CHRISTMAS – OUR “NEW NORMAL” 2015
One thing that is sure, other than breathing and dying, is
change. We can fight it, or we can
embrace it. This year has certainly
brought much change in the lives of our family.
Since fighting it is futile, we have chosen to embrace it.
Kelly and Aaron are now living in Fayetteville following a
10-year stay in the same home, neighborhood and school system. The Parks’ family has definitely experienced
change. Their church, Fellowship Bible
Church of NWA in Lowell is building a new campus in Fayetteville. Aaron is the Children’s Director of the new
campus. They look to moving into the
building in late spring of 2016, but their family made the move in the fall of
2014 to begin building relationships and become adjusted to their new community
as quickly as possible. Their house sold
quickly and they found a lovely home on 2 ½ acres of land near the site of
their new church building. Asher and Ben
have about a 3-minute drive to their new school and have settled in well. They are 9 and soon to be 8 years old. Asher loves video games and reading. Ben loves basketball and will play on his
first team this spring. Caleb will be 3
years old in January and could possibly be the funniest child on the
planet. He loves the attention we
willingly give him and brings a lot of joy to us. He still loves cars, trains, and anything
that moves.
The Parks Family - Aaron and Kelly, Asher, Ben, and Caleb
Chase and Lacey spent some unexpected time in the US this
year following a 7.8 earthquake and another 6 pointer that devastated the northern
villages and damaged their city in Nepal.
We were awakened by an early morning text telling us they were all ok,
and then a short FaceTime with them sitting on their front lawn. Though their teammates had prior plans over
the months to come to pursue other ministry and leave KTM, this event pushed up
their exit plans and they all came home to the US. Chase stayed for a few more weeks to settle
business with their coffee shop and to make a motorcycle trip into a mountain
village where the family of one of his employees lived. It was a time of real uncertainty and
change. In July their family returned to
KTM, not sure what ministry would look like without a team and with changes the
earthquake had brought. This season of
change, however, has also proven to be a season of joy and restoration in many
ways. They are working with a local
pastor and doing village work, as well.
The coffee shop is smaller but easier to manage. They are now living through a blockade on the
southern border of Nepal next to India, which has limited supplies and
especially gas. They are adjusting to
the changes this has brought, as well. Ajay,
who will be 5 – actually tomorrow – loves his home and country, claiming to be
a little Nepali boy. His latest interest
is in dinosaurs and he is captivated by documentaries, preferring them to
cartoons. He is doing pre-school work
with his mom and loves learning. Ari
will be 3 in January. She is a
soft-spoken girly-girl, who is fearless and trusting. She eyes her brother for any prompting for
what to do – quite the little “me too”.
The Moore Family - Chase and Lacey, Ajay and Ari Dear
Mickey and Betty Gail’s biggest changes have occurred at
Compass. In June we began our
“good-byes” to our dear friends and comrades on Compass Staff, Chad and Jessica
Grigsby and Ezra. Though it was like
being kicked in the stomach, we knew it was the right thing. Chad is now a church-planting strategist with
Arkansas Baptists, helping others do exactly what we did together at Compass - only in Northwest
Arkansas. We are so very proud of them! God had already provided for
Compass, unbeknownst to us. We had a
secret weapon waiting in the wings…Jeremy and Kerrie Sullivan and Jack, who is
6 (and Maggie who was just a bun in the oven – now 9 weeks old), stepped up to
seamlessly fill the role of Teaching Pastor.
It was change, but also God’s provision, and we knew it. We so love the Sullivans! This news came about as we were in the
beginning stages of building a new building in which Compass will meet. At this present time, the building is being
framed out inside and we hope to occupy it in the spring of 2016. We are so very grateful that God’s plans are
not thwarted by change.
Mickey and Betty Gail
Mom has seen some changes this year, too. At 90 years old, she stays closer to home in
this season of life and has a few more difficulties with health issues. But many days are good and she especially enjoys
when her children, grand children and great-grandchildren visit. Her fourteenth great-grand child was born in
the summer. Katie Jo – Jo Karen’s granddaughter
(Luke’s daughter), our surprise miracle baby came early, weighing in at 2 lbs.
and 10 oz. What a blessing that she is
now over 10 lbs. and a very healthy growing baby girl! There are 36 of Jane’s family living and she
counts that her great blessing. She will
see many of them at Christmas this year.
Jane - 90th Birthday party in April 2015
Hurt and pain often accompany change. We are uncomfortable and reject it when we
can. We think of change as an enemy to
our way of life. However, our God often
uses change as an agent to propel us into a greater good, a spiritual revival,
and a way to open our eyes to what He desires for us. When we come to know Him, we are
changed. The old things pass away, and
we become like Him. We cannot change
ourselves and others cannot change us in the way that He changes us.
During this season, we invite you to answer His call – He is
seeking you. Bring your way of life,
your baggage, and your struggles with you.
Jesus is the agent of change and He will show you how to lay down your
burdens. He will be the author of your “new
normal”.
Spirit of
The Living God…
Because
When You Speak, When You Move. (When You Come in the Room)
When You
Do What Only You Can Do
It Changes
Us, It Changes What We See And What We Seek
MERRY CHRISTMAS, FRIENDS AND
FAMILY!
OUR
LOVE TO YOU ALL!
Mickey
and Betty Gail Jones
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