going places

This is a big, scary, exciting step in our lives... We hope to go on a mission trip this summer - with our boys.  Part of going is preparing, and part of preparing is finding the support to make it happen.  It is so humbling to ask others for help, but also exciting to invite our friends & family into this journey with us.  While not everyone has the time or interest to travel to other countries in service, many people would like to be part of that effort.  So, the following letter is being sent out in the near future.  I'm posting it here, to  also invite our readers to pray and support this adventure with us.

love,

MamaToo

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Dear Friends,

We hope this letter finds you well!  What started as a Christmas letter turned into a Valentine, which now arrives as a little newsletter for all seasons.  Needless to say, we’ve been busy!  Mr. Kenobi's engineering office has grow faster than anyone predicted, which is a great blessing.  MamaToo continues (trying) to keep up with the boys, as they grown and learn more each day.  In her “spare time,” she is working on several community and church projects and getting more connected in our neighborhood.  Obi-1, now 4 1/2, is becoming quite the “big kid.”  He’s figuring out how to read and recently started violin lessons, so we know that activities and school are just around the corner.  Obi-2, who is nearly 3, keeps us laughing at his comedic timing, and he seems to mirror his brother’s interest in music.  Always the talkers, the boys ask a lot of questions (including the ever-popular, “why?”) to keep us all thinking.

One lesson we’re learning together is how our faith and values are reflected in everything we do.  The boys are building their own friendships, which give us all a chance to spend time with new people and practice kindness, generosity, and mercy outside our home.  While we recognize we are recipients of God’s free gift of grace, we understand that faith is often lived out in practical ways.  We have long imagined what it might look like to teach this to our children by example, and we’ve been blessed by the influence, prayers, and help of many of you.  Last year, we began seriously seeking ways our whole family might serve in other areas of the world.  We’re excited to see an answer unfolding this summer.

This June, we have the opportunity to spend a little time serving families in Queretaro, Mexico.  We are invited to support a local ministry that offers many programs for neighborhood children and their parents.  There will be ways for everyone (of every age) to contribute.  For many reasons, this is an amazing opportunity.  It is an answer to our prayers - and also for many of you who have committed to nurture and encourage our children’s lives.  The idea that our boys, even as young as they are, can begin to know they are gifted people, sent out to share what they have been given - well, that is very exciting, indeed. 

So, we are looking at the months ahead with great anticipation.  Part of our preparation is asking for your help.  You’ve offered encouragement, prayers, and insight for our lives and family, and we hope you will be excited with us.  First of all, we ask for your prayers.  Secondly, we invite you to be part of this opportunity.  No, we can’t pack you into our luggage, but we’d like you to come along with us in other ways.  This trip will cost about $4,900 in expenses, so we humbly ask you to consider giving toward this goal.  Most of this money needs to be collected by April 1st in order to make travel arrangements.  While it may seem like a big challenge, we pray you will agree that it’s a worthy investment.  If you do want to commit to support us, your money can be sent to our church, which is organizing the trip for us.  Please write “Kenobis” on the memo line, and they will also provide a tax receipt for you.   We will continue updates over the next several months so you can follow our journey.

Well, that's a quick update on our lives, and you're invited to be part of the future story.   We see this short trip as a part of how we’ll teach our children, and many neighbors in Mexico, that we have a hope, joy, and purpose worth sharing.  Hopefully it continues to build the values of “giving and going” into the minds and hearts of our family.  If you have any questions, please  call or email us.   Thank you for continuing to support our family in so many ways!

Blessings,

MamaToo & the Kenobi Family