Yates Family In Soddo

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many. The apostle Paul was certainly suffering far mor hardship than the Yates family but with the moving day coming so soon we are starting to feel "utterly burdened beyond our strength". For indeed what we are trying to do is truly counter to our normal nature to keep life simple and restful. We are burdened by the work but more so we are burdened by the loss of leaving. The changing nature of relationships as we move...

We, the Yates and the Simpsons, would like to welcome Wendy Gray to our team! As Many of you know we have been praying about having someone join us from the US for language school to help with child care during our classroom time from August until December. It would facilitate more family time, improve our language learning together and help ease the transition for our children to have someone familiar and consistent. After over a month of emails, telephone calls, conversations and prayer, we have found someone to join us. We had all but decided that this was not God's plan. And then 3 weeks ago, during our introduction at Reality in Carpinteria, Wendy approached us after service saying she wanted to pray with us about joining our team for a few months. After a few conversations, prayers and God's leading, we were excited to invite her to come. Wendy is a recently retired preschool teacher and was teaching Spanish to her students. Since retirement she has been praying about wha...

A friend posted this blog on her facebook page, thanks Christina Gabrysch! This has really encouraged me to be extra intentional in our preparation for leaving. I would also ask that you, our friends and family do the same and help to hold us accountable. Sometimes it can be weird or awkward or hard to express our feelings or emotions, but it is really so much better! This is one of the many recommendations about how to have a successful transition: One of the simplest and most brilliant plans for transitioning well was developed by the late Dr. David Pollock.  It’s called building a RAFT (genius).  Paying attention to these four areas can mean the difference between success or failure, flopping or thriving,  great memories or horrible regrets.  Way too much for one blog post but you should Google it (Try “Pollock RAFT”). Here’s the short version what goes into a RAFT: Reconciliation:  Strained or broken relationships don’t go away when you do.  Make it rig...

Welcome home to Kavi and Taylor. They will be having their third boy the end of June. We the Yates family continue to prepare for our first departure. In this season of preparation, God has continually been reminding me of the ways he has confirmed our calling, as the preparation and the grief of "see you later" gets more difficult. It has been really good to remind ourselves (and I ask that others also remind us) of how we got to where we are! In 2010, Adam and I started praying intentionally every week with two other couples from residency, the Simpsons and the Tinsleys about wisdom and discernment for the future and the possibility of serving the Lord together internationally. We felt God answered our prayers for the Simpsons and the Yates to serve together as God united our vision for ministry both in and around the hospital. Spring of 2011, we had a special bible study at the home of our friend and residency director's home where we learned about LifeWind Internation...

God has been so faithful during this building process. It has had its ups and downs and definitely started out later than we expected several times, but it is now in full swing. As we, specifically Taylor, is working hard on the physical aspects of the construction, we are also spiritually preparing the foundation and the construction to be our home. This home will see us through many years of life, including seasons of joy and seasons of sorrow. We have individually and corporately been praying these scriptures over the home with the plans to write them on the walls of the building when the walls are above ground ;) Please join us in praying these verses over our future home and let us know if you there are any others you have been praying! Psalm 90:16-17 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Ephesians 3:20-21 No...

As we, Adam and Michelle, continue in our preparation work, we have recently decided to conquer the ever challenging idea of living on a fixed budget. With that in mind, Adam and I have decided to start using a new app for our phone called "You need a budget" (http://www.youneedabudget.com).  This has been life changing! And I think a must-have (at least in concept, not necessarily this app) for all international service workers. The function of the app is lay out a budget, that can only be "budgeted" as the money is in hand. Then, as you buy your groceries, fuel or pay your rent, you immediately place the expense in the app. This in theory (and has been very close) gives you the real time money in your account so you don't overspend money that you don't have. It synchs between devices, so Adam and I will also have each other's account information on our own devices. This has allowed us to be more proactive and prospective about our spending to guarantee...

Thank you Taylor for all your hard work!  Let the construction begin.  The site preparation has just begun. As we partner with the hospital, recently built in 2006, to expand physician housing for our arrival and many others after us, the construction of the newest duplex has started! All construction at the hospital is modern concrete construction for earthquake safety and longevity and health of the residence. The total cost of the duplex is $140,000.  Through many generous donations the construction project is 50% funded!  To complete the project we are looking for a number of new donors.