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Saturday, October 16, 2010
Friday, October 15, 2010
FALL! Changing colors and falling leaves. Our family loves this season. The changes remind us of what our life has been like the past year. Are we tired? YES! Being in God's will is not always the easiest place to be, but it is the only place to be. In Galatians 6:9 – Paul encourages believers not to grow tired of doing "good" because it will be rewarded in "due season." We are looking forward to the "season" when we can move to Buffalo, NY, and get settled into our new community and begin the work God has called us to do.
The past couple months we have been in Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Arkansas, Illinois, and from southeast to northern Missouri. We went back to central Missouri for South Central Association Mission Conference and Support Walk. While there we enjoyed spending time with team members, Tim and Amanda York. It was also great to meet Ken & Judy
Bailey. Melissa even jogged one mile with Ken during the Support Walk. He seemed quite pleased that she would offer to run. She had a good time.
PRAY! We need help. Please, stay with us here. We know with just the sight of that word "help" some of you will skip this paragraph. We need to put out a plea for monthly support. Our cash account is growing and keeping up with the expenses of our travels. We are praying for 20 churches to support us monthly at $100 and 171 more individuals/groups to support us monthly at $25. We ask that you pray about this need. Our goal is to move to New York in March, 2011. We know you may not be able to do $25 a month. How about $20, $15, or $10? Whatever you can do will be a great help. God has called us to move our family to a place with a great need. If you are not already supporting us, would you consider partnering in this work? If you would be willing to step up and get involved, we are only a phone call away, 573-783-1521. Send support to address below with Darin Alvis Account in memo.
Team Buffalo – Excited to get to work!
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
September 28, 2010
Monday, September 6, 2010
September 6, 2010
August few by! School started for the boys as they began attending a small Christian school. Melissa is being home schooled again. We are still traveling on the weekends and staying busy during the week. Darin works everyday we are home. No rest for the weary while on itinerate!
We had some great services in August. Our monthly support is up.... I was told I need to recalculate. I may have been doing it wrong. Which is good for us! LOL Our cash account is doing great! We have not had our account in red yet - so that is GREAT!
Hope you are all doing well. This is short - because we haven't been home long and I am exhausted. I will try to post again SOON. Also, if you read this, please, comment and say Yes I read this! If I am not getting too many readers here, I may delete and not worry about keeping up here.
Love to all! Keep praying for us.
Sleeping-head - Joy
Friday, July 23, 2010
July 23, 2010
We have been many miles over the past month. We enjoyed our travels to MO, OH, KY, and a trip to NY. We loved the time in Buffalo meeting with our team. We are very excited about getting moved up there and working with each of our team members to build North Point Church.
We enjoyed a trip to OKC for the National Convention. Our family was commissioned with other FWB missionaries on Wednesday night. We feel very privileged to be doing what God has planned for our family to do. Life is best in God's will. Why would we do anything else?!?
We are visiting with friends in Oktaha, OK, for a couple days. We will be in services in south-western Missouri on Sunday and at Camp Niangua in Missouri next Thursday for a mission fair. We then will be headed to Ohio. So, the travels continue. Keep praying for us!
Update on account: Our cash account is up to 84% and our monthly support is up to almost 11%. Pray God's people see the need to support us monthly and keep us in their monthly budget.
We are VERY thankful for all that God has done for us through many family, friends (old and new), and churches! THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING US!!!!!!!!!
We are praying for all of you and asking God's blessings as you continue to faithfully support us.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
June 19, 2010
I don't know the last time I posted.... I didn't take time to look. LOL
For anyone new here.... I tend to be a little slow keeping up here.
May was an extremely busy month. We made a trip to NC where we had 3 services and enjoyed a visit with Darin's sister, Tamela, and her family. It was a great trip!!
After being home for 36 hrs......
We then made a 16 day trip to Missouri. We had 8 services during that time. We enjoyed being with First FWB of Mountain Grove. We then went back to Mt. Pisgah FWB of Cabool where we had served for 4 yrs while the boys were small and Melissa was born while there. It was FUN to see people from 7 yrs ago. Not just our church friends but friends we made in the community. Enjoyed visiting with Shane and Terri Wood and their two children, and Dean and Melinda Brewer and their 2 boys. We owe a HUGE thank you to Don and Teresa Carroll for putting us up in their home for 6 nights and for trusting us to stay in their home all day while they were away. It was a relaxing week!! We also enjoyed a service with Travis and Johnna Watkins in Springfield. WHAT FUN we had with their family. That was followed by the MO State Mtg. We enjoyed the youth competition and the visit with many friends. We spent 4 days with Joy's mom after that. Two Sunday morning services at her church was interesting, only because it was done different than what we are used to doing. The evening service was spent at DeSoto First FWB with Bro. Bob Thebeau. It is always good to be in service with people we have known for many years. We gained some monthly supporters through this 16 day trek.
