Winter Update

Since our last update, we have celebrated birthdays, babies have taken their first steps, and we have enjoyed the midwinter weather. It is worth mentioning that moving countries is one thing, but moving between the hemispheres can make you feel very backward. Seeing posts and pictures of those of you in States enjoying the summer sunshine together is bittersweet. There will always be an ache in our hearts to be with y’all in person.

Oddly, God brought the U.S. to us last month as we hosted a team of 25 teenagers from all over the U.S. and Canada. Here’s a link to hear more detail about their trip (teenmissions.org/trip-report/greetings-from-australia-where-kangaroos-freely-roam-upon-the-beautiful-grasslands)

Update on the Bible School & Visa

Thank you for praying for a new mission training school at Teen Missions. The school has been officially approved!! We are excited about this new chapter in our organization. Keep an eye out for our social pages for updates and the official announcement of the school: facebook.com/teenmissionsaustralia/

Mark’s bridging visa has gone through. That means he can stay in the country while the government processes his long-term visa. We are excited and trusting God to get us through this process. Thank you for your prayers and to those who help us provide evidence for it. We are told approval can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years. Hopefully, it will be done sooner rather than later since Mark cannot leave the country until it is approved. Please join us in prayer for its processing to be smooth and timely. We cannot wait to be able to visit and report back to you in person once Mark gets his permit residence. In the meantime, we trust God’s leading and see it as a good opportunity to grow in patience.

Looking Back from Mark

One thing winter does naturally is bring out a bit of retrospection in us.

Maybe you can relate.

On the Sunshine Coast here in Queensland, the winters are much milder than the Windy City, but we have had our fair share of cloudy and dreary days. I have always been one to emotionally be swept up by the seasons. Spring brings a feeling of renewal and hope; Summer: joy and endless energy to explore; Autumn: transition, reflection and evaluating experiences and finally, winter can bring rest and introspection, but often I feel more restlessness than rest.

As Lily mentioned above, it's a strange feeling knowing you are displaced. While summer is unfolding in a faraway place, we can't help but sense the tug and weight of backward seasons.

Moving across the world and following God's call has been the best decision for Lily and me; we have a clear sense of purpose and meaning in life and know we are in God's will. And yet, we know it's not perfect. Since the start of this blog, you have seen our joys and our sorrows. We have celebrated pivotal moments with the kids and wrestled with doubts and homesickness. Certainly, this is all a part of the process of being in a cross-cultural ministry. And I document it like this so that you can be a part of our journey.

As the days keep slowly moving towards warmer moments, I feel comfort in knowing that our footsteps, even when they feel unsure, are all part of a bigger plan. Just like how spring always comes after winter and summer eventually gives way to autumn, our own journey is also unfolding for a reason. Our moments of connection, the challenges we face, and the happiness we find — they all come together like a beautiful symphony of growth, proving just how resilient and adaptable the human spirit can be.

God is here in it all. He guides us through each season of triumph and failure, walking with us hand in hand. So we trust in His unwavering presence, finding solace in the certainty that every step we take is a part of His divine plan for redemption.