A Gift from God: Meeting Other 2018 Intake Families

This Sunday, we were very blessed to have been given a gift from God in getting to share an afternoon with two other families who will be joining us in Louisiana for FMC's Intake in September: the Becker's (a local family of 7 who happen to be long-time friends of Robert's brother and his family) and the Schmitz's (a family of soon-to-be 8 who used to live in the Twin Cities also but are currently in ND). Out of all the places that people could be coming from for Intake this year, it's amazing that our three families are coming from the same vicinity!

The kids had a blast meeting each other and playing together all afternoon. It was hard for some of them to say good-bye, but it has has made our kids that much more excited to begin Intake knowing that they'll get to see their new friends again and have 3 months to share life with these other families.

For us, it was a blessing to get to hear the stories of how these other couples felt called to foreign missions with large young families and talk about our shared joys and excitement. It was also a blessing to be able to relate so much with each others' personal struggles in feeling overwhelmed with all that we have to do in preparation before leaving.

As the day came to a close, we gathered for a short time of prayer and read the gospel reading for that day. Wouldn't you know, the gospel was from Matthew 28:16-20: Jesus giving his disciples the Great Commission:

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”

How Providential that we would happen to meet on the day of this gospel reading as each of us are being called to respond to this Great Commission as new disciples of Christ 2,000 years later!

Thanks be to God! 

Our Families
From left to right: Brad & Rachael Schmitz and their 5 kids with #6 due in July; Jason & Inge Becker and their 5 kids, our family with 4 of our kids (the littlest 2 were napping) and #7 due in August. 

Sitting outside for prayer.  All the girls and almost all of the boys sat together. 

The gift and joy of fellowship and communal prayer.