In May we were commissioned as missionaries with the International Mission Board in Denver, Colorado at Riverside Baptist Church. The commissioning service was an amazing and very moving experience as we heard testimonies from each of the missionaries being appointed, and how God has moved in their lives to lead them onto the mission field. God works in some amazing ways!!!
Both of our parents were there to share in our commissioning. It's been wonderful to have our parents' full support as we follow God's will for our lives!
Mrs. Rankin praying with us, our children and our parents during the commissioning service.
Dr. Rankin presenting us with our certificate of appointment.
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We made a new prayer partner, Ruby, along the way.
In June our Church family at Summit Woods Baptist Church
demonstrated their commitment of prayer and support for us by sending us off with a commissioning service as well. Summit Woods has been an amazing source of strength and support for us as we've journeyed down this road toward full-time missions work.
We are so blessed to have a wonderful Sunday School class encouraging us and praying for us on this journey.
Our pastor Ryan and his wife Karen have been wonderful encouragers and a great support to us as we explored and heard our call to missions.
Clem, and his uncle Johnny played while Carrie sang "Save The Perishing", on the day of commissioning at our church.The month of June flew by as we gathered with friends for those special last get-togethers, Clem finished out his last few days at work, we continued to work through our amazingly long "to-do- before-we-go" list, and ended with packing up our crate with the belongings we're taking with us. What an experience crating has been! I've never packed quite like that before!
July will be no less busy as we tie up the loose ends, and rush to spend time with friends and family before we leave. I know July will be filled with many tears, but fortunately God is big enough to dry our tears! He promises us in Jeremiah 29:11 that His plans for us are to prosper us and not to harm us. In Isaiah 42:16 God promises to guide us along unfamiliar paths, turn the darkness into light, and smooth out the rough places before us.
On the flip side of those tears there is a lot of excitement for the journey ahead! We're excited to arrive in Prague and settle in to our new home, meet the other missionaries we'll be working with, and form new friendships so we may have the oppertunity to share Christ with the lost. The kids can't wait to learn the Czech language quicker than us, forcing us to go to them for help instead of the other way around!
We leave on July 25 for 8 weeks of training and orientation in Virginia. We will complete our training on September 23 and will fly out of Virginia for Prague on September 24, arriving on the 25th.
Please continue Praying for Us:
* Please continue to pray for our children and their adjustment to the changes that are still ahead in our lives. Hunter and Allie are very sad to be leaving their friends and the familiarity of our home town, church and school. They're a bit scared about making new friends in Prague and learning the Czech language. Continue to pray that they gain an understanding of the joy that comes when one is willing to be obedient to God's will in their lives. Pray that God showers them with peace, and gives them an understanding that this peace comes only from Him.
* Please begin praying that Hunter and Allie begin to feel God's call to Him and into missions in their own lives. It is our prayer that our children desire God in their lives in such a way that they cannot settle for anything less than Him. And that they cannot settle for any plan in their lives that doesn't come straight from Him.
* Please continue to pray for spiritual strength for each of us against Satan's attacks. He doesn't want us serving God in this capacity and will do whatever he deems necessary to either keep us off the field, or to discourage us once we arrive.
* Please begin praying that Prague (or where ever else God may send us in the future) becomes home to our family. Pray that God begin preparing our new home, neighbors, friends, church and school for our arrival.
* Please begin praying for the Czech people that God intends for us to witness to. Ask God to soften their hearts to His message of love and redemption. Ask God to give us the words and actions of love that they need to hear and feel in their lives, and that they hear and see God in us so that He can receive all of the glory!
We'll let you know when we arrive in Virginia and are settled in for our 8 week stay.
Love,
Clem, Carrie, Hunter and Allie
I was just thinking about your precious family the other day. Some friends of ours just flew to their appointed place of ministry early this morning (I'm sorry that I can't say where they are going). I have had the blessing of attending a commissioning service...it is amazing. I have tears in my eyes remembering the faces of all of the missionaries; it made our family want to put our house on the market and go. For now, we will continue to serve here. Many, many blessings to you and your family. I will count it my joy to pray for all of you as you go where God is leading. May the favor of the Lord be yours!
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