Michael's Story...

For most of my life I feel like I've been working and doing whatever to keep my head above the water, treading the water with my hands and feet not really going anywhere at all.  I love my job of coaching, teaching, and working with children of all ages, but something was missing.  It took me awhile to figure out what it was...I lost my joy.  I have realized that the 12 hours I am gone each day has taken its toll. The  constant go, go, go and the do, do, do took everything extra out of me so I didn't have anything left when I got home.  I love my beautiful wife and family, but I never seem to have enough time or energy to really spend quality time with them.  I enjoy sports and all outdoor activities, but never have the time or energy to do any of them either...
 
I have always been a person who takes responsibility VERY seriously.  Through my life, I've always kept very busy with work, sports, friends, school, etc and didn't know how to relax and enjoy life.  As I look back on it, I realize that I was trying to hold my "house of cards" together feeling that it was all up to me to keep the wind from blowing it down.  This was all before I knew Jesus.  Then, about 9 years ago, after some very difficult circumstances, I realized I was failing and that I could not hold it all together myself.  My house of cards was falling apart.

My wife Sue introduced me to Jesus Christ and I came to the wonderful realization the it is HE who holds it all together for me!  Wow!!  How great is our God!  I could finally let go and not carry the "world" on my shoulders any longer.  Things started to change...I started to change.  My house of cards was no longer...it is now a house that is built on the solid rock of Jesus that will never tumble down.   Throughout the years, I have learned so much, especially how to let go of all the "to dos" that have weighed me down making me feel that I had to get them ALL done BEFORE I could do anything else, including ministry for God.  This was bondage at its finest!!

Another area that I am anxious to let go and let God is my health.  Throughout the years I have had many food allergies that have affected my health, including my ability to focus & learn (especially in school - I was labeled dyslexic and carried this stigma with me my whole life) Through this difficult process, God has taught me the importance of nutrition and eating His healthy whole foods.  He has been there with me through it all, holding me up and helping me through the really tough times where it would have been so easy to fall back into my old eating patterns and just give up.  I am still working through the food allergies with Sue and know that I am so close.  I am trusting, that as I go to Kona, God will meet me there and bring the full healing I know Jesus died on the cross to give me.

For me, "giving it all up and following God into full-time missions" means that I can finally step out of my boat with BOTH feet and really move into all that God created me to be and do for HIS Kingdom.

I am excited about the new adventure that God has handed me and can't wait to see what amazing things He will teach me and my wife and how He will use the gifts He has given us to help others.

As they say in the movie Madagascar..."You got to move it, move it...I got to move it, move it!"  And so I'm gonna MOVE IT!!   Woohoo!  Let's go!