Well, it's been quite a long time since I posted a blog, so I feel like it's time to play catch up! 2013 is drawing to a close, and I like to take time at the end of each year to reflect on how much life has changed in a year. It also gives me hope that if I don't like how things are now, time has a way of changing many things. I started this blog when Will went to Madagascar with a "scouting" group. Our church is planning to send a family or individual to Mada to help alongside the missionaries who are already down there to reach an unreached people group. Will and I felt that God was leading us to move our family there, so we began the application process in 2011 (wow...that sounds like such a long time ago!). Anyway, as we moved through the process, we were excited and a little scared (fear and trembling comes to mind) about the whole process, but trusted that this was God's plan for our lives. Once I came to terms with leaving my family behind in the States and moving my kids far far away from grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins, I felt tremendous peace, and followed my word for 2013 which was "Obey". I felt like my obedience to God's calling in my life was much more important than my comfort in this present life. Early in 2013, we found out that Will had some medical issues that might delay our going to Madagascar. As we worked through these issues, we continued to trust that whatever God had planned for us would transpire. A few months later, we then found out that there were some other issues from our past that our church recommended counseling for before we'd be ready to head out to Madagascar. So long story short, we've been put on an indefinite hold in going overseas. It was such a life changing decision for us to heed the call to go overseas, and it felt like a huge let down to be told "not now", which seems to have turned in to a "not ever" as time passes...But we are okay with that, and feel like we need to "bloom where we are planted"! Over the summer, I finally picked up Jen Hatmaker's "7" and read it. I had started it once before and put it down (was I really ready for this??!!), but finally finished it in a few days time. And WOW!!! My life has started down a path of what I hope are permanent changes. I was part of a Bible study over the summer that went through the workbook version of "7", and in the fall I had a chance to lead "Interrupted" and "7" as classes at my church. Those books were so profound and changing in my life I can hardly put it into words sometimes...but I shall try!
My whole life I feel like I have been aspiring to achieve "The American Dream"...which became a nightmare a few years ago as my husband and I were forced into Chapter 7 bankruptcy and lost everything. We could've written a great country song...lost our house, lost our car...and the list goes on. Everything I had worked for, everything I thought I needed were literally ripped from my hands. It took several years for me to get to the point where I wasn't raw just thinking about what we had gone through. Reading a book like "7" was far from where my heart was at the time. But as always happens, time heals most things. And it did. Time and lots of loving from Jesus. So when I finally picked up the book and read it, I was in the right place to accept the message I needed to hear. With the prospect of Madagascar off the table for the immediate future, I decided that I wanted to make a difference where I was...and that was okay with me.
So, for 2014, my word is "content". I think that goes nicely with where I am in life right now. We have some big changes coming. The big one is where we will live. We've been house-sitting for the last (almost) 3 years, and are looking at new places to live since the family will be coming home in the next few months (it looks like). The other is my husband's job. He's only working part-time now and so we're trying to get a web-based business up and running (more on that to come!) So, needless to say there are BIG changes coming our way!! We don't know what our lives will look like this coming year, but we know that God does. So, I hope to journal through this journey and share a little bit of my heart with anyone who is out there reading this in hopes that you will find hope in Christ, and know that there are others who are going through hard times and hanging on as well. One of my favorite Mary Engelbreit posters says...When you are at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on! That is how I feel I've been living the past few years. But you know what? I'm still hanging on. But it's not because of my strength or anything I've done. It's because of the One who is hanging on to me!
So, welcome to my journey! Let us find contentment and satisfaction in the little things that life has to offer. Happy (almost) 2014!!!
Friday, December 27, 2013
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Almost home
Well, Will's plane is due to touch down in Orlando in about an hour and a half. EXCITING!! I talked with him briefly when they were in NY, and so far everything had gone great with re-entry into the US (sounds like we're talking about the space shuttle!). Anyway, my parents are coming over to stay with the girls tonight so I can pick him up at the airport. Yahoo!
The end of their trip was great. They went back into villages on Thursday for half a day, then were supposed to go look at houses for a missionary but ended up having to change plans so they just stayed at the hotel. They flew out early Friday morning on a Mission Aviation Fellowship flight to Tana where they spent the day, flying out of Tana and heading to Paris on a 1 am flight.
