Sunsets and Seasons of Life

The sun is setting on this season of our lives...

With less than two weeks left in this beautiful country, sentiments are starting to kick in. Starting to have "lasts"- last trip to the beach, last time seeing certain friends, last small group meeting.... the process of good byes and moving on is never easy. And for some reason, this move is the hardest one to date, at least for me (Jamie). Our experience in the DR has been rich and full. Relationships have been deep and challenging, ministry has been fulfilling and sharpening, and God has nourished our hearts with the beauty that surrounds us and all of the fun adventures we have been able to have along the way (like the one Matthew is on right now- as he is hiking Pico Duarte, the highest peak in the Caribbean, with the students!). 

In honor and appreciation of what this time has meant to us, I'd like to share some pictures that represent some of the blessings we have received while living here ... 

Raising kids here has been great!

Beauty- everywhere!

Little getaways

Community <3
(The girls facing the other direction are students, they have to do that for confidentiality reasons!)

And then there are the blessings and the priceless life lessons that cannot be captured in a picture... and that at this point I'm not sure I could even do it justice to try to put them into words. To say the least, leaving the people that we have grown so close to in the past two years and this place that we have come to love is going to be very difficult. We are SO blessed that God brought us here and would never change it for the world. 

Please be praying for us in this transition! Pray that we would end well here, both in ministry and in our relationships. Pray that the Lord would blow us away with his provisions for us in the move, from material needs-car, job, finances- as well as for our future community in Marion and for our little family. Gabe especially is aware of changes but does not quite have the coping skills to handle it, so his little heart needs extra prayers through all of this. 

I'm not sure how many of these blog posts we will write from here on out! It is honestly weird to go back and not be a "missionary" anymore. It has been such a faith builder to walk this road with all of those who have so faithfully supported us with funds and prayers... it is such an example of what the body is supposed to be about! I hope and pray that we can continue to foster a sense of "togetherness" in seeking to build his Kingdom as a body...because after all, that's what we are! 

With thankful hearts, 

The Morley Family

Turning Points

This past May was an unexpected turning point for us in our lives and ministry. The month began with starting two new books, one on prayer (Handle with Prayer by Charles Stanley) and one on the Holy Spirit (Forgotten God by Francis Chan). In hindsight, all I (Jamie) have to say is if you need a spiritual kick in the butt, spend time focusing on your prayer life and having more of the Holy Spirit! In addition, Matthew was also focusing on prayer in his sermons for the month and God had prompted us to fast from several things.

Selah is almost 5 months already!

By the second week of May we had an inclination of why such the spiritual focus. God was readying our hearts for what He was going to ask us to consider... moving back to the states. When it first came to our attention through a series of events that all happened too close together to be considered coincidence, we decided to at least pray about it. I remember telling Matthew, "There is no way God is asking us to move back right now!"

As we spent a few weeks in prayer our hearts began to shift, and we realized God was reorienting our hearts away from the CMA, which we have been 100% committed to. I (Matthew) found the process of this decision to be extremely difficult. About three weeks into it I was facing some serious doubts about my ability to be guided by God, which was also doubting God's ability to guide me. One night while we were praying I was prompted to pray for our upstairs neighbors who had not returned from an all day beach excursion. It was about two hours later than when they normally would return. As I was praying for them, the Lord filled me with a confidence that he was going to bring them back safely. I felt Him say to me that if I can be confident that he was going to guide them safely home, than I can also be confident in God's guidance over my life.

Gabe turns 2 in August!

We are officially returning back to the states August 10th. I will be starting seminary at Wesley Seminary in September. Those are about the only two details we have set in stone at this point! It seems as though moving back to the states has been a bigger step of faith than it was to move to the DR. We have grown and learned so much during our time here. Plus, its hard to give up year-round sunshine and beautiful mountains (this is Jamie speaking again). But we are trusting that God will work all things out for our good and that ultimately all of these changes and challenges will be used to mold us more into His image.

We need your prayers just as much now as ever. Please continue to support us in this way! And if you desire to make one last one-time donation before we move to help with the cost of transition, please do this before August 10th. You all have been an amazing support and we have learned so much about what the body of Christ is all about through relying on you all to make this whole thing possible! Thank you.

All praise and glory to God!

Jamie and Matthew