So here we are, one week out from the start of our great adventure!  But I wonder if "adventure" is the best way to describe it?  Perhaps "experience", "mission", "journey", or even just "trip" would be better?

I don't really know what to call it, and to be honest I have no idea about what to expect.  My only expectation, if you pressed me to give you one, would be that I expect to be changed by my experience.  Changed by the grace of God.

I don't know what to expect, but I have faith that God will take this opportunity, this moment in my life, to do something.  To knock me down and grow me up, to show me how little I know and increase my wisdom, to understand poverty and appreciate my blessings, to shake off my apathy and flame a passion to serve . . . so perhaps the thing is that I expect more than is possible to concretely define, and that only my faith has made these abstract expectations real.  To borrow from the author of Hebrews, my faith is the substance of what I am hoping for, and the evidence of what has not yet come to be.

Joshua and I would appreciate your prayers over these coming weeks, whenever you think of us.  Though we don't know how often we'll be able to provide updates here, we would love for you to follow our blog and share your thoughts, if you can.  Below is a little prayer card that you can print if you would like to put it on your fridge or in your office as a reminder.




Thanks so much for your support!

God bless,
Matthew & Joshua