THE WHOLE PACKAGE INCLUDES SOCKS

The whole package includes socks

or how to feel over-committed without over committing.

So I got a little note from Ana's school that said that Ana took her shoes off at school and the teachers had to put fresh socks on her because hers were wet.

Since she did not have socks with her change of clothes in her backpack the teachers had to borrow socks from another student. And this is how the note ended: "...Please send the used socks back as well as send a 'whole package' of fresh clothes for Ana, including socks. Thank you."

So there I was. "The whole package". I have never considered that sending a change of clothes to school included socks. My mind races. I am utterly embarrassed! I want those teachers to like me and know that I am a committed mom. I'm on top of things! But socks? At least in my mind, I never included socks. Socks were not even included in life in general. We lived in California and South Carolina. We wore sandals and flip-flops or Ana had orthopedic inserts which did not let Ana take her socks off and blocked any kind of moisture to get in (or out for that matter :-)!).

Of course, I will include socks from now on....

Just like I have to learn to include a pair of Gummistiefel (galoshes) - shoes for dirty, rainy weather, Hausschuhe - shoes for inside use only, Normale Schule - shoes for normal weather, Turnschuhe - PE slippers, Turnhose und T-shirt - PE clothes, Matsch Hose - pants for wet weather, long underwear, long socks, Matsch Jacke - jacket for wet weather, lunch (HEALTHY THAT IS - even though I have discovered that smearing Nutella on a semi dark slice of bread does pass as semi healthy, and if you then include some slices of apple or cucumber - you are sooo set!).

Gummiestiefel

Yes, of course, I knew that all these things are needed in Germany. I respect that, like that, support that..... 

....but I never had to make sure 3 or 4 more people besides myself had to have them.

And of course I also have to make sure that we are always wearing appropriate clothes for the right weather. Cold weather - thick sweater, pants and underwear and big time warm jacket, semi cold weather - semi thick sweater, semi thick pants! And I know I've forgotten something!

 

And then I have to still make sure that the boy wears boy clothes, and the girls have at least something that looks girly! I have to make sure that the sweaters are at least long enough to cover the belly button, and if not wear something over it that is big enough to cover my insufficiency as a "kids dressing expert" - but wait - that's my own "whole package".

I was so relieved when all the kids were set in their own classrooms. Because that meant I have a free morning to work on the 20 half opened boxes standing around. But quickly I discovered that it was a full-time job to just get all the items needed to cover all the needs my kids now have at school. You see, the brain of a German native works differently. It is easily going down the list of "the necessities", whereas my brain was a beach girl from the get go. "No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem!"

I am committed to fit in! I am over-committed! Yes, priorities. Making a big move into a country that wears at least 3 more layers of clothes then what I have been used to, makes my head fuzzy and my priorities frizzy! Or is that vice versa?

I find myself being more committed to pleasing everybody around me before they possibly get to the point of thinking badly of me. In this new place, in this new culture I am fearful of hurting other peoples feelings of being looked at as a "typical American", and I fear I will fail right from the get go. I am fearful to be looked at as lazy and culturally insensitive, and in all this pressure I don't take the time to be safe. I'm committed to everything around me without committing to the one priority that would keep me sane. 

Fear of man, becomes a trap,
    but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe. (Proverbs 29:25)

Must I say more?

I tend to want to please people - but does that honor God?  - NO

It is you oh Lord I want to please, it is you oh Lord who hears my prayers

It is you who listens, and answers, and protects, and prioritizes! I do not have to fall into the trap of believing that I am loved only if I can please people! Whatever I do, I want to do "heartily, as for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23)

I am committed to understanding (or re-understanding) the German culture - but it has to be on God's terms!

so now....

....lets sit down with a cup of awesome German coffee, in this 
    very messy house and let God talk to me!

....lets make HIM our priority! 

....lets look forward to another day where yummy German bread
    and cheese and cake is readily available.

