After more than 25 years in our delightful home-sanctuary, we are moving on… Following in the steps of our Old Testament mentors, Abraham and Sarah, we’re packing up, moving on – even though we do not yet know where we are going! God said “pack up” – we are. God said “start walking” – we are. They asked “where are we going?” God said “I’ll tell you … later.” Eventually, we trust we will be on foreign soil… teaching, counseling, responding in tangible ways to the needs that God lays in our path which does include being partners with Interserve missions www.interserveusa.org
What this looks like is: While we expected closing of escrow to be finished, it remains delayed. Both buyer and seller are motivated to make this deal happen ~ pray with us this will come together “In His Time.” The buyer is having glitches with a trust account for the older children he adopted when his sister and brother-in-law died, both to cancer. Our movers packed all our belongings on August 5th. On this particular Saturday, August 7th, we are sitting in patio chairs, borrowed from our backyard, in an absolutely empty house save our frig, which will walk out the door next week to a Jewish buyer family from Craig’s list. With the close of escrow, Lord willing we’ll head eastbound in the Roadtrek camper van we’ve had since July 1993. Bound for Zion & Bryce Canyon National Parks [favorites of ours since Bethyl’s Dad, Eddie, died in 1991]. Our sized-down belongings will be delivered to their new home: an insulated, finished barn on the property of our dear friends, Keith and Marian Hoezee in Hudsonville, Michigan. They are supporting our missionary work by storing our earthly stuff. We are blessed “sojourners!”
On Saturday, July 17th the 3rd anniversary of Jonathan Edward’s home-going (Bethyl’s disabled brother), we shared a delightful meal of food, sharing, and anointing prayer with about 40 dear friends who represent marked altars in our life experiences during our 28+ years of marriage. Our former Pastor Graydon & his wife, Judy, (previously pastoring in Alaska) joined to place His blessing upon us. “thanks to God… for times… now but a memory…”
We’re intending to honor “a call to rest,” a Sabbatical that we have preached but not practiced much until recent times. It’s now time to obey. Lord willing this will be in the north of England as God opens the way… perhaps in September. We’re praying that we listen well to The Voice of the Lord – as we go… as we rest… and that sometime during this period, God will heighten our hearing to the place He is preparing for us. We won’t be surprised if it’s India – but … He may well surprise us… as He’s been known to do. We do know this: “they who dwell in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed in the shelter of the Almighty [whose power no foe can withstand!” Amplified. Psalm 91:1].
For now, you can reach us on our cell phones: Vance @ 714 350 8100. Bethyl @ 714 615 0379. OR with our current e-mail: vshepperson@sbcglobal.net or BethylJoy@sbcglobal.net . However, our e-mail addresses also are already updated to vanceshepperson@gmail.com and bethyljoy@gmail.com which is what we will have after disconnecting our present phones. Feel free to follow us on our blog: http://thesheppersons.blogspot.com Our forwarding address is: 950 28th Avenue. Hudsonville, MI 49426-9630
We hope to use e-mail and our blog to connect with you – we also would appreciate your input to us – up-to-date email addresses, current events in your life, and prayer needs. We hope you will want to partner with us with prayers and perhaps financially if you’re so led. We will use our own savings for living expenses and are just looking for financial support with health care and mission related expenses (missionary counseling, de-briefing, training, consulting, and teaching). We were saddened this morning to hear of the missionaries in Afghanistan being killed; two were partners with Interserve So, “If you think of us, don’t just think, go to God immediately with your thoughts and He will create just the response to us that your thought was intended for.” We will do this for you as well.
Shalom!
Vance and Bethyl Joy
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