About two years ago, between Isaiah's birth and Kamelia's adoption, God began to call Mason out of the military and toward a totally new kind of mission. He had spent many, many days in "mission planning", but he was about to set out on a different kind of mission planning (with a much more powerful sword). It was an exciting time for our family, knowing that our service in the military was drawing to a close and that a new adventure was on the horizon.
In August 2015, we knew for sure that God had led us to the organization where Mason could best channel his abilities toward the goal of worldwide Bible translation. We knew he would need an interim job, however, during the transition. We trusted God to provide, and He did. On the exact date of Mason's official separation from the military, he was offered a job with Bridgestone. This job would literally be the "bridge stone" from military to missions.
While the last five months of selling tires have been a blessing to our family, now is really where the rubber meets the road. Mason's new ministry role will be building relationships with those on the front lines of Bible translation projects in a specific area of the world and coordinating their needs with resources here. He will take frequent trips to his assigned region, bridging the gap between our brothers and sisters who are translating the Word and those in the States who are supporting the effort. With our newest addition Kamelia being so new to the United States, to our family, and to family in general, we are walking through the door that God has opened for Mason to GO while I provide as stable and culturally consistent a home environment as possible for the children.
We can scarcely imagine life without the Bible. God has used challenges in our own home as a result of older child international adoption to display to us how desperately everyone needs His Word. It is the only source of true healing, hope, and instruction. The thought of millions slipping away into a Christ-less eternity because they have never heard the Good News is enough to move us to dedicate our lives to this work of ensuring that the whole world hears.
As Mason transitions into this role of field coordination, we are transitioning from a traditionally earned salary to enlisting a team of ministry partners who will co-labor with us in this effort of Bible translation. We are ready for this change because we know that when the Lord called Mason out of the military and our family into missions, He had already arranged for these coworkers to join forces with us. Mason will continue to work for Bridgestone as we work on developing this team of partners, with our goal being to start full-time ministry as soon as possible.
We want to share our journey with you as we start out 2016 in a new way, dedicating our family to making the most dangerous and important Book of all time available to those who have not yet heard the good news. Whether you are a reader, a pray-er, or a giver, we want you on our ministry partnership team. If the Lord moves you to partner with us in this ministry, you can learn more here.
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