....lets love him first and and so have more than enough love left 
    over for others!

....lets full-heartedly embrace a new/old, unfamiliar/so very
    familiar culture!
...And we will give God the "whole package" including the socks!

Faith is an Issue of who has Authority

Faith is an issue of authority. Whose authority do you submit to and trust in? Do you believe that Jesus is the ultimate authority in the universe? If he is then we must fling ourselves into and onto his authority and mercy! That is true faith. You must believe that whatever he says happens in the universe will come to pass. For instance "my God will provide all your needs according to his riches in glory" do you believe that he has the authority to make that promise happen? If he has the authority to make it happen we must as a result place our faith in his ability to bring it to pass. If he can do it we should and must not lack in our faith it's a sure thing! I have been challenged with that lately that whatever Jesus has called us to, because he has the authority to call us, will also provide "according to His riches in Glory." We are really seeking to get to Germany, but it seems slow, but God has his timing, He has called us to Germany and He will get us there in His timing and assording to His Riches! I was recently taken aback again at the story of the Roman officer who had greater faith than anyone in all Israel becasue He believed in the Authority of Jesus to do anything! We are placing our faith in Him now to do what he has called us to do. Go to Germany and proclaim Him as the one and only true authority. Read this passage again for the first time and be blessed to trust Him also in His authority.

Roman Servant healed

"When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people, he returned to Capernaum. At that time the highly valued slave of a Roman officer was sick and near death. When the officer heard about Jesus, he sent some respected Jewish elders to ask him to come and heal his slave. So they earnestly begged Jesus to help the man. “If anyone deserves your help, he does,” they said, “for he loves the Jewish people and even built a synagogue for us.” So Jesus went with them. But just before they arrived at the house, the officer sent some friends to say, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of such an honor. I am not even worthy to come and meet you. Just say the word from where you are, and my servant will be healed. I know this because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my soldiers. I only need to say, ‘Go,’ and they go, or ‘Come,’ and they come. And if I say to my slaves, ‘Do this,’ they do it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to the crowd that was following him, he said, “I tell you, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel!” And when the officer’s friends returned to his house, they found the slave completely healed." (Luke 7:1-10 NLT)

Let us put our faith and worship in Him because He is worthy.

Being grateful!

....and we moved again. Yes, we could have stayed in our first miracle home till January, but decided to move right after Christmas (to another miracle missionary house) so the kids could get adjusted before they had to go back to school. At first  though we were thinking of moving right before Christmas, but some very wise friends (also missionaries who had a period when they had to move a lot) spoke truth into our life's reminding us that Christmas is just not the same for the children in a brand new home. Very grateful for sound advice!
So we enjoyed Christmas in the environment we had gotten used to and moved afterwards with the help of our family. Now that is something new and wonderful...to have family help. Very Grateful to be surrounded by aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents! 
 
In the past month all our energy went into job searches and relocating our family. It is not easy and we need your prayer and support.

Ana: always seems to be going back into the habit of taking her diaper off with poop in it when she is in a unfamiliar new home. That means piles and piles of very dirty laundry almost daily for the first two weeks. We try to be on top of it and use this as a opportunity to continue to potty train her, but with two other kids, cooking, and doing other (move-in) routines, she will have a few unsupervised moments every day. We are waiting for a appointment with a Developmental Pediatrician to get help through a Behavioral Specialist. 
Lydia: is now full time at Ben Lippen. Our new home is much further away from both schools. Since we cannot get transportation for Ana, it is easier to pick up both girls around the same time so we do not have to pay a lot for gas. Lydia is trying so hard to be strong and happy and encouraging to all of us (beyond her years, really!) but her anxiety shows itself in nightmares and tears at school.
Caleb: is active! Very active. Just a fun little 2 year old, interested in everything, eating everything but the food on his plate, much more courageous then his mother and just happy and carefree. If we both find jobs we will have to find care for him.
 
