Amsterdam Bound!

Amsterdam, The Netherlands
We're headed to Amsterdam! We leave tomorrow (Monday, June 30th) for a 12 day outreach to The Netherlands. Our team consists of 23 eager people: 7 staff members, 2 babies, 4 kids, and 10 excited guys and girls. We are made up of a lot of different parts - 4 married couples, 6 kiddos, 6 college students, 4 real-world working stiffs, 9 guys, 14 girls, about 10 who have never been overseas and about 6 who have lived overseas at some point - but we are all venturing with one heart: to make the name of Jesus known in The Netherlands.

We would like to ask any of you who read this while we are away to be in prayer for our trip. We are believing that God would reach people from any of the 155 nations that are represented in the city. This is such a unique opportunity to meet so many from across the globe who can carry the seeds of good news back to their nations.

What can you pray for?

• Salvation!
• Favor in meeting hungry people
  
• Unity on our team
• The power of the Holy Spirit to be displayed
• Safety

Germany
Allison and I will also be spending about 11 days in Germany just outside of Frankfurt. We are convening there for ICON - the international gathering of all AMI missionaries that occurs every other summer. The conference is a time for missionaries to rest, enjoy one another, and receive fresh vision and encouragement in their calling. We are so blessed to get to join these teams from everywhere from Eastern Asia, to Morocco, to the Middle East, to Mongolia. We're excited to hear what God is doing the world over and how he is using ordinary people like you and us to impact nations forever for Christ.



God is so good and we are anxious to get to Amsterdam and begin telling others of his love. Pray that we would catch a fresh vision for missions and God's love for the world over! We'll have plenty of pictures and stories to share when we get back! (July 22nd)

My how we've grown!

Just a little tribute to Patton's 6 month birthday....

This was Patton's first and most loved toy. Today it had to be retired. He drug it around when the duck was twice his size and this morning before it's proper burial, it was without all 4 squeakers, any stuffing, or really much life at all. It's been inside and out, to Murfressboro, to bed with him each night in the crate, and on many car rides (he responds to the squeakers if he runs off). He now has a couple others that resemble the duck but are really a mouse and a pheasant, but we will still refer to them as his duck. It's the term he learned to fetch for. So here's to you Patton... Happy 6 Months Old!

Home Sweet Home

Well, for Greg anyway. After my trip to the beach, we headed to TX for another wedding. Hey...it's what we do best these days. You didn't have to twist Greg's arm for the opportunity to head to Austin, TX (his old college stompin' grounds) for this one. It was one of those rare times when all of the guys were together (not 1 missing) and the laughs were many. The food was delicious, and Greg loves to hear me say that I officially ate the best BBQ I have ever had (and I'm a TN girl!) at the Salt Lick in Austin. John and Laura Rugh's wedding was one of the sweetest we've been to and we're so excited for their life together! Congrats guys.

Next we headed to Houston for 4 days. It was such a delight to catch up with some that are so close to our hearts, spend time w/ Greg's mom in her last days in TX, and share what all the Lord has been doing in Knoxville. It was cool to share a simple dichotomy of feeling right where the Lord has us in TN and, yet, haven't even scratched the surface what he wants to do here! What a sweet joy.

In our travels in the last month, what a joy it is to see your faces. Ya'll are a gift. We covet your prayers for our ministry and share every treasure with you as you walk in faith with us for what God has in Knoxville!


Mr. & Mrs. John Rugh and all the boys of Lakewood UMC

Brion, Mike, & Greg and Kevin & Greg

A little R&R

Jennifer, Paige, me, Sarah Beth and Tiffany

I love the beach!

Those who know me best know that I love the beach. Well, not necessarily the sand, but simply what it stands for. A little R&R. Some sweet friends and I from college headed down to a wedding in SC and then continued on to NC for some sun, no make up, t-shirts, and eating-in for a extra couple days. The weather was wonderful, the wedding was sweet, and the agenda-less days were so refreshing. Thanks girls for a great week!