Flight from Paris was delayed an hour and a half, but they "made up time" and only got to NY about an hour late...if they can "make up time", why can't they just get us to our destination early all the time?! Cleared customs with no problems, grabbed a burger and fries, and are now en route to FLORIDA! Can't wait to have Will home.
I was blessed to be able to see Priscilla Shirer this weekend at church. What a fabulous conference it was! If you've never heard her, I highly recommend it. She talked on contentment, which is something I struggle with from time to time. I will write more on this later...
Just wanted a quick update...the team is almost home. Can't wait to hear all the stories and see all the pics and videos - and share them all with you! Thanks for your prayers during this trip!!!
Our love,
The Korvers
The end of their trip was great. They went back into villages on Thursday for half a day, then were supposed to go look at houses for a missionary but ended up having to change plans so they just stayed at the hotel. They flew out early Friday morning on a Mission Aviation Fellowship flight to Tana where they spent the day, flying out of Tana and heading to Paris on a 1 am flight.
Flight from Paris was delayed an hour and a half, but they "made up time" and only got to NY about an hour late...if they can "make up time", why can't they just get us to our destination early all the time?! Cleared customs with no problems, grabbed a burger and fries, and are now en route to FLORIDA! Can't wait to have Will home.
I was blessed to be able to see Priscilla Shirer this weekend at church. What a fabulous conference it was! If you've never heard her, I highly recommend it. She talked on contentment, which is something I struggle with from time to time. I will write more on this later...
Just wanted a quick update...the team is almost home. Can't wait to hear all the stories and see all the pics and videos - and share them all with you! Thanks for your prayers during this trip!!!
Our love,
The Korvers
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Homeward Bound
Well, the group will be heading home soon. Yahoooo! They are taking a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) flight from Manakara back to the capitol (Tana), which leave at midnight our time on Thursday (technically Friday?) They will spend some time in Tana before catching a 1:10 am (their time) flight to Paris, then on to JFK, and then ORLANDO!!!! They will arrive Saturday evening around 11pm. Have I mentioned how excited I am to have Will home?!?!
It has been an awesome trip, and God is moving in BIG ways in Madagascar. Once the team has arrived back home, we will be able to share more details and pics of the trip, so make sure you check back in with us. I can't wait to tell you everything that has been going on, and what God is leading our family to for the future!
Here are just a few pictures to keep you going...
The most popular form of transportation - the rickshaw!
Dinner - chicken!
A house in Manakara...
So much more to come!!!!
It has been an awesome trip, and God is moving in BIG ways in Madagascar. Once the team has arrived back home, we will be able to share more details and pics of the trip, so make sure you check back in with us. I can't wait to tell you everything that has been going on, and what God is leading our family to for the future!
Here are just a few pictures to keep you going...
The most popular form of transportation - the rickshaw!
Dinner - chicken!
So much more to come!!!!
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Not too much to report right now. I just had a very brief skype session with Will (audio only since the internet was so slow). Always good to hear a voice, though! All are doing well - so far no one has gotten sick! This was their second day going into the villages where the Antaimoro people live. Tomorrow will be another trip into the villages before they fly out on Friday! When I talked with Will, I could hear what sounded like steel drums in the background, and all I could imagine was him sitting on a beach (which he was), sipping a cold drink with a little umbrella in it! :) It was a short and choppy conversation, but Bella got to hear daddy's voice which was helpful. She misses her daddy so much and asks multiple time a day where he is and when he's getting back. She saw a car like his yesterday at Chick-fil-a and said, "Oh! Daddy is here!!" So sad and sweet all at once! Again, thanks for all your prayers.
When I talk with Will later today (we have another skype session planned at 2 pm our time), I will update again. The power had just gone off at the hotel and the battery on the phone he was talking on was about to die so we had to cut the conversation short. So...more to come!
Here is a picture of their hotel:
And here is another picture of the countryside...and a rice paddy (they eat LOTS of rice there!)
A few pictures from yesterday that I forgot to post...
This is a village chief/king's house -so cool! (and very humble compared to western standards!)
And finally, something we Floridians can relate to...a roadside citrus stand (tangerines!) Will said they were really good!!