Our time frame for Germany is now to be there some time in summer 2014. We are thankful for many new friends and people who are interested in the path God is leading us.
With this new time frame, we are now getting to the place where we urgently need jobs, since we do not want to live off our savings.
Richard: has two very exciting possibilities - we will know more by the end of January. 
Simone: Is looking to expand her teaching. There are several part-time jobs that have to be considered and decided on.
When times are different then what you expected them to be, when your dreams are put on hold, when God's answer is WAIT and you don't quite understand why, it is easy to start complaining. But over the past years of God revealing himself faithfully to me as a women and mother I know that focusing on the things he IS providing right now will immediately lift my spirits and I start living with a grateful spirit. I know that Emmanuel - GOD IS WITH US - is with us.
 
In the meantime we create a family routine that will become normal where ever in the world we are, serving our faithful God and trusting in his lead.

Grateful that the kids are content, love each other and are healthy.

(This is Lydia, hiding in Ana's sensory sock...)

Grateful for a successful surgery. (Permanent ear tubes and a hearing test which she passed with flying colors. No hearing loss!) 

 

Grateful that this did not happen to the trailer while we were traveling 3000 miles from CA to SC....

Grateful for going ice-skating in flip-flops, finding a snowman on the beach,

 

and taking pictures of our name on Street Road signs....

Grateful to spend time with family!

Grateful for going from no-shave November to this....

(no comment!)

Grateful for part-time work!

Grateful for a brand-new, fenced-in back yard to explore and a helmet that fits Caleb's head (found at the new house....)

 Grateful for free tickets to a very "exciting" basketball game!

Grateful for Chick-fil-a!!!!

And grateful for a personal interior designer.

October update!

 

Dear friends,

it has been a while since we gave you an update. I can't believe it has been 7 weeks since we left California. It is odd to find yourselves in a mode to think that our time in San Leandro has now become past tense. Our thoughts are often over at the West Coast and we often talk about people and experiences. God has widened our horizon and given us the opportunity to expand our experience with him and our trust in his provision. I find myself often being filled with thankfulness while thinking about our journey.     

                                        

Columbia has a different flare then Oakland and we are rejoicing in the family friendly environments and the overall feeling of safety. Especially in the neighborhood we are living, we find ourselves surround by family and friends from our church and retired professors from the Seminary right around the corner. How good to see a person walking their dog and to know they are possibly on a prayer walk and are lifting up their neighborhood to our GOD. WOW.

We have found a church. Funny enough the name is 

"Riverside Community Church". God has lead us from Creekside to Riverside....haha. I'm
wondering if the next church we are going to go to will have something to do with oceans or lakes...
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 (Broad River in Columbia, SC)

 

 

Ana is about to have her first IEP.

Please lift us up in your prayers for we are in need of new hope and faith every day. Today I first want to focus on our need for prayer for Ana.

We are going to meet with Psychologist, Therapist and Teachers that know her now for about 6 weeks. We are confident that her team is excellent and are very ecstatic about phenomenal teachers in her life. Since Ana has started talking a lot we are more aware of the need of regular and focused mouth/oral therapy to help her speak more clearly. Please pray for us to have the discipline to continue with the Therapy we started with Heather at the Down Syndrome Connection in Danville, CA, as well as find therapy here in Columbia that will enhance this path. We know that there is a therapist in Charleston that works with Talk Tools, but Charleston is about 2 hours away and so we could not go there on a regular basis.

We are also praying to get help with a behavioral Therapist who could guide our efforts to help Ana get potty trained. Since she is very uncomfortable with a wet or soiled diaper she continues to take them off and henceforth spill whatever is in the diaper onto her bed and/or other surroundings. She will go to the restroom by herself and when I/we ask her. She can tell us if she needs to go but it is very inconsistent and she often only realizes that she had to go potty after the fact. We are praying for a way to help her with a practical routine to continue this training and find a happy way for all of us. With 2 other children in the house my attention is often divided and Richard and I are not able to help her.

