So What’s Happening in NC?

So, I, Jamie, am sitting in a coffee shop…childless…yes, you heard that correctly…childless!!! This is the first time, unless you count a quick trip to Walmart, that I have had a few hours alone since little Gideon arrived. It is nice to sip on a hot cup of Joe and get a few things done….and simply enjoy the quiet!

We hit the ground running since we arrived here in North Carolina. Our time began with a Missions Conference at Parkview Baptist church and has followed with lots of dinners, coffee dates with potential partners, impromptu stops at a few churches as well as some much needed family time too! The Lord has been so gracious to keep us busy…we literally have had something everyday since we arrived.

Here was our table at the Missions Conference

Coffee + Cinnamon Rolls + Talking About Tanzania = a good night!

We created partnership booklets for an associational pastors meeting Chandler was able to attend.

We have been so busy that we have now deemed Wednesday as our official family day. We have realized if we did not plan for spending time as a family, it wouldn’t happen. This past Wednesday we made a trip to a beach in Emerald Isle! Talk about fun. My heart was SO full as I watched our girls enjoy the vastness of God’s creation. I don’t think Selah could remember going to the beach last year, so it was as if she was seeing the ocean for the very first time. Both girls LOVED being able to run and run and run! Miriam was pretty adventurous as she ran through the puddles of water that the tide had left. She even bent down to stick her face in a couple of times! That girl is a mess…literally and figuratively! Gideon slept through the whole adventure. They do say that being at the beach has a way of wiping you out!!!

Enjoying the vastness of God's creation! — Enjoying the vastness of God’s creation!

face in the water — Miriam testing out the water!

Gideon's first trip to the beach...and he slept right through it! — Gideon’s first trip to the beach…and he slept right through it!

We have been so encouraged by the meetings we have had with friends here! God is continuing to show us His faithfulness in the one-time gifts that we have received that will be able to go towards our airfare and set-up costs in Southeast Africa as well as through the 3 new monthly ministry partners that have joined our team! It’s been a blessing to continue to build relationships with these individuals….we look forward to how God will use them in reaching the lost in Southeast Africa!

I guess it’s about time I start wrapping things up…It’s getting close to lunchtime and I told Chandler I would be back to help out, as this can be a crazy hour in the Sharpe household!

Thanks for taking the time to follow our journey as we prepare for the field!

Making Him Known,

Jamie