I was recently e-mailing a few friends from church who had asked how things are going and I realized that I had just typed a good summary of where we're at and that it would be a good thing to post on the blog. So here goes:

Currently, our main objectives are:

1. To figure out what organization we'll be under. Current options are: the C&MA, World Gospel Mission, the YMCA camp in the town we're going to, under MAC directly, or just getting a job (very unlikely). Probably it will be some combination of the above, but the big question is going to be who's going to handle finances, insurance, visas, etc.
2. To build a team of folks - some to go with us and some to be a personal and prayer support at home.
3. To raise financial support. We're estimating that we'll need around $3500/month to live there. Plus we'll need to a raise big chunk to get over there. We currently have a few couples and a few churches committed. For now all fundraising is going through MAC, but it will transfer if we hook up with a missions agency.
   

Just this week we finally heard back from the YMCA camp in Newcastle (the town we are going to, not the one in Indiana) and they are very interested in having us come and volunteer with them. This seems like it would be a really good deal - it would be a reason to be there, something to do that would have built-in relationships with people that don't believe in Jesus, and it would be a local organization that could help us with visas, living situations, etc. but they're considered neutral and non-religious in the community.

For those further out of the loop:

Our recent trip was good. We felt that God was asking us to begin taking steps of faith in practical ways so we've set a goal of moving over there by the end of the year (November/December). There are many things that have to fall into place before that can happen, but we figure that we'll never get anywhere if we don't at least have a goal and a timeline.

Thanks for your prayers.

Mark + Ange