(having fun in the warm Atlantic Ocean water)

Another big prayer is the need for a job for Richard.

Since I have started working at the University and teach Tuesdays and Wednesdays all day Richard will need to stay home those days to take care of Caleb. We knew that we are not looking for a full time job for either one of us but in Richard's line of work that is a very difficult thing to find. Richard has had plenty of interested churches but most of them are unable to hire him for only 3-6 months or the pay is not compatible with the time and work he would have to invest. Please pray for comfort for Richard in time of searching as well as furthering our support raising efforts. We are praying for a part time job that pays decently and leaves enough time to raise support.

Support Raising:

In general we are trying to focus on getting to know old friends again and making new friends. That in itself is a fulltime job and with 3 kids and me working and Richard taking on odd jobs here and there we are pulled in many different directions. Our desire to get to Germany is pushing us forward but our focus gets distracted by every day life.

We very much would like to hear from you all. Please write us on this blog, who you are and how you are doing. We love to get your feed back.

Until then,

God's rich blessings!

The Moore Family

Little ones to Him belong. They are weak but HE is strong!"

We have to stop some times and just ponder that little truth. It is often a bit of a side thought....Oh, Yeah great, and by the way Jesus loves me...yay, yay, yay.
It actually needs to be my EVERYTHING! That the son of God, creator of the universe, who sacrificially gave up his companionship with God and died on the cross so we can live a life that has forgiveness, joy and peace beyond our own comprehension is just that....beyond our comprehension.

We have a lot going on right now.

Richard is getting ready for the last House Boat Camp with the Generation 24/7 Ministry and I am basically keeping the kids entertained as well as selling one big furniture item after another. We got a few moving bids from big companies like Allied, United, and Mayflower, and have decided that it is too expensive to move anything more then just the basics. So we are only taken books we cannot replace and clothing. We have not decided yet if we should ship everything directly to Germany (where there is very little storage opportunity without having to pay a lot) or take it all to South Carolina and then ship it from there. - Please pray for peace of mind and clear understanding on what we need to do.
 
And so I come back to "Yes, Jesus loves me".

Richard and I where sitting down to watch the movie "Lincoln" last night. (It was a bit slow and I personally fell asleep after 5 minutes, but that is what I do with every movie, so don't let that be the indicator of how good the movie was...). Ana sleeps next door to the TV room and suddenly we heard her singing.
We turned the TV off and just listened. All was dark and silent and we heard her voice forming a melody and creating words. It was clearly the song verses and chorus of "Yes Jesus loves mEEEE". Not just is she saying words she also hit the melody pretty accurately. It does not seem like anything big, but we as her parents who have been praying for her to know God, and to know that she is deeply loved and wanted by the creator of the universe this was a special moment beyond description. So long we have waited to hear words and a voice from her and now the very first sentences she is forming are geared towards her God and King. If we are rejoicing over this worship we are experiencing how much is God and the Angels rejoicing! In German we call it "Jauchzet"!

 And as so many things with our kids, we are reminded about the real truth and the actual importance of life in the moments when everything is easy and reduced to simple truths.


 "...little ones to Him belong. They are weak but HE is strong!"

Prayer request May 13, 2013

We are so grateful for your prayers. Let me give you some updates.

- our family is getting ready to enjoy a Joni and Friends camp the second week of June. Please pray for safe travel and health. We are asking that all the volunteers feel especially blessed and encouraged by our Lord.
- we then will travel again to Chicago at the end of June to meet with other Missionary Candidates at Teach Beyond. Our whole family is flying and we are excited to meet people we've been talking with for a long time. We are still praying for funds to come in so we can purchase our plane tickets.
- July will be the month for Richards last House boat camp. The Family will join him till Wednesday and then come back home. We are praying for safe travels as well as safety for the kids at camp.
- We are thinking about putting our house on the market in mid August. We are praying for a quick and satisfying sale.

