ATTACK

We are under spiritual attack for sure. please keep our team on your thoughts and mind.

_Matt

Doctora of Photographea

I'm sorry its been so long since my last update! We have been busy busy busy and I have been very tired. I really love this country! It has a unique beauty to it that I have never experienced before. You fall in love with the people from the moment you meet them. We have gotten the opportunity to have tea with many people. One being the chief of police for the city we are in. He was really cool and had an amazing mustache.

While we were in one tent, my friend was explaining to everyone that I was an expert at photography (which im not)and the way he described it was that I was a doctor of photography. So now they all randomly call me "Doctora of Photograpea."

I miss a lot of things, too many to name and I do not want to come across as complaining because if anything, I have realized that I have little to complain about.

Lauren-Elaine is doing an amazing job at keeping the kids! I have been so proud of the way she handles the boys, and now the two girls, who are here. I have no concerns about anything in the future. That's all I have to say about that.

Continue to think about us all and keep us in your minds. It is much needed. Our enemy is attacking and it is very evident. I'll hopefully update again soon!

_Matt

We're here!

We'll we have made it!! After 26 hours of traveling we finally have touched down where we will be staying. The travel wasn't too bad, most people slept. The most sleep I got was between Germany and Jordan and that was for about 3 1/2 hours. This morning, its 650p on 6.26.10 right now, we arrived in Showbak and then went to the Lab to start cleaning and getting all the equipment set up. We were going to come back for lunch and take a siesta but that turned into about a 5 1/2 hour nap!! I can't wait for the lasagna tonight! Our friends are making us dinner in their home tonight. I just got off Skype with my dad and lauren-elaines parents. It was good to hear from all of them! I'm going to go spend some time with the team and our friends. Until next time!

Bags packed and ready to go!

Well it's 11:15pm and we leave tomorrow at 430p. All of my gear is packed up, weighing a total of 49.70 pounds! I am experiencing mixed emotions..I am, for the first time, feeling a little bit of pre-separation anxiety. I have never been out of town, let alone the country, for more than three weeks! God has been good though, He has given me peace and tons of prayer from many of you. Continue to pray that we would be effective for Him and that there would be many divine appointments along the way. On the other hand I am still very excited and pumped to get there and get going with the dig and meeting people. There is an eight hour time difference between Oklahoma and where we will be. Adjusting to that should prove a little bit difficult but I am fairly confident that the right mixture of exhaustion, melatonin, and Tylenol pm will help me get into the rhythm of the time difference. One thing about me is that I enjoy a slower pace of life. This could prove to be another thing that I have to adjust to. I can't wait to land and start writing of all of the things we experienced just in the travel to get to our destination. Until next time.

_Matt

Jordan 2010

When Lauren-Elaine was presented with the opportunity to go to Jordan this summer I had mixed feelings. I was incredibly excited for her to get to go and minister to people in the Middle East but I was jealous that I wasn’t going to get to experience any of it with her. After some time of worrying about not seeing her for the six weeks (I know, I know..young love at its finest). I began to pray for peace with the time that we would be apart. Little did I know what the Father had in store for me. Lauren-Elaine’s sister, Olivia, had joined up on the trip and would be the nanny for the trip and Lauren-Elaine would become the photographer. I was immediately even more jealous than I was before! I love photography and have many years of experience in media of all sorts. I prayed harder. I asked, no probably begged, that I would be able to have a peace about not being able to go. A few days later I heard that Olivia would most likely not be able to go. I quickly talked with Lauren-Elaine and decided to send an email expressing my interest in being involved on this experience.

I received a reply email very quickly. Even if Olivia was able to go, I’d still be able to go on the trip. At first they only had a spot for a four week team member. I really wanted to go for the full six weeks. Lauren-Elaine and I began to pray, asking God to make a way for me to be there for the full six weeks. As He always does, He provided a way. Olivia was unable to go on the trip and that moved Lauren-Elaine back into being the nanny. They needed a photographer! Without hesitation I agreed for the six weeks.

That brings us to where we are today. Today is June 7th and we leave on June 24th. The Lord has provided for every one of my needs. I had to quit my job in order to go on this trip. He provided me with a full-time job when I get back. In fact, they are waiting to fill the position until I return from overseas. I had a huge financial need, He has already provided, through many of you, more than half of my need!

I expect great things to happen during the time we will be in Jordan. When the God of the Universe clears a way for you to go you better go expecting things much bigger than your mind can imagine.

You can continue to pray for us as we travel and as we live in Jordan and interact with the Bedouin people. Pray that we would all be flexible and patient. Pray that the Lord would shine through the team and me so that everyone we have contact with will know that we are different. Pray for safety as we are traveling into a place in the world that can be dangerous. Keep our health in your prayers, that our stomachs and immune systems would be strong. Above all else, pray that we would be vessels that are willing and able to be used in any way the Lord wants to use us.