Activity here in the office is bustling. Staff and volunteers are bumping about making preparations.

Every sense the Lord blessed me with is standing on a razor's edge. The slightest brush from most any stimuli brings about a potential overreaction.

I cannot wait to get there in one moment, and the next I wonder, "How did it come to this?"

This began decades ago when my father landed on the same shores we will walk. The leading continued through God's unusual call to my son. A call he could not wait to answer. He was so excited that it was all he could talk about. Most of the things I have felt that way about in life have had no eternal implications whatsoever!

I still remember his words to me as he tried to encourage me not to let the safety issues be the prevalent thoughts in my head. He was ready to face whatever was ahead of him... even death.
He considered it gain to be able to serve in such a way.

I do not expect nor fear this kind of end. God's plan for our team is unique. I would love to pontificate about our future forays, but I have no such knowledge. God apportions to us what we need as we come into the circumstances that will require such information, through the power of His Holy Spirit.

That does not mean we sit around doing nothing. It just means that our plan is to be fluid, to flow in each direction He leads, and turn when the doors are closed, just as the Apostle Paul did.

We are going because God called us there. He will provide the wisdom I need to lead this team. I know I do not have within me what is required to do this on my own. His grace and strength are sufficient for all our needs.

There are 19 total on our team to North Africa, 11 women and 8 men. Two of our team were on BJ's last Peru team. Several others knew him. Upon arrival, the first or second day in country we will hike up a mountain overlooking a city, and have a time of Praise and Worship, and remember him. We will share him with this place, and a part of him will abide within the country, Lord willing.

Here is a schedule for our team:

June 12 to 15 Leadership Training in Tulsa
June 16 head to Dallas, more leadership training
June 17 Awe Star missionaries arrive
June 18-20 Training (Awe Star University or ASU)
June 21 Depart for North Africa
June 22 Arrive in North Africa
June 23 - July17 ministry
July 18 Leave North Africa
July 19 Arrive in Dallas
July 19-20 debrief
July 21 Students return home/Panama 10 Day students arrive for training
July 22 training
July 23 Panama 10 day team departs country
July 23 Higgins return to Tulsa

I beg you to pray as never before for this trip. Your intercession is what will enable us to minister in this "closed country." Pray for "thirsty" minds of the people, that they will ask many many questions! Pray for clarity in seeing ministry opportunities. Pray for safety in travel, in border crossings, that certain eyes will only see what the Lord wants them to see. Pray for Unity on the team, and in the body of Christ! Pray that we are able to focus on Christ and help our students do the same... that we will remember BJ and honor him, but not let the trip be about him. Pray for the teams to Chile, Peru, Panama and Hungary.

Body of Christ, we have so appreciated you as our own family. You have lifted us through our journey past. We are humbled at your promises to pray for our journey ahead. And as I try to remind myself daily, remember to pray for us to remain in each moment that the Lord gives us, and to be present in that place, that He might minister through us.

May God richly bless each of you!

brent



My brother Brad is going to update the site in our absence (and perhaps other family).

To keep up with our trips directly, go to www.awestar.org and click on "trip updates" on the left side of the screen. From here you can click on "photos" or "view trip updates" and then click on the trip you want to view.