Thank you for your prayers.
The Moores.

The "not quite here" - and the "almost gone" - life

I was able to learn about a blog written by a Missionary to an Asian country. The title of the blog is "Stressed-out Missionary". In her blog she writes about the turmoil and ups and downs of culture shock. What I really appreciated was her honesty about anger. I struggle with anger. Often I am angry at myself for not being able to keep up with housework a little better, or not having time to hang out with friends. I am angry to have to stay at home and I am angry to have to leave home to go to work. Most of all I am sometimes angry that things are not easy. I do not want to stand on the path of patience and endurance. I want things for once to be quick and easy... and I am scared of the reality of fundraising. 

Yes it is hitting home. Support raising is a exhausting emotional roller-coster. I am constantly praying to not loose friends over this but that might have already happened. We are starting our family on such a new path! To do that step fully I have to start saying goodby to those parts of my life that have been a wonderful constant companion...like the places I work, the students I teach, the hours I invested to prepare for worship at Creekside, the hours I sang with my good friend Maranatha, leading worship at women's bible studies, or the most recent women's retreat, the hours I spend on the Freeways I 580, or I 880. The moments spend at the small Safeway Store on Bancroft and Dutton....all is coming to an end.

So we are getting to know a whole new life. The life of a "not quite here anymore" and the "almost gone" life. Even though I am an adventurous person I do like to plan. I like to know that there are friends waiting on the other side, and even though I know there are new friends I am not ready to let go and not ready to invest in a different form of friendship.

Having written all this, I have to say I had to smile while I read the blog "Stressed-out Missionary". I laughed out loud when I read that she threw her bike in the sand and screamed at her kids....Really? Missionaries do that?
Yes, and Missionary candidates do that too. We are not extra holy....maybe we are sometimes extra hole-ie...our brain that is....because we have too much going on and we forget that we are not alone in this. I am so very grateful for the support that has already come in, and is continuously coming in. I am grateful for the encouragement that we see through the friends that are sticking around. I am grateful for the closeness this new adventure has brought to our small family of 5. And I am grateful for the prayer support that is lifting us up when we just threw our bike in the sand and screamed at our children.

"For this reason, since the day YOU heard about us, please don't stop praying for us. Please continually ask God to fill us with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives..." Colossians 1:9
"We want to live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that we may have great endurance and patience." Colossians 1:11

One of my biggest wishes for myself and my family during this time of support raising is, that we may remain thankful and joyful just like it says in Colossians 1. That we can build on the knowledge that in our weakness HE, our wonderful father, is strong. That we are not walking this path alone but leaning on his everlasting arms. We do not have to do this out of our own strength. This is not coming from a overdeveloped sense of adventure, but out of a calling that there is more to do for us and our family; that this is not the end but the beginning.

PRAYER REQUESTS MAY 2016

Dear friends, we covet your prayers for our family today.

Prayer requests for May 2016
1. Praise for an encouraging time at Acts 29  Church Planting Conference and great contact to Church planters in Germany
2. There is an urgent need for more monthly supporters. our salary was cut 25% due to fewer monthly supporters! (GIVE HERE)
3. For more Gospel opportunities for Richard & Simone with the sports and music clubs
4. Praise that Simone has plenty of extra work on the side, but pray for balance and energy
5. Please pray that Richard would have success in writing the youth ministry and church planters training program coming up in 2017
6. Pray for Richard that he remains diligent in language, and for more donations to that end
7. Praise that the kids feel more and more at home in Germany
8. Praise God for a new home that meets our needs and is less expensive!
9. Praise for help with Ana in after school program.
10. Please pray we would receive communication device for Ana from our insurance

RESPOND WITH YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS WE WOULD LOVE TO PRAY FOR YOU!

Her vomit included blueberries!

