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

Living in Columbia...

Hi everybody, here are some pictures from our first month in Columbia SC. We are starting a routine and are settling in.

Here is Caleb with a really bruised nose after having a run-in with a swing.

Richard's parents graciously loaned us their truck to have on hand as a second vehicle for the times one of us needs to be at work.

It's a stick shift - manual gear...and I (Simone) have done the driving test with a open coffee cup in hand.....not a good idea!!!

And yes, it is very hot. Perfect for playing outside in our baby pool.



Or washing our car...thank you Lydia and Caleb.

Caleb is finding out what you can do with a garden hose! 


























We are quite excited about all the "wild-life" we are getting to see... 
Here a humongous grass hopper.



Ana is waiting for her food during a special needs weekend retreat we got to attend.
She is saying: "if you have food you can put it right here..."



And yes, Ana loooooves her new school!



Lydia playing doctor still wearing her school uniform. Ben Lippen Elementary.



And Caleb finding out how to microwave our computer mouse and various other household items.....
...the microwave is staying unplugged until further notice...

Caleb helping daddy repair his vehicle.



The newest discovery is a drive through farmers market....very convenient at 103 degrees.....

And thats it for today.
We are grateful for Gods provision and healthy children. God is so very good and we are rejoicing in his love for us and encouragement....

In his Grip,
the Moores

Half way to Germany....!

 Hi there, 
WE HAVE ARRIVED in SOUTH CAROLINA,

and discovered that flying time to California is about 5-6 hours (more if you stop to change flights) and flying time to Germany is about 6-8 hours....

Yup, we are half way there.

6432 Winyah Dr., Columbia, SC 29203


We arrived Saturday afternoon and were welcomed by our South Carolina Family and our new landlords.
We were showered with groceries  and welcomed by the wonderful Southern Hospitality. The cousins brought toys and we stepped into our new home with full arms and a full heart, relieved and thankful for God's protection.

Adapting to a new culture:

A trip to Bi-Lo can tell you a lot about the new culture you are living in.

I did not know about all the ways you can eat pork. I don't think I have ever tried fried pork skin....

And I guess, if you want to fry it yourself you can buy it this way...

Another South Carolina delicacy...

And of course we can find familiar items like the good old potatoes (great prices!!!!)

Coffee creamer, Starbucks coffee and newtons....

...as well as an update on good old Tom Cruise...

Ok, so much for today. We will keep you updated.

I am pretty sure we will include some pictures of all the little animals we are finding here....Lydia loves the squirrels and thousands off butterflies. Some of them as big as our hands...

Approaching our last stay in Atlanta Georgia!

How could a week pass this fast and have the longest half an hours of our lives at the same time?! Well it passed fast because it is already Friday! We've seen so many states passed over so many borders, read so very many signs.... As I write this we have driven 2,580 miles since Monday! We had no hiccups nor accidents and only one scary moment on the road.

The longest half an hours are happening at night, when you are approaching your hotel address and you are beyond tiered and the minutes just do not pass. These  are the most dangerous moments on this road trip because we are not paying close attention and have the tendency to speed. I am so very grateful for all your text messages and phone calls. We feel carried and uplifted by your prayers! God has again (as always) guided our path and protected our steps!

From California to Arizona.

We were able to get to Williams, Arizona at 3 am Tuesday morning. On the way through the California dessert we encountered a beautiful rainbow that traveled with us for almost 30 minutes. Today we visited the breathtaking Grand Canyon, and on our way out we traveled with a beautiful Thunderstorm with hail. THank  you for your continuous prayers. We have felt Gods protection powerfully and are confident he will continue to be with us on this journey!

We are on our way.... Monday 8/26 at 10:45am

Our trailer is heavy, the jeep is weight down! Lord we commit our travels to you! Keep us safe without big events!

South Carolina and Germany Here We Come!!!

Well we are getting closer to leaving and things are really happening. We are now at 38% ( we at first thought we were at 50%  but we re-calculated and realized it is only 38%) of our target support raising of monthly pledges that we need. We still need those of you who are thinking about supporting us to start supporting us. Our goal is to be at 50% of our monthly pledge goal by the time we leave California in August. We have plenty of people giving one time and yearly gifts, but now we need people to really become partners and give to our monthly support. Things are happening we have maybe several consulting, and church opportunities lining up in South Carolina, and my new boss Benjamin Rudolph has informed me of a international conference happening in Germany that would like to have as their speaker a English Speaking person. How appropriate I speak English, and I preach too! Please pray for this that we would be able to be in Germany by August to be able to speak for this conference, and maybe English camps too that Teach Beyond does over the summers. They plan on having maybe 150 people attending this conference. Our goal is to be in Germany by February. We have a place to stay in South Carolina until January. We are going there to South Carolina to connect with family and friends and to raise more support, and then on to Germany when we are ready. Also we made it onto the front page of the LEAP Network website (Leadership Evangelism Abilities Practice). This ministry that we will be involved in will help and empower the Church to "Follow Jesus into Mission". Please help us get to Germany as soon as possible. God bless you! And thank you for your prayers and support!

Leap Network Website: http://www.leapnetwork.de/

 Donating on the Teach Beyond Website: http://www.teachbeyond.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=77

 Other Donation Options: http://richardandsimonemoore.blogspot.com/2013/02/donation-options-for-supporting-us.html