Kony 2012

Check out our team leaders response to the Kony 2012 campaign that has had around 75 million hits on youtube and has also been on the news. He wrote a great blog post with insight as someone who is living in Uganda among the people affected by this army. Click on the Beyond Blog located on the right hand column of our blog.

Love, Michelle

A Vessel

I may have already posted this, but we are now officially part of Team Beyond and will be serving in Soroti, Uganda!  We received our official invite from the team leaders a few weeks ago and are excited to serve with this team that has a vision of transforming lives and communities through the power of Christ. We were able to share with the Hillcrest Youth Group this past Sunday eve. We loved it! The Holy Spirit was so evident in Chris as he shared his heart and passion for the work that God has called us to. We began  with sharing the verse from 1Corinthians 1:26&27 where it says; For you see your calling brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.     I love it that God loves to use ordinary people to do extraordinary things because we are so ordinary! During lecture at BSF today, Rachel said we are just the VESSEL...we need to be clean and available for Him to use us. The Holy Spirit controls the words going out and coming in. Phew...what a relief because I sure don't have much confidence in my own speaking skills! Those oral presentations in school involved sweating, shaking, and lots of butterflies. But I have also witnessed incredible peace during sharing...that is only from Him. She also talked about living with an eternal perspective....that HEAVEN is not just the designation of believers, its meant to be our motivation. We talked about living a life that dies to self so Christ can be revealed to others. This may mean giving up comforts or leisure activity...but its worth it. 2Corinthians 4:16-18 says Therefore, do not lose heart, Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

We are now beginning a new leg of our journey.....bringing together our support team. After going to training, we were able to see this as another part of our ministry and are excited to get started! We were also reminded at training that God is already working in the hearts of the people to join us on this journey of faith. We have seen this firsthand and it is so encouraging. Another reminder from a past year of BSF is that God equips the called. We have faith that He will do just that.

God encouraged me in many ways today at BSF. What is interesting is that I went to BSF today thinking it would be my last time there. I am too busy, its too far of a drive, Trayton had tears about going today, I should just spend this time with him, I have already missed a lot and I am going to be late... were the things that were all going through my head this morning. Thinking about how much I was blessed today makes me realize that Satan was trying pretty hard to discourage me. Yup...I will be there next week..Lord willing.

International Teams - training

Chicago IL is our home for the rest of this week! We arrived at International teams this past Wednesday to start training. It has been a long time since I have sat in a desk from 8am til 5pm....(with an hour and a half break for lunch)! Our minds are full....ok..overloaded! We have spent alot of time talking about the values, mission, and vision of International Teams..which I will go into more detail later about. We have spent alot of time in Gods word...regarding missions, discipleship, team dynamics, and cross-cultural communications....and so much more! Our kiddos get to go to class with Miss Judith and have had alot of fun with her.

This morning began with praise and worship. Several of the people training with us are gifted in music and led .....beautiful. The individuals we have journeyed through training with are incredible. The stories of faith, struggle, and desire to follow are amazing. We have been blessed. The staff at International Teams is also incredible. They don't just do their job....they all have been called to their job and do it with passion because they know who they are doing it for. Enjoy the pictures! They may explain more than I can in words!

Faith

This devotional I read today spoke right to my heart...because this is just where we are at. We don't know Gods specific plan right now, but we need to keep moving forward in faith.

Don't See How? God Will Make a Wayby Rick Warren “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV) You may be facing a dead end right now — financial, emotional, or relational — but if you will trust God and keep on moving in faith, even when you don’t see a way, he will make a way. It will become more understandable as you head down the path he sets before you, but understanding is not a requirement for you to start down the path. Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV). One day you will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. You’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for you. In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. God knows what is best for you. He can see the end result. You can’t. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties and delays — all the things that make you ask “why” — will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.But for now, we’re learning to trust God.

New Year

The New Year 2012 has begun. The beginning of this year has brought many changes for our family. We spent new years eve moving the last things out of our home where we have spent the last 7 1/2 years. It is the only home our kiddos remember. So many memories. We left amazing friends and neighbors. We said goodbye to our cat 'sweetie'. Yes, tears were shed. We are adjusting and we have been blessed to stay with an incredible family. A family who should get a special award for hospitality. They have specifically finished their basement for families moving to the mission field to stay. They have had 29 foster children through their home. A friend of mine told me about this family at the very beginning of this journey during our trip to the Orphan Summit 2011 (Wendy, the girl we are staying with, actually drove us there!). I didn't give it too much thought. After our house sold and we were looking for a place to rent, she once again brought it up and encouraged us to call and check it out. We did and after much prayer and encouragement from others, knew it was where we belonged. Easy...No. It has been an adjustment for everyone.....but the family we are staying with couldn't have made it more easy or comfortable staying here. Each day gets better. This morning Trayton prayed, "Thank you God for leading us down the right path and to this house" We are getting there.

Tomorrow Team Beyond begins a 4 day retreat where they will be praying...planning...strategizing..and casting the vision for the team. The president of I-teams is in Uganda right now taking part in this retreat. It is our prayer that the team will have a clear idea of how, where, and if our family will fit into this vision. So, we wait...moving forward...and trusting His perfect plan....even when we don't know what it exactly looks like right now. Isn't that faith? Moving forward..trusting...and not knowing all the details. It is not always easy. Our family will be leaving on Jan. 18 for Elgin, IL for training at International Teams. We will be there 10 days. This summer we hope to finish the other 3 1/2 weeks of training needed. We hope to begin our support raising for International Teams after returning from training. Our kids are all coming with us. They have a program for the kids while we are in training where they will do their homework...fun activities...and also learn about the country they are going to. We have heard great stuff about it!

If you would like a really great inspiring book to read about a young girl serving in Uganda...check out Kisses from Katie. It have just read a couple chapters, but it really gives a great picture of life in Uganda and the dependence in Christ that is needed each day..hour...while living there.

Fun in the cornfield behind our home














The neighborhood boys football games














Kidist, our neighbor and friend Cameron, and Chloe

Sweetie the cat with Chloe and her friend Katie

Happy New year from our family to yours!

Our home on Ericridge court May 2004-Jan 2012

Contact

Please feel free to contact us with questions through our email at fisherfamily@live.com

Join Our Team

The work that God has called us to do in Soroti, Uganda is not something that we can  on our own.  We are in need of a team of prayer warriors to cover our family, our team, and the Ugandans we will be in contact with. 

We are currently in the process of raising our financial support. It is our hope and prayer to be fully funded and leave for Uganda towards the end of September 2012! If you would like more information on being part of our prayer and/or financial support team we would love to sit down with you to share our story and the work we will be doing in Uganda. 

To give online, click on the give button located on the right hand column of this blog. This will direct you to International Teams Website where you can give a one time gift or pledge to give monthly.