Getting to Know Wilmington...

Tomorrow marks the two week point of our arrival in Wilmington. In many ways it seems like we have been here much longer. The kids are adjusting well... today we went to Surf City Beach north of Wilmington for the afternoon. Lizzie got sand in her swimsuit and didn't quite know what to do, John watched some military boys on skin boards and thought he'd try it (with his friend Caleb) using the boogie boards that cousins Suz and Mike brought last week when they visited. The boys enjoyed their time at the beach, but were "good and tired" after a few hours of jumping waves. Lizzie loved the water, "but not the salt," nor the sand :)

On Sunday we visited Port City Community Church, a church plant that started just 8 years ago. They just moved into their own building...Sunday was their first service. It was amazing and encouraging to hear their story and to KNOW that God is doing amazing things in Wilmington. In three services, there were 5,500 people who attended Port City Community! We learned that people are hungry for an authentic church where they can come as they are, where they can learn about Jesus. Part of me wondered why God had sent us HERE, where there is already a great, growing church that is proclaiming Jesus. But then God reminded me that I don't need to understand, I just need to listen, obey, and have faith. He'll take care of the rest.

Ironically, in God's sovereignity, over the past week we have learned a new worship song. Ashley shared it with the core team in an email early last week, and then we heard it at the Wesleyan District Conference we attended last Wednesday and Thursday, AND then again we heard it at Port City on Sunday. You can hear it on God Tube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk It's a real confirmation to us that God is not done here in Wilmington and that "there are greater things yet to come and greater things are still be done in the city." We hope you'll take the time to watch/listen to the song. Please pray with us that we are able to fill a need in Wilmington and that we are sensitive to those around us. God, indeed, called us here for a reason.

The next few days will be filled with traveling. We're heading back north on Thursday so that I can participate in a crop on Friday. Mark (and I) will attend his 20th high school reunion on Saturday, and we'll all attend a family reunion in Montrose, PA on Sunday. On Monday, the "Schooley Men" will head to NYC to attend a Yankees Game. We anticipate heading back to Wilmington on Tuesday. We hope to see many of you while we're home...

Again, we are humbled by your prayers and by your encouraging emails. How blessed we are to have such wonderful support. THANK YOU!

Our New Home

So here we are, thought we'd send you a few photos of where we live so you can get a better picture of what life is like for us here in Wilmington. Our apartment complex is large, but we have found it to be quiet. Maybe that will change as the college students move in at the end of August? Either way, it is not "apartment living" as we anticipated...it's been much better!

We're living on the third floor of this apartment house. We are on the back side which faces a wooded area. We did discover that there is also a train that goes through...at no particular schedule. The first night it was at 4am, and then we heard it again last night at 5am. It shakes the apartment, which is an odd sensation in the middle of the night. Just another aspect of the adventure.... :)

Though our living space is much smaller than we are used to, we are finding that it is working well. John still loves to play outside, and will often grab his friend Caleb (who lives just on the first floor) and they'll throw the football or baseball out back behind the apartments. We can see them from our balcony, so please so PANIC and think that we're letting them run wild! :) We did indulge in a new TV and a Wii system which has been fun to play as a family. We had a "Cow Chasing" tournament last night with the Vernons. Just a little taste of home for Mark.

There are a few other adjustments...Grammie, our mailbox has changed. We have a community box now as you see by the 3731 building. We need a key to access our mail, but always enjoy receiving news from family and friends. John and Mark have tried out the basketball and tennis courts...mostly in the mornings when it's cooler. The afternoons are pretty hot...that's the time for the pool :) Here's a few more pictures of the boys enjoying time together on the tennis courts...

We are excited to get into a routine; so far we are still feeling like this is a vacation. Please pray that God would provide open doors for job opportunities and for building relationships. We are heading to High Point tomorrow night to take part in the Wesleyan District Conference where they will "introduce" Crosswinds Church as part of the district. Mark and Pastor Chris will stay for the conference on Thursday, Ashley and I will take the kids and hang out for the day.

Thanks for checking out our blog and especially for your prayers on our behalf. We are thankful for God's constant protection, his gracious provision and his amazing goodness. We are humbled to be used as tools in the Kingdom and look forward to the coming weeks where our lives here will begin to take shape. We love you all!

Blessings,

Mark, Chris, John and Lizzie

We're HERE :)

Hi Friends--
We have arrived in Wilmington...FINALLY! It seems as if we have been planning this move for months, well, I guess we have. Today, reality strikes! We left New York yesterday after closing on the house and travelled as far as Fredericksburg, VA where we stayed last night. We left there at 9:00am and arrived in Wilmington around 2:30 this afternoon.

We were greeted by the Vernon family with signs that said "Welcome to your new home" and "Welcome to Wilmington"... It was nice to actually unpack the van and start to get settled. Our moving van has not arrived yet, hopefully by Friday everything will be here. Mark is working on a plan to get our furniture up the 3 flights of stairs, he called around today to see if a rental company might bring in a "lift". He's already building "bridges" :)

Tonight we had dinner at the Vernons with the core team, the 5 families that have moved here to help start CROSSWINDS CHURCH. We again shared our stories and got to know each other better. God is so GOOD, and has uniquely moved in each family's situation. It is amazing to hear and even more exciting to think about what God has ahead of us, individually and collectively. It is clearly a diverse group with amazing talent and passion. We are already praying for people that we have come in contact with: Matt and his wife (live here at the apartments, just moved into Wilmington too), Ann and Jeff (moving here from Corning, NY with Corning, Inc.), Hayden and Heather (friends from Windfall where Mark grew up). Please pray with us for these friends.

Also, please pray for us as we transition into southern living and specifically for John and Lizzie, that they would take on this adventure in God's story as their own. We are still praying about a job for me (Chris). We know that God is moving, that we need to wait on his timing, but we are also seeking open doors. Please pray that we follow His leading and wait for the job that fits our family well. We're still hoping that a job at the university comes through.

We are excited about what God is doing here in Wilmington.

We love each of you and miss you already.