When I talk with Will later today (we have another skype session planned at 2 pm our time), I will update again. The power had just gone off at the hotel and the battery on the phone he was talking on was about to die so we had to cut the conversation short. So...more to come!
Here is a picture of their hotel:
And here is another picture of the countryside...and a rice paddy (they eat LOTS of rice there!)
A few pictures from yesterday that I forgot to post...
This is a village chief/king's house -so cool! (and very humble compared to western standards!)
And finally, something we Floridians can relate to...a roadside citrus stand (tangerines!) Will said they were really good!!
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Article from Florida Baptist Witness on Madagascar
This is an article from the Florida Baptist Witness, covering the preparations going on down in Madagascar. Exciting stuff! :
Apr 25, 2012
By CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
ORLANDO (FBW)—First Baptist Church in Orlando recently adopted the Antaimoro people group of southeast Madagascar through an Embrace partnership with the International Mission Board. The adoption came after months of prayer at every step in the process, according to Pastor David Uth.
Uth said the mission venture had been “a dream of mine several years,” so when the International Mission Board challenged churches last year to adopt the world’s 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups, Uth called First Baptist members to 40 days of prayer.
“I knew this was our moment,” he told Florida Baptist Witness. “I asked the IMB, ‘If you could send us to any people group you can’t get to for a while, where would you send us?’”
The IMB gave First Baptist the names of three people groups to consider, and one of the groups was the Antaimoro people living on the southeast coast of Madagascar. First Baptist members had met IMB personnel from Madagascar when the church hosted a cluster meeting for the IMB’s Two Oceans Region in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011.
“It was amazing to hear their stories, to hear their hearts. They were so desirous of people coming to the island to help,” he said.
When the church felt God’s leading to the Antaimoro, Uth and Missions Pastor Bill Mitchell focused on preparations for the new venture. They met with Madagascar Embassy officials in New York City and Washington, D.C., and received their blessing for the church’s involvement in Madagascar.
Mitchell journeyed to the island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa in October 2011. The 3-day, 10,800-mile trip from Orlando to Manakara, Madagascar, a city of 35,000, included 24 hours by plane and 12 hours by car along one of only four paved roads in the island nation.
“Life along the road” is vastly different from life in the villages, Mitchell said. Mosques and churches—biblical and non-biblical—are located along the road but most never attempt to extend their influence beyond the pavement.
“You have a country there that allows and welcomes missionaries, so it isn’t that the government will not allow you to share Jesus. It’s because no one has gone into the villages. No one has gone to tell them about Jesus,” Mitchell said.
People on the island adhere to a mixture of folk-Islam, animism, ancestor worship and Christianity.
Mitchell and Jeremy Newton, IMB strategy leader for southeast Madagascar, left the paved road and stopped to talk with persons they encountered to attempt to gauge the approximate boundaries of the Antaimoro people. They found the Antaimoro live in an area 10 miles north of Manakara to 40 miles south of the city.
Mitchell and Newton also earnestly sought “persons of peace” in the villages who will be personal contacts in villages that mission volunteers will visit. That search will continue when Mitchell and three laymen, all experienced mission volunteers, will travel to the region April 26. They also will select a village to be the starting point of First Baptist’s mission, along with mapping out travel logistics for volunteer groups.
Meanwhile the Orlando church continues to pray for the Antaimoro, and that God will call a couple from their congregation to serve in the Manakara region. Uth said the church’s goal is to have the first couple undergoing training with the IMB in time to launch a work there in 2013. The church is working with the IMB to develop a “profile and process” in selecting mission volunteers.
“I feel that it is churches’ responsibility to send out missionaries—not the IMB, and they have been so helpful in our doing due diligence in this,” Uth said.
As First Baptist Church embraces the Antaimoro people of Madagascar, the church will continue 14 other international mission partnerships, and the church’s commitment to the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Offering and Annie Armstrong Offering will not change, Mitchell said.
Uth is quick to add that adopting a people group through the Embrace emphasis is not limited to big churches.
“Start by identifying a region you feel drawn to, then talk to the IMB. Ask questions.
