Hi Friends, Family, and New Readers (: Let us first take a second to inform you that we have been accepted by KIDS International Ministries to be full-time missionaries! This is the place where you can keep up with what we're up to, how God is working in our lives, how fundraising is going, etc. We are thrilled to share our journey with you and are so blessed to have each of you walk beside us along the way.
Many people have been asking us as kindly as possible "What are y'all doing with your lives??" We're still living under a parental roof and we are expecting a baby! We get it and your concern is viable but behind the scenes God is working. This is the one thing that we have to hold on to. 2016 and 2017 were whirl winds. In 2016 Mark moved to the states and we got engaged. In 2017 we worked, continued to study hard, planned a wedding, hosted a significant number of people for the wedding, got married, moved out of the house, moved back into the house, bought a car, and found out that we are expecting a baby boy! In the chaos of the past two years there has been many smiles and much laughter, but also many tears and much saddness and frustration. We struggle on a daily basis to cope with anxieties, bills, the workload, the mess. But don't we all? God uses each triumph and tragedy to mold us into the people we are supposed to be for His Kingdom. While sometimes we find it difficult to see God, to hear God, to follow the path He has laid before us, there is no doubt in our minds that over the past few years He has been the potter and we have been the clay. The things that have made the past few years such a whirl wind have been fantastic learning and molding opportunities from the Lord. In the midst of struggle, we found a home church that loves us and supports us in all that we do. The people within this church hold us accountable, tell us straight forwardly how we need to better ourselves for the Kindgom, and even point out how God is working in our lives when it is directly in our faces and we still stubbornly can't see it. In fact, it's this home church that reminds us on a regular basis to keep pursuing what the Lord has called us to. So while we're wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of daily secular life (the work, the bills, the worry), they're there to remind us of what we're supposed to be pursuing--going back to where it all began. While some days we may feel too young or too inexperienced, the Lord sees us as His vessels and this church and this mission do as well. 2 Timothy 2:21-22 says, "Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the Master of the house, ready for every good work. So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart". We are ready to be God's vessels.
So, to answer your questions sweet friends and family, in 2018 we will be following the calling the Lord has set before us and will begin pursuing a full-time career on the mission field. While we realize we have done things a bit unconventionally, we remember Jeremiah 18 and that we are still being molded into the servants God intends for us to be and we strongly believe this is a giant step in the right direction. It is our goal to officially move to the Philippines in January 2019 to seek fulfillment of this calling. However, we cannot do this without your support. We would like to raise at least $12,000 before heading to the Philippines as well as have a steady group of monthly supporters. If you would like to support us financially you may do so by clicking the red 'Give' button on the side of your screen. When the donations page appears simply type in your information, select whether you would like to submit a one time or monthly gift, select missionary support on the next drop down bar, and then choose Mark and Elizabeth Lovatt. We also need plenty of prayerful support and advice. If you know of any churches or events that we could speak at to promote our mission efforts, please share with us! We have been waiting to start this journey for quite some time and we cannot wait to finally share it with all of you.
Blessings for the New Year,
M&B
