In the beginning...

For Rob and I, in the beginning, refers to an introduction of Rob to me by my then boyfriend, Eldon. A friendship develops...an old relationship dissolves...and in a matter of months an assurance in my very being that Rob is the one for me! (You will have to use your imagination if you want more details related to the ...'s) We marry in 1980 -and from then on God has on a roller coaster consisting of youth ministry, pastoring, church planting, seminary, 3 kids and then before we know it God literally shocks us when He says "If you give yourself to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted then your light will shine in the darkness, and your night will be like noonday. The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose waters never run dry." Isaiah 58:10-11.

International Missions! All I knew was that missionaries feed people who live in hot dry places! That day the Lord said to me, "Lori, if you are obedient and you go I will make your light to shine in the darkness and your life will be a well watered garden - your springs will NEVER run dry." We surely desired God's blessing so Rob and I said - YES!

That was 1992. We packed up and moved to Thailand with our 3 children; Bethany - 8, Jared - 6 and Anna - 2. In 1997, we returned to the States with sadness in our hearts and a humble prayer that if the Lord would allow us to return again some day - we would be willing to go. So...after more pastoring, church planting and amazing opportunities to work with ethnic churches, God has said GO! We are blessed!

2012...