GO Conference - getting to know ourselves and our team

Welcomed to our cabin

Church de Nieuwe Blasiuskerk

One of the great opportunities that we had this summer was to join with over 230 other international "OMers" who were also beginning their field assignments. This 10-day conference was held at a camp near the town of Delden in the Netherlands. We were really thankful for the beautiful surroundings and for the opportunity to meet so many other people who have answered God's call to serve on the mission field.

We had prayer and worship times each day, personal reflections called, "Shhh time," and great opportunities to meet with other OM missionaries who have already been working in the field for years. It was a great time for us to learn about the culture of OM as an organization, but also to get to meet some of the people who lead it.

Although it was meant to be a kind of working retreat, we found it to be really stressful at times. Having been on the field for 8 months already and the thought of school looming ahead of us as soon as we got back home put us in a unique situation. We spent a lot of time talking about transition and what it means to move our family from one culture to another; why it seems so difficult to fit in even if you look the same on the outside; and how we can better prepare for some of the other transitions coming our way in the future.



As difficult as some of these days were, I can really say that at the end of it, we came away very thankful to be a part of OM. We are really encouraged by the leadership of our teams, in the US, in France, and internationally. I personally came away with a clearer vision for France and for what it will take to really reach the French people. Watching God use veteran missionaries to speak to us and encourage us one-on-one really means a lot. Knowing that there are other families out there who have already done or are in the process of doing what we're doing builds our faith.

I am truly excited to be part of a team that focuses so much on prayer, on worship, on the word, and on resourcing the people that they are working with. So here's my shameless plug, if you're considering missions in any way, please think of OM!

The Wallace Clan back together (Emily & Daniel had been at a summer camp).

Enjoying some delicious Stroopwaffles

Seriously, you've got to try these things...

Daniel, thrilled to be serving in the dining room.

Prayer Needs and the Future - what's on the horizon and how can you help

God is faithful in all of His promises! (Taken from our bedroom window)

Everything that we've already shared in this newsletter couldn't be possible without your help. Many of you have been praying for us and supporting us financially for years. For much of that time, we were not sure exactly how we would be serving the church in France, but we believe that there are some great developments on the horizon and we want to share them with you.

Ted & Jimmy in Marseilles

In addition to partnering with church planting projects, our family will also begin to connect with pastors who are looking for ways to develop their churches to reach out to their communities. This is really exciting because OM France has an existing network of churches throughout the country. We are going to be able to serve these pastors by assessing their needs and partnering with them for the vision that they have for their communities. Please be in prayer for us as God directs us in building these relationships and finding creative ways to resource these churches and pastors.

We will be moving from our apartment in Massy next summer. It seems like a long way off, but we will have to start looking for a new apartment beginning in January. Please pray for grace and favor, that we'll find the right place at the right price.

We are still in need of a vehicle. We have seen some 7-passenger vans for 5000-7000€. Please be in prayer with us and consider making a financial contribution towards this need.

Please pray for us to continue to make progress with the language. Each of us has had good days and bad days - the struggle of not being able to communicate can be quite a burden. All of us have made tremendous progress, but we still aren't where we'd like to be. We are going to remain in language school through next April (as we have said before this allows the kids to stay in school through the end of June), but we still need to raise a little over 3000€ that was not in our original budget for the cost of tuition.

We know God's promises are true, and we know that He has called us here. Together we are seeing the light of Christ shine. We are witnessing Him water some very dry ground in France. Let's work together to see Him finish what He has started!

France 2014 Promo Video

If you want a snapshot of what the need is in France, check out our promo video here.

Thanks for following our progress, please consider joining our team where we can make an impact in France together!

-ted

Wallace Clan - September Update

Here is the latest exciting news about the Wallace Clan!

Timothy Benjamin - Son of My Right Hand

Me & Tim 2007

I have been thinking a lot about my role as a parent this week. I don't know why this week instead of any other, but probably because Michelle is out of town visiting her sister this week, so I have been left to see just how poorly I parent as a single dad! It has been quite humbling and I am only more grateful for Michelle and all that she does.

On Monday of this week, I took Timothy to Children's Hospital in Dallas to get an MRI done for a growth that he has on his tongue (I'll spare you all a picture). The doctor's weren't worried that it was cancerous or anything, but the MRI is supposed to rule that out. It took the doctor a few days to get back in touch with me with the results, but here is a summary.

