Hello!

 It is with a lot of excitement, and feelings of "finally!" that I update this blog :) It has been quite the season of waiting and wondering. This is not to say that things could not again change...all I can say is His ways are higher than our own.



Quick family summary: 
God provided a cute little place in town for us to rent in Alexandria, and we moved in a couple of weeks ago! We are renting here until June. Jake is still traveling for Aagard and it is going really well! The kids are enjoying school and loving living in town. My schedule was full with worship leading until Christmas, and I have since been getting ready for our move. I am now working on getting us all settled in :) 



Possible Opportunity:
Our heart and vision is still for Cambodia and the trafficked victims there. We are praying about going on a ten day trip to Phnom Penh (the capital of Cambodia) in August. We would be traveling with  a ministry called "Steps of Justice" which is a ministry of YWAM. We are also hoping to stay a couple of extra days with a missionary couple that has been living there for the past sixteen plus years. We would be making this trip without our girls-kind of as a scouting trip.

Current and Future Training:
Jake recently completed a  course on "Early Church Leadership" through our church. We are both doing a 12 week course on Acts in February with our missions pastor and his wife.



God has been stirring in my own heart the need for a trade. Something I can actually DO with/for the rescued victims of trafficking when that time of ministry comes. Jake and I have been very convicted that we are not to just go and bring them things and talk.



In talking with someone somewhat recently, I brought up cosmetology and how that was always something I wanted to do-just kind of laughing it off. I got suddenly really choked up and my thoughts took off like wildfire. THIS is a trade! THIS is something I can do anywhere, and let's face it-everyone needs a haircut! What a beautiful way to open doors to build relationships in different communities! Also, it is something I could teach women to do so that they have a trade with which to earn a living. I shared my vision with Jake and he was on board right away.



I have since applied for a cosmetology school in the Blaine/Fridley area. So our plan is this. We will be here until June, and then we are moving to Blaine. I will begin school in the fall when the kids do. Jake is able to continue on at Aagard-and it is even more convenient since he frequently travels out of state!  



We still eventually want to do the School of Ministry Development (i.e. "School of Evangelism")...this is just a little detour for now. Actually, it isn't a detour. It is all part of our path. We believe that God is going to accomplish our missions training through a variety of ways. I personally get a little exhausted with the unknown of that route, but at the same time it is exciting and adventurous.



Please check out our "support" page for specific prayer/financial needs. Just an added note about financial support. We realize that we are not your "typical" missionary family. Especially regarding our training. We still have debt and our route of training is not typical. It is also not tax deductible often times which makes it difficult for some to support us. We seriously aren't about asking for a free ride to accomplish our hopes and dreams. We cannot do this without your prayers. We also cannot do it without financial support. Please pray about this and ask God if He is leading you to support us financially. If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to send us an email.


That is what has been going on with us :) Take care and God bless!!! PLEASE send us your feedback and prayer requests!! We would love to hear from you. God is about relationship. We want to be about that too.


~The Christensens

faithjourney.6@gmail.com









 


Comments

Mom
01/31/2011 1:53pm

Hey Sweetie! I noticed the prayer requests from the previous letter. God is definitely answering! Has it really be 2 weeks already?! Very cool! Love you all so much!

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