Getting home after that long trip was very much appreciated. We got caught up on some sleep in our own beds. Then we made a trip to AL. We gained a few monthly supporters from this great weekend too.
We left AL on Monday morning, 7 a.m., (June 14th) to get to IL for a week at Camp Hope.
The week at camp was wonderful. It was a camp for 7th & 8th graders. Dalton and Dylan were campers. Darin was the missionary teacher. Joy was the music teacher for morning music classes. Dalton also led praise and worship time during Chapel and evening services. He did a great job leading his peers in worship. Melissa enjoyed playing with a little friend all week.
We made our way back to MO. Stopped to have lunch on Saturday with Joy's Dad for Father's Day. Then continued driving to Lebanon for services with Randy Rains and Jim McCallister. (Well, that is actually tomorrow.) Looking forward to great services with their churches tomorrow.
Please, pray for us. We are learning more and more to be removed from our comfort zone. If you have ever been removed from your comfort zone... you know how difficult it can be. But, God is in control. If moving from our comfort zone continually is what He wants for us, we do realize that is the ONLY place to be. Keep us in your prayers every weekend as we travel. Pray for the churches we will be visiting. Pray that people's hearts will be moved to support us.
As an update: we have approx. 74% of our cash account raised and 7% of our monthly support.
Thank you for your prayers! We love you all!
Monday, May 17, 2010
May 17,2010
After driving 9 hrs Friday, May 14th, we decided to stop and visit with part of our team. We enjoyed a visit with Brian, Emily Williams and family. Again it was good for our children to see each other and visit again. They had a great time. OH... during the drive we went through 2 big thunderstorms that included hail and driving at a snail's pace on the interstate.
Sat. morning we drove into Plymouth, NC where we stayed at Hope FWB Church. They have a Prophet's Chamber and it was very comfortable and nice for our family. The church was very friendly and we enjoyed our time there. Sunday afternoon we drove to Greenville, NC, where we were in service with Unity FWB Church. It was another great service and we thoroughly enjoyed our time of worship with God's people.
After the evening service, we drove to Goldsboro to stay with Darin's sister. We are enjoying our visit here with Tamela, Stephen, Eli and Kaeden. The boys are getting so big. Dalton, Dylan, and Melissa are spoiling the boys. Tamela won't have enough hands to keep them busy once we leave.
We will be here til Wednesday when we will have another service at Peace FWB, Wilson, NC. After that service we will travel back to Brian and Emily William's home to spend the night. Thursday we will be driving home to do laundry, sleep, pack, and leave again on Saturday for a 3 weekend trip to MO.
Thanks for your prayers. Our cash account is moving right along. Our monthly support is growing very slowly, but God knows that better than we do. We just keep on in the direction He is leading us and He will provide.
We will be busy once we hit the road to MO, but we will keep you updated as much as possible.
Love to all!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11,2010
I APOLOGIZE!!! It has been awhile.
Since my last post, we have been to Alabama and enjoyed GREAT services with friends old and new. We then were in northern IN at Bunker Hill and Claypool. Again... new friends were made! We then spent the next 2 weekends in the great state of Missouri!! Farmington First FWB and Copper Mines FWB was a wonderful day for our family. We enjoyed services and also enjoyed visiting friends we haven't seen in awhile. This past weekend in MO was in Springfield and Republic. It was great to see a friend at Grant Ave - Mike Hutton. Then in the evening service we were surprised to see Jason Provow - a former youth from Copper Mines church. It was great to see him and see that he is doing so well at Missouri State University.
The kids spent last week with Grandma Bergmann. It was great to have some time to myself - Darin worked during the week and I had the house to myself! YEAH!
The kids are finishing up school work. Very much looking forward to putting the books away for a few months.
This weekend starts a very busy time for our family. We will be on the road for almost 4 straight weeks. We will be home for 2 nights and 1 day to wash laundry and repack the van on our way traveling through I-64. ha. We then won't be home again until June 7th. Should be interesting.
We are all holding up nicely. The kids have a cough that won't go away.... pray Melissa and Dalton get over it soon so we can keep practicing music for National Youth Competition.
Well.... keep praying for us! We are seeing some monthly support come in as the months go by. We also are making decisions about school in the fall and a job opportunity for Darin.
THANKS and Love you all!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
April 15,2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
March 30, 2010
Thanks to all for their prayer support. We are doing well and keeping busy.
