Art Project

This week Davis and I made a collage of a bunch of pictures we cut out of a South African magazine that we got at their Embassy a few weeks back.  Davis had a lot of fun gluing the different animals, places, and food on the poster.  He was very excited to show his dad what we will get to see when we move to Cape Town.  Every few days he is asking if today is the day that we are moving there.  I pray he hold that excitement!

About EMM

We are official and have an account opened at Eastern Mennonite Missions! For all of you waiting to start sending money, mail it to:

Easter Mennonite Mission
PO Box 458
Salunga, PA 17538

(Vision packets will be in the mail soon!)

Our Family Passage!

Last month, we had lunch with an older couple that we love very much. They have served in ministry for their entire lives. Before we left, they wanted to read and proclaim a passage of scripture over this next season of our life and ministry. They proceeded to read Colossians 1:9-12 as we hung on every word. Examine this:

Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.

We have adopted this as our family passage to guide us as we prepare for this next season. It is a truly a beautiful proclamation of our hope!

Missionary Support Team Formed

Eastern Mennonite Missions (EMM) has blessed and impressed us over the last several months...far beyond our expectations. It is obvious that they pay major attention to ensuring that we are prepared to live out our call. We have been through loads of paperwork and process in the last months. They have cared deeply about each step.

One of the things that EMM requires is that we form a Missionary Support Team (MST). This is a group of people with an interest in and love for a missionary, and they serve as a vital link between the missionary, the supporting home community, and EMM. The MST leads and walks with us through the discerning, fund raising and sending process with EMM.

There were like 50-100 people that we would have loved to ask, but we were limited in our selection. Here is our team:

1. Sadie- Chair
2. June- Co Chair
3. Ruth- Treasurer
4. Barbara- Prayer Coordinator (leads prayer network)
5. Lia- Child Advocate (always thinking of Davis)
6. Abiola & Jaye- Church Communicators & Newsletter Managers
7. Lacreshia- Small Group Representative
8. Nelson- Pastoral Rep and CCF Missions Overseer
9. Pam & Joe- Family Representatives
10. Harmony- Sister, Family Rep and Fundraising Event Planner
11. Paul- Local Pastor and Strategic Connections
12. Tracy- Friend Representative

The idea with this group aligns with the Ecclesiastes 4 concept that a cord of 3 strands is not easily broken. Here are the strands in this missions sending:

1. The Missionary (Noah, Tricia and Davis)
2. EMM (Missions Organization)
3. CCF (Spiritual Community)

We will meet approximately 1-2 times per month from now until we leave for South Africa, then they will meet without us after we leave. This team has already been wildly supportive! Amazingly humbled by the love we feel.

Just wanted to share how we are being cared for...

It is VBS Time!

CCF get ready for a new VBS adventure called Trading Places. This summer we will be embarking on an exciting world tour to visit exotic places and find out how kids all over the world can worship the same God. we will travel to Mexico, Brazil, Poland, China, and Kenya!

At each destination, we will encounter the children who live there and learn some fascinating stories about their cultures through awesome music, cool Bible lessons, fun crafts, and thrilling games. You’ll hear exciting stories about how one traded their old life for a new one. We think you’ll find, as you travel each day, that Jesus Makes a World of Difference!

Here are the fives points the kids will learn:

• Be Loyal
• Be Real
• Be Brave
• Be Ready
• Be Changed

Vacation Bible School will run from Sunday, July 18th - Friday, July 23rd.  Your kids will not want to miss it or their friends. So Bring a car load! Let's all get our PASSPORTS READY!!!


To register for VBS at CCF, email me at triciakaye@capitalchristian.org or call 301-262-7008.

You do not want to miss our Friday night VBS closing.  It is going to be a hit!

Weight Loss for Missions!

Click here to read Noah's blogpost!

Fun at Six Flags!!!

Davis and I had a "Mommy/Son Day" and we packed up and spent the day at Six Flags.  We had a great time together even though it was very hot.

Waiting in line for a train ride!

All aboard Diesel!!!

Posing with Thomas!!!

Another cute pose!!!

Cooling down in the Thomas play area!!!!

Then we hit the water park!!!

We were so tired when we got home that we took a three hour nap and then we felt refreshed to finish our "Mommy/Son day!"

The night ended with Davis taking Aunt Bird and I out on a dinner Date!!!!

The reason for it all!

This hasn't been a easy week for me as we prepare for our next chapter as a family.  I find myself wishing for my old life back so I do not have to feel the pain, to be scared of the unknown, or have to say goodbye to anything or anyone else.  Then I am reminded of this verse: Luke 9: 23: Then He said to them all:"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me."

As much as I want my old life back, I know there is no turning back.  I am stepping out of myself and putting my life in my Father's hand.  I need to give myself away so He can use me.  I keep coming back to this song from William McDowell "I Give Myself Away."  It has become my theme song for this new chapter in our lives.  I am very excited for this next stage of ministry but I need the reminder sometimes!

I Will Miss Them

I knew the day was coming but I never prepared myself for it actually happening.  Noah, Davis, and I have had to say goodbye to a lot of things already in preparation for our move to South Africa.  Even though we know God is calling us, it hasn't made it easy for us to say goodbye.

This weekend I had to make a very difficult decision and one I wasn't ready to make.  I came to grips a few months ago that I couldn't bring my puppies with us to South Africa.  I had a lot of tears just thinking about it.well, this weekend we found them a good home and our friends wanted to take our dogs back to South Carolina with them.  I wanted to keep my dogs with me as long as possible but we have such a heavy travel schedule before we leave, that I wanted to be fair to my pups.  Yesterday afternoon, after 6 years, I said goodbye to my two dogs Miles and Colby.  :(

Miles and Colby have brought our family so much joy and I am going to miss them deeply.  This has been then hardest thing for me so far during this transition, and we are not even close to being done.  I have experienced so much loss in my life and I have gotten through it and I know I will get through this, but right now my heart is aching with loss again.

First Day we got Miles (June 2004)!!!!

My little cuddle bug!!!

First day we got Colby (Jan. 2005)!

His first play in the snow!

Miles and Colby you are going to be missed.  Can't wait to come visit and give you lots of hugs and kisses!