“Is it egotistical to be moved by my own writing from time to time”, I wondered?  Of course not, that’s how you know it was written ‘under-the-influence’…of the Spirit, that is!  I was looking back over some of my old writings from previous blogs and was struck by the first entry I made on our adoption journey (October 1, 2005: www.adoptingfaith.blogspot.com).  If I had known then that the Lord was pruning our faith for this venture, perhaps I would have lent myself more as diligent student of faith.  But now, on this side, I can’t help but worship Him for doing that work, so that we’d be prepared to do this one.

Anyway, I had a conversation yesterday with a new friend we met in New York some weeks ago.  Since our time there I have been harvesting ideas of how I might be used once we reach Nairobi and storing them in my brain’s silo until needed.  One kernal, however, (I don’t have the foggiest idea where the farm theme came from!  You just gotta role with me, folks!) continued to find its way out a crack in my mind (of which there are hundreds to choose from these days); “writing…Lord, can I use my writing”?  The On Field Media Department struck a chord with me even then and continues to cause a gurgle in my soul to this day.  These are the people that keep you posted…for a living!  Their job is to be our eyes and ears and to give a full account so that we may know how the partnership of the saints is fulfilling the Great Commission.  I imagine Paul would have been a HUGE supporter of this ministry. And, if I may be so bold, I think he himself would have utilized their expertise to broadcast the fruit of his own labor to the thousands of disciples who kept him afloat all those years.

At any rate, Mike and I discussed the possiblity and he generously encouraged me to take posession of the idea.  “We need writers so desperately,” he said. “You could hop a flight with Brian and go out to get the story and then submit it as a freelancer so as not to take too much time away from your kids”.

Okay, let’s just pause right here: can anyone who has known me longer than 10 minutes think of a more perfect function for me?  It’s like a 10,000,000 piece jigsaw is being put together by a genius and suddenly my piece drops into a hole that is the most bizarre shape and yet perfectly matched to my giftings and…adrenalines!  How cool would it be to come to the blog one day and say, “yeah…hopped a flight to Madagascar today to meet with a guy who is building a clinic for diseased children.  You’ll see my story in the next publication of (insert title).”  People, if you can’t see the hand of God painting this picture Brian and I call “our lives”, your retinas have been burned by boredom!  To use my writing…to tell stories of those who are the hands and feet of our Body…in order to draw our attention to HIS sovereignty…AND encourage MORE partnership in the Great Commission…shoot….you can’t buy that kind of perfection anywhere!  I’m so glad I am employed by the Almighty.  His HR department is really at the top of their game!

Waiting…hoping…preparing!  You ever been there?  Where you feel like you are supposed to be shouting “BLASTOFF” and yet ‘Houston’ seems to have gotten stuck in their countdown?  Right now Brian and I are counting down and running like chickens (do they really need to have their heads cut off to be considered an unorganized species?? Sorta gross, don’t ya think?).  November 14th will mark a Kodak Moment as Brian begins a 9 day evaluation of his flight skills!  Judging by his current study habits, it’s considerably more rigorous than any FAA evaluation he took for the airlines.  In fact, I think I heard him say at one point he felt as though he were auditioning for the Blue Angles!  At any rate, sink or swim date is November 22nd and as he prepares I ask that you pray for him – pray that he would find peace as he studies and clarity as he tries to suture a whole lot of information into his brain.  He is a phenomonal pilot and while I know the Lord is going to teach him humility through the process, I have no doubt he’ll be immediately recognized as an asset to the AIM flight team.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, momma is printing, stamping, calling, postaging (oh, and occassionally child rearing! HA!) to initiate the launch of a prayer and support team.  This flight evaluation is going to run us about $3000 by the time we’re done with prepatory training, exams, materials, and Brian’s brain surgery to relieve the pressure once this is all over (KIDDING FOLKS!! – rumor control!).  So, us civilian types are trying to spray the soil with information and prayer so the Lord can do His thing and sow that crop in ways only He can!  In fact, the other day I was reading about Jericho and the commentator invited me to consider how crazy that marching army of civilians must have felt shouting and flailing while staring up the side of a 100 miles wide skyscraper!  You just never know what sort of chicken dance the Lord will ask you to do to bring that big wall down!

So, if you happen to see Brian or I flapping and squawking, there are three possible reason:

                    1. We have actually lost our minds (equally as plausible as the other two)

                    2. Brian is visualizing for his short take-offs and landings evaluation

                    3. We’re just obediently bringin the walls down!!

If you feel like doin a little squawkin with us, ruffle your feathers and look to the sky!  Then drop us an e-mail and we’ll point you in the right direction.   BJStaples@aimint.net

Have you ever heard of “raw footage”?  It’s the ‘unpretty’ images used in movies, magazines, photo studios, and others who deal with any kind of electronic imagery.  “Raw” in this context means it’s not yet been touched by the editting tools – no one has zapped out blemishes or adjusted the color so Aunt Berta doesn’t look so pale.  It’s footage that hasn’t been cut to prevent the ugliness of humanity from being revealed.  Or, in the case of the media, it’s cut for PRECISELY that reason – showing us what’s generally none of our business.  Regardless, if you looked through a magazine of “raw images” you may decide to cancel your subscription.

That’s what I offer you now – the opportunity to cancel your subscription!  For those of you that have joined me through many a blog you already know that I rarely candy coat things.  In the past, my blogs have been a source of information as our family traveled through many journies; adoption, pregnancy, and most recently our venture into ministry.  If you look back at those previous sites, you’ll soon realize that most of what I write could also be called “raw”.  I’m sure from time to time people have assumed that I have shared entirely too much personal information.  But those folks are a minority.  Instead, I frequently hear others share how the honest approach to my writing has ministered to them and how one post or another has stimulated their mind or heart or spirit.  “Why don’t you write a book”, they say.  “I do, every day”, I tell them, “just click on the link for a free copy”.

This blog will be no different.  We are embarking on a process that only a select few ever have the privelege of journeying through.  What you may be used to from a missionary newsletter or e-mail is most likely NOT what you will find here.  Should my faith waiver – you’ll see it here.  Should I get angry – you’ll hear it here.  Should danger impose on our family – you’ll watch me cry in fear.  Yes, the squeemish should turn away!

But my intent with this blog is to keep you all close to the vest; to let you all be intimately involved in what we are doing and how the Lord is using our lives to glorify Himself.  As I read in my devotions only this morning, suffering is what grows us into the seasoned warriors God needs us to be.  My hope is that you will identify with some things, be challenged in others.  But most of all, as you read these entries, may you experience the joy of being a part of something huge.  Because if you read this blog, you are automatically on the team.  Once you venture into our lives, God is going to grab a hold of you and bring you along.  Wow, Jami, that’s a pretty bold statement.  Were you not just warned?  I’m telling you, it’s going to be a ride.  And you can polish off your armor and suit up, or you can erase this link from your favorites and miss out on a great adventure!

So, let’s get started…first stop: fundraising and flight evaluations!