General Information
Chris and I (Stephanie) met in 2002 at the Calvary Chapel Bible College in Vajta, Hungary. (Chris' parents were missionaries in Austria at the time, my parents are missionaries in Romania and we, by the gracious hand of God, met in the middle!) We were married in 2004 in my parent's back yard in Ciorani, Romania. Following our honeymoon we moved to the States to begin our life together. During the past nearly seven years we have been blessed with three beautiful boys and have also struggled in many ways to become readjusted to life in the States. We have found that the "culture shock" can be much more brutal coming back than it ever was leaving in the first place. We went from living on the mission field and Bible College (where we were constantly, daily involved in fellowship and service) to waking up one day and finding ourselves lost in a sea of thousands of strange faces on Sunday morning and spending the rest of the week just trying to pay the bills and "make ends meet". Through this time we have learned lessons, made mistakes, and ultimately been drawn ever closer to the Lord. We have had a burden on our hearts for years that the Lord would have us serve Him in Ethiopia. During this past year the Lord has been at work in so many ways confirming, preparing, and providing towards that end. It's time to "just do it".
Where We Are Now
We are currently living in the "old jail" on Main St. in Huntsville, MO. In 2005 Steve and Alice Quarles (Stephanie's parents) bought an old jail (yes, bars and all) and during trips home to the States over the years have been in the process of renovating the old sheriff's house that makes up the front part of the old brick building. It has been such a blessing for us to be able to "keep the place warm" for them while they are gone! Not having the burden of paying monthly rent while we have been here has enabled us to quickly be able to pay off our car and any other debts we had! This was one of the last real obstacles tying us to the States... We're ready to go!!
While we are here Chris has been working full-time as a Med-Tech at a nearby care facility for mentally handicapped adults. We are working on getting our household in order; we will store any personal items that we want to keep (i.e. picture albums, books, keepsakes...) here at my parents house and find homes for all that's left (i.e. furniture, and a sweet little doggie named Lady who will need a good home). We are also in the process of obtaining passports for the kids, filing for visas, getting shots for traveling ect.
We firmly believe that this endeavor is of the Lord. There are no doubts in our hearts that this is His leading. And even still we ask in all humility that you join us in prayer that the Lord would keep us from making a single step aside from His will. Our hearts and minds can be deceived, we would be led only by His hand.
Where We Are Going
During our time at the Bible College we met Argaw, who was from Ethiopia. Chris and Argaw were roommates during Chris' final semester there. The more time they spent together the more the Lord began to put it on Chris' heart to seek how He might use him in Ethiopia. They began talking and praying about their mutual desire to see a ministry begin there. They spoke with the Director of missions at the school and arranged to take a mission trip with a number of other students. When Chris returned from this trip it was with a clear conviction that this was where the Lord was sending us.
Argaw has since married Rachel, a woman he met at the College and together they have been serving the Lord in the city of Hawassa, Ethiopia. They have started an orphanage called Ebenezer Grace Children's Home. We are setting out to join them in the work the Lord has begun there. We will be coming alongside them in fellowship and in service, in any ways we can to bless and encourage and strengthen both their family, the children's home and the different ministries that the Lord opens for us in this place. We will serve with them in the caring for and teaching of children, the daily practical side of all the work that goes into such a ministry and also hope to help bring about an awareness to the needs of the ministry there. (More detailed information concerning the ministry can be found under our Mission Page)
