Since being home, our life has not stopped running, for the most part I don't even think we have hit a slow motion stage. It has been non stop, but one thing we know is that it has been all for His glory. Some life changing things have happened since being "home" and God has showed us the direction He wants for us, at least for the time being. We returned from Africa on January 19th I believe and had to attend a very heartbreaking funeral that friday. We were exhausted and just ready for some time to sit, reflect on the trip, and plan out what we would be doing next. I had two weeks of work left at my job because I had put my two weeks notice in before leaving for Africa, and Cole had put his notice in to quit at the end of February. That was a huge step leap of faith for us. The reason we did that was because some time ago God revealed to us that where we were and what we were doing was not where He wanted us and also revealed to Cole that God was calling him to a life of service. Cole surrendered his life over to God and just asked for Him to reveal where He wanted us. We started praying for God to lead us and we realized the one thing that held us where we were was our house. We had just bought the house about 2 years ago and knew we were upside down. We thought, "How are we going to be able to sell it?" and just when you think you have to "handle" it God shows his awesome power and ability. We prayed that if this is what God wanted us to do that He would make it clear and well we put the house on the market and within 13 days we had an offer for more than what we were asking. Blown away doesn't even begin to describe our feelings.
We knew that since Cole's calling he wanted to attend seminary to learn more about the Bible and be surrounded with other people who are ready and willing to serve God. On the friday we returned from Africa, we were at the funeral and while there someone made a comment to Cole telling him how excited he was that Cole would be starting seminary the following monday. "What???" was Cole's response! He made a call and sure enough he was all set and ready to start school. So the time we thought we would have to relax, reflect, and reload turned into this crazy busy schedule. I was working my last two weeks of work and Cole was starting this whole new chapter and we were trying to figure out what in the world we were going to do for a place to live up in Clovis. Clovis was where we felt God was pulling us to, it would be close to our Church family and close to school for Cole. We prayed and prayed because we knew that we couldn't afford to buy something and probably not even rent right away because if Cole was in school that would take away time that he could work. Well God took the blessing he showed us from the house and flipped us around again, Cole's grandparents gave us a fifth wheel to live in and what do you know?? some very amazing people from church had some land we can park it on RENT FREE!! As I sit here and think REALLY?? REALLY?? I am just amazed at how God provides and yet I still stand in doubt. I feel ashamed to say that after all that I didn't think it could get better. But just like in any good story it does :) I had been looking online for jobs for myself sporadically and had seen one pop up a couple times. I thought, "Oh why not I'll just call and see" Well it just so happened that they were having a meeting that day to decide whether or not they would need a full time person or a part time which meant full benefits for full time. I received a call later that they decided they needed a full time person and wanted to interview me. That next week was my first week after quiting my old job and on Tuesday I went in for the interview, found out on Wednesday that I GOT THE JOB!!! Answered prayer to say the least. So at this point we have a trailer, a house full of stuff that we have to figure out what to do with, Cole's in school and I have a new job with a tentative start date of february 27. The trailer needed a little TLC and the land needed some work too so with much help and work we currently have the trailer on the property, electricity hooked up and the sewer is hooked up... just waiting on the water. We had been looking for a deep well water pump because the one on the land went bad and while looking for something old, used, or anything cheap really a man from my dad’s work randomly asked how Cole and I were doing? Cole had met this man once before when he was looking for work. My dad was able to share with this man what had transpired in our lives over the last couple years and how Cole had surrendered to the ministry, working with MAC Trips. My dad being in the oil producing industry asked his friend if he knew of any place to buy a well pump relatively cheap, after some time the man got back to my dad and gave him a place and all the info to go and get set up, at the end of the conversation the man told my dad, “Go down there tell them what you need and put it on my tab,” my dad replied, “Oh no that’s not why I asked for your help, I wasn’t looking for a freebie.” After much deliberation it was revealed that the man wanted to help us. After getting everything that was needed figured out and order the man called my dad and told him to go down that Friday and pick everything up because it would all be ready. My dad and the man met to decide who was paying for what and the man told my dad, “Marty I don’t think you understand what I am telling you, I want to do this for your kids!” This man donated a brand spanking new water well pump, tank, wiring, and all the other stuff that I have no idea what it is. GOD IS AMAZING!! Just when you think you are going to have to pay some money that you don’t really have God (once again) shows how powerful and capable He is to take care of our needs. There have been numerous other people who have helped us buy things for the trailer or fix things on the trailer and we are so thankful for those people. We love the people God has blessed us with in our life. God's love is amazing and the people he puts in your life to bless you with just amazes me, because we truly do not deserve it. At this point Cole just left for the Philippines on April 9, 2012 to help Bro Abner with a youth camp and various vacation bible schools. Please pray for Cole and the team of 4 as they go and help God’s ministry. We will be blogging about what happens in the Philippines to share what God is doing around the world. Thank you for reading this blog and we hope that this encourages you as you all have encouraged us. 
Love Cole&Allie