Joy Comes in the Morning

I’m awake. I laid here and spoke with Jesus about what the day will look like. The children still sleep. My in-laws are a room over on the third floor of the Courtyard Hotel. Everything around me is silent but the joy in my heart is deafening. I have no doubt that the angels are celebrating the sovereignty of the Lord as are feet are being planted on the path that He has set before us. 

Ahead, there is the hustle of preparing four children for an international flight, anxiety of a new adventure, and eventual signs of anxiety of something new.

Your grace is sufficient. This is all for you Jesus. Your word tells me that all things are held together by You. I will trust in You. Thank you for loving us so much. 

My Greatest Missionary Battle (so far)

As onlookers passed, beads of sweat crawled down my brow. Between passive glances of disdain and shame, from rage, I fought what literally could be called a mutant beast from the depths of a sulfuric lake of fire! 

In retrospect, it was humiliating to know there were witnesses to this very spiritual battle which threatened to end our mission journey before it even began. I was weak. I was not effective but the prayer of a righteous man avails! 

With strength from on High, after nearly 30 minutes of an onslaught of attack, after being passed (not by just one but four men able to help right the evil  before them) I finally gathered approximately 500lbs of luggage from the rental, loaded and unloaded the cart onto the sidewalk three times, Sparta kicked it into the building, and helped my wife unload it in the hotel room. 

When we are weak, He is strong! 

Goodnight friends. This missionary is going to sleep. 

Blessings!!!

Levi 

The Covering of Chaos

Yesterday (4/9/18) was bittersweet. We had dinner with the two couples who God placed in our lives that became our best friends and ministry partners. We spent the last 15 years of our life experiencing the highest of highs and the lowest of lows along side these fine people. It was odd feeling gratification and sadness at the same time. Though we are sad, it is well with my soul.

Lingering feelings of parting with our friends was quickly covered with the hustle of final preparations. We woke with the joyful frenzy of completing the final tasks necessary to be ready for our departure tomorrow. Then we had the blessing of friends and family coming by to help and pray with us. Sheldon messaged me to tell me that God had told him to check in on me. I can't tell you all how grateful I was to read the words of encouragement. It was what we needed to continue the momentum. Chaos started overwhelming us and, like so many times before, Jesus was reaching into our lives to bring comfort and love. With so much still to be done, so many people to try to connect with, and the individual emotions each of us are having, we still needed a break.

Cookies and noodle bake to the rescue! My father-in-law spent his time today preparing for us to have a final dinner as a family before we left. Jesus knows exactly how to bring the peace. Though we are currently finding rest, tomorrow, and the days to come, will surely bring more chaos and emotions. Please continue to pray that we find a way to connect with Jesus. That He continues to connect with us, rather.

It's difficult to describe all the emotions that we are going through and that's okay. It's easy, however, to quote a brilliant theologian when the loss stares us in the face.

"There is going to be loss but we must remember that the gains will always be greater." 

~Alexander James Riley~

Welcome to our blog!!!

My hope for this blog is to create a medium for everyone to keep up to date with what is happening through the journey God has taken us on. For more information on what the mission trip includes, check out the "Who Are The Riley's" link on the main page of the blog.

I will be trying to update the blog as often as possible. I will also try to include everyone in the family, including the kids, throughout. Warning: Riley's live off the cuff so expect unadulterated emotions, struggles, joys, and victories. Hopefully I can provide an authentic window into what it's like, for a family of 6, during their adventure into the mission field for the very first time.