To say I have some exciting news is an understatement. When Justin and I started this journey 3 years ago we had no idea where the Lord would lead us.  In fact, it was quite bizarre.  Here I was, a farmer’s daughter, who had never had an interest in farming, OR ANIMALS, and in a matter of months I had small farm.  The same could be said of Justin.  He isn’t even a farmer’s kid.  Mr. Baseball, Pre-Pharmacy student turned middle school science teacher, who left it all to be a contractor now owned a small farm.  Our friends and family thought it was crazy.  Heck, we thought it was crazy. Yet – we loved it.  Every part of us has loved farming and our animals.  It has brought us closer to our Maker – given us a better understanding of how He loves and cares for us. But still there was the question of why.  Why did we suddenly want goats?  Why did we suddenly want chickens?  Ducks?  Pyrenees?  A giant garden?  Bees? It was so unlike us to want these things and to find such joy in it all. I told all of you from the beginning I was asked if I was jumping on the homesteading movement and the answer was – no.  Am I an all organic person?  No.  None of it seemed to make sense. But the idea had been planted in our minds.  The idea grew and just like a beautiful flower when it blossomed we saw God’s plan clearly revealed before us. He has a plan.  He has been preparing us all along.  How grateful I am that we were able to listen to what He wanted for us. So are you ready to hear what the surprise is? WE ARE MOVING!!!  (Not what you thought?)

Well, we aren’t just moving anywhere… we are moving to Arusha, Tanzania.  Yep, Africa. What will we be doing (aside from our #1 mission in life – saving souls)?  You guessed it – farming. Are you seeing how great God is?  I am.  Are you seeing how all things work for good for those that love the Lord?  I am. Now, I know you must be asking… but what about your animals?  You drove all the way to Idaho for those goats!  What about Hercules and Hebe? Let me start with this from Luke chapter 9: As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him,“Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

We fully realized that this meant us selling all of our animals.  It was with gladness in our hearts that we accepted this, looking always to the bigger picture. However, God had other plans…again! In January a girl around my age came into the clinic with a mini-pig.  We struck up a conversation but didn’t get to finish because I left before her appointment was over. The next morning there was a note on my desk to call Sarah Kibble, the girl with the mini-pig.  My boss knew we were looking for a buck for our rabbits and she had one. I called her. We talked for a while and she learned I had dairy goats.  She said they were wanting to get some and asked if we would have any for sale.  I told her we would and that our entire herd would possibly be for sale in the spring.  She asked why and I told her we were leaving for Africa for a year. Here is where God stepped in. I literally have goosebumps every time I think about it. Sarah asked a simple question, “Well, have you considered fostering?  We would love to do that for you.” I am still amazed.  We had already sold our animals in our mind knowing that was the option in front of us and then God opened a window we had not seen. Actually, God opened more than a window here.  He opened a door to a precious friendship. Here are the sweet, sweet friends who will be taking our goats, rabbits, Hercules & Hebe, and a few chickens:

I cannot even begin to thank them enough for taking this burden from us while we go to Africa and serve. But more than that – they have become dear to us and I am so blessed to call them friends. I know the Lord has great plans for them and will bless them richly. Have I said this already?  God is good all the time.  All the time God is good. We do still have some chickens to distribute.  The ducks will stay on our pond & the cats will stay in our barn.  Then there is our inside dog Chloe.  But it will all work out.  Great is our God. We even have dear friends moving into our house while we are gone. All I want to do is sing His praises. Paperwork pending and Lord willing we will be IN Tanzania at the end of September. We have been saving up and raising money but we still need your help.  The flight over is $2000 a piece – Oh!  I need to stop right here.  I have forgotten a key part of this. It isn’t just Justin and I moving – my sister Samantha will be joining us for at least 6 months!  I praise the Lord that my sister wants to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this world. So back to the funding.  We have to raise $2,000 each for our flight + $6,000 for a car while we are over there and then there is the cost of living.  We have been diligently saving and thanks to giving hearts we have some money saved up for living expenses but for an entire year we are still approx. $5,000 short. So in all we would like to raise $13,000-$15,000 more than what we currently have. Horton Chapel Church of Christ has set up an account for those of you who would like to help us. Checks can be made out to Horton Chapel COC and mailed to:

Horton Chapel Church of Christ

925 Union Ridge Road

PO BOX 1100

Belton, KY 42324

PLEASE PUT FOR THE MAYNARDS – AFRICA.

Any and all help would be beyond appreciated but most of all we ask for your prayers. Pray that in all things the Lord’s will be done and that He is exalted in all things. We are excited and I love a good adventure.