Packing, Praying, and Pursuing the Mission of God
Today felt like another turning point in our journey. After months of preparing, praying, planning, and believing, we officially submitted our visa application. That one step carried the weight of years of calling and months of work, yet it also felt like a fresh beginning. It is incredible how a simple “submit” can shift everything from hope to reality. Scotland is no longer something ahead of us. It is something God is bringing into focus right now.
Around the house, life has taken on a new rhythm. We have been packing what will go into storage, sorting through the pieces of our life that will remain here in Texas while we step into this new season. Every room holds a mixture of memories and anticipation. We can feel the transition happening in real time. The kids sense it, we sense it, and with every box sealed, it becomes a little more clear that God is truly preparing the way.
Between now and the day we leave, there is still so much to do. There are loose ends that need tying up, tasks that still require our attention, and moments where we stop and say, “How is this all happening so quickly?” Yet even in the busy, even in the unknowns, God has been meeting us with peace. Every time a need rises, He fills it. Every time we pray for clarity, He gives direction. Every time we feel stretched thin, He sends encouragement through people who love us.
Our church has been such a huge part of that encouragement. StoneWater has been walking us through a powerful two-year discipleship journey, and the timing of this season could not be more intentional. The current series, focused on the Mission of God, has felt like it was written for this exact moment in our lives. Week after week, we have been reminded that God invites ordinary people into His extraordinary work. That He moves through the willingness of His people. That the mission is not something we create, but something we join.
Hearing about God’s heart for the nations while we prepare to step into a new country has felt like confirmation again and again. It has reminded us that this calling is not about our strength or our strategy. It is about saying yes to the story He is already writing. When we listened to the message about stepping out in faith, it felt like God whispered, “This is for you. Keep going.” When we heard about living intentionally and making disciples wherever He places us, it felt like He was preparing our hearts for the people we will meet in Scotland. The series has become a steady reminder that God’s mission is bigger than borders, timelines, or our capability. It is rooted in His love for people and His desire to bring hope to every corner of the world.
In the middle of all this preparation, we want to pause and offer a heartfelt thank you to every single person who has chosen to support us financially. Your generosity has humbled us. Your gifts have helped carry this mission forward in ways you may not even realize. Each contribution has allowed us to take steps we could not have taken alone. Every donation, every message of support, every prayer spoken over our family has reminded us that we are not going alone. You have become part of this story, part of what God is building, part of the mission He is sending us into. We pray that God blesses you for the way you have blessed us.
We are close now. Almost ready. And with each day that passes, we see more evidence of God’s hand on this journey.
As we keep preparing for Scotland, we want to stay rooted in the same truth that StoneWater has been teaching. The Mission of God does not belong to us. It belongs to Him. We simply choose to walk in the direction He leads. The next chapter is coming quickly, and while we do not know every detail, we know the One who goes before us. That is enough.
So we pack, we pray, we plan, and we trust. And in all of it, we praise God for His faithfulness every step of the way.
With grateful hearts, stepping deeper into God’s mission,
Calen and Candice
