Seeing Spots!

Why no blog posts for such a long time? Well, shortly after my last post, we found out Ellie had received a lead role in the Greenwood Community Theaters production of 101 Dalmatians! Very exciting stuff. She loved every minute of it. But I am here to tell you there were lots and lots and lots and lots of minutes to be enjoyed! It was all worth it. What an educational experience. Priceless.
These last few weeks balancing the requirements of being in the show with all the other things of life have been an education for Ryan and I as well. Certainly for me anyway! I had no idea how difficult it was going to be to make the time to do fund raising for the mission field in the midst of our family life. I mean by the time I have done the laundry, taught school, prepared for school, cooked and cleaned, done play dates and field trips...let's face it, I'm beat! And ofcourse Ryan is still working 8 hours a day as well as his continuing resbonsibilities at church with music, youth and the diaconate. Sound a little crazy to you? Feels a little crazy to me. It becomes very tempting to get discouraged. A temptation I am afraid to say I have given in to on more than one occasion over the last few weeks!
Please pray for us! With the holidays approaching, life is not slowing down. It is our desire and prayer that we could have the money raised to set off to language school fall of 2011. When I look at our MTW account my sinful self cries Impossible! Pray that we as a family will continue to trust in God for all things concerning our family life and the mission field. Pray we will look to His perfect timing and trust in His will and grace to us.


Ellie in full costume as Spot, one of the stolen puppies! Although the play added a lot of busyness to our lives, this smile on her face made it more than worth while!

Karen

More than Money...

Fundraising. It strikes fear in the heart of the would be missionary. Even if you say you're excited about it, there is some aspect of the process that is daunting. Is it the speaking in front of groups of people? Maybe keeping track of addresses and data is overwhelming? Maybe it is all the travel and staying with people you don't know? Maybe it is a fear, no matter how small, and maybe looming very large, that the money just won't come in? I must confess, I have felt all these fears. Ryan on the other hand, does seem to be genuinely excited about the process. Guess that makes a good pair. I fret, he calms me down. He is carefree, I make sure the necessary gets done! And so we get through this process bit by bit. At times it feels that we are getting no where. But... it is not true! We have had several opportunities recently to meet with people and speak at churches. And each time we do, it feels a little easier. Each time someone new decides to partner with us in our journey to Mexico, my heart fells lighter. And most important, I am seeing that fundraising is really such a misname. Yes, we are seeking funds. We can not go to Mexico without money. But I think partner-seeking may be a better name for what Ryan and I are doing. Last weekend Ryan and I were able to spend some time in Myrtle Beach with the congregation of Faith Presbyterian. I have no idea yet what the results of that may prove to be financially. I do know what the results have been for my heart. The couple we had the extreme joy of staying with truly were an answer to prayer. They shared more than their home, their shared their own hearts, their wisdom. They loved our children and in turn the kids loved them. they introduced us to their friends, invited us to everything they did during the weekend, even sent us on our way with a picnic lunch. Fundraising is about so much more than money.

Ellie and John Thomas with our new friends, the Scott's, from Faith Presbyterian.

Karen

A Foreign Address Does Not A Missionary Make

Some blog entries are hard to write. I have been sitting on this one for a week, trying to get up the courage and heart to write it, knowing I had to, but not knowing how I could do it.
Long before Ryan and I were called to Mexico, we had a different calling to work with Young Life Ministries to High School students. Even at that time, though still very comfortably in familiar settings, I considered myself a missionary. After all, is there anything so "foreign" as a high school lunch room. During the time that we served with Young Life we were privileged to help begin a program at Ninety Six High School here in South Carolina. We worked closely with an amazing and very unique bunch of kids. Strangely, as all American in appearance as Ryan and I are, we were drawn to and attracted the outer fringe kids. Kids who wore all black, pierced body parts and got tattoos, dyed their hair different colors. In other words, the outcasts, the misfits, the ones who wore their pain on their sleeves. We dealt with the drugged out, sexually permissive, the sad, the depressed and the angry. And we loved them!!!!
One of these precious souls became a particularly good friend of mine. Amanda and I share a similar, hurtful past. I was drawn to her immediately. God said almost audibly to me, "Seek her out, go to her!" I walked with her as she came in and out of hospitals for depression, anorexia, and attempted suicides. I touched her arms where she had cut herself mercilessly trying to make the pain inside go away. I took her to doctor's appointments and counseling sessions. More often than not it was hard, painful, and draining. But God continued to say go. Last week, the pain became more than she could stand any longer, and Amanda killed herself.
After six years of being out of Young Life, not seeing some of these kids since that time, and the others sporadically at best, they were thrust back into our lives. I didn't know if I wanted it. It scared me, and I hurt so bad over this loss. Guilt was crashing on top of me, anger, fear, sadness so intense I felt I could vomit. But once again I could hear God almost audibly say to me, "Go!"
I thought I was waiting to become a missionary, to move to Mexico so I could start ministry. I had forgotten. The hurting, broken and lost are all around us. Last week I became a missionary again. May I never forget...

