Unclenched Fists

For those of you who know the story of our journey to the Dominican Republic, you are familiar with the phrase we used as the title of our blog, unclenched fists. It is a phrase that came to our minds in the process of preparing to move to the Dominican Republic. We realized we had to live with our fists open (unclenched) to the things we had in order to be obedient to God’s call. Since then, God has continued to refine our understanding of what it means to live in this manner.

It is easy to view living with unclenched fists in terms of possessions: not owning anything, letting go of the things we have, or even to the extreme of taking a vow of poverty. But just as we see in Scripture that the issue is one’s heart, God has shown us that living with unclenched fists isn’t as much about the stuff as it is the heart. Living with unclenched fists is living in such a way that NOTHING keeps you from being obedient to God’s voice.

A New Transition

Many of you have heard by now, but for many of you this might be news to you. Nikki and I have accepted a call from First Baptist Church Hendersonville in Tennessee to serve as the High School Pastor and Student Ministry Team Leader.

This past summer while we were in Tennessee to have our beautiful baby girl, I was offered this job. It was quite a surprise to learn that they were so certain that I was the guy to do it. But even more surprising was that I had been thinking about that same job for a month prior to them offering it to me. God was clearly doing something in my life and in the church’s life.

For three months Nikki and I prayed and sought the Lord’s face on this. Many things pointed to God’s hand in this, yet we had so many questions. In our minds we kept thinking, “This doesn’t make sense.” New Mission’s English church here was booming, the youth ministry was growing, as well as the many other aspects of the ministry here (Health Clinic, building a new school, churches, mission teams). How could we leave this life, these people, and this country? How could we leave THE MISSION FIELD? Why would He call us back to America?

Over the summer God answered each of our questions very clearly through Scripture. He showed us over and over again that we must hold ALL things loosely, including our life and ministry here. After all they are His, not ours. Time after time He confirmed and reaffirmed that indeed we needed to be obedient to His call back to Hendersonville.

Our final week in the United States both Nikki and I heard individually from the Lord this: “It’s an issue of obedience now. I have shown you what I am going to show you.” We knew it was time to take that giant leap of faith with unclenched fists and throw ourselves into His arms trusting Him with our lives and the plans He has.

So that being said the plan is to finish up with our ministry here the month of November, setting everything up to continue on without us. We will be leaving the Dominican Republic on December 1st, and I will begin working at First Baptist Hendersonville on January 2nd.

The reality is, the ministry here does not end when we leave and that is why we love what New Missions does. There are still 82 Dominican employees and a handful of missionaries who will continue serving the Lord each day. Please continue to pray specifically for the work being done through New Missions here in the Dominican Republic.

Nikki and I cannot thank each of you enough for the support, encouragement, and prayer that you have given for us over the last two years. As I think of your prayers I often think about the reality of, “What if they wouldn’t have prayed?” You truly made an amazing impact in the Kingdom through your prayer. So on behalf of so many here in the Dominican Republic, we say thank you.

Technology is something I have to be careful with. Unfortunately I often find myself spending too much time staring at a computer screen, TV, iPad, or cell phone screen when I could be doing so much more. However, technological advances allow me to even write this blog. More importantly, the technological advances are a key to fulfilling the Great Commission!

Last night I was thankful that I purchased an iPad this summer. Our men’s Bible study was low on attendance but that was okay. It was me, a German guy, and a guy from Russia who was there for the first time. As we got to know him we realized he did not know much English. We tried to explain and read Bible verses and he just looked at us with blank stares. Then I realized the Bible study software on my iPad has a Russian Bible on it! So, there we went. I would look up a Bible verse and tell him to read it. Then in VERY basic English we would try and talk about it.

Imagine this: you are twenty years old, on vacation alone in the Dominican Republic for two weeks to simply get away and clear your mind. Why? Because your father, mother, and two younger sisters were killed in a car wreck two months ago. During the vacation, you notice a group of Americans that seem to be acting different than what you have seen before. They pray a lot and they always seem to be joyful. So what do you do? You leave a note with one of them asking if you can share what has happened in your life.

I ask you to imagine this because that is exactly the scenerio that took place last week at Sosua By the Sea, the hotel our mission teams stay at. During the middle of the week, one of the team members told me he wanted me to meet Danny, a 20 year old from the Netherlands. I then learned the story of the loss of his entire family two months prior. I learned that after the car wreck he went to a train station to throw himself in front of a train, but something stopped him just short of doing it. His government issued counselor suggested he get away for a bit so he decided to go a long ways off, to the Dominican Republic. With the hundreds of hotel options, he chose to stay at Sosua By the Sea and it just so happened to be the same week these “missionaries” were staying there.

What happened? During the conversation with one of the missionaries, Danny gave his heart to the Lord. The very one who had lost so much and almost took his own life gained new life, eternal life through the grace and mercies of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The truth is God never leaves us nor forsakes us even when all seems lost.

Sunday morning I had the privilege of picking Danny up from the hotel and taking him to church. When we arrived I asked him if he had ever been to church. His answer didn’t surprise me as he said “only once for Christmas.” I then began to try and put myself in his shoes. I began to wonder what he would think about what we do at church. So, I explained that during church we sing songs and that there is a band. But then I explained why we sing and what we sing. Then I explained that someone will stand up and teach from God’s Word and we call that preaching. But then came the fun part, we were partaking of the Lord’s Supper on Sunday! So I began to explain that we were going to have a time where we ate some bread and drank some juice. I told him of Jesus’ last supper with the disciples and what Jesus said of the bread, being his broken body, and the wine, being his shed blood. After I explained it I kind of expected him to say something like “Huh?” or “that’s weird” but instead he said, “that’s really neat, I am excited!”