Use the IMB to come along side you, to help you go to the nations,” he said. “Even if you can’t send somebody, you can pray. There are lots of ways to be engaged in missions.”
Orlando congregation embraces unengaged people group in Madagascar
By CAROLYN NICHOLS
Newswriter
 |
| VILLAGES Madagascar villages are largely unreached by any churches that are mostly concentrated along the road of developed cities. Courtesy photo |
Uth said the mission venture had been “a dream of mine several years,” so when the International Mission Board challenged churches last year to adopt the world’s 3,800 unengaged, unreached people groups, Uth called First Baptist members to 40 days of prayer.
“I knew this was our moment,” he told Florida Baptist Witness. “I asked the IMB, ‘If you could send us to any people group you can’t get to for a while, where would you send us?’”
The IMB gave First Baptist the names of three people groups to consider, and one of the groups was the Antaimoro people living on the southeast coast of Madagascar. First Baptist members had met IMB personnel from Madagascar when the church hosted a cluster meeting for the IMB’s Two Oceans Region in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2011.
“It was amazing to hear their stories, to hear their hearts. They were so desirous of people coming to the island to help,” he said.
 |
| CONTACT In attempting to reach the Antaimoro people group in Madagascar, First Baptist Church in Orlando will be seeking persons of peace as contacts for their mission trips. Courtesy photo |
Mitchell journeyed to the island nation off the southeastern coast of Africa in October 2011. The 3-day, 10,800-mile trip from Orlando to Manakara, Madagascar, a city of 35,000, included 24 hours by plane and 12 hours by car along one of only four paved roads in the island nation.
“Life along the road” is vastly different from life in the villages, Mitchell said. Mosques and churches—biblical and non-biblical—are located along the road but most never attempt to extend their influence beyond the pavement.
“You have a country there that allows and welcomes missionaries, so it isn’t that the government will not allow you to share Jesus. It’s because no one has gone into the villages. No one has gone to tell them about Jesus,” Mitchell said.
People on the island adhere to a mixture of folk-Islam, animism, ancestor worship and Christianity.
Mitchell and Jeremy Newton, IMB strategy leader for southeast Madagascar, left the paved road and stopped to talk with persons they encountered to attempt to gauge the approximate boundaries of the Antaimoro people. They found the Antaimoro live in an area 10 miles north of Manakara to 40 miles south of the city.
Mitchell and Newton also earnestly sought “persons of peace” in the villages who will be personal contacts in villages that mission volunteers will visit. That search will continue when Mitchell and three laymen, all experienced mission volunteers, will travel to the region April 26. They also will select a village to be the starting point of First Baptist’s mission, along with mapping out travel logistics for volunteer groups.
 |
| UNREACHED Although Madagascar welcomes missionaries, no one has gone into the villages, said Bill Mitchell, missions pastor of First Baptist Church in Orlando. Courtesy photo |
“I feel that it is churches’ responsibility to send out missionaries—not the IMB, and they have been so helpful in our doing due diligence in this,” Uth said.
As First Baptist Church embraces the Antaimoro people of Madagascar, the church will continue 14 other international mission partnerships, and the church’s commitment to the Cooperative Program, Lottie Moon Offering and Annie Armstrong Offering will not change, Mitchell said.
Uth is quick to add that adopting a people group through the Embrace emphasis is not limited to big churches.
“Start by identifying a region you feel drawn to, then talk to the IMB. Ask questions.
Use the IMB to come along side you, to help you go to the nations,” he said. “Even if you can’t send somebody, you can pray. There are lots of ways to be engaged in missions.”
Sunday, April 29, 2012
What time is it, anyway?
I received a call from Will this morning...at 3am, since Madagascar is 7 hours ahead of us!! Not sure if Will took that into account when he made the call. So, I awoke this morning to a sweet voicemail from him since they had access to a cell phone that could make international calls. What a blessing technology can be. Suffice it to say, he is doing well. They spent the night in the rain forest, and were headed out today to drive to Manakara, the city where they will be working out of the rest of the week. They had about a 4 hour drive from the rain forest to Manakara, which is on the southeast coast of Madagascar.
