Arizona Life and What’s Next
In my last post I explained why our updates have been slow in coming, and promised to soon get you caught back up with where we are and what is happening. We are living in Safford, AZ, a mining community in southeast Arizona. Safford is an hour north of I-10 and two hours east of Tucson. For this part of the world it is a big deal. There is a small state college, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, New Car Dealerships, other shopping and entertainment opportunities, and of course the hospital, all of which bring folks in from an hour or more away. The copper mines are the largest employers, but there is a fair amount of flood-irrigated hay and cotton grown on the outskirts of town as well. We sit in the heart of the Gila Valley with mountains on the horizon no matter which direction we look. Becca is often reminded of the verse “I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth!” A much-needed visual reminder at times, to look up from our circumstances to the One who is our ever-present help in times of trouble.
The winter was very mild compared to Midwest standards, but cool compared to our time in Southwest, GA the past few years. We actually had a couple of days where snow accumulated lightly, but mostly it was mild and damp. Those cool damp days are past us now though and we are already seeing high 80s and even 90 plus some days. The transition from Winter to Spring was very fun. We watched the desert and mountains turn green and the cactus flowers bloom. It was interesting to watch the snow recede up the mountain too. This transition from Spring to Summer has been a bit less fun though. The desert is turning brown again and it is getting hot. Rebecca’s contract ends June 3rd, and we are hopeful that we will be down the road before we experience any true desert heat.
One of the memories Lilian and Andrew made was attending the Tucson Rodeo. Andrew had been to a couple of Midwest county fair rodeos growing up, but this was professional rodeo with some of the competitors being multi-time National Finals Rodeo champs and current world top ten competitors. It really was a next level experience.
Later we all got to visit Andrew’s sister on the other side of Tucson and visit the Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch. It was an experience like none other. We got to feed and pet donkeys, ostriches, sting rays, tortoises, deer, goats, rabbits, parakeets and more. If you ever drive I-10 west of Tucson you should certainly stop in and check it out.
A bit later Andrew’s mom came down to AZ to visit his sister and help her move, but we got to meet her for a day in Tucson first. We visited an Ethiopian restaurant that had been featured on a favorite Food Network show of Lilian’s, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, then we went to the zoo and got ice cream.
Finally, just a couple of weeks ago we got to visit the Grand Canyon. This included visits in the towns of Winslow and Williams to check out some Route 66 sites on the way there. On the way back we made a stop in Phoenix at a train-themed museum/park before grabbing lunch at another restaurant that was featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
No update would be complete without telling you about the kids. They are both doing great. Lilian turned 11 in April and is working on finishing up the 5th grade. We were able to find a dance studio for her to continue her lessons, and she has also been attending the Boys and Girls club some. Hiram will be two the first week of June. He is full of energy and talks all the time. He pretty much insists that some portion of every day be spent outside. Going to the playground is one of his favorite activities, but just going for a walk and picking up interesting rocks is good too. Both of the kids still love reading and we are at the local library at least once a week.
Becca's contract here ends on June 3rd, so we have just under a month to figure out the next step. If we are honest, while the travel pay is good, and we have been able to see places and make memories we otherwise couldn’t have made, living in transition has been more stressful than we bargained for. It has been a challenging season for our mental health and relationships with each other, due in part to not having meaningful community and support outside each other. You could say we are a bit road weary and ready to put down some roots! We would love to find some place to settle down, build relationships, and start farming again, but would really need the Lord to open doors for us in order for that to happen. This whole time we have been traveling we have been looking into different opportunities that have presented themselves and had many conversations, but none have panned out.
We continue to pray that the Lord opens doors to either:
Partner with an existing farm to add a ministry arm to what they currently are doing.
Partner with an existing ministry to add farming to what they currently are doing.
)Partner with an individual or group of individuals to purchase a livestock operation with the goal of using it for ministry.
or
He leads and directs us down a path He has for us that we can’t currently imagine.
In the meantime, because we are not sure what else to do at the moment, Becca is applying for contract positions anywhere there is a suitable opening, as well as searching for permanent hire positions in areas of the country that are most ideal to the type of farming we want to pursue. We are trying to do the things that are most reasonable and prudent, while still remaining open to any course correction God might want to direct. The sweet spot between self-reliance that doesn’t involve faith, and foolishness that expects God to provide regardless of our actions, is one of the most mysterious parts of following Christ.
Would you pray with us, friends? For discernment and unity, for our mental and emotional health and family relationships, and that we would be able to experience the joy and peace of God’s presence with us even in the midst of uncertainty and transition. Thank you all for your continued prayers and love.
Until next time.
Pressing on to win the PRIZE,
Andrew and Becca
Pictures moving left to right and top to bottom
Hiram playing in his sandbox
Lilian and Hiram at the playground on a tire swing
“Standing on a corner in Winslow, AZ…”
Lilian overlooking the Grand Canyon
Momma and Hiram feed the deer at Rooster Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
Momma and Lilian feed the Lorikeets at Rooter Cogburn Ostrich Ranch
At the Tucson Zoo with Grammy.