Karen

Rain and The Changes It Brings

"We really need you to be flexible." This is the standard line delivered during the orientation of volunteer work teams by the Isaiah 55 staff. While it is always true that flexibilty is key, this phrase was never more true than during the week of July 17-24.

Several weeks before our trip to the border Hurricane Alex & Tropical Depression 2 dropped torrential amounts of rain up the Rio Grande Valley and into the mountains of eastern Mexico. The deluge filled reservoirs and forced hydro-electric officials to release massive amounts of water into smaller rivers that lead to the Rio Grande flooding the valley from Nuevo Laredo to Matamoros. The floodplains bordering the river in McAllen, Texas and Reynosa, Mexico were still eight feet under water two weeks after the initial flooding. These are areas that haven't bean flooded in 70 years.

Wes, Jess, & their 1 year old daughter, friends of Isaiah 55, are currently living at a property owned by the Isaiah 55 that is located near Boystown, the notorious walled portion of Reynosa that serves as homes to prostitutes and drug dealers. After flood waters covered a squatters camp near the border about 50 homeless individuals, between the ages of 6 months and 80+ years old, showed up at Wes' gate. Being the gentleman that he is, Wes invited them to stay.

This is the situation we walked into on Monday morning.

"Be flexible...”

Through out that day and the days that followed, I was able to have several conversations with a few of the folks staying there. The story I remember most was not told to me, but to a friend. So here is that story: Miguel was hoboing from one migrant farm job to another. As he went to jump off of the moving train he was caught between the wheels & tracks. In the process he lost a leg, below the knee. After being treated in a hospital in the States, he was deported. Driven to the border, dropped off, and basically told not to come back. He wound up at Wes' place after the squatters camp flooded. All Miguel had was his two crutches, a prosthesis made from a walking cast, and a shoe shine kit. At this, my friend expressed his sympathy. Miguel's response “Don't feel sorry for me. If I had three legs just like the one I lost, I would give them all to know Jesus.” Most of us who were there had conversations like these.

The point I want to return to is this... Be Flexible... Wes called Nono (Isaiah 55's team leader) on Sunday evening & explained the situation. Nono's response was not “Wes you need to find them somewhere else to stay” or “What were you thinking.” His response was “What do you need.”

This is the team Karen & I get to be a part of. A group of individuals whose call is to reach the deaf...and the deaf at heart.

Thanks for being part of the ride,

Ryan

Confession

We are half way through Ryan's week in Mexico with the team from Greenwood Presbyterian. And ... you guessed it: I miss him like crazy!!!!! I wish I was there. I wish he was here. I wish I was packing boxes to meet him there in some new little Texas house. Wish, wish, wish.
I am not complaining mind you. The kids have been wonderful (although Ellie does seem to have some summer crud.) God has graciously protected me from fear. Usually when Ryan leaves town, we do too, and head for Momma's. But not this week. We are sticking it out here and I have not had a moments pause about being in the house by myself. I have not been afraid for Ryan. I know he is in God's hands. And if I were to confess yet another thing, it has been kinda nice to have total pwer over the TV remote for a while (not that anything is ever on....).
Still, I miss him. I'm ready for him to come home so I can fix him dinner and talk to him about his day and tell him about mine. I want to wash his clothes. I want to hear his guitar. I want to see the kids rush into his arms and not want to let go. I plan to hold on for quite awhile myself.