We are enjoying 2 weeks home before heading back to IL for weekend services.
OH.... someone is donating a laptop to us. YEAH! It should be here tomorrow.
ALSO... pray about the kids' schooling this fall. We are considering putting them in a small christian school close by. The preparation of lessons, grading, and recording is getting overwhelming and I'm consistantly behind. Pray we find one that will work with us and our schedule. Thanks.
Love you all. Keep praying!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
March 25, 2010
SORRY it has been SO long since we have been here. STILL having trouble with laptop... aarrgghh!
On March 7th, we were in Ohio with our friends Daryl and Michelle Grimes. We had a great visit with friends and had great services with Harrison FWB Church and Unity FWB Church.
THEN... Sat. March 13th we headed to MISSOURI! We spent 11 nights with Joy's family. We enjoyed our visits. Joy totally enjoyed her SURPRISE 40th Bday party. She was thrilled to see friends and family that she otherwise wouldn't have been able to see. Her sister Lisa totally surprised her by showing up at the party. WHAT A SURPRISE FOR ALL!
While in Missouri, we had services in Overland, O'Fallon, Fenton, Bridgeton and 2 wac district mtgs and 1 local wac mtg. Joy had the opportunity to speak at the 3 wac mtgs.
We are home for 2 days and then head out again on Saturday, March 27th. We are headed to TN and looking forward to seeing some college friends that we haven't seen for approx. 16 yrs or so. YEAH!
WELL.... one more thing. Pray for our laptop situation. It has gone down 3 times already this year. Praying about the opportunity to get a new one. Pray we get exactly what God wants us to get and that this one holds out until then. hahaha We are a little slow moving when it comes to spending the money. hehehe
Pray for where God wants us to live when we get to Buffalo. It is never TOO early to start praying for that!
THANKS for reading. More importantly.... Thanks for praying!
Monday, March 1, 2010
March 1, 1010
We had services in IL this weekend and AR the weekend before. We are thoroughly enjoying meeting so many new people and the fellowship with new friends has been wonderful.
This isn't going to be too long... at friends' house in IL and going home this afternoon. Thank you to all our friends and family for your prayers. Our traveling is going well and we have a full schedule through September and even starting to fill up October at this point. We are looking forward to getting to MO in a couple of weeks. YEAH! Pray for Joy as she has some speaking opportunities as well. She is nervous about them but knows God will supply her with the words that need to be shared. Darin will be attending the MO Minister's Retreat thanks to Rick Dement and his church. Darin is looking forward to that time with the men of MO. We all miss Missouri and all our FWB friends there.
Thanks again for your prayers. Keep mentioning our names in prayer.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
February 14, 2010
The family is doing well. Joy was sick 2 days last week but doing well now. The kids are enjoying the snow. Well, Mom and Dad are too. Especially when an evening of basketball game and practice gets cancelled and we get to enjoy a quiet evening home. YEAH. That happened yesterday and today! DOUBLE YEAH!
Praise the Lord!! Darin got called today to substitute teach for the next 2 days. God knows what we need - when we need it the most.
ALSO, Joy is looking forward for kids music. Need a 3rd-4th grade appropriate song for Melissa. We are going to try and get into a state competition somewhere. LOL Not sure which state that is yet. haha
Thanks again for praying! We are looking forward to seeing family and friends in MO in March. Joy and the kids are VERY excited!!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
February 7, 2010
We are staying at a hotel tonight and headed home tomorrow morning. Dalton has a home basketball game and Melissa has basketball practice. Going to sleep in just a little and then hit the road west.
Thanks again for reading and for praying!
Thursday, February 4, 2010
February 4, 2010
Melissa traveled well. She finished her school work and even watched a couple of movies. She slept the entire way home after service.
Darin and I survived...making it home by sharing the driving.
Today we did something we haven't done in a VERY long time. All five of us went roller skating and we all actually participated. Darin and I haven't skated in so long... I thought I had forgotten how. LOL It was fun. My knee is hurting at this time... but atleast I stayed on my feet. Unlike the rest of the Alvis bunch. LOL Even Darin fell...with the help of Dalton pulling him down. It was a fun afternoon. We are looking forward to doing it again real soon. Thankful for a friend, Pam Dieckmann, for getting us in at no cost to us!! YEAH! A free fun day!
The weekend will be spent away from home - what's new right? haha We will be leaving after Melissa and Dylan's basketball games. We will be driving to Bowling Green, KY, on Saturday and to Lexington, KY, on Sunday afternoon. Looking forward to more good services.
Pray we gain more monthly supporters as that is the hardest to attain. Thanks for your prayers - and for reading our blog.