Final Preparations
Waiting and being flexible is a constant exercise for people who chose to go into Missions. As of today we have no clue if we will close on our house. We were supposed to close last week. We are suppose to close tomorrow but every day they call with something different that we need to provide for the mortgage company. Our possessions are packed and in a storage facility, we have the Uhaul rented, and through the generosity of some friends we have the movers lined up to start packing the truck on Friday morning. It is on faith that we move expectantly forward knowing that God will direct our path. I have continually told people that our family only wants the house that God would want us to have. If He chooses something different then we would rather live there. This is just an echo of what Charlie Cornett has said to us repeatedly when we have talked about the future. When we ask what Charlie would like for us to do and where he thinks we should live he constantly points us back to Jesus Christ and what He would want for us. Charlie holds everything with a loose hand, expectantly waiting to see how God will direct his path. We are so excited to be working with Charlie and Earlene at Mountain Vision and in the Tri-cities area of Tennessee. We look forward to what God has in store for all of us as we serve God together through SERVE International. Please continue to pray for our transition to life in TN. Pray for our children and schooling decisions. Pray for our housing situation. Pray for the remaining amount of one time support that we need. Praise God for His timing in getting us to TN. Praise God for faithful friends who have encouraged us and loved on us this past year here in Denton. Praise God for the generosity of family who has allowed us to live with them for the past month.
Posted August 12, 2009 by Bill and Judi.
Moving to Tennessee
It has been a long time since we have updated this site...and we apologize. A lot has happened in our family's life since the last of these updates. We are have lived in Russia for 3 yrs and now have been in the US for a year. It has been an unusual year of decision making. After seeking the Lord and getting council from those in authority over us as of June 1st we have decided to join the ministry that SERVE has in North Eastern Tennessee. We will be working in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains. SERVE missionaries Charlie and Earlene Cornett have been there for the past couple of years and we are looking forward to joining them and supporting their work.
The ministries that the Cornett's have begun include a benevolent ministry to the poor people of the Appalachian Mountain region. They have a storehouse where people can come and get help with clothing and furniture. Through this effort we will try and share the love of Christ and with Gods leading open the scriptures to these people. The Cornett's also have a way to help the 200+ soup kitchens that are located in this region by provided food. There are ample teaching opportunities in nursing homes, a VA hospital and a drug and alcohol rehab center. Bill will be taking advantage of these opportunities to exercise his teaching gifts. We would eventually like to help the bi-vocational pastors of the area as they lead their flocks and hold down jobs. All of these opportunities are exciting to us and we are interested to see how God will use our family in NE Tennessee.
Please pray for direction as we move our family. Pray for transition for our kids to a new area of the country. Pray for opportunities for our family to minister to the people around us.
Thank you for your faithful prayers and continued support of our family.
Bill and Judi Havens Andrew, KayLynn, Rebekah and Michael
Posted June 23, 2009 by Bill and Judi.
Finally Here
We are settled into our new home and looking forward to learning the language. We have considerable opportunities to use our limited language abilities as we navigate the city. The children are adjusting well and are enjoying our new life style. We are adjusting to walking everywhere and going to the market everyday.
We have had the opportunity to worship in a local Baptist church and enjoyed corporate worship even when we did not understand what was being said. The 2 hour long worship service is taking some adjustment for our kids.
We begin language school on Thursday, Aug. 4th. The children will start school on Aug. 8th in our home with their DVD's. The children begin their language lessons on Sept. 1st with a tutor. We have been told that learning a language this way is very exhausting. Fortunately we are settled into our permanent home before school starts so that we can be rested.
We want to thank everyone for their prayers and support. You can view a more personal blog journal entry by Judi at http://spaces.msn.com/members/KrasnodarHavens/
Posted August 1, 2005.
01-25-2005 Heading into the Homestretch
