The Lord has been so good to our family this past year. He has faithfully provided for us. He has given  us purpose and direction. He has guided us and given us strength in the midst of trials and in the midst of joys. He has been our protection as we have traveled thousands of miles. He has opened up doors of opportunities as we have met hundreds of new people.

This past weekend, we had met with almost 60 of our extended family on Dad’s side. It was a great time of connecting, fellowship, and fun. It was so good to meet and be able to fellowship with family around the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Lord truly has blessed our family with a godly heritage.

We are ALL back in Chicago again as a whole, but only for another week. Nate will be going back to IMI to serve in his off-semester (will share more later =). In less than two weeks, we will be attending the annual IBLP Christmas Conference, which we are really excited about! In the coming weeks, many things will be changing for the Paine family, but we will share more later. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to seek the Lord’s direction and guidance for our lives! Be blessed!…We truly are! =)

It was only an evening together, but we immensely enjoyed our time fellow-shipping, celebrating Kara’s birthday, and playing games. =) We have all been encouraged by their families ministering through song and testimony all across America. Their joyful spirit of energy has truly been an inspiration.

The Fortunes taught us a new game called Occupation Telephone. It involves creativity, accurately following “silent” instruction, and coming up with interesting occupations. =) We were also introduced to PIT….it was great! Although I time together was short…we had a blast!

It is our prayer that God will continue to bless them as the minister in churches, sharing the good news and message of salvation.

“That men may know that thou, whose name is Jehovah,
art the most high over all the earth.”
Psalm 83:18

The Lord opened a door for Tabitha, Thomas, and myself (Chad…=) to embark on an adventure to the country of Peru. We went with the mindset of serving the leaders of Peru, namely an area called Calloa.The Lord was lifted up and glorified in and through our time. Through the team, we were able to see people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ in addition to around 3,000 tracks being handed out! We all are walking away from this trip with a new perspective on relationships, people, and life in general. I walk away with a new sense of gratefulness for what I have and an unworthiness of all that Jesus has done for me. A gratefulness for my family, for friends, for His Word and His placing me where I am now. My heart truly went out to all those I came in contact with.

One of the things that I had asked the Lord to do in my heart was to open my eyes and help me see people as He saw them. He truly did answer this prayer. Our trip was marked by Divine encounters. The Lord guided each step that we took. Things did not go according to everything we had hoped or expected, but God’s will was accomplished and the doors that remained closed we chose to trust Him for opening those doors in His time.

I am so grateful for the opportunity that God had given in and through this time. It has and will forever be a wonderful memory. Our team was perfect in my opinion, and truly hand-picked by the Lord. I am and will be forever grateful for this opportunity.

We look forward with anticipation to what God will do in the future because of this trip!

For the Fourth of July The family had a great time playing volleyball, eating pickles playing Rook, Watching fireworks and much more!

The family celebrated Abigail and Josiah’s birthdays together! Joey (as we call him =) has been growing up so fast! We know that God has an incredible plan for his life and we are excited to see him growing up into a young man with passion! Abby’s heart is to return to Oklahoma city to continue to serve there with the “IN the GAP” ministries. Her heart has always been towards children and serving in that capacity. She has been very fulfilled in serving there.

In addition to having fun, the guys having been busy with the upkeep of the property such as;

Mowing the lawns, clearing trails in the woods,  fixing leaks, Etc.  It has been such a blessing to be a part of this ministry in so many ways!

One of the bigger, muddier projects that the boys encountered was clearing cattaills from one of the retention ponds! AS you can see, it was a muddy ordeal!…but a memory at the same time!

The remainder of the family is still here in Chicago serving, working, and missing the rest of the family. Pray that God will continue to give us grace, strength, and wisdom as we continue to serve with the Kingdom mindset!
May you be blessed!

photo courtesy of Brielle Paine

Tabitha and Nathaniel hold down the fort in Chicago while the rest of the family spends the 4th of July in Skiatook, Oklahoma! The weather is hot and humid, but we are enjoying our time here. It is quiet, a wonderful place to spend together with each other and with the Lord. WE hope to post pictures soon! We just wanted to update ya’ll on what was taking place!

May the Lord richly bless you as you serve Him and seek to love Him EVERYDAY!

“…Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me!…”
~ 1Chronicles 4:10 ~