Letting Go...

...well, for the week anyway...Yes, I have confessed before that one area I struggle with is holding on too tightly to William and Grace. I know that the Father has great things for them, and William has proven himself over and over to be a trustworthy boy of integrity. However, he is still only 9...an YEP, you got it...I am the momma!! I like for all my chicks to be in the coop at night! We are now half way through his first time away at camp. We have heard from him once. He is having a good time. I imagine he is going to come back having grown in language 10 times. He will speak circles around the rest of us, but my prayer for him this week is that he experiences God in a new way. I have been praying that the Holy Spirit speaks to his heart and reveals truth. William accepted Christ as Savior when he ws 6 years old. He has been growing and learning; however, I know that God has an amazing plan for him. The Father will walk with him each step of that path, but it does not mean it will be an easy journey. William (like each of us) needs to know the taste, the smell, the voice & sounds, the presence and the ways of God so intimately that he knows without hesitation the will of the Father. It is our prayer that he always walks in wisdom and truth. He now has 3 more full days of camp and then a long 4th day of 8 hours in a packed van! Please pray alongside us for William and the many children at camps, VBSs, Backyard Bible Clubs and retreats all around the world this summer. Let 2011 be a year that many hear and receive the Gospel of Christ. Let the nations be glad and the heavens rejoice at the harvest!! AT

Contentment

I am sure that I don't know a single person that doesn't struggle with this at least some of the time. It is one of those things in life that if not kept in check, runs away with our heart's affections and mental attitude. Isn't it interesting how when we are asked to speak about, teach about or counsel on a particular subject, it is often the very area that we need to grow in!! That is where I found myself this week. I was presented with a particular problem by someone I am discipling. I do have a strong opinion (of course) on their situation, and I would really like to step in and take matters into my own hands; however, as I prayed for them; prayed for the situation; prayed for what I should say; prayed for how I should proceed...the Father asked me one thing, "What do you think I want to be the lasting lesson in this?" WOW....the lasting lesson. To "solve" the problem would not really be lasting. There would be other similar things that would quickly come along. Life is just like that....one thing after another... The only thing that is constant is God. Being content with our situation is always hard. In the waiting process sometimes we think we are going to waste away. However, God uses the processes of making us wait and helping us find satisfaction as tools to grow us into His likeness. They are tools that sharpen us and mold us for service to Him. If we always want something, whether it be an item of some sort or a change, when will we ever be truly satisfied? Satisfaction only comes when we decide to have thankful hearts that praise Him in all situations at all times. We have a friend that is in prison. Matt took his wife, children, sister and mother to visit him this week. I am ashamed to say that the report I was expecting to get was of how hard it is for him, how he is struggling, etc. Instead, the report that came was one of praise to the Lord for His goodness. He gave Matt a beaded pen holder covered in crosses that he had made. He is boldly sharing his faith in everything he is doing; and in faith walking with a thankful heart in his difficult circumstance. WOW....that is the lasting lesson!! What will I choose today - thankfulness & contentment? AT "We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;....Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." II Corin. 4:8-9; 16-18

May Flowers

Is the month of May really almost over? Wow, it seems like it has been non-stop! The month started a little rough. As I mentioned in my last post, we were all quite ill at Easter. However, we pushed through and have been running all month. The first weekend, I attended a local ladies' conference. It was about 9 hours from here...twisting through mountains and driving sometimes ridiculous roads (to American standards). I was able to sit in the front so I only "heaved" a few times - nothing traumatic!! However, it was so worth it to gather with believers and learn and grow together. These women have amazing stories. I can't wait to share them with those that are interested!! (Fall 2012 - now scheduling!) We returned on Mother's Day. My sweet family had the house cleaned and had found a nice table and chair set for the balcony. On the 10th, I celebrated my 35th birthday! WOW! I now have to move up a level in my face cream, but at least by company standards I am allowed to weigh more!! (YEAH!) The second weekend, we had locals from our first city in country fly over for a visit. It was so wonderful to reconnect. Praise the Lord for language growth as I was able to share more of my faith. We also attended the local fellowship together. There is nothing like hearing truth from people that know your background. I am so thankful to be a part of this special group. The third weekend, we took a trip out of the city. We traveled straight up into the mountains - 5 hours from here about a mile above sea level. It was an amazing 3 days. We climbed all over the biggest castle any of us have ever seen. We rode a ferry out to an island that had a monastery from 700AD. Grace's big event of the weekend was a trip to a cat reservation. There are only 300 pure Van cats left on the planet. The university in Van is now trying to preserve the breed. Honestly, I think they are a little freaky looking, but Grace enjoyed herself. You can Google it if interested. We have pictures on facebook of all these weekends. The kids have one more week of homeschool; however, we will continue having our language tutor through the summer. The kids are now working on language books with the grade levels they just finished in American school. (2nd & 3rd) I am so proud of them! May has been a wonderful and exciting month for the Travis family. We pray you all enjoy a wonderful Memorial Weekend and the start to an amazing summer.