Karen

Our Family In God

John Thomas is currently fascinated with the difference between who is in our family, who we consider strangers, and who is our family "in God". It isn't an easy concept to explain to a four year old boy who happens to be a bit shy. Afterall, we want to encourage him to be friendly and respectful of all people, but in todays world you have to teach them to be cautious. Just one of the many perils of parenting.
But in the midst of this adventure the Culbertson's are on, we have met some amazing people who help to make the idea of "family in God" much easier to understand. God has cared for us in so many ways, and not the least of these are the amazing people whose paths he has allowed us to cross. Just this past week at Interview and Orientation with Mission To The World we were blessed to go through the process with an incredible class of people. These people inspire me. We met couples, who by all rights should be setting their sights on future retirement and stable, prosperous jobs, but instead are uprooting themselves to go forth and obey God's call to minister to all people. We met singles, who again should logically be concentrating on career or schooling or maybe even future family, but instead they are heading forth to the Far East, Africa and to Latin America. We had the distinct pleasure to fellowship with a couple whose own missionary adventure to Thailand has taken them 6 years. These people are truly amazing to me, not just because of who they are, but also because they have chosen to obey the call God has placed on their lives to go forth into all nations and make disciples of all people, from Uganda to Japan. I have been challenged by them, encouraged by them, and made part of their family by our common Father.
In addition Ryan and I met the wonderful staff of MTW. I have new respect for these people who serve tirelessly behind the scenes so that we and others can go to our destinations with proper education, resources and support. The Culbertson family adventure is backed up lovingly by a whole building of cheerleaders. In fact, in God's great provision, I can safely say that we personally have been paired up with the most perfect MTW representative possible! I honestly cannot wait to talk with Kelley again!
And ofcourse, our family in God is bigger because it now includes the amazing staff of Isaiah 55, our new, official team members. We are so excited to get down to the border and join with them in all that they are doing in service to the Lord and the people of Reynosa.
My sweet John Thomas, we are very blessed to have many members of our family in God.

Karen

Celebrate!

With great thanksgiving to our God we are so happy to announce that Mission To The World has approved our desire to go to Reynosa, Mexico and serve with Isaiah 55. We can not thank you all enough for the support you have given to us thus far. We prayerfully hope that you will continue along with us the rest of the way!!! "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

Karen

Grateful

Finally. The checklist, so long, has come to an end. Here we sit in a hotel room in Atlanta, GA. The first day of Interview and Orientation with Mission To The World is over. By Wednesday afternoon we will know if our missionary adventure has come to an end or if it is truly just beginning. Will we have more to check off as we pursue funding and prayer to go to Reynosa, Mexico or will we drive home to process what God had for us in the journey yet destined to go no further for now?
Don't know yet. What Ryan and I do know is that we are so grateful. God is so very good. Incredibly generous to his people. In so many ways He has already wrapped His arms of love around us, encouraged us, confirmed us, and lifted us up. He has done it through...YOU! The response we have had is overwhelming. Our Facebook Page has 272 friends! We have already had people speaking to their church missions boards about supporting us if the time comes. We have had a monetary offer of support, and we haven't been officially confirmed. Words of encouragement and prayer have been lifted up for us. This week while we are away our sweet children are being cared for not only by our family, but also by our christian family, taken in each day by people who love them and want to help us in a very real and physical way. God in His amazing grace has sent us a whole team of people to walk with us, counsel us, pray for us, serve us. All this for the mere possibility that we may be missionaries. Just for a maybe.
Friends, we love you so much. We are grateful for every thought and prayer you have lifted on our behalf, every wise word you have offered, every meal you have given our children, each scripture offered, and every listening ear. Ryan and I "thank our God with every remembrance of you." (Phil 1:3)

Karen

The Doors

Yes, it has been a long time since any updates. I have come to the conclusion that May is just as busy or more than even December with its Christmas rush. We have been up to our eyeballs in recitals, programs and even kindergarten graduations. That's right, we have an official 1st grader! Would seem that our family has many doors to walk through these days. We watch our children grow every day, changing sometimes before our eyes. With the end of this school year, we start a new chapter in our lives. I am now a retired preschool teacher. Yet my teaching career is only beginning as I will now prepare to start homeschooling both children. I am so excited about that adventure. It is just one of many facing the Culbertson's these days. Things have been crazy, to say the very least. But even in craziness, God is good. Because the other reason there have been so few updates lately is because there is nothing to tell. Since news of our invitation from Isaiah 55 we have been playing a waiting game. There have been some things to accomplish, more testing and forms to fill out. But mostly we are waiting and praying. The craziness of May and the milestones of our family life have certainly helped in that waiting and kept us from too many feelings of anxiety.
Now we find the next, and maybe biggest moment is at hand. In one week we leave for Atlanta to meet face to face with staff of Mission To The World and seek final approval to be missionaries and go serve in Mexico. One more door to walk through. One more chance for God to confirm or to say "Far enough, the door is closed." We still believe with all our hearts that we are on the path God has set before us. We still feel very called to this mission. And we still hold fast to our hearts desire, to follow God, door open or door shut, and to learn from Him what He has for our family.
The updates will come quicker now friends. Pray!

