I remember when my brother went home to Heaven.  Phrases like "I almost died" or "that kills me" would scream at me for the next year after his death.  I realized how lightly we talk about death.  Death was never more real to me when the Lord took Brian home 8 years ago.  People would use those, and other phrases, and I remember thinking "they don't know how that phrase or word remindes me of what just happened in my world".  And they honestly didn't do it to harm me, it is just a phrase that we use  in our daily language that we never really put much thought into. 

Lately I catch myself thinking or verbally saying phrases that stop me in my tracks once again: " I can't believe I am leaving... this is our home".  Instantly, the Holy Spirit speaks this to me, " ah, so is this REALLY your home? Did you forget about your eternal home?" Through this process, I am continually being reminded of how much I hold onto things here and put value into them (you should see how much stuff we have decluttered).  I had to repent and I am sure, will continually need to.  Death is going to happen at some point in my life.  "...Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no theif comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also"  Luke 12:33-34. So, where is my treasures, I ask myself?  This is something I need to continually search my heart about.

Speaking of treasures, death, and eternity... Praise the Lord for what He has done!

5: But the angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. 6: He is not here; for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7: Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. Lo, I have told you." 8: So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. (Matthew 28)

May you have a blessed Easter and remember the greatness of that day the Savior arose!

Fears

Tonight we had some friends over for dinner.  Doesn't everything happen when you have guests over?  I heard screaming from our 2 year old Finley, which is a common occurrence from her about every 10 minutes on a normal day.  This scream was the one where you know you need to get there quickly.  I rushed into the boy’s room and found her holding her mouth, which was gushing blood.  "What happened?" I asked her sister and the friends little girl.  "She jumped off the bunk bed!"  Thankfully, the boys beds are in the shape of a "T" so she landed on the lower bed.  This was a "worry" of mine that she would jump from there one day.  Wasn't there to control that occurrence! Well, all the kids will be using, guess what type of bed, in the D.R.? BUNK BEDS.  When will I learn that "control" is formed from "fear"?

When Josh asked me to pray for a week about becoming the host couple in the Dominican, I said I would.  I truly did not expect peace on day two of praying.  I remember texting Josh at work to see what, if at all, was he being led to do.  He said "go".  Within a few days, we both had peace.  I don't recall ever feeling this type of peace before.  The kind where you can't explain it.

Once we decided we would commit to this, I remember one night crying with fears, anxiety, and worry.  The next morning I awoke, and was ready to challenge God with this "peace".  Like, okay God, "what about this?" "what about x,y,z?"...   So I start journaling each fear (because I know fear is just sin and I was not satisfied having fears when I felt peace)...then He graciously gives me scripture to diminish each fear I am bringing to Him.  Tate has been learning the names of God this year.  The Spirit starts reminding me that God is my Rock- my foundation to stand on when it gets rocky.  He is my Shepherd- He will carry me when I struggle to walk.  He is Jehovah Jirah- my provider.  He is eternal- He is my forever. 

Speaking of eternal, that week our kids were singing a phrase from a song, "Life is good, eternal life is better". And that popped into my head and I was calmed with the reality that, yes, this life in Holly Springs is GOOD, but eternal life is BETTER and what we do now matters for eternity.  Is. 55:8-11 tells me His ways and thoughts are higher than my own.  Okay, So my Father knows more than me... good..peace. Psalm 119:19 reminded me, "I am a stranger on earth.."  good...this wasn't intended to be my home anyways.  We are just pilgrims passing through.

I had total peace that morning.  As a friend reminded me, the peace that Philippians 4:7 speaks of: "and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus".  I often can't give words to explain the peace He has given me about moving to the Dominican to serve.  All I know is that He has given us this opportunity, the peace that transcends all understanding, and we must obey.

I couldn't control Finley from jumping from the bunk bed.  I can't control what happens tomorrow or for that matter in the Dominican.  But I can trust in the One who has the control.  Would you pray that we would trust in God's sovereignty?

