Completely AMAZED

We are completely AMAZED at everything!  In 3 months our tasks were to raise partnerships, get our home ready for the market, travel to IL,TX, & SC, sell 2 vehicles, resign from a job, pack up and store items and furniture... and the zillon details that fall under each of those tasks.  All the while, managing 5 kids and all that they require :)   I say this not to applaud ourselves, but to brag on our God.  What He has provided through the Body, the Church, has absolutely left us speechless.  He has brought us to about 3/4 of our financial support, sold both vehicles in one day, provided smooth transition out of Josh's job, & provided unbelievable helping hands with the kids, packing, and moving! I can't believe that this process was not that stressful ( i was expecting many breakdowns on my end, honestly)... and that is because of how the Body has come along side us and provided help in many shapes and forms.  We have had nonstop childcare, meals brought, physical moving power & cleaning help, transportation help, time out with friends to "recoop"...& more. We can't thank each of you enough for the sacrifice of time from your families in order to serve our family.  It is truly an example to us.  It is also a challenge for me personally, in how I should serve others.  Do I serve only in a capacity that is "easy on me" or is it truly a sacrifice of my time and energy in order to honor Him?  We are just blown away that 99% of everything is done, packing & moving wise, and we have the weekend to take it easy before our 3 weeks of intense training in Colorado.  God is so good! 

Our 3 prayer requests are for the house to sell or rent, the remainder of the monthly partners to come in ( I think we need about 800$ more in monthly support), and our transition period! 

We will soon be sending out a mass email with our contact info. 

Thanks to all who have prayed for us, partnered with us, and served us!

We love you!

Auto Draft Option

Greetings everyone!  We are very excited to be verbally around 75% in monthly support.  For those of you who have been waiting for the auto-draft option here it is:   https://secure.etransfer.com/Makarios/donate.cfm

 .  Just click on this link and you will be able to do auto-draft from your bank account.  This is the best method as it is even cheaper than a stamp for processing.  Thank you so much for your prayers and financial partnerships.  We have already had so many challenges but God is ever present and sovereign over all the details.   Trusting Him, Josh

16 days and counting...

Well, this is definately the home-stretch!  We returned from our 5 day trip in Austin, TX, after meeting with the American staff that will be serving in the D.R. along side of us.  We also spent a great deal of time with Sharla and Chuck who are behind the whole organization! It was wonderful to get to know the staff and we are excited about the team that the Lord has orchestrated. 

So, where are we? We have about 15-16 days left before we head to Colorado for MTI (Missionary Training Institute).  We will be there for about 3 weeks and then on our way to the Dominican Republic, we will have a long lay over in RDU of about 3 days in which we will pick up our 12 suitcases or so!  So we are in the midst of chaos, needless to say!  We are trying to pack, store, and sell many things still.  Five busy kiddos slows the pace down a bit. 

God has been faithful in many ways.  We are coming along in our monthly support.  It is amazing to watch Jehovah Jirah bring in the full start up costs in just a few short months, and at over half our monthly support.  We still need more monthly partners and our house to sell... but He will provide.  It may not be in the form that we think, but we clearly see His Hand in this. It was very encouraging to hear the story of a family that was wanting to partner with us monthly and how the Lord provided for them to be able to partner with our family!  He is even faithful to encourage us when Satan is throwing thoughts into our minds. 

Pray for our family as these next few weeks are bitter-sweet.  We are so excited to get to the D.R., and we are also having emotions of leaving such close family and friends.  We are also having to take time to minister to our children as we have seen the emotions of moving in our 3 oldest.  It has been an awesome opportunity to teach and share with the children that trials are not fun, but serving Jesus can be!  I had the opportunity to hear the view of a 6 year old getting ready to move to another country and culture, her fears, her concerns and feelings.  It was neat to share scripture with her and see her tears fade and her child-like faith grow.   He is faithful!

Traveling to Austin!

Traveling today to Austin, TX to meet the staff in Austin and the staff we will be serving with in the DR! Excited to meet everyone and learn more about Makarios and how to prepare. Parlyn, our 6 month old, will be traveling with us. My parents flew out yesterday to watch our other four kids. Hope they are ready for a marathon! Pray for them. Hope everyone is doing well. Even though we are very busy right now we love hearing from others. We get back from Austin Tuesday night and then I have 3 days left with Faulkner/Haynes. I have only been with them two years but have made many friends. Lot of emotions but checking that against the Truth in that God is who ultimately provides. This process has been revealing how much I have my hope/faith/love in the Fathers things and not in him. I have to preach the Gospel to myself every day so I am reminded of His story. Praising God for your support financially and through prayer!


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Location:Airport Blvd,Morrisville,United States

Video: About Makarios

Check out this cool video on Makarios and more about where we are serving in the DR.


Makarios from The Austin Stone on Vimeo.

One Nation UNDER God...

The Last few weeks my "senses" or "awareness" of moving to another country has been illuminated!  What do I mean by this? For example,  the birds chirping is so sweet, the stillness of the morning air is so refreshing, people driving with (somewhat) following laws is appreciated, air conditioning, a pool within walking distance, the ability to drive to the store to pick up a forgotten item, camps and lessons for the kids to participate in... things I've been numb to remember daily of HIS blessings of living in the United States.

The other day I was thinking about this and realized how much I have taken for granted how God has blessed the USA.  We, as a nation, have forgotten the phrase, "One nation UNDER God".   I remember this past year studying with our oldest about our founding fathers.  George Washington, immediately after his inauguration, marched to the local church and prayed for God's leadership and direction.  These days, I think the USA has turned the powerful phrase, "one nation UNDER God"  into "one nation ABOVE God", or "one nation NOT IN NEED of God" or "one nation that has chosen OTHER gods(in a friendship, spouse, hobbies, jobs, a house, a title)".   It is sad that we are choosing to lead and live life in our OWN power and not asking for HIS leadership and direction daily.  It is sad that we have made so many things "God" in our lives.  We get wrapped up in "life" and forget that God Created all things and is our true provider.

As we are getting ready to leave these conveniences of the states, God has been reminding me of why we have these conveniences.  It started with HIM and because of Him.   I have been more wrapped up in the Father's things more so than Him.  So what and whom have I made my gods?  As we go, our trust will need to stay in Him and not in the things he has given us.