We made it!!

Dale and I on our way to Austin Texas. We keep hearing over and over again, It's an adventure, and that it is!

We left our home in good hands with Mom and Dad and Benjamin on January 15, 2011 . . .

My great family (Sunnie Leigh is taking the pic)

Benjamin, Sunnie Leigh, and our neighbor Ashleigh as we leave


We are pulling out of 109 Lake street--our home and all!

We are traveling down the road to Austin Texas . . .You might be a red-neck if you can pull your home down the road!!

It's been 3 weeks since we arrived in Austin, Texas. We arrived when the church, ONE Chapel, was having 21 days of prayer and fasting. This quote speaks to me:

Without prayer, the Christian life, robbed of its sweetness and its beauty, becomes cold and formal and dead; but when rooted in the secret place where God meets and walks and talks with His own, it will grow into such a testimony of divine power that all men will feel its influence and be touched by the warmth of is love. Thus, resembling out Lord and master, we will be used for the glory of God and the salvation of our fellowmen.
E.M. Bounds ON PRAYER

THE CHURCH OFFICE . . . where we pray!

Our first encounter with the people of ONE Chapel was to meet and pray with them everyday. What a great way to start a relationship with our new brothers and sisters here in Austin. We are able, from the beginning, to see the heart and minds of the people that we have come to be apart of. They are here for the glory of God in Austin and the glory of God to the Nations. Everyone has been so welcoming and helpful to us. We are thankful for the warm reception.

Marty (the one waving)
leads ONE Chapel
folks in worship.

The other guy,
Ross Parsley,
is the shepherd
of the folks
of ONE Chapel.

One of the first things that Dale undertook, besides meeting people, was to make a large cross for the Sunday service. Dale found some rough cut cedar and made a 12ft. cross that can be taken apart. The church service is presently meeting in a movie theater and everything has to be broken down after every Sunday service. I have posted a picture of the cross. Also, Dale is on the set-up and tear down team, and I am welcoming people at the door. It is a great way to meet people and find out who the first-timer's are.

ONE Chapel has interns from Colorado, Oregon, and Idaho!! This southern girl (me) has started teaching them a class on "hermeneutics and exegesis' (fancy words for how to study the bible). Next semester I will be teaching them the history of Christianity. They are a lively group!! I have also met with 2 wonderful women that head up the Pregnancy Resource Center and the Christian Women's Job Corp. The women of ONE Chapel will be partnering with these ministries, knowing that getting outside the doors of the church is what Jesus Commanded (Matt. 28:18-20).

We have found out since being here that a large percent of the population here in Austin is unchurched. So far of what we have seen, we like it. Even though Texas is very conservative state, Austin is a blue dot in a red state. It has been referred to as the San Francisco of the south. Austin's motto is "Keep Austin Weird." It is a city that is ripe for the gospel!!

some of the interns

Presently we are looking at houses in a neat little community in Kyle Texas called Plum . There are two houses that we like and we may know soon if we will have a place to lay our heads. . .

As many of you know, Dale and I are living in a camper in a campground in Bee Cave, Texas!! Stay tuned and we will add some pictures later on for your enjoyment. It has been cozy, but quite interesting during these very unusually cold days for Austin Texas (the coldest winter they have had in 20+ years--as I write this the wind chill is 10 degrees F).



THE POINT IS: life is an adventure and Jesus is alive!! May it count for the glory of God.

Dale helping to set up for Sunday Service. In 5 months there are about 400 people attending. Last Sunday was the first baptism and 14 people got baptized!