The New Grace Course

Exciting! The New Grace Course is available!

Find the Grace Course at FICM or on Right Now Media.

You're invited to Freedom in Christ in Michigan

 I know these don't look perfect but I wanted you to know you're invited - welcomed! 

Here is the information:

25 Amazing Years!

 Josh and I celebrated 25 years of marriage on June 18, 1999!

We have been saving $2 a week since we got married for a special 25th anniversary.  We invested the money and it doubled so we could go away together and celebrate 25 years!  After praying about the options we decided to go back to Barbados to celebrate.  In 1998 Josh and I served in Babados with YWAM.  We used that summer to pray and ask God if we were to get married and serve the Lord together.  By the end of our time with YWAM the director called us into his office and invited us to come back to train and lead a team to Africa someday.  Although we never did go back, we did feel this was God's confirmation that He wanted us to get married and service Him together - and we did go to Africa.  So going back to Barbados seemed right and special.

The end of July Josh and I enjoyed a perfect 25th anniversary celebration.  God blessed us with a wonderful place to relax and have fun.  I loved our quiet place overlooking the Caribbean, our meals on the balcony, snorkeling twice a day holding hands while discovering God's amazing underwater creation - even sea turtles!  We enjoyed exploring the island and culture.  We even found YWAM again and revisited the special memories of serving together that summer.  

We were intentional about not just vacationing but celebrating and renewing our marriage.  The most special part was getting dressed up and writing and saying our vows to each other.  Everything about it was beautiful!  Memorable.  Amazing.

I am so thankful!  I came home feeling so complete.  Honoring our marriage is a joy.  Oneness is a gift from God.  He was our foundation at our wedding, He has been the center of our marriage, He has filled us and led us for 25 years and He will continue to bless and use our marriage for His glory.  I thank God for Josh.  A husband who loves me like Jesus - selflessly.  

c

YWAM Barbados

Our Renewed Vows

The girls and I pulled out my wedding dress and tried it on.
Doesn't quite fit anymore but it was fun to see Lydia and Grace in it.

FIC Uganda 2023/24 Video

To God be the glory for all He did in and through Freedom in Christ Uganda in 2023/24!

Sharing

 Lydia shared a great blog post on her time on DTS with YWAM.

https://shaarda-beauty.blogspot.com/2024/08/new-beginnings-dts-part-1.html?m=1

Grace also shared on her blog a post saying goodbye to Uganda.

https://graceshaardablog.blogspot.com/2024/07/dear-uganda.html?m=1

Be blessed, I was!

Speaking Schedule and Grace Course

 We’d love to see you and share with you all God is doing in Uganda!  Here is our speaking schedule while we are in Michigan:

July 14 Oakwood CRC in Belding, MI

July 21 Friendship CRC in Gaylord, MI

Aug. 4 East Martin CRC

Aug. 11 Highland CRC

Sept. 1 Calvin CRC in McBain

Sept. 8 Vogel Center CRC

Sept. 15 Jamestown CRC

Sept. 22 Rudyard CRC

Sept. 29 Lake City CRC

Oct. 6 Georgetown CRC

Oct. 13 Prosper CRC

Oct. 20 Kelloggsville CRC

Nov. 3 Ivanrest CRC

Nov. 10 Lucas CRC

Nov. 17 Cadillac CRC

Nov. 24 Aetna CRC

Dec. 8 Faith Community CRC

We are also very excited to invite you to attend the FIC Grace Course Josh will be leading at East Martin CRC on Sunday evenings.  Please join us in learning about and experiencing God's grace in our lives!

Dates:

Oct. 6 and 20, Nov. 3, 17, 24 and Ec. 1, 8 and 15

*Stay turned for dates for the Freedom in Christ Course at Jamestown CRC on Wednesday evenings!

College Bound

The day has finally come.  Lydia and Grace are leaving for college.  Time to say goodbye to their home and to Uganda.  We are all holding both excitement and heaviness in our hearts.  We are so thankful Lydia knows God is calling her to Moody Bible College and Grace is called to Dordt University.  To see them trust God as He led, called and provided for them is a blessing.  They are ready and going to do great!  But to go means to leave, goodbyes, closure, change and grieving.  This is not leaving home in the States to go to college.  This is leave your family and country.  Never to be back in the same way again.  A letting go to close friends here, your church, traditions, culture...  Leaving behind the comfort and security of home and family.  All our meals together, games every night, school each day together, ministry together, travels, and daily joys and sorrows.  It's not taking the next step, but a big leap.  I feel for my children.  It isn't easy.  My girls' goodbyes and doing it on their own at college while their parents are in another country.  And our younger kids who don't want them to go.  Makai tells them regularly, "Don't go!  I'm going with you.  I'm going to hide in your suitcase."  Emalai is sad.  Change...it's part of life, it isn't bad, but it can hurt.  I think we will feel incomplete without our girls.  They fill our home and lives and so it's hard to let go.  Our house is made for 7.  My heart aches as we have one last supper all together on the porch enjoying good conversation and as I say goodnight to them one last night in their beds in our home.  My heart is so heavy...

God has been speaking to me in this season of change and loss.  Calling me to trust Him once again.

Deut. 28:3 and 6 You will be blessed in the city and in the country.  You will be blessed when you come in and when you go out.

Joshua 1:9 Be strengthened and have courage.  Do not be frighten or discouraged, FOR the Lord your God will be with you WHEREVER you go!

Lydia and Grace, you will leave a hole here in Obule and in our home.  I know your hearts remain here as you go.  You fill our home with joy, laughter, conversations, fun, creativity, and love.  You are my daughters but you've also been my friends.  I will miss the companionship you gave me.  Thank you for all your help!  For helping to homeschool your siblings, playing endless hours with them, helping around the home, and which allowed me to be apart of the ministry.  I am so thankful you were involved in the ministry here and apart of the church, youth group and community.  Everyone loves you guys because they know they are loved by you!  You belong to this place and people.  And so it's so hard to leave...  God goes before you and with you my precious daughters.  I am so very proud of you!  Proud of you for thriving as TCKs.  Proud of you for seeking and following the Lord's call in your lives.  Proud of you for doing hard things.  I love you and God loves you too!!!  May God use you as you study and prepare for His calling in your life.

Pictures from the day we flew to Uganda - Feb. 2007 - Lydia 3 years old and Grace was 1 years old.

And pictures from 2024 as they leave Uganda for college in the States.

This was the day we arrived in Soroti.

And today...oh how far we've come.

Our family then (2007) and now (2024).

This is the first video the girls made of their lives as missionary kids.

This is the second video of their lives in the village of Obule.

And a last video as the girls leave their home for college.

Sorting and packing up 17 years of their lives - and still smiling at this point!