Karen

Marching Down The Checklist!!

Exciting News!!! God continues to open doors and answer prayers. The team of Isaiah 55 has extended us a formal invitation to join the mission in Reynosa! We are so thrilled. Honestly I kind of feel like the new kid at school who just got asked to sit at someone's lunch table for the first time! After our trip in March we felt even more strongly than ever that Reynosa was where we wanted to be and for now God is saying YES! The reality of what we are setting out to do is really hitting home now.
But...we are not packing our bags and our boxes. This is just step number two in a long checklist. First was the application, then obtain a team invitation. Next, Interview and Orientation with Mission To The World in June. They still have to accept us as missionaries. Then we start raising money, go to more training, raise more money, go to language school. The process is long. Depending on how fast God were to raise up the necessary funds, it could take years to get down to Mexico. On one hand that is frustrating. We feel truly called by God to do this. Why the waiting. Let us go!!! But on the other hand, we are attempting to uproot our lives, move our children, jump into very unknown territory. This is not something to be taken lightly. We should not take it lightly. I55 does not take it lightly. MTW does not take it lightly. And as Michael Card says, "There is Joy in the Journey."
Dear friends, continue to pray for us.

Karen

The Tie That Binds

We are back from Mexico, and I want to update all of you on our trip. But I am finding this blog difficult to write. This week has been full of emotions, most of which are difficult to put into words. Not to mention that I don't feel that I can rightly sum up for my whole family. So, what did we do? That is a good place to start. We worked. Ryan did some welding and put vinyl decals on the mission's trucks, vans and trailers. I assisted with his work and painted, folded a few towels, helped with meals when possible. The kids played, and played, and played - at the work site, at Casa Verde (Isaiah 55's home base), all the time. I spent a lot of time watching them and praying for everything. And there was a lot to pray for. The town of Reynosa is a town in the midst of dark times. The drug cartels are at war and the people are in fear. No one wants to travel at night. Border guards want to know why in the world you want to cross into Reynosa, or why any of the missionaries would choose to live in Reynosa. The climate has changed. But my impression is that the border has never been like the rest of Mexico anyway. It is a different beast. Not the vacation destination most Americans think of when Mexico comes to mind. Truth be told, it is ugly. Buildings are in ruble, trash is everywhere, the poverty is evident and in your face. In fact my first impression, never having been out of country at all, was Oh No! Can I do this? I felt painfully American. But within hours of getting to Casa Verde and having a chance to settle into our room, God began to quiet my heart. He used my own children to minister to my fears. As we came in to Reynosa I noticed every sad scene, cracked building, pile of trash. Ellie made comments about the pretty colors things were painted, how nice that girl looked, the trees and the flowers and even the pigeons! See waved and said "Hola!" to every national she met. John Thomas, who does not open up as quickly, took to Casa Verde like home. He was playing and happy, the same kid he would have been at home. When the work team began to arrive from Indiana and Illinois, both kids were so happy to see them, comfortable with being around them. They made fast friends. Within two days they had made favorites among the group and the whole work team loved on my kids. And of course by then all the staff of Isaiah 55 had arrived to Casa Verde from meeting the work team and getting supplies. My impression of them: Family. They loved each other and they loved us. They loved Ellie and John Thomas, which is the quickest way to my heart. By the end of the week my fears were gone. I was even attempting high school Spanish to communicate with the ladies that cook and clean at Casa Verde and some of the teachers also. And Ryan? He was happy, content, at peace. So now we will wait to hear back from I55 and see if their impressions are as favorable, and we will all pray for God to reveal His will to us. Waiting will be hard. Honestly I would have sent for my furniture if it could all work that way. And yet, I was also so touched by friends here in Greenwood. Not a day went by that we did not get a text or phone call from some friend or another, lifting us in prayer, encouraging us from scripture, just telling us they loved us. The blog page on Facebook jumped from 90 to 143 fans in the week we were gone. I could truly feel the prayers. Greenwood is not going to make it easy for us to leave. Yet I know this, the tie of Christians is a strong and quick bond. The work team from this week, a group of mostly college students all from the Apostolic Christian Church, made that bond very clear. They were so nice to us. They welcomed us into their group, invited us to worship and devotion, played with our kids, shared their hearts. And if you are unfamiliar with the AC Church, they worship differently from Presbyterian. Yet despite the difference it was a joy to live with them for the week, they are our family in God (as John Thomas says). As we were leaving on Thursday, they for the work site, our family for the airport, they sang us off. "Blessed be the Tie That Binds." It was so beautiful. Those people from Indiana and Illinois are my family now. Brent and James, Kimmie and Erin, Kate and Nono from the Mission are my family now. Erwin, Amalia, Moises, and Karina, the nationals who work with I55, are my family now!!! Because Christ is Christ no matter what church denomination, and no matter what country. Christ is Christ for the deaf and the hearing, for the ugly and the polished clean. And the tie that binds our hearts, binds them forever and ever. Amen.