Today Lydia and Caleb slept at the same time. From 12:30 to 2:30. That is very rare and I enjoyed every minute of it. Ana is at school till 2:30 and will be put on the bus to arrive home at 4:00. Around that time Richard will come home and I leave for work.

That is our routine.
Every week is the same.....but not.
On Tuesday last week Richard and I got the tragic news of the death of our friend Randy Woodell. His funeral was yesterday.
On Tuesday, after Richard left to be we his wife Gail in San Fransisco, Ana's teacher called me to pick her up since she was vomiting. She continued to vomit in my car. Her vomit included blueberries. Since she vomited unto Caleb's seat he was delighted to pick up some blueberries to eat. I was screaming, Lydia whom I had told to hold one of Caleb's hands (so he could not pick up any vomited blueberries) was screaming, Caleb was screaming.....Ana was singing: "Yes Jesus loves me...." since she was feeling much better after,
as you know,
vomiting in my car,
and was now able to continue singing along the kids music CD that was still running.....
So that's were we are....

Her vomit included blueberries! Why do I now find that funny. Almost uplifting.

It's because we can know for sure what we feed our children will be digested and sometimes it will show in what they sing or say. What we feed ourselves everyday will come forth one day in those moments we did not think we will see it again.

I know this is kind of macabre, but sometimes you have to make the best out of a bad situation. And I am thankful that only I got the stomach flu this weekend, and not Caleb, even though he did eat the blueberries. I am going to trust that even if the situation looks dark and dreary, I am uplifted by little "Yes Jesus loves me's" .

Grieving!

A very dear friend and father of my sister-in-law Randy Woodell passed away suddenly on Tuesday morning while on vacation in San Francisco. His dear wife Gail was here with him. Richard was able to go and be with her until her two kids arrived in San Francisco. We were grateful to have the opportunity to be part of their lives and grieve the loss of a wonderful, deep, thoughtful, and caring man, Husband, Father, and Grandfather. I can't imagine the depth of loss my sister (in-law) must be feeling, and am at a loss of words. Please pray for the wife, children and grandchildren.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
Hebrews 13:5b
"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
Matthew 5:4
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”
Romans 8:11
"If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you"
Revelation 21:4
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."
Matthew 11:28
“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail,but God is the strength of my heart,and my portion for ever.
Psalm 23
1 The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,
     he leads me beside quiet waters,
3 he restores my soul.
     He guides me in paths of righteousness
     for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk
     through the valley of the shadow of death,
     I will fear no evil,
     for you are with me;
     your rod and your staff,
     they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me
     in the presence of my enemies.
     You anoint my head with oil;
     my cup overflows. 6 Surely goodness and love will follow me
     all the days of my life,
     and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
John 14:1-2
"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
“Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Resting in Him
I do not understand, dear Lord,
         Why this has come, nor see
Why days are dark and night so long,
         And clouds o’ershadow me.
Dost thou not understand, My child,
         Why clouds o’ercast the sky?
That without rain no rainbow bright
         Could be, and flowers would die?
So in thy life, My precious one,
         Shall I send only sun
To wither, scorch what dormant lies;
         And little raindrops shun?
Come lay thy weary head and rest
         Upon my breast—nor pine.
This is from Me; I know what’s best
         Thy beauty to refine.
Just trust Me when the paths unknown
         I lead—perchance with pain.
Lean hard, My child, take thou My hand;
         Someday I’ll make it plain.
There may be mountains rough and steep,
         There may be valleys lone,
There may be jagged rocks or thorns,
         But thou art ne’er alone.
For I’ll go with thee every step;
         Thy grief and pain I’ll share.
So lean the harder, child of Mine,
         I’ve placed the burden there.
Dear Lord, I may not understand
         The way Thou leadest me;
Suffice to know that Thou, O God,
         Thy path ahead doeth see.
         -- Carnell K. Wilmoth

Pray us to Germany

Lydia and Ana playing

Ana enjoys playing in Granny Gails car

the life saving double stroller

Lydia loves her carrots

It is a new week. I am getting the kids dressed and fed. Richard started Strep throat on Wednesday last week and is still really tired, mainly because he could not rest really over the weekend. He spoke at a men's breakfast on Saturday and had church on Sunday. I had to work on Friday (I teach at a music Studio in Livermore) and we had a recital for our adult students on Saturday afternoon. Once again a weekend is gone. We did have our first "Pray us to Germany" prayer meeting. So grateful for those friends who were able to come and pray with us. It was so encouragement to hear others formulate words asking our big God to create a way for us to go.

