FYI

So here's the summary of what's happening in the near future:

• August 10, 2009 - our big move day, from Eau Claire, WI, to NTM Missionary Training Center near Camdenton, MO



• August 17 - December 18: our first semester!



• December 19 - January 17: Christmas break (can we stay at your house? :D)



• January 18 - May 21, 2010: spring semester



• May 22 - August 15, 2010: summer break



• August 16 - December 17, 2010: our final semester (unless Jevon goes for further training)



• After that: Partnership Development and Pre-field Ministry (generally takes about 1 yr.)



• And finally - to our field of long-term service, possibly in Brazil

And the summary of our immediate needs:

• We do not have a computer that meets the requirements for our classwork. We will need at least one, but ideally two, computers before classes start in August. For more information on exact specifications, talk to Jevon. (Don't ask Danica...) :)



• We will also need at least one, preferably two, 8GB flashdrives for classwork.



• We need wisdom from God on how to prepare our family, sort and pack our stuff, and how to make the most of relationships in the weeks that we have left before moving. Please pray for us!



• As for our finances: Jevon will not have a paying job during the time that we are in school. This is school policy, due to the intensity of the courses. This means that we are waiting to see how God will meet our needs. Currently, we do have some savings with which to pay our first semester fees and living expenses. We trust that future blog entries will give testimony to God's faithfulness in bringing us through school. After all, He is the God who brought the Israelites through the wilderness without their shoes wearing out or their feet swelling, and fed them manna and quail besides.



• If you want to be a financial partner in this leg of our journey, you can either mail gifts to us directly OR give through Salem Baptist Church. If you give through Salem , your gift will be tax deductible. Just write the check to Salem Baptist Church and be sure to include a note marking it for Jevon and Danica Rich. You also have the option of supporting us through New Tribes Mission; however, gifts made through NTM will not be tax deductible because we are still in training and not yet full members of the mission. You can set up individual or recurring gifts to us through NTM by electronic transfer or credit card. Call NTM finance office toll free at 866-547-2460, extension 1245.



• We are looking for someone to help us move to Missouri. If you have a minivan and trailer and can drive with us on or near the date of August 10, we would love for you to roadtrip with us. Besides the fact that it will be a huge help to us practically, it will also be lots of fun to show you where we are going to be living. The moving expenses (gas, food, lodging, etc.) have already been graciously provided by we-don't-know-who so we are praising God! (someone brought a check into the NTM headquarters office in Florida and said "this is to move Jevon Rich's family to MTC" ...wow! what an encouragement that was to us!)



• We need YOU! We really want to get together with you before we leave for the semester. Please feel free to take the initiative; if Danica doesn't call you, then call us and invite yourself over to our house for a campfire, breakfast, lunch, supper, snack, whatever. Just come. Your friendship means the world to us!

And here is our mailing address, as of August 10, 2009 and until further notice:

• Jevon and Danica Rich
  
• 134 Main Dr.
  
• Roach, MO 65787

Sojourners TOGETHER

Well friends, as the reality begins to hit home that our time living here in Eau Claire is coming to a close, (at least for now), we are reminded once again that we are sojourners and transients on this earth. If this life were about us, we would be more than happy to stay here...with our forty acres to work and play on, all of our friends (who have become family, really) at Salem Baptist Church, a good paying job only two miles from home, and Grandpa and Grandma within easy driving distance. But for love of the One who gave His life for us, we will be moving on from here. After all, every blessing that we have found here in Eau Claire has come from His hand, and if we were to become more charmed by the blessings than we are enamored by the Giver, life would soon loose its meaning.

We are persuaded that since One died for all, then all died, and those who live (that's us!) should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died and gave His life for us.

For this reason, we are learning not to cling to any earthly place or earthly home or earthly belonging.

YOU, however, are our friends and family...a vital part of this journey. So we consider it a high priority to stay connected with you. We hope that through this blog, we can, in a way, share the journey and continue to walk hand in hand. After all, we are all on the same mission: that is to love God and glorify Him. We are speaking to our fellow "salem-ites" here - after all, we've been together through the ups and downs of these past few years, and grown together in faith and love and perseverence. We have learned how to step up to the plate, use the gifts that God has given us to build each other up, and work together as one body. So let's not start thinking that we are going our separate ways now, but rather let us continue to build each other up, encourage each other, spur each other on to love and good works, and above all, let us continue to be united in prayer for God's kingdom to come in our lives, in Eau Claire, and to the uttermost parts of the earth. WE LOVE YOU AND WE WANT TO STAY INVOLVED IN EACH OTHER'S LIVES! We hope you will help us do that...and we also hope that this blog will be one way to continue in Fellowship with you all. :)

Grace and Peace to you in our Lord Jesus Christ.