SO I found the 2nd camera! Whohoo

Crater Lake, beautiful! And freezing, I had so many layers on... brrr...

Lost camera part two

I am not having very good luck with cameras lately. First, we lost our nice one this summer after a camping trip. Thankfully I still had my old one from before we got married that my cousin broke when he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder a few years ago. It works with a little tape wrapped around it. So two weeks ago we went on a road-trip to Southern Oregon pursuing a job for Jason. We had the camera the whole week (the job didn't work out by the way), and now I can't find it! Grrr. There's only so many places it can be! I feel like the older I get (okay insert age jokes here) the more I can't find things.

The bummer is we had some cool pictures from Crater Lake to post. We made it up there in the snow, so gorgeous! I also the camera for ministry, so this is especially frustrating! I leave next week for a "coaches forum" in Orlando. This is a training time for mostly everyone across the country who does what I do with CCC. I'm looking forward to it, except Jason hates me being gone. And speaking of my wonderful husband, we just celebrated our 3rd anniversary yesterday! Love being married to this man.

Natural Living

I'm always looking for good and healthy recipes. I came across these recipes at Kashi this morning. They look pretty good! I can't afford all the organic ingredients, but by changing it up a bit they could still work. Anyone have other websites to share?

Healthy Living

Correction "big hit"

A huge praise in our family this week! For quite a while the Lord has had the men in our familyin transition with their jobs. They still are in transition but this week one of them gets to use 
his talents. Our bro-in-law Sam is a punter and nfl free agent. He's been unsigned this year 
but gets to play this Sunday with the Redskins. Here's a fun video from him playing last year. 
It's really worth watching!

Venture 2010 Promotion

Here comes the promo for Winter Conference 2010!

Check it out by clicking here-             Venture 2010

B'day Marathon

We made some great memories the past few days celebrating Jason's birthday. Les Mis and dinner at Rhinelander with my parents Saturday. Football and cake with Jason's family Sunday. Dinner and a movie together Monday. We saw "This is it":) Jason loves MJ. And a Blazer's game last night, too bad they couldn't win!

New Staff Fall Follow-up Conference

Every Spring and Fall I get to be a part of these conferences that are a follow-up after our new CCC missionaries go through their initial training. I love these follow-up conferences. So much great stuff going on, but also a lot of tough stuff.

A week or so before the conference I set some specific support-raising goals with three of the staff who would be attending. After a few months out on the support trail I evaluate how they are doing and set up some realistic goals for each person. Usually the goals are intended for those struggling, but this time I set goals for those doing well and not so well.

Reyshawn is a huge football player joining staff to work at the University of Washington. Originally from Los Angeles, he's been developing his ministry prayer and support team in Montana. It's been a challenge with limited amounts of people to talk with. 5 days before the follow-up conference I asked him to come up with some realistic support goals for the next month. I suggested $100 a week, for a total of $400 by the end of the month. Reyshawn said no, he wanted to go for $800, $200 a week. And he wouldn't budge, even though I tried to talk him down! At the time he was at about 15% of his support goal...

So 5 days later at the conference he casually mentions to me that he is now at 35%. I thought he was joking! In 5 days he had seen over $600 in new monthly support come in! More than he had seen the whole 2 months before that.

Devin & Nikole have been working full-time jobs to make ends meet until their support comes in. They had been meeting goals well, but I still asked them to come up with some goals the week before the conference. Devin immediately said $1000 monthly, which threw his wife for a loop! She said $500. So we compromised on $750...

A week later at the conference, they had seen over $650 in new monthly support come in! I firmly believe that it is the Lord who brings in the support and ministry teams for each of us. And I believe that He wants us to pray specifically and ask Him for big things. I love seeing Him show up, and being a part of challenging others in their faith to believe Him for all things.

New missionaries from all over the nation.

Alex

JoAnna

Talking about Calling...

Women of the Northwest

Jesse & Megan

Devin & Nikole

October in Oregon

Well, I lost my camera after that camping trip this summer. Thus some of the lack of posting. That, and we've just been super busy. J & I took our annual fall trip through Hood River last weekend. WOW it was so gorgeous. Check out these pictures-

Camping with the folks

Jason and I always do a summer camping trip out near Bend, OR. We invited my folks along this year hoping it would be a nice get away for them. We had a great time exploring the Cascade Lakes Highway (I think that's what it was called:). Also, floated the Deschutes one day, which was a blast. Then the last day our dear friends Paul, Karyn and Philip came by our campsite. Philip got a little dirty in the river so we gave him a little bath in the dish tub. SO cute!