 I wanted to share our main prayer requests.

• We are at 16% of our fundraising efforts. We are praying that everybody who has promised and said they would support us especially monthly would find a way to send their pledges in.

• We have started going to small groups and sharing our vision and if interested, our needs. Please pray that we will find more people who are interested in becoming part of our team.
• With Richard being sick we sometimes loose focus of our priorities. Please continue to pray to find appropriate time for everything without neglecting the needs of our children.
• Simone will be sharing about our new Ministry in Germany, at her WOW bible study on Wednesday.
• Richard will be out at night a lot, connecting to all the different small groups at Creekside. He will have to cover all the groups before they go on summer break at the end of May.
• Simone will be leading worship for a women's retreat at the end of April (26.-28.)

Thank you for your support and your prayers. We trust that God will give you peace and joy for this new week.

God bless you!

The Privilege of Raising a Child With Special Needs...

My brother came to visit. He had gone to Peru to check out a possibility for himself and his family to work at a hospital in a small village in the Andes mountains. Samuel is a anesthesiologist but his heart has always been beating for missions. As we talked through his thoughts on Peru I reflected on our path that led us to finally follow God's calling to go to Germany. Just like Samuel we always had a passion for Missions. We knew that there would be a day we would go. We started going, stepping out in small steps through our English Camps we started at Creekside Community Church. Every time we saw the need in Germany our heart was aching. 
I personally grew up on the mission field. My parents were missionaries to the Chuuk Islands in Micronesia. We stayed on one of the outer island called Polowat. My memories of missions work and living in a foreign country are filled with wonder and amazement. When we returned to Germany I knew God was calling me, but I also had the feeling he was calling me to a "first world country". I kind of felt bad about that for going to a first world country. It looked like I wanted the comfort and security of all the fancy things these kind of societies can offer.
Well,
and then we had Ana.
We know a wonderful family who was prepping to go to Africa. They were expecting their 4th child and were excited to go as bible translators to a remote place. Their 4th child had Down Syndrome. She also had a severe heart problem and with a deep feeling of failure and a huge amount of questions like: "WHY GOD, WHY!" they had to give up their dream of being missionaries in a third world country.
Having said this, are we not in God's will if we plan for something, convinced God is leading, and then stand still and have to do something else....
No,
everything that God does is a perfect way of leading us to the actual goal he has for us. Now we look back and understand why I/we have been called to a first world country. Even though we need all the medical support and educational advances a first world can provide for our special needs child, she also is opening doors we could never have dreamed of.
Children in general open doors we could never have dreamed of. We are excited to live and reach out to the community we are going to be part of just because we are a family with small children...just because God has granted us the privilege to raise a child with special needs.
Germany is a very success driven country. Many things they do they do very well. Imperfection is a sign of failure and an automatic disadvantage.
And again,
what a privilege to live as a family who embraces their child with special needs. To show that we love her because GOD MADE HER! He made our family to fit together and live for his glory. Lydia and Caleb will be little lights in a dark world because they love their sister. Yes, there will be an awareness that will come, but by God's grace we will all grow in our appreciation for his ways. 
Please pray for our children. Pray for my brother who is contemplating going into missions, pray for those families who are struggling to accept their child with special needs...pray for continuous joy.

Do everything whole heartedly!!! Tut alles mit Leib und Seele....!

