we going to live?"  "What's dad's job?"  "Can we stay here for a while?"  "I miss the D.R."  "When we get a place of our own?"  "Why can't we live in our old house?" "Will we go somewhere else?"

Dear Friends and Family,

We, like our children, have had a flood of questions over the last 2 months similar to the above ones.   Though at times it is hard to put an answer to any one of these questions, we trust that the Lord has this scenario under control! After a few weeks of house/apartment hunting, we have been blessed with a town home. A town called Morrisville is what we call home for the next 6 months.

As many of you know, this is the last month we will receive support.  We can't express how grateful and appreciative we are to those that have partnered with us financially and prayerfully.  We saw/see the Lord work in ways that only scream "Look what the Lord has done!” When we arrived in the D.R. we had only 85% of our funds. I remember numerous times when the Lord brought partners, to come along side of us financially, to get us to the 100% mark while we were serving.  I recall times when friends received bonuses at work and gave us a bonus-it always came when there was a need in our lives! I remember (and treasure) the couple that allotted funds specifically for a date weekend for our marriage every quarter. I recall when the medical and dental team visited each year and gave free care to our family. The fire we had, and the people that flooded our home to help us pack and move the next day-and the place that was available.  I value the friends that came to visit to encourage us.  I am grateful for the counseling that friends provided when I was going through depression and experiencing God's Word bringing healing.  We were blessed by our staff, whom loved us, and lived in community with us.   Our entire family witnessed countless stories of how God provided and worked in the lives of the locals and our staff.  We were blessed to see God do what man can't on a daily basis! What a privileged it was to serve God and the people of the D.R., making lifelong friendships on the little island of La Republica Dominicana!

And the Lord provided through each of you!  Thank you for obeying the call to give.  God has used your prayers and financial support to accomplish His work.  God has used you to provide for our family so that we could share and live out the Gospel. 

Thank You.

We would love to share more with those that would like to hear about our journey.

Future? The Plan? We are committed to resting and processing here in the States for this year, meanwhile asking the Lord to keep our hearts open to the desires He has for us.  Similar to when the Lord called us to the D.R., we believe we will know when, where, and if He calls us oversees again.  Perhaps Europe? Perhaps, it will be a ministry in the United States?  We pray that the Lord will not allow us to become comfortable anywhere so that we will be ready and willing to go where and when He calls.  Honestly, this creates a feeling deep within my (Jen's) heart of not ever truly feeling settled, yet Psalm 39:12 and 119:19 reminds me that this is a journey and we are pilgrims passing through this earth.

“Settling” will truly occur in Heaven.

“Therefore do not be anxious, saying’, ‘what shall we eat?’ or “what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.  But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.   Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself.  Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”  Matthew 6: 31-34 

Can I share the awesomeness (is that a word?) of our God? We felt that while we were taking this next year to process and see what the Lord has for our family, Josh would need to enter the work force again.  After 2 months of no job, we had continually prayed against anxiety creeping in and trusted the Father.  After all, isn’t God’s timing always better than ours?  We have clung to the fact that He is faithful, loving, and He is Sovereign!  I am excited to brag that our faithful Lord (through another neat story) has provided Josh with a job- 2 weeks before our support ends!  We are grateful for His provision and we are looking for ways to live missionally in the midst of our current surroundings. 

We plan on continuing our blog so you will be able to follow us as we continue this journey called life. 

Thank you again for every card/call of encouragement, every box sent, every penny gifted, every space of storage, every visit to the D.R., every place to stay upon our returns, and every bit of support.  May God bless you for your obedience in giving so that His work could be accomplished in the Dominican Republic!  

In Christ Alone,

Jen, Josh, Tate, Aribella, Oliver, Finley, and Parlyn

One Step Forward...

