Getting rid of the "excess"

Wow, we have 5 1/2 weeks left until Moving Day to Ghana! This morning we were blessed to be at two different churches, Commonwealth Chapel, with Pastor Rob Rhoden, and End Time Harvest with Pastors Felix and Eunice Mercado. We had an awesome time worshipping the Lord with them and our family including Suleima. God continues to open doors as we continue to hold His hand and keep forward towards the vision He has placed in our hearts. We want to thank each congregation and their pastors for their prayers and financial support!

Praise God, He sent us a family to rent our house! We are so excited because this was still an outstanding need that was not met, until the end of last week! And so now we continue to pack, with the help of family and friends...right now we have no furniture downstairs, no sofas, no TV, no coffee table. Our church had another great yard sale this past Saturday to raise support and much of our things were sold. We still have much to sift through in our house, as we continue to down size. Upstairs we were rid of our youngest daughter's bed and her dresser (she still has the mattress) plus my dresser, and our eldest' daughter's desk.

Our kids have been great, helping out, getting rid of the "excess" in their lives as well. I think every family in America should do this often, whether you are moving or not! You realize how much "stuff" you end up accumulating over the years. Granted, some things are sentimental, but most of it is just extra. Just one typical American household probably has enough stuff to take care of 5-10 other families in a third world country! In America we don't know what to do with ourselves sometimes that we end up just self indulging, buying things that feed our self image...our ego...to make us happy for just a short moment.

These are things that I think we all know, I for one am guilty of it...that's the way we are brought up...it's the way we live, it's a big part of our life here in the U.S. It's a part of why people flock to our borders, to live a better life. As Christians we just need to be careful that we keep it; our "God Bless America" lifestyle in check...in perspective. Making sure we give back and that we become good stewards of our time and our money. God help us. Like I said before, I am guilty of these things...God's been revealing so much to me lately, but I know, as far as myself is concerned, I have to make sure His Words don't fall on deaf ears...my own.

Angelo and I are also preparing to leave on July 18 for 1 week to Accra,Ghana. We will be signing papers for our rental house, God willing and hopefully purchasing a vehicle and some supplies. God has provided a wonderful missionary couple that currently live in Accra, originally from Minnesota I believe. We met them through the Internet when we were searching for a school for our girls to attend. Jeff and Laurie have been in Accra for 12 years now and have blessed us with their insight and wisdom and we thank God for connecting us. They have opened their home to us in July and we look forward to meeting them. There are still some things that we'd like to take with us when we move and I will post a list later on for anyone who reads this and would like to personally be a part of this great adventure!