On Monday, they will be briefed about what they will be encountering when they go into the local villages. The plan is to visit the villages all day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, they will fly back to Tana (Antananarivo, the capitol) via MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and then fly back via Paris and NY, arriving Saturday night. To give you some perspective, the plane flight on a (small) MAF plane takes about 1.5 hrs. from Manakara to Tana...this same trip took the team almost 14 hours of driving!! Think potholes, windy roads, zebu herds blocking the road, and an average speed of about 35-40 MPH, and you get the picture! For my speed-loving husband, I'm sure that going this slow in a car is one of the most challenging things he's experienced. But hey - no speeding tickets!
Here is a picture Will sent of some of the scenery on the drive down. Madagascar is truly a beautiful place:
Here is another view of the countryside, this time with a few houses:
A few pictures of the beautiful rain forest:
Beautiful scenery:
I should have started this blog out with some basic info about Madagascar...so here are a few maps for your education:
Madagascar is the 4th largest island in the world
2. New Guinea - Oceania - 312,167 square miles - 808,510 sq km
3. Borneo - Asia - 287,863 square miles - 745,561 sq km
4. Madagascar - Africa - 226,657 square miles - 587,040 sq km
5. Baffin Island - North America - 195,927 square miles - 507,451 sq km
6. Sumatera (Sumatra) - Asia - 182,860 square miles - 473,606 sq km
7. Honshu - Asia - 87,805 square miles - 227,414, sq km
8. Great Britain - Europe - 84,354 square miles - 218,476 sq km
9. Victoria Island - North America - 83,897 square miles - 217,291 sq km
10. Ellesmere Island - North America - 75,787 square miles - 196,236 sq km
On Monday, they will be briefed about what they will be encountering when they go into the local villages. The plan is to visit the villages all day on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. On Friday, they will fly back to Tana (Antananarivo, the capitol) via MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship) and then fly back via Paris and NY, arriving Saturday night. To give you some perspective, the plane flight on a (small) MAF plane takes about 1.5 hrs. from Manakara to Tana...this same trip took the team almost 14 hours of driving!! Think potholes, windy roads, zebu herds blocking the road, and an average speed of about 35-40 MPH, and you get the picture! For my speed-loving husband, I'm sure that going this slow in a car is one of the most challenging things he's experienced. But hey - no speeding tickets!
Here is a picture Will sent of some of the scenery on the drive down. Madagascar is truly a beautiful place:
Here is another view of the countryside, this time with a few houses:
I should have started this blog out with some basic info about Madagascar...so here are a few maps for your education:
Largest Islands by Area
1. Greenland - North America - 840,004 square miles - 2,175,600 sq km2. New Guinea - Oceania - 312,167 square miles - 808,510 sq km
3. Borneo - Asia - 287,863 square miles - 745,561 sq km
4. Madagascar - Africa - 226,657 square miles - 587,040 sq km
5. Baffin Island - North America - 195,927 square miles - 507,451 sq km
6. Sumatera (Sumatra) - Asia - 182,860 square miles - 473,606 sq km
7. Honshu - Asia - 87,805 square miles - 227,414, sq km
8. Great Britain - Europe - 84,354 square miles - 218,476 sq km
9. Victoria Island - North America - 83,897 square miles - 217,291 sq km
10. Ellesmere Island - North America - 75,787 square miles - 196,236 sq km
Madagascar is south of the Equator, roughly the same placement that Cuba is in the northern hemisphere. It's pretty mild year-round, although we've read many blogs of people complaining how hot it is there. Will and I think these people must be from Minnesota! Their seasons are reversed, so right now they are having "fall", and moving into the winter months. Weird, I know!
So, for now I will sign off...enough rambling for one day. Thanks for reading, and thanks for all your prayers. The girls and I (and Wyatt!) are doing great. God is good, all the time! We're ready for daddy to be home, but know that will come soon enough. Every time we pull into the driveway and Bella sees Will's car she says, "OH! Daddy's home now!", and I have to explain once more that he will be home soon. Like Christmas to a child, soon cannot come soon enough!
Grace and peace,
Jenn
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Today's Mada update
The picture above was taken in Will's hotel room...nice mosquito net! Malaria is alive and well down in Mada, and Will is on anti-malaria meds. Pray that he stays well!
More to come soon...
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