We have been in the USA for 53 days, almost unbelievable to us!  We have traveled to Illinois, South Carolina, and to a few towns in North Carolina to visit with family, friends, and supporters.  We have experienced the phrase ‘living out of a suitcase’ to the fullest.  We have stayed in 4 homes now and 2 hotels since our travel back date.   In the beginning, I was refolding and reorganizing the kids suitcases every few days- today they consist of balls of clothes and we just zip shut the suitcase when we leave somewhere and unzip it when we arrive somewhere.  Wa-Laa! Everything is right there (though a bit wrinkled).  Our Dominican born kitty has become a world traveler as well as he has experienced all these places with us.  We are so grateful for the families that have opened their homes to us and allowed us to live life with them.  It is just another way to experience God’s provision and the Body serving one another. 

We considered and prayed for direction on selling our home so that we could be ‘open’ to what the Lord has next for our family.  A month ago we put a for-sale-by-owner sign in our yard (it was occupied by a renter) and a few days later we had a ‘showing’.  Our house went under contract and we soon began searching for a place to live.  The Lord provided a town home in Morrisville, N.C. and that is where we will call home for the next 6 months.  We giggled when we opened the garage door to the town home and saw a leather couch sitting there… we sold our living room set before we left and wondered what we would sit on!  Love a God of detail!

 Josh has had some interviews and his resume is in the hand of recruiters, but we still have not had that answered.  We stand on this truth in 1 John 5:14-15: “this is the confidence we have in approaching God; that if we ask anything according to HIS will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us-whatever we ask-we know that we have what we asked of him”.  We are also praying if full-time ministry – in the USA or oversees – is the plan?? As you can probably tell we have to walk by faith and not by sight in this area.  This is trying at times because we often want to give an answer to those that have asked the question, “What are you going to do?”  We are (almost) in a home, pursing something that provides financially in the meanwhile, and keeping our eyes and ears open for what God has for us in the year to come. 

The kids have been privileged with the opportunity of learning lifetime lessons of waiting on the Lord and living in a time of what seems like chaos on most days.  I am proud of how they have ‘hung in there’!  It is funny to hear them say on a daily basis, “now what are we doing today/who are we staying with?”  We have attempted to start home schooling -   it’s more like ‘school out of a bag’.   But it works.  And it’s not forever. 

Romans 8:28, “and we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose”.  Verse 29 states, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son that he might be the firstborn among many brothers”.   This whole life is for His purpose, His Glory and being more conformed to the likeness of Christ.  May we live like we believe that!  That is our prayer request. 

sledding down the Parlins hill on a cold morning - no it didnt work well but they tried=)

Jesus is Faithful...

Since we have returned to the USA, more than once I have been told – in regards to not knowing what today holds- “wow! You have such faith!”.   To respond to that I must start by declaring there is nothing good in me that is of my own doing.  I am thankful that the Lord sent me a Helper, the Holy Spirit.  For if the Spirit did not live in me I would operate out of my own flesh, my own selfishness.  Because of His grace, the Spirit has been preparing my heart for some time for our return into a period of time that I like to think of as a whole bunch of question marks.  Once we knew that we were to return, the Spirit laid on my heart something that encourages me anytime my flesh wants to ‘define’ what today holds.  REMEMBER.  REMEMBER.  REMEMBER.  That simple word held much weight in my thoughts and heart.  It led me down a path of scripture, God’s holy word that is filled with His promises.   I don’t think there was anything I did that gave me faith.  God’s word, who He is, what He did, what He does… gives me faith.  If I chose to REMEMBER what His word says, what He has done in my life or others, and His character, then… I can have faith.  Hebrews 11: 1 states “now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen”.  The Greek for assurance is hypostasis, or confidence.  Notice it isn’t wishful thinking.  It is confidence. 

Oh, taste (experience) and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!  Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!  Psalm 34: 8-9

I remember the days of old; I meditate on all that you have done; I ponder the work of your hands.  I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Psalm 143:5-6

I have seen that the Lord is good and I remember what He has done.  Though my flesh may want to worry about today and tomorrow, I must train myself to taste and remember.  Then I can walk forward in faith, confidence in my Heavenly Father.  

Home definitely isn't just an address....

We can't tell you how much we have seen the hand of God the last few days!  On August 7th we loaded our 28 suitcases, our 7 back packs, our cat, and kids into a gua gua and headed for Puerto Plata airport.