Then I decided to get bold and I asked him if he would be willing to share with the congregation his story and how God had saved him. He said ABSOLUTELY! I can’t describe the power of God when a young 20 year old from the Netherlands who had been to church only once stands before a church body and says “two months ago I lost my parents and my two sisters. I went to kill myself but something stopped me and now I know it was the Lord. I came here and met a guy and after we prayed I have never felt such happiness and joy in my life.” The church was in tears. As a church we had the privilege to pray for him and his journey back to the Netherlands, that God would do something large through his life sparking revival all across Europe.

I have been preaching about living Christ-centered and Gospel-focused lives…Danny’s testimony of the power of God at work in his life and the willingness of the mission team member to take the time to share with him gave color and life to the reality and urgency of the message.

Please pray for Danny as he returns on Sunday to his home country and to a life that was filled with sorrow and death but has been replaced by joy and life!

Two weeks ago Nikki, Avery, and I got on a plane for the Dominican Republic. It was definitely a flood of emotions for both of us as we put our 10 week old baby on a plane for the newest journey in her life. Avery is a travel champ for sure! She slept most of the trip except for when she needed to eat. We were thankful not to be that family with the loud screaming infant on the plane. The climax of the trip for me was getting to change her diaper in the TINY and GROSS airplane bathroom with no room to move. Of course we made it just fine and by the time we got into our apartment Avery’s head was drenched in sweat. Everyone here talks of her curly hair…it’s amazing what sweat will do to your hair!

The highlight of the first week back was passing out school uniforms and school supplies to all the students. What a joy to see these kids ready to go for a new year of school! One of the exciting new things happening here with New Missions is the building of a school building for Bombita. Since it’s beginning, the kids have met for school under a large tent that also serves as one of New Mission’s churches. The plan is to build as money comes in. Please pray that God will provide just what is needed so there will not be any delay between building phases.

Before each school session, the teachers and kids gather around the school to pray and ask God to continue to provide. Our desire is to teach the kids that God is the one who supplies their needs and they must always first and foremost  look to him to meet their needs.

This is currently where the students meet for class each day. As you can imagine it can get quite distracting for them as there are three separate groups that meet under the tent at one time.

This will one day be a two story, 6 classroom building that will give these kids and additional kids (we will have more space for new kids) the opportunity for a great Christian education! Please join us in prayer that God would provide what is needed to make this happen.

Nikki and I are pleased to announce the birth of our beautiful daughter, Avery Sophia James! Tuesday, June 28th, will always be engraved into my mind as one of the single most amazing experiences of my life. Thank you all for your prayers for us. Throughout this entire process, the one thing that I am reminded of is God’s faithfulness to His children. It truly is amazing to see how He has worked out so many things and answered so many prayers.

As I hold Avery in my arms, I think back to the days at the beginning of the pregnancy when Nikki was relegated to the bed because we weren’t sure Avery was going to make it. We prayed and prayed and God kept her healthy and safe. Thank you Lord for this beautiful gift!

When we decided to come back to the USA to deliver Avery, the reality was a need for a place to live and a car to drive. God provided both of these! Immediately someone emailed me and said “I am selling my old car, but I will just wait until you don’t need it anymore.”

The part that just makes me go “wow” is the housing. Our plan was to stay in the church mission house for 4 weeks because another family had it booked beginning July 1st. Now remember, Avery’s due date was June 30th. We found another place to stay once I got home and planned to move on June 28 (that date sound familiar???) when my parents were here to help. Our desire had always been to stay at the mission house as it is well furnished and had everything we needed, plus it was very close to family and friends!

Instead of moving, at 4:50 am on June 28th, Nikki’s water broke and we headed to the hospital. Obviously our focus was on having Avery that day, but in the back of my mind is “how are we going to get all of our stuff moved out and the house cleaned before Thursday???” When I asked when was the last possible time we could move out the response I got blew my mind. We were told the new family had a change of plans and were not moving in until the end of AUGUST! Because of that, we were able to go “home” from the hospital to a home we had been living in and that had all of our clothes. Nikki told me three months ago that she prays every day that somehow the other family’s plans would change.

The other answer to prayer was the date of her birth. On the 27th we went to Nikki’s doctor’s appointment knowing we would have to talk about an induction date if she went too long. The doctor didn’t want her to go past the following Tuesday but said he could induce any day. Our concern was that he would be out of town for 4 days over the 4th of July weekend. This was an issue because the doctor on call that weekend was from another practice and cost quite a bit more than our doctor. Monday night while Nikki went walking, she prayed vigorously that God would take care of this situation and sure enough, the next morning we were in the hospital!

We give glory to God for his faithfulness to us and to Avery. Each day we wake up we are thankful for the many people who pray for us and our ministry. Enjoy the pics of Avery Sophia James…we love you all and thank you for your prayers and encouragement! God Bless!

Nikki and I eager to meet our new baby girl!

Nikki’s sister and mom couldn’t be there with her because her sister had the stomach flu and Nikki’s mom had to help out. So, we used skype and they were able to be there the whole time!

At 7:04pm on June 28, 2011 Avery Sophia James was finally here! 7lbs 11oz and 19.5 inches long!

Avery’s First Bath

Daddy is in love!

We decided she deserved a welcome home/birthday party with her grandparents, aunt, uncle, and cousins!