The fruit of the Spirit's not a watermelon...

So we were perusing our blog/site and realized we had not posted an update here about our status since our fundraiser dessert on June 2. We had been praying about and anticipating going to our intercultural training the first week of June, as long as our support levels were at least 75%. We received eight new monthly partners and over $1,000 in one-time gifts. Praise God! We are now up to about 63%. We didn't quite make it to 75%, but we know it's the Lord's will that we didn't! Apparently He has more to teach us here in Salem, Oregon.

One of those lessons that is obvious to us is learning to wait with joy. We don't mean "happy" joy (although that's not bad), but the kind of joy that can only come from the Holy Spirit. Joy that can be expressed even in the midst of extreme trial, similar to what the apostle Paul experienced while in prison and under persecution. It's the kind of joy that gives peace, knowing that the Lord is in control.

Being "out of control" is what we're learning to enjoy the most about this whole process of getting to the mission field. What we mean by that is we can see the Lord doing a great work in us, individually and as a family unit. But with this comes testing, and testing is usually difficult and painful at first. Similar to how gold and silver is refined by exposing it to extreme heat to burn off the impurities, testing from the Lord refines us to be more like Him and to show in word and actions the "fruit" of the Spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control).

The last few weeks for us as a family has been a great test. We are all learning together and realizing that we are a powerful force as a family, but that we have a lot to learn from the Lord and each other. We also have realized that God's plan for us is unfolding before our very eyes. There is a spiritual war going on that we cannot see, but we can say this confidently: it is real. There is a force that does not want us being used to change lives for eternity, and we don't mean "us" as in the Wells family. We mean every Christian. Every person who claims to follow Christ and throws off everything that can entangle them and keep them from doing what God has called them to.

We have counted the cost and are willing to endure some pain in order to be refined into who God wants all of us to be. A Psalm I (Corey) have been praying lately is something we should all pray so that God might use us in a greater way: 

Search me O'God and know my heart,
Test me and know my anxious thoughts,
See if there is any offensive way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.
-Psalm 139:23-24

So what's next?
Over the summer we will be in Salem. Lord willing, we will go to intercultural training in September in North Carolina. We plan to do a road trip to NC and stop by CAM's home office in Dallas, TX along the way and see a few relatives and sights (like the Creation Museum!). During the summer we plan to visit a few other churches and be involved in our church evangelism/outreach projects. And of course enjoy the last summer in Oregon for a long time.

We thank God for those of you who have partnered with us in prayer and financially. Your prayers and gifts will make an eternal impact. Please let us know how we can pray for you! cwells@caminternational.org / 503-877-3701 / Facebook: Corey / Kirsten.