We know it has been a while since we have updated everyone on where we are and what we are up to. The last time we sent out an update, we told you we were praying about setting up a YWAM base here in Baltimore. We went and met with Ramona (the YWAM northeast director)in Georgia. She listened to us, prayed with us, asked us questions and just processed with us. There were no immediate answers from God whether we should or we shouldn't proceed. We came back here and continued to seek Him and take a look at our lives and where we, as a family, are headed. God began to slow down our thinking...bring things into focus...quiet other noises and sounds. He began to show us our lives, in the moment. He spoke to us about a couple of things. One, that we are raising five kids. That is more than a full time job. In order to do that well, we need to focus on them and on building a healthy family and a secure launch pad for their lives. This is our primary ministry. Second, He told us to look at what He was blessing in our lives...He pointed to the house church that meets in our home on Sunday nights. He showed us the fruit that has come out of it in the past two and a half years. Third, He has opened our eyes to our community around us...our neighbors. We know, none of this is major revelation...but, in it's simplicity, it is!
"Be faithful with what is in front of you..." that has been the resounding theme here in the Potler household. So, we are not moving forward with YWAM. We are going to continue to put our hand to the plow that God already has our hands on. We are going to raise our kids. Love our neighbors and build into the relationships within our house church community.
Some of you might know, Devon switched careers last fall. It was a total leap of faith. But, Devon felt God's strong leading. We are so humbled by God's blessing on this venture. He has provided for us in ways that we never could've imagined! Devon loves what he is doing! He is doing home remodeling on his own. He is planning on applying for a contractor's liscence this year. He has tons of work, and because it is his own company, has the freedom to take off. He went to Mexico with the Espositos in May. God began to open up doors there for coffee house ministry as well...more on that another time!
Kaya starts high school at the end of August. He is excited and nervous. Kaya also had a really important thing happen this spring...he met his biological dad, Bart. It was God ordained timing. We didn't know where he was, Bart never knew about Kaya, but Kaya knew about Bart. We just always trusted God's timing in the whole situation. Our brother in law (who knew Bart) heard from him out of the blue on My Space in December. We took a deep breath and contacted Bart right away. He was suprised, excited and nervous to meet Kaya. It turned out that he now lives about 10 miles from our house. It also turns out, that he went to the same high school that Kaya will be attending. They have since met, hung out and are getting to know one another. Kaya also met his half sister, Taylor. She is a year younger, but looks a lot like Kaya (see pic). She is a musician as well! Kaya is soaked with the creative gene!
So, this spring brought a lot of suprises, blessings and answers for our family! Our family has grown! Our business has grown and the house church needs to find a new place to meet.
We truely are in awe of God's ways and His process. We are done trying to figure it all out...we are learning about just being obedient to today, the moment... We don't want to miss a thing that He has for us.
I know this is a long blog...bear with me for one more moment...a friend of ours is sick, very sick. I asked her recently why she doesn't rest, why she's still working...she said to me, "Time is not my own. God put me on this earth to do a job. I will use my every last breath, doing what God made me to do."
We don't want to miss a moment.
We love you all...we will continue to post updates here on this blog site (instead of loading down your email with high content files!) Please let us know how you are doing!
We appreciate your prayers and your standing with us in this life thing. Please pray that His voice becomes clearer to us...that every day, we hear what He has...
In Jesus,
Devon, Kristin, Kaya, Nahum, Zeb, Tavi and Corban