Karen

Alive With Such Possibilities

Ryan has been listening to this one song all week. It is not Christian, but the chorus still sums up our feelings as we prepare for our coming week in Mexico:
"I don't know what tomorrow brings.
It is alive with such possibilities.
All I know is I feel better when I sing.
Burdens are lifted up from me.
That's my voice rising."
How true. None of us know what tomorrow brings. Anything could happen, anything could be. It could even be the end. At the thought of that may our voices, my voice, Ryan's voice rise in praise to our great God!! Rise in praise as we prepare to leave.
Our bags are packed. The children are in bed. Ryan and I were going to go to bed right after the kiddos, but I know now there is no sleep for me tonight. By 5 AM we will be at the Atlanta airport, luggage in tow, children half asleep, preparing to board for Texas. Once in Texas we will be greeted by James, one of the missionaries from Isaiah 55, and he will take us across the border to Reynosa, Mexico. Our family's missionary adventure is beginning. Full speed ahead. It seems a long time ago that Ryan and I had our first conversation about this possibility. And now, the night before we leave to be informally interviewed, it seems no time at all has passed. It seems we are caught up in a whirlwind. And as you would expect there are too many emotions to even talk about. We feel fear of rejection, excitement to serve, delight in the possibilities that are ahead for us, confused to think that this may be the end of the adventure even as it feels like the start. We are aware that we may post pictures from this trip and then find out that for whatever reason, the answer is no. It is so hard to put yourself out there. To offer your heart and take a chance and know that we are in someone else's hand. It is not just up to us. Many have sweetly expressed the sentiment that any group would be lucky to have us join their team and come to serve. I am deeply moved by this idea. My pride is tempted to raise its head. Though I mostly believe it to be Ryan that is the commodity. No, I am all too painfully aware of my sin to think all too highly of myself. If I have anything to offer, if Ryan has anything to offer it is because of the grace of Christ in us. If He should choose to use us for one week, or for ten years, how humbling is the thought! Christ does not need Ryan and Karen Culbertson to move the nations to Himself. But if He should choose to use us may we be willing to answer the call, whatever it may be. Whether in Reynosa, Bulgaria, Cambodia, or back here in Greenwood, SC. This decision is not in our hands. Thankfully, it is in God's hands.
I have been reading "The Lion, The Witch, And The Wardrobe" to the kids. Tonight we read about Aslan as he made the journey back to the Stone Table to be sacrificed by Jadis in Edmund's place. Lucy and Susan cannot sleep and so they see Aslan steal out of the pavilion and into the wood. So they follow him and are, of course, discovered. "Please, " Susan says, "May we come with you - wherever you are going?" Oh, my Lord. Yes. Please, may I come with you. And then, as if yes were not enough, Aslan asks the girls to put their hands into his mane so he can feel them. Oh the intimacy of that request. I could barely finish the passage. Please, Abba, may I come with you - wherever you are going?

Karen

Start the Countdown

Five, just five little days and we are on a plane to McAllen, TX to meet with and spend a week with the group at Isaiah 55. In a word, nervous! No, I need more words. Excited, scared, happy, anticipating, enthusiastic! Did I say nervous? What about excited?
Anyway, you get the picture. It is a whirlwind. So please, if you think of us this week, pray for our trip. We will be staying the week in Mexico and working some with Isaiah 55. This is also an informal time of interview for both parties. We will begin to see if we think we can truly find a place for ourselves there in the ministry being done in Reynosa. The folks from I55 will begin to see if they believe we should be there, if there is a service we are being called to among them and their current or future work. Please pray for wisdom for all of us. Also, pray for travel protection, and please pray for our safety in Mexico. There has been some trouble recently, shootings and such, so please pray for God's mercy. Not just for us, but for I55 staff and family, the people at the school, and for all of Reynosa, MX.
On a side note we have officially announced our intentions at church and with the people Ryan and I work with. So, feel free to invite anyone to visit the blog now. We appreciate all prayers and I would like to see this become a community not only in support of us, but also in support of Isaiah 55, MTW and wherever else this journey may lead us all together.
Thank you all so much for all your prayers and love so far!