We were met by many, that we call our "D.R. family", to send us off in prayer and with hugs. It was very hard to get on that plane and leave such a wonderful community of believers.  

Prayer over us

Lucia, our helper at the house

 Home definitely isn't just an address.  


 After a long, emotional day of travels, we arrived in Raleigh, N.C. close to midnight to be greeted by our "N.C. family".  What a surprise that was to see so many friends and family waiting for us with signs, smiles, and hugs.. and kids in PJ's that were awoken by their parents to come welcome our kiddos! What a joy that was to be welcomed like that.  We can't explain the gratitude for all those in the Body that sent us off in love and received us in love.  It was just what our hearts needed! How wonderful is our Lord? We studied Ephesians the last two years in the D.R. and to see it lived out among our family and friends in the D.R. and N.C. left us in AWE.  Thank you to everyone for the support, love, & encouragement.

DONATIONS:  Please continue to give to Makarios as we will be supported through them through October at the latest.  We will notify you immediately of any changes.  We are talking to multiple organizations right now and were told by wiser folks to wait until we returned to the US to make a decision.  So we will have a decision to you with notice of how to change your donation to another organization by the end of September or notification that we have a job.  THANK YOU!  PLEASE email or call us if you have any questions.  Can't wait to share more in person all that God has done through your partnership in the Gospel.

Ouch! That sends a whirl wind of emotions..

view from the mountain road

In 22 days we will be on a plane beginning a new chapter in our lives.  Ouch! That sends a whirl wind of emotions through my body!  It is funny to think that the first month we moved to the D.R., I was crying and now with the last month of living in the D.R., I am crying again.  But for different reasons.  Yesterday Josh and I took one last ‘moto’ ride adventure together.  We chose the mountain road that cuts through this beautiful mountain and takes you to a nearby major city, Santiago.  It is about an hour and a half long drive one way.  As we passed by beauty that pictures cannot do justice, my heart grew sad for a moment.  I wanted to ask the Lord, “why can’t we stay?” .  And then I just whispered, “Thank you Lord for allowing us to serve here; Thank you for giving us the blessing to serve You here on this beautiful island that You created;  Thank you for rocking my world two years ago, thank you for teaching me that You are enough”. 

We only have a few short weeks before we arrive on American soil and we do not know where the Lord for sure is leading (though there are some options opening up).  We DO know that He has ALWAYS provided and that He has ALWAYS been faithful.  In those truths, we will continue to pray and seek His direction for our family day by day.  We will inform you of the exciting news as the Lord surprises us with it!  For now, we are blessed with the remaining days tying up loose ends, starting the packing process, and walking through some hard, but wonderful goodbyes.

We look forward to meeting up with many of you and catching up with what the Lord has been doing in your lives as well. 

Trusting in Him,

The Menolds

Johan: a teacher at the school, Spanish tutor, and friend!

D.R. skies are breath taking!

Juan: Makarios driver until diagnosed with Cancer. We brought dinner and fellowship together.Thankful for time with him and his family.

This man sets up his mobile stand every night at the end of our street.  Love his chef outfit!

Bucket List: ride the Teleferico (cable car up a Mt. Isabel)

Tate was asked to join their band ..he always wanted to play that local instrument. 

The interns and staff member, Dena, joined us.

Had to throw a picture of this wild child in!

This is Allison, she was the intern nanny for us for 6 weeks this summer.

Tate in summer school

Tate and Professor Belizeur

Aribella and her Professora, Bella

Going to miss the fresh fruit!!

Will definitely miss the D.R. advertising gimmicks.

This sweet lady has this 'store' on the mountain road.

Never could buy our meat from one of these places...nope, could not do it.

Josh preaching at Templo Biblico

Felix, on the left, is one of our good friends from church.

This man is Miguel, the watchie for the Makarios house.

Miguel took pride in protecting our family and staff.  Will miss him much.

Had to capture the 'safety' going on here.  This is a usual happening here on the island.