Snow and Hope

Living in the south, one of the few things that you look forward to and panic about at the same time is snow.  All joking aside we literally shut down when it’s coming, not when it’s here, but before it even gets here.  snowSomewhere between the beginning of this past week we began to hear reports about the possibility of snow.   Then as the week came to end it went from a possible to a for sure thing.  The stores were mobbed for bread and milk.  The kids started getting excited.  The weather people began to tell us that it could range from a 2 to 4 to 8 inches.  Look in South Carolina an inch is something, 4 to 8 is snowmeggedon.  

So Friday finally gets here we have groceries, we watch the weather guy a dozen times, the kids keep peeking out the window, and the night goes on.  As the clock ticks away it gets late the kids have to go to bed with just promises of it should be here any time.  As Sara and I sit and watch a movie the time ticks on and its just rains.  The hope I had of deep snow and fun with the kids is slowly getting replace by disappointment and sadness for them.  I had seen this story a lot over the years.  Promises of snow and then rain and mud.  I was disappointed, Sara was, the kids were.  We even got a tiny bit of it, like enough to almost cover the yard, but not the snowmeggedon we were hoping for.  Looking at this I realized something; when we put our hope in futile things we get let down.  Lets be honest here,  most of us look for things to hope on and sadly we get let down over and over again.  Jesus is the rock.  He never changes.  He is and was and is to come.  God tells us to put hope in Jesus and the sacrifice made on the cross.  Look at what Paul says in Colossians 3:1-4:

3 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your[a] life,appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

When you belong to Jesus hope is not something that can let you down.  It is a for sure thing.  He never disappoints.  This is also the reason we are to make disciples.  We want others to have hope in the Savior.  This is the reason my family goes to Africa.  We go to work with a local church and help them make disciples.  We want everyone everywhere to have hope and a future with Jesus.

As this new year begins we move closer to going.  The middle of the year is the current time frame. We need to raise support, finish planning, pack, and a list of other things. Pray for us. Pray we raise full support. If you have not done so, please consider supporting us on our trip.  Support what Jesus will do for the local church in Africa.  Support real hope.

Prayer Request:

  • For us to raise full support.(Dont know the exact number but it should be around$40,000)
  • For the kids transition.
  • For our marriage and the trials it will face.
  • Patience and a reliance on God.

Blessings,

Ben

Updates!

carSo gears are starting to grind and the background machine of making mission work possible is moving.  We have gotten a few updates on things.

First: Our destination is getting closer to being set as the details are being worked out.  Until it set for sure we have been asked to be vague with specific details.  We are going to be talking with our team leaders and the personnel coordinator via Skype soon.  I would imagine after that we will be able to have for sure details on time, exact support needs, etc. This may seem slow but there is a lot of coordination that goes on between our awesome short term coordinator and all the different people in Africa.  AIM is good at what they do so we are confident in them getting the details worked out.

Second: For those that have asked you can begin supporting us now financially.  AIM missionaries are 100% supported by other people.  Your monetary donations will send us to Africa, provide for us while we minister to the local people and work with the local church. There is a link at the top that says Support Us.  If you click there you can give online and help support us.  You can also send paper checks as well:

Africa Inland Mission, PO Box 3611, Peachtree City, GA 30269-7611

Just put Ben and Sara Pryce on the memo section.

Last: The amount of support and encouragement we have gotten from people has been overwhelming.  I have listed a few prayer request below:

  • Pray for our family as we prepare for a big move.
  • Pray for a smooth as can be transition for our kids.
  • Pray for our parents as they adjust to having their kids and grandkids overseas.
  • Pray for AIM goal of Christ-centered churches among all African People.
  • Pray for us as we support raise.
  • Pray for all the little details that need to be worked out.
  • Pray for my youth group that I leave behind that they would be steadfast in the change.

Work to do

If you are checking in or have stumbled across us we are slowly trying to get the blog updated.

Something interesting I came across in my Bible reading:

Numbers 2:3

3 Those to camp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah

Isn’t it interesting that God arranged the tribe of Judah to be the first to see the sun  during a day.  When he laid out the camp around the tabernacle he put Judah on the east end.  The sun would hit them first.  Jesus would also come from the tribe of Judah.   So just as the camp would always look towards Judah to wait for the sun to shine on them they would also look towards Judah for the coming Messiah.  Very interesting little detail.  God is awesome!

Blessings,

Ben