Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Very Quick Update!

After some neat news last night we are at 83.06% and are in need of just 15 more families or individuals to give an average of $40/mo for 27 months!!! Praise the Lord!

NOTE: www.extremenazarene.org/williams I just learned recently that if you are signing up, the most effective way to pay is EFT through a checking account if possible. Any way is great, but EFT if fastest and bypasses the small Card processing fee to the card companies.

THIS IS AMAZING! You all are wonderful examples of faith and generosity... We are so thankful to all of you joining us through prayer, encouragement and financial support. Thank You! Thank You!

Monday, January 30, 2012

Keep Praying!

We had a most wonderful weekend visiting lots of friends, family and new friends in the Merced/Atwater area! Thanks to all of you for wonderful encouragement and support! It was such a blessing to see you all and make connection once again. You hold special places in my heart and are already a part of our God-story. Thank you so much to the pastors that opened the doors to us... I hope we can visit again to share how our story will continue to unfold!

We are inching closer to our goal... We are still in need of 19 more families or individuals to give an average of $40 per month for 27 months. Overall we are 78.5% funded. If you are still considering and praying about joining in this with us...you might be just what we need to seal this deal! It would mean giving up one meal in a restauraunt per month or taking a lunch to work a few days out of the month.

I almost can't believe how far we have come in such a short amount of time...it is crazy! I just know that the Lord wouldn't carry us this far and then let us fall short. Join with me in praying for his provision both for this journey with Extreme Nazarene as well as for those who have and will be joining us through financial support.

If you have already pledged an amount but still need to sign up, please get signed up as soon as possible by going to www.extremenazarene.org/williams or by contacting Crowne One at 1.800.326.9235 or by mail at Crowne One P.O.Box 9285 Boise, Id 83707. Mark all donations for Cole and Kelly Williams. Your gifts are tax deductible and you will receive a giving summary at each year's end.

Lots of Love to you all!

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Blast from the Past

So, of course right now we are packing up the house and going through lots of things. Well tonight I picked up one of my old journals that I have in the past used specifically for thoughts about God. I opened it up and read a couple of lines from the first page I saw
..."I have decided to give my life to God's work. I'm going to be a
missionary." June 24, 1997

I am totally amazed and have to smile at how God does things. I don't really remember writing this. I do know that for a time in high school I was very interested in missions but I don't remember resolving in my heart to make it my occupation per se. I just don't think that things happen by chance anymore ever. It is all working together unfolding as it should. He is so faithful to complete what he begins...even when we forget at times where we are heading. I am definitely planning to add more to this journal I found. It is such a precious gift to one's self to see from where we have come...too often we forget just how much we have to be thankful for.

Financial update: We are at 73.96% and still need 23 more families to join us at an average of $40/mo for 27 months. www.extremenazarene.org/williams I cannot express enough how grateful and humbled we are by your gifts. They are a crazy blessing not to mention an amazing testament of the body of Christ. All the glory goes to God.

PS Thanks to Pastor Frankie and the wonderful people at Porterville Iglesia del Nazareno. You have touched my heart and I will be in continued prayer for the Lord to bless your efforts to be true and pleasing disciples...to say the Lord " Here I am!" each time He calls.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

We are now at 66.3% funded! I hope you are so excited and amazed just as we are watching the Lord provide!

We now need 30 more individuals or families to give an average of $40/mo for 27 months. We are getting there! Keep praying for this ministry as we prepare in faith for the Lord to complete what has begun. www.extremenazarene.org/williams

We are in our final days of packing, cleaning and transitioning. We are totally blessed to have some wonderful churches that have welcomed us to share our little piece of God's story right now. Sharing has been so fun!

If you can donate, consider a one-time gift, or an amount other than $40/mo greater or lesser... do what is in your heart to do. We have of course been in prayer that God would provide for the finances we are expected to raise...but my prayer is also that the Lord would provide each pledge for those of you who sponsor us. This is as much your leap of faith as it is ours. I know He will come through each and every month. Again, thank you all so much!

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Fundraising Update

Well we are pretty excited to say that we have jumped to 59% funded!!! It is amazing how much support we have received from friends, family and new friends.

That said, please keep praying about whether God would have you join us financially in this. We must reach 80% before we commit to buy airfare and still need to be at 100% by the time we fly out. We are expected to arrive by February 8, 2012.

We only need 37 more families or individuals to give an average of $40/mo for 27 months. There is no doubt that God has called us to this work but we simply cannot do it without the support of others in the Body of Christ.

If you have already decided that you are able to join us financially, take this time to sign up at www.extremenazarene.org/williams.

We are so thankful and excited to be in this with you all. I know the Lord will bless your efforts and desire to praise him with your lives and choices just as we are aiming to do ourselves.

Grace and Peace to you all!

Monday, January 2, 2012

Countdown!

We are so thankful for all the support we have received so far! We are about 30% funded for our 27 month committment in Paraguay! We are expected to arrive in Peru for training Feb 1st, which is practically upon us. Keep praying that those who are considering partnership in our journey will go ahead and take the leap with us! We will be going before our church, Porterville Church of the Nazarene, this coming Sunday and before FBC Merced the following Sunday. We also expect to visit the Iglesia del Nazareno in Porterville and perhaps a couple of other area churches. Pray that the Lord will work to connect us with those who are willing to give with a spirit of faith. We are also in a flurry of packing, organizing, and trying to mentally prepare for the journey we have ahead of us. Oh my, yes, it is at times overwhelming! Our faith is increasing more and more out of necesity that the burden be held by Christ to carry us completely. There is so much we can't see. We are ready for the future to be more amazing than we can imagine, and at the same time a greater challenge that we have ever had before. My heart is already starting to grieve a little for the family and friends we will be leaving. The neat part of going through such a crazy change is that it has allowed me to see the true blessings we have had in so many people. It has already enriched many of my relationships. I am also so excited for the wonderful people waiting for us in Arequipa and Asuncion! So much still to do, and so much to look forward to! We are definitely counting on all of you guys praying for us! Please lift us up so that we might be ready and worthy for this call!