Category Archive for "Personal" | jon and layne heller

A Time to Give Thanks

A Layne Post

As Jon and I sat around a table full of old and new friends enjoying turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, pies, etc., I could not help but be overwhelmed with gratitude.

About a week and a half ago, I remember lying in bed crying as I thought about the fact that I would have no kitchen to even attempt anything “Thanksgiving-ish”. But the Lord so graciously provided a blessing in disguise: our broken into vehicle. Not only have we gotten a vehicle that is loads better, we have been given precious time with sweet friends.

There are so many things to be thankful for this year…

– Each other. Traveling and ministering is so much better together.

– Family that loves us well, even from so far away.

– Supporters who have joined us in our effort to bring the love of Christ where it is not

by not only giving financially, but also prayer and encouragement.

– Friends and connections all over the world, who provide us with advice and wisdom.

– An awesome truck.

(I could keep going, but I will refrain for the sake of length.)

Thanksgiving day pictures… I forgot to get in one!

Pretty table!

After dinner chatting

Young guys table

Here is a picture our “Home 2”, which has been graciously lent to us by new missionary friends with an organization called “Word to Africa”.

Lobatse, Botswana

We have a fridge and kettle!

And this is our new truck, which with the help of Jon’s dad and brothers, has been named:

The Bison

Meet "The Bison"

Canvas seat covers... rough and tough

We love you guys, and thank God for you every time we think of you… which is often!

P.S.

We will start travels to Mozambique December 7th and arrive on the 8th! We are getting excited to get there and get plugged in.

November 27, 2009

Layne

Personal, Travel

10 comments

Rolling with the punches

a layne post

When I was a little girl, I was in gymnastics. I remember doing the event called the vault. You run as fast as you can, bounce off a springboard, and do some sort of “trick” over the vault. Well sometimes it did not go as planned. I distinctly remember a few times running as hard as I could, not bouncing off the springboard; instead running right over it and directly into the vault, knocking the breath clear out of me. My family could attest to these moments of agony.

This is a little like how I feel this week. All the anticipation, the gearing up, the good-byes… I was (and don’t get me wrong, still am) ready to give it all; to make a difference, now only to wind up stuck without a vehicle, waiting in a lodge we did not plan to pay for, unable to get in touch with the people who have our car.

You know, with all my missions experience, I know it is not glamorous. I know that is not all “people getting saved and sharing the gospel”. I know there is a lot of behind the scenes work and complications. I don’t know… maybe I just didn’t expect it to be hard the first day.

Our current home (for the week)

Here is the update:

Upon arrival, our friends who were caring for the car had had a sudden death in the family and had to leave town. We would not have our car for a day or two, until they got back in town. When they got back in town, a little later than originally expected, there had been a break in. Someone had gotten under the hood of our vehicle, taken our radiator, cylinder head, and other things. Because it was reported quickly, the thieves were caught. They were taken to the police and beaten until a confession was made. (how it works here) The parts were recovered, but now the vehicle is having to be put back together. So we wait.

Plan once we get the vehicle:

We will travel to visit some friends about an hour from here. Fellowship and be encouraged. This next weekend we plan to make the drive to Mozambique and start living there until further notice of Angolan visas, of which there is nothing to report.

We appreciate your prayers. Your comments on the last post were fabulous. We love them! Thanks so much for sharing with us, for being a part of this with us. We love you.

Short fun story:

In a taxi on our way back to the lodge the other day, we were sharing with the driver where were we from and what we are doing. (I always love to share with them that Jon and I met in their country!) The man was enjoying the story and proceeded to ask if we could drive to our country. Jon explained it is very far and there is a big ocean between. “Ahh,” the man said, “so a bus would get stuck.” Jon replied, “It would sink!”

I love Africa. I love the boisterous laughs of the women. I love the friendly smiles and the constant greetings. I am happy to be here.

A bit of "holiday" for myself

November 14, 2009

Layne

Personal

15 comments

From Botswana

A Jon Post

Well we said all our goodbyes and left all of our friends and family in the USA and we got on an airplane Friday afternoon.
It was very hard. There were many tears.
We kept going.

It’s never easy to say goodbye. Especially to the people who deserve all the credit for what we are doing. But we did and we traveled and last night we arrived in Botswana where we will spend the next 1-2 weeks. We’ll get our truck tomorrow. I really miss that truck.

Angola visas? Naaaahh… We don’t have them. Is that a problem? Well I guess that depends on who you ask. If you ask me I’d say “Yes, a big one”, but if you ask God, He’d say “Nope. I’ve got it under control.”
I’m still asking Him to get us those visas soon. I’d like to ask all of the people who read this to do that too. Please ask God to get us those visas soon. If you have a second right now… please pray.

We miss and love you all. We are here. We are safe. We are loved.

November 9, 2009

Jon

Personal, Visas

14 comments

First move

Our bags have been weighed, I would say approximately ten times a piece, and are finally narrowed down. Jon will have two 50 pound bags, and I will have two 50 pound bags… plus one 70 pound bag. While the three are technically mine, you should know that the 70 pounder is carrying many reading material and resource material for the both of us! ;) (Ah, I feel better now that you are not judging me so harshly. Hehe.)

Our time in Arizona has been sweet. I am pleased with the amount of people we were able to connect with, though some unfortunate timing led to us missing a few of you! My apologies. We love and appreciate you greatly. It is important to us for you to feel connected to us and our ministry (“our” includes YOURS!). Please feel free to comment or email us whenever.

We leave early tomorrow morning and arrive in Corpus Christi, Texas early afternoon. There we look forward to more sweet times and dread more sorrowful good-byes. We will be staying there until November 6th, and then heading to South Africa. Great news… We are so blessed to have Jon’s parents coming to Corpus to see us off there!

We are overwhelmed by love.

Today at Trinity Christian Fellowship as we were prayed over and sent out, my heart was filled. Your support is treasured.

As we spent the day with family, love, love, love.

How precious these days are! How many times will I look back to them, and find strength amidst my loneliness! Thanks.

Quick update on visas:

We are still hopeful about taking a short trip to Angola in December to meet potential partners for the future and allow them to meet us. We are still in need of a letter of invitation; however, communication is flowing and it is still possible! Continued prayers are welcome.

We love you.

Jon and Layne

October 18, 2009

Layne

Angola, Personal, Visas

6 comments

A Week of Lasts

A Jon Post

Well… we’re leaving Arizona on Monday. Here come the last times I’ll do some things… at least for the next 2-3 years. That gets hard some times.

Last time I see my brother Joseph. What a man he is. He got married on Sunday to a fantastic girl that he will love wildly for the rest of his life. What a man he is. I hugged him and cried as I let him go. He’s on his honeymoon now and I won’t see him before we go.

Last time I get together with all my brothers. This group of LionMen. This band of warriors. These poets of love, deed and their Christ. I love these men.

Last time I sit with my sister and dream of futures and of life. What an angel. Always taking the next step in love. Always encouraging, always such a model of the hand and love of Christ. What a missionary. What incredible love.

Last time I hug my mother. My mother… who loved… loves me for 27 years and beyond. Never wavering. I’ve never seen disappointment in her eyes. Always pride in her son. Always love. What a woman.

Last time I sit and listen to the wisdom of my father. Maybe… someday… I’ll be like that man. I can dream… I can dream.

Last time I see dear friends. Last time I can sit and glean from all these wise men and women around me. All these shoulders that we stand on as Layne and I go boldly into the unknown. We don’t have to fear it. We go with you.

A week of lasts. What precious memories.