Family, Campers, and Borders ~ Summer 2020

F A M I L Y

I never imagined that all my siblings and their families would once again be under one roof! But that is where we find ourselves, with the exception of my brother Orrin and my new sister-in-love (law) Gillian. We have all been together through these Covid-19 days and it has been a really great time. Many fun laughs, growing moments, kid chaos, and renovations. 

R E A L I G N M E N T

For Matthew and I, this has been a season of learning how to work from home as we support raise, not just ‘fund’ raise.

     To further understand the biblical way to raise support, and the tools to do so, we took a course with a ministry called Support Raising Solutions. Not only were we inspired to continue in the work that God has given us to do, we were also shown how to bring people along with us as our support partners not just leave them behind as we go do missions far away.

     It has changed so much in our ministry and family,  from the way we see ourselves in our role, to the way we see others and God Himself. We have had a greater understanding of His love and provision for our lives and also how intertwined the Body of Christ is as we seek to fulfill the great commission.

G O A L S

Since our expenses have increased in the last years from the addition of two children and now running a ministry we have been and will be raising support until we are fully funded. Our goal is to become 100% funded by October 31. Then we will book our tickets and be back in Germany by the beginning of November.

We are 35% funded and more is coming in. We are working everyday networking, going to appointments, creating ways people can stay involved with our ministry (instagram, video updates, a website , and blog), and planning our future travels to Saskatchewan and Michigan. We will be traveling at the beginning of August and will be making stops all along the way to meet people and churches sharing about our ministry. 

But to travel safely and sanely with our two young kids, we need something big.

C A M P E R

We are working to have $20,000 by the end of July to be able to buy a camper and a truck to pull it so that our family can have a small home to live in as we are on the road. Praise God! We are at $9,000! It is a big step of faith for us but we have learned that WHEN God has called us to do something, He will give us what we need to do it well. We see this as the best for our family and we are excited (and nervous, to be honest)  to see God come through with His provision. Pray with us that God gives us the right camper and it has all that our family needs for this big trip. 

BO R D E R S

Please also pray with us for the border to the United States to open up so we can travel to Michigan. Matt’s family have never met Emeth in person and we hope to see them before we head back to Germany for another two years. As of today (July  25), Canada has postponed the opening of the US border until August 21. We will be heading to Saskatchewan first and so will not need to cross the border till that time anyway. But pray that they will open at that point, so we can cross all together and can get back if we need to. Right now European nations will accept travellers from Canada but not the States, so it might be that when we are fully funded, we will have to come back to Canada to fly to our home in Herrnhut. 

These are uncertain times, but we know and have seen that God is still good and He is working all things for our benefit.

He will tend his flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in his arms; He will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young. ~ Isaiah 40:11

Thanks for reading! 

In Christ, Matthew, Gillian, Elaina, and Emeth Dean