I just wanted to catch everyone up; sorry this blog was a bit random....I love wild flowers! AT

Easter 2011

Well, I had hoped to post all the exciting things that we had planned to do over the Easter weekend; however, William spiked a 104 fever on Friday night and it was all downhill from there. We have all "caught" something. We had to cancel our plans with local friends and only Matt was able to attend the special church service in a neighboring city. We still rejoice and proclaim.....BLESSED BE YOUR NAME!! Sooooooo; we basically had an "at home-in PJs" Easter. There will be no pictures of the family all "spiffed-up". We are really glad that our church program was last weekend. The kids worked so hard I would have hated for them to have missed it. You can check out photos on Matt's facebook page. I am also really glad that we have been celebrating and doing activities for Easter for 2 weeks. It would have been a big bummer if we had saved everything for this weekend! Lollie (Matt's sister) gave the kids some special egg "markers". They did muster the energy to do 2 eggs each before they wanted to lie back down. We still plan to color eggs next weekend with some locals that have never done it before. We are also going to be sharing our 12 Resurrection Eggs with them. William's big present was a game for the computer and Grace's was a new "little pony". Poor things, we put the baskets on our bed this year thinking that everyone might just want to lay down to open gifts and read scripture. We were a pitiful sight!! No chocolate bunnies this year, but the kids have changed their taste buds to the candy here so everyone was happy! (not that any of us needed sugar while ill, or trying to keep from getting ill!!) Matt still missed not having his Cadbury Creme eggs, but he's adjusting! : ) We miss each of you and pray that you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. Praise His Holy Name!! AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day12 - Last EGG!

Matthew 28: 5-8 He has risen!! HE HAS RISEN INDEED!! Praise the Lord, our last egg we found empty. We serve a risen Savior. He was/IS victorious! Sin, death and hell now no longer have power over those who trust in Christ for salvation. It says in John 8:36, "So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed!" Our family thought for the day is: Are we walking in the freedom that Christ has given us or are we allowing unbelif to hold us back? Are we boldly sharing this good news with those around us? Freedom is Sweet!! AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day11

Today we read Matthew 28:1-3 and opened an egg containing a small stone. The Resurrection Eggs book states that the stone that was placed in front of Christ's tomb was bigger than a door and as heavy as a car. In the area that we live in now, we have seen tombs with stones that fit this description. It is really quite fascinating. You can click here to view a few pictures I have posted on this blog. You can also check out my facebook page if interested. The Resurrection Eggs book also says, "Words about the stone being miraculously rolled away and about Jesus' resurrection from the dead are the most encouraging and hope-giving words a Christian could ever have." Our family thought for the day is: Are we standing ready, waiting for the miracle that Christ has for us? Do we believe His promises? Do we trust in His amazing plan? We pray you all have a wonderful holiday weekend!! AT

Resurrection Countdown - Day10

Matthew 27:57-61 - Today we opened an egg containing a white linen cloth. It is interesting to think about the people that are not mentioned in the Bible. Those that were followers of Christ, but not among the 12, and perhaps those that maybe didn't consider themselves "followers", but stood on the sidelines listening, watching...pondering. Joseph of Arimathea was like that. He was a rich man likely a member of the Jewish leadership. He is not mentioned before this time; however, he had to have been secretly observing and listening to Jesus. In the end, he decided to step forward in boldness and ask for the body of Christ. How many people are there like that around our families, our ministries our churches, etc.? We will never know for sure, but I know that they are there. Our family thought for the day is: When people look at our life do they see a genuine love for Christ? Is Christ proclaimed in our treatment of each other and our service to those around us? We desire that it be said of us as individuals and as the "Travis Team" that we glorify God and have integrity in all that we do. May we seek Him with boldness and with all our hearts - AT!