Partner with us in the Dominican Republic

Greetings from the Menold family in NC!

     Eleven years ago when I met Jen I had three criteria for a wife: to be a Christian walking with Jesus, to have six kids, and to be willing to go to the mission field if God called.  Jen shared the same goals if it was God’s will.  Our ten year anniversary is in May and I can say that she has been an amazing wife to have and I praise God for her. I see her growing in her walk with Jesus daily and I am proud of how she has handled raising our 5 kids and homeschooling them.  Plenty of hard days but nothing that is too big for the King to help each of us walk through and bring us closer together.  And she will now have proved true to her word by her willingness to serve overseas.  We are excited to share how God has been preparing us to serve Him in the Dominican Republic with Makarios.  God has shaped our hearts for many years and it is His timing.  My time over the past 2 years as CFO of Faulkner/Haynes & Associates has been a great place to grow and God has provided for us through this company.  However, now I will be putting those skills to use in full time ministry with Makarios.  Jen, who worked as a nurse up until 3 years ago, will be able to use her nursing degree as well if needed.

Makarios is a Christian organization which provides educational opportunities to young children in poverty stricken areas of the Dominican Republic, ministering equally to Dominican and Haitian immigrant children.  There is a great need for education in these areas, as many of these children will otherwise end up working on coffee or sugar cane farms without hope of advancement in life.  The Makarios school not only provides a traditional education, it also brings Christ into the life of these children.  They also provide two meals a day for all students, as malnutrition is one of the major issues facing the people of the Dominican Republic.  I will be functioning as the director for Makarios in the Dominican Republic, with duties including leadership over the operations and coordination of short term mission teams and community outreach.  We will live in a small apartment in a large house where Jen and I will be in charge of hosting the mission teams that come to serve the school and community.  This will include preparing meals for the teams and overseeing the house.  Jen will be homeschooling the kids as well and will be able to spend time at the school and in community outreach.  We have dedicated the next two to three years of our lives to serving with Makarios unless God directs us otherwise.

As we follow our calling to serve God with Makarios, we ask that you would partner with us.  First and foremost, partner in prayer that God is over all and through all that we do.  We are serving not only to provide daily needs but also spiritual needs in the community, and we pray that God will use us to touch the lives of others in His name.  We also ask for prayer for safety, health, safe travel and financial support.  For our family, we need partners to give around $15,000 in start-up costs along with $4,200 per month for daily expenses.  The startup costs include a 3 week missionary training course in August, travel costs, and initial cost to set up our living space in the Dominican Republic.  We are trusting God to provide the support for us and for our house to sell in time for the move.  You can give online and get more information through the Makarios website at www.makariosinternational.org or click on the "donate" button at the bottom of the page.  If you would like to subscribe to our blog feel free - just submit your email below and you will recieve notifications of postings. 

We are so excited to begin this journey as God has called us to follow Him and branch out in faith to bring education and the Gospel to the children of the world!  Thank you for reading this post and partnering with us.  We would also love to hear from you and any ways we could be praying for your life!  If you have any questions or prayer requests, please post them below. 

The Menold Minutes

If only you could be a fly on the wall at our house!  Five kids is flat busy.  We love every minute but it sure does bring out the best..true side of you.  We definitely see the need for a savior, Jeus who has redeemed us from the terrible things we think and say as parents!  Of course you don't have issues as a parent so you probably can not relate.  We truly are blessed by God and we praise him for all five. 

This blog will serve as a way for us to share with you the journey that God has us on.  Specifically to the Dominican Republic to serve with Makarios.  The website is www.makariosinternational.org. In my next post I will share the partner letter we are sending out this week to everyone we know.  We truly feel God calling us and want to give everyone the opportunity of partnering with us in prayer, financial, and perhaps you will come visit and bring some friends with you. 

In Him - Josh