Colossians 3:23-24 23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving. Was ihr auch tut, tut es mit Leib und Seele, so als wäre es für den Herrn und nicht für Menschen, im Wissen, dass ihr dafür vom Herrn das Erbe empfangen werdet. Dient Christus, dem Herrn! Kolosser 3,23-24 .

An Upward Journey

So, here we are. At the beginning of a new journey. I was told and encouraged by a good friend Kathy Greer to start blogging about what is going on in our lives and that is my plan from now on. I always wondered why people blog. Often I thought that bloggers really only think they are important and want to focus everyone's attention towards themselves. That is probably true for at least 80% of the bloggers out there. But then I started following blogs that where different. And this is how I understood them to be different. Everything they wrote was reflecting something beyond themselves. Some where blogging to shine light on a cause. In fact most of the blogs I am following are families talking about their special needs child and in so they are including and informing a community of like minded families. The blogs I personally find most uplifting are just that....uplifting....they lift our attention upwards. Upward means to me they include a loving overall power, maker, creator and savior who lives "up" in heaven, but mostly is their everyday lives. He is consistently a part of their sorrows and their joys. And that is where I can connect. That is what I want to reflect. Yes, it will be our family we are going to talk about in this blog but our family would not be our family without God and his son Jesus...so yes, we cannot but include him.
We believe God has made our family. He has given us 3 beautiful children. Funny, rambunctious 1 year old Caleb William (lovingly called Beebab by Ana),  beautiful, curly headed 4 year old Didi Hadassa (also called Lydia), and 6 year old Ana Katharina who God, in his wisdom, decided to give an extra chromosome.
Then there is Richard, head of our household and head of the Youth ministry department at Creekside Community Church and myself, Simone.
All of us are being called to go to Germany as Missionaries. Yes, all of us. We are one unit. Every one of us will form and guide our decisions we are going to make while preparing to leave California.
We are looking back on the path we have come and stand in awe and amazement how God has built and formed us and we are looking ahead in awe and amazement to welcome the new path and adventure he has planned for us....
Stay tuned!

Dare to give up clarity

Ann Voskamp

Dare to give up clarity — because God gives a call. Dare to give up life road maps — because God gives a relationship. Dare to live without answers — because God gives His hand. Dare to live by faith — not by feelings, formulas, facts or fences.
Nothing is impossible with God.

ABOUT US

Richard and Simone Moore have been Missionaries in Germany for two years. They have been working with The Theology & Innovation department of TeachBeyond for that time. They Minister to youth, churches, church plants, & ministry through music with the Theology & Innovation dept. of TeachBeyond in GERMANY.

The Moore's are responsible to raise 100% of their financial support and income. Please pray about coming onto their support team you can begin your journey in partnering with them in the gospel at their secure giving link HERE. Please pray about partnering with them in training Churches in Germany and throughout the world to be missional in their own context and in their own communities by being the hands and feet of Jesus.

Richard and Simone were long time youth pastor at Creekside Community Church in San Leandro, CA. They continue to implement what they learned at Creekside during those years. Creekside employs similar missional concepts in the San Francisco Bay Area. They continue to seek to spread God’s love and the message of his liberation and salvation among new friends in Germany.

The Moore's reach into the German community with music, family outreach, disability ministries, evangelism and discipleship. While Richard studies the language, Simone has started a music studio which she uses to reach out to families of similar interest and is making friends with many neighbors. 

The Moore's will not survive in this venture without your concerted and specific prayer for their work. Would you also please consider supporting us financially? There are three ways you could support the Moore's...

1) You could pledge to give to their MONTHLY SUPPORT. 

2) You could pledge to give to their YEARLY SUPPORT

3) You could become a monthly PRAYER PARTNER

If you feel God is calling you to partner with us financially, for the Gospel in Germany, then you can follow our personalized secure giving link HERE 

Thank you for visiting our site and learning about our ministry in Germany