Here it comes....2013

As the new year is approaching I find myself often feeling like a deer caught in the headlights. Our monthly budget is now at 78% in committed support, we've reserved a 3 bedroom house to rent at Operation Mobilization so we can take our time finding a home to buy or rent once we are there, and Gino has given his boss our target date of being in Atlanta Georgia by March 1st at the latest. We are truly in the home stretch. It's been such an emotional roller coaster these last 2 years since we've started support raising. God has stretched us and kept showing us that this is the plan. He's used this time to really prepare us and ground us. We are so thankful to all of our supporters who've been so faithful and generous and prayerful.

This coming year, God willing, is going to be busy. Gino has a trip in May to France which will be about 3 weeks. He then has another trip coming together in June possibly. Then our family has a trip to Holland in August. With all this happening it's clear that the time is coming. We would love your prayers as this is going to be a busy time and a year of changes for our little family. But God keeps reminding me that He gives us strength to do His will. We aren't alone. He is always with us. And we also have all of you who have been praying for us, checking in on us, encouraging us, and being such amazing teammates. Thank you.

We hope and pray God blesses you all in amazing ways this coming year! 

We are still praying and hoping to find new teammates. We have about $1350 to raise in monthly support. This can be accomplished through monthly, quarterly, and yearly commitments. Please pray the remaining 22% comes soon so we can start planning the logistics of moving. Also pray for the team as they prepare for ministering in France. Pray for unity, for safe travels, for the hearts of the people in France, for the pastors and ministries they will be partnering with, and for the equipment to work. We will keep you all posted as we get closer to our departure. We will have a send off at our church and hopefully a get together as well before we go. 

Love always - Laura and Gino 

Let us Count the Cost...

Two weeks ago we heard a message by Pastor Ron Walters describing what God gave up when He chose to come down and be born as a child. He focused on : James 2:5-6 You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature. He humbled himself,by becoming obedient to the point of death —even death on a cross!

Then this week our pastor spoke about God's love, His everlasting love.  These messages swirled in my mind and in my heart. In fact as I reflected on what God gave and how He "emptied" himself with all of us in mind, it brought me to tears. I just felt such joy and thankfulness. I of course has to write these thoughts down, or rather sing them out.  So I am sharing in hopes that you will be filled with joy and assurance that you are greatly loved by the maker of the heavens and the earth. Love  - Laura 

Let us count the cost – Laura Quinn  / Oh how he loves you and me (Kurt Kaiser)

You gave up your perfection to become sin

You gave up your possessions when you owned everything

You gave up your authority and became subject just like me

You gave up your glory that brought men to their knees

Let us count the cost

Of what you gave

When you left your throne above and came down to save us

Let us never forget

The price you paid

Born as helpless child, you’d only grow to see the cross

Let us always remember

This is my prayer

That we take the time to ponder what you did that night

What a sacrifice

You love us with a love that we will never understand

For it has no beginning and it will never have an end

And this truth just fills my heart and moves me to sing

Oh how he loves you and me, Oh how he loves you and me

He gave His all what more could He give

Oh how he loves you, Oh how he loves me, Oh how he loves you and me