One Week Out

Our team

Almost two years ago (October 2014) one week before we left for France, I had mixed emotions: excitement, fear, sadness, and joy.  I was so very thankful to begin this journey, this calling God placed on our lives.  It took us so much longer than I ever imagined to get to this place and I was ready.  I told myself: "It's two years.  We can make it here two years.  And after that, if God calls us back to the states, I will be ok with that."

"I will be ok with that."??

 Fast forward almost two years...we are one week out from leaving our home here in France to spend the summer in the states.  And surprisingly, my emotions are much the same: excitement about seeing friends and family we have missed dearly, fear of the changes that have taken place in us and in those we love since we left, sadness to leave our family and friends here, and joy knowing that we return with stories of all that God is doing in our town here in France, feeling better equipped to raise the remaining support we need to return to France in the fall.  Now I tell myself, "I'm not ok with going back to the states and not returning.  THIS has become home to us.  We long for the day when we will see those we have come to love here, choose to follow Christ.

"THIS has become home to us."

God has affirmed over and over again that this is where He wants us to serve Him and so with that in mind, we look forward to seeing How he will accomplish that and who He will use.  We leave for Memphis one week from today. (We arrive on Friday, May 27).  Here are some ways that you can be praying for our family:

• Preparing to leave an empty house for three months as well as packing can be challenging.  Fortunately, we are still having winter-like temps here, so packing summer clothes shouldn't be a problem.  Our last week is full of seeing friends and wrapping up the school year (we are taking the kids out one month early)
• Flights with 4 littles: We have three flights with an overnight layover in Ft. Lauderdale (we will be staying at a hotel).  
• Noam's health:  Noam is currently having some stomach issues which have been quite literally a mess to deal with.  We are still in the process of figuring out if he has an intolerance to something or if it is just part of all the changes.  Thanks for remembering him as we hope to have it somewhat figured out before we travel.

We have been counting down the days with the kids.  We look forward to visiting with many of you!

Blog Re-Launch!

Welcome back everyone. As you  may know, our family is about to enter a new phase in our journey as church-planters in France. At the end of May, we are heading back to the States to spend the summer raising the monthly financial support we need to continue serving in France beyond our current 2 year contract. Without this support by around summer's end, our time in France as missionaries with World Team will be over. That being said, we fully anticipate returning to France in the fall with World Team and picking up right where we left off. Perhaps you can be a part of this story!

I hope you will take a few moments and check out the new pages by clicking the various tabs above. I tried to answer any questions you might have about what are time has been like in France, what are vision is going forward, and how you can get involved. Don't hesitate to email me (brandon.burch@worldteam.org) if I can provide any further information or if you know of someone that we should speak with this summer!

"20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us— 21 to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

(Eph. 3:20-21; HCSB)