Karen

The Trip That Started It All

It was the summer of 2009 when Ryan would join the group from Greenwood Presbyterian down to work in Reynosa, Mexico. Those five days would forever change the course of our lives. Funny thing is, Ryan really should not have been there. By that I mean, Ryan did not want to go and I did not want him to go. The trip leader had been asking for months if Ryan would think about going to work with Isaiah 55 for the week. But at the time we were trying to sell a house. A house we had been trying to sell for three years. "Tell you what," he said. "If we sell this house, I'll go with you to Mexico." Well, you can obviously guess just what God did. He sold our house. And so Ryan paid his deposit and went to Reynosa with all the rest. I could not talk to him all that week. I had no idea what he was doing, what was happening, how he was feeling. But I knew the moment I saw him at the end of the week that it had been very, very good. They had worked hard laying the footing for a perimeter fence and wiring a new house for other missionaries. Each night they would come together as a group and worship and learn. They woke up early, slept poorly, sweated through the heat both day and night. And they came home with incredible joy.
I was so excited for him ... at first. I soon began to feel left out of the whole experience. I knew that I had missed out on a mighty work. God had changed my husband in the span of five tiny days. How? Why couldn't I have been there to experience the same thing? But as more weeks passed from the time of the trip, and Ryan's renewal began to prove to be a true change from God and not just a "mountain top high", I was no longer jealous but only grateful. Grateful to see the amazing way that God can move in a person. Grateful that we go to serve only to discover that God does not really need us at all, yet delights to see us work His will, and be changed by it. So when Ryan said to me one night after the kids had been put to bed, "What if I said we should move to Mexico?" I said ok. And I meant it.

Karen

The Applications Are In

After months of staring at our missionary applications Ryan and are pleased to announce that we have finished. Yesterday we emailed our applications to Mission To The World, the missionary organization of the Presbyterian Church of America. How does it feel? Ryan summed it up best. "Scary." There is no taking it back now. Our desire is out there for someone else to see and examine. What if they say no? What if they say yes!? What if they say go to Cambodia!!!
It is in MTW's hands now. But we still have much ahead of us. Even though the applications are done we must continue to be on our knees. Ryan and I have said from the beginning of this that we would trust what ever God would do. Ofcourse that is not always easy. But we are seeing truly that there is much to learn in every step of this journey. It is not just the end result. Whether we end up in Reynosa with Isaiah 55, somewhere else, or right here in Greenwood, God is teaching us and growing us. For example, part of the application was to take a Bible test. OY! Let's just say I won't be winning Bible Trivial Pursuit anytime soon. But what I will be doing is reading my Bible, all of it. And unlike other times I have attempted this, I will be paying attention, studying, and stopping in the places where God speaks to me, rather than zipping through in effort to meet the checklist. I was convicted by that test that I need to know God's Word. Not to pass a test or win a game, but because life requires knowledge so that I can stand against the enemy for myself, for my husband and for my kids!
Our next step will be a site visit down to Isaiah 55. We will meet the team and help with a work group while we are there. Ellie and John Thomas get to go with us and they are very excited. This will mean they get to fly for the first time! Please pray for us as we anticipate this trip. Pray for wisdom on both sides as we meet each other and ask God to show us if together we are a good fit for this ministry.
Thank you all so much. More to come!
Karen

Welcome!!

Welcome to our blog. This is the story of our family's journey to becoming, and maybe someday being, missionaries in Reynosa, Mexico with the Isaiah 55 Deaf Ministries. Yes, missionaries. It is not a place I ever expected to be, and yet here we are. We are so excited at what God has done, is doing, and will do in the life of the Culbertson Clan. We are also thrilled to share with you all as we walk in this great adventure with God. Some of you have already been praying with us, and for some of you this is your first introduction to our belief that God is calling us to serve as missionaries. All of you are dear to us and we covet your prayers now as we see exactly where God will lead. Ryan and I have said from the beginning of this that if all God wants of us is to be willing to go and serve, and then He closes the door, then so be it. We will learn from that what God has for us to learn. As for now, we feel the door is still open. With our friends as prayer warriors and encouragers, we are walking through it...

Karen