Colorado

Our fun trip out to Crusade Staff Conference. These are actually my sister's pictures. She and her husband Sam came up to the conference as guests with us. Super fun!

On the drive to CSU

Steve Douglass gave on talk on 10 reasons why he believes the Great Commission will be fulfilled in our lifetime. Very good talk.

The New Staff Celebration about 350 New Staff.

My dear friends Tammy and Adena

Out to dinner at this cool Brazilian BBQ place.

Letter from Jason

I thought I would post the letter that Jason just wrote about his trip if anyone is interested:)

I am back from Mozambique and I had an excellent time. Thank you for your investment in this trip! As you know, we have been praying about joining Mike Parker and All Nations Ministries (ANM) and my trip with him to Africa was a chance to work together and gain a larger vision for what he does.

We traveled to Maputo, which is the capitol of Mozambique. It’s a beautiful city situated on the coast of the Indian Ocean. It has the feel as if you’re on the Mediterranean. As we drove four hours north from Maputo to Xia-Xia, I could not believe how beautiful the coastline and ocean views were. And as we past small villages and towns, I noticed how advanced it appeared compared to other parts of Africa that I have seen.

First, there was an effective sanitation system and so streets, roadways, and towns did not have the huge piles of rubbish smoldering everywhere. Apparently, this was one of the benefits of Soviet Communism the years they were involved there since every “comrade” was to have a job – including street sweepers and trash disposers.

Second, the southern portion of the country is experiencing an influx of money and job creation. This is due to several factors such as business opportunities, tourism, and the development of resort hotels along the coast line. Also, it is believed that 20% of the men work in South Africa in the mines or in seasonal jobs. They tend to stay for a year or more and send money home to Maputo. This has improved the lives of many in the southern portion of Mozambique.

But…despite the outward appearances the country is very dark spiritually. The middle to northern portion is heavily influenced by Islam and what is called “Folk Islam” which is a mix of Islam and African Spiritism. The Southern part of the country is influenced by a cult known as Zionism. It is an indigenous South African religion that mixes Christianity, Old Testament rituals, and traditional African spiritism and ancestor worship. About 30% of the country is actively involved with Zionism, maybe more. I could not help but think how desperately they need to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ clearly explained so that they would be freed from sin and bondage to Zionism, Spiritism, and Ancestor Worship.

As I look at this photo of the sun setting over Maputo, I can only think and pray for Mozambique Malachai 1:11 “For from the rising of the sun even

to it’s setting, My Name will be g

reat among the nations”.

Ranae and I thank you for your prayers as we continue to pray about our future. We are fully confidant that God has a plan. Most importantly we want to be where He wants us to be. We haven’t made any decisions yet and feel like the Lord is telling us to still wait and pray. I had a lot of my questions answered and really connected well with Mike Parker. This trip was a key step in determining whether or not this ministry is what God is calling me to. Thank you again for partnering with me!

Jason

John 12:27-28

Right now I am storm tossed. And what am I going to say? 'Father, get me out of this?' No, this is why I came in the first place. I'll say, ' Father, put your glory on display'. - Jesus

John 12:27-28 (The Message)

thanks for praying!

I'm really blown away by how many people I've already heard from after sending out my last prayer letter a few days ago. Thank you for praying for my family. Especially for my parents. I can't thank you enough. We look forward to seeing what the Lord has ahead for them. If you're not on our mailing list and you want to be let me know. You can read the letter at ministryupdates.org/green. It also has an update on us and Jason's trip to Mozambique. Fun picture of my parents huh? They celebrated 35 years of marriage this year.

Got some pictures from my sis Laura from the wedding

Busy busy busy...

The last of the Maddox girls is now officially married. Which is part of the reason I haven't updated lately:) We've been busy with the wedding, family in town, etc. I don't have any pictures, but I'm sure I'll get some from one of my sisters. It was a beautiful wedding and now back to the regular schedule! Actually though this week will still be busy on the Green side because Jason's younger brother Jaaron (in the navy) just got back from 6 months on the U.S.S. Kidd.

The trip to Africa was really a great time. I think that we are still processing it and where it is the Lord wants us. Jason loved being over there, seeing what God is doing and just getting some of his questions answered. But we both feel like we are still suppose to wait... Not easy. But we are on the same page. Thank you for all of your prayers while he was gone, and for your continued prayers as we seek the Lord's will.