1. They think he has a lymphatic malformation.
2. They think it is benign.
3. He was probably born with it and it just surfaced for the first time.
4. Even if they do surgery to flatten it out and carve down the worst of the swelling, it is likely to resurface at some point again.

So as a parent, I understand that means that I'll have to see my little boy go through surgery more than once. I called Michelle and we both grieved over our sweet little guy having to go through something so tough.

Timothy was there when I talked to Michelle and it was the first that time that he got to hear the results too. We had to get going after dinner because Emily had a choir performance tonight, so I didn't get a chance to talk to him and see how he took the news.

After we got home from Emily's performance tonight, I sat Timothy down and just talked to him one on one. I told him again what the doctor said, how they want to treat it, and that it may come back. His eyes got really big and he said, "What?!? You mean they'll have to do it again?!?"

I answered him full of sorrow for what it might mean and how he might take the news and simply said, "Yes, that's right."

His reply, with a smile on his face, "Well, that's ok, I'll probably get used to it."

I love that boy.

We picked the name Timothy because we wanted him to serve the way Timothy did in the New Testament, and I chose Benjamin because it means, "Son of My Right Hand." From a personality standpoint, Timothy is definitely the most easy-going of all our kids, and his personality matches mine in a lot of ways. But tonight I saw how differently he trusts than I do. He has a childlike faith because he is a child. He trusts. He trusts his parents, the doctors, and his Jesus.

Lord help me to have the same faith and trust when I face difficulties...

Timothy 5/19/2014

Wallace Clan - April 2014 Update!

Click below to read our most recent update!

http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=6f1cb26bc1920c3fd9bba0626&id=6597c644cb&e=0ae29c70cd

We need 167 people (or families) that will commit to donating $25/mo in order to reach our fundraising goal. Can you help us? Click on the Donate link above or here.

Simple, Profound Comfort

This morning. Ugh.

I often struggle with recognizing my emotions. It takes others drawing them out of me most of the time (namely, my wife!), but this morning was different. As I was going through the routine of getting ready for work, jumping in the truck and driving to Starbucks for my morning coffee, I noticed a deep sense of discontent. I wish I could say that it was "Divine Discontent," but that just wasn't true. I felt disappointed, envious, lustful, angry, greedy. All of these emotions permeated my soul.

I didn't want to want to stay in that place, but I also knew that I couldn't just go through my "normal" routine. I tried reading a couple of devotional emails, but they only served to prove that I'm not the husband, father, brother, pastor, or believer that I want to be. Instead I noticed how far I was from how Scripture calls me to live and be.

Filled with inadequacy, I went for my journal and just started writing all of this out to Jesus. (Sometimes it is actually easier for me to write my prayers than to speak them out loud.) I confessed that I didn't deserve His grace; I confessed my weakness in trying to live or do anything right; and I told Him that I was just so consumed with this world and the desires I have for wanting to be fulfilled by everything else but Him.

I hesitated in my written prayer - knowing that I needed to ask for His comfort and encouragement - but feeling so unworthy to ask. He's already given me everything that I need. My very breath is His blessing, who am I to ask for anything more? He is after all, the God of the Cosmos. He's pretty busy keeping all of this stuff going, and I have nothing to offer to Him. On my best day, I do a poor job keeping my eyes fixed on Him.

In the past, I would stuff all of these emotions and look for other ways to quell the pain - the hunger and thirst for more - I would look at porn, I would watch TV for hours - anything to escape. But over the years, I am learning to just go to Him. The Bible says that He is sufficient for our needs. I've learned how to "sit in the funk" and allow Him to heal. I have to confess that I still don't do this often enough. I still try to stay busy or change the subject or do anything that I can to decrease the pain that I feel in this life. I know that it is only His grace that allows me to trust and obey Him, so I continued to pour out all of this negativity on the pages of my journal. I look now at the words I wrote and I can barely read them, they are so illegible - filled with angst and despair.

I needed comfort, someone to wrap their arms around me and tell me that it will be ok. When I feel this way, I really start to miss my mom. Moms are the one person in the whole world who will always affirm you. It has been over a decade since she passed, but these moments are the times when I miss her most.

As I looked at the bottom of the page of my journal that Michelle bought me for Valentine's three years ago, I noticed a verse. I never read the verses! I just write and don't think about it, but today my eyes scanned down to the bottom of the page and this is what I read, "As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you. (Isaiah 66:13)."



I closed my eyes and began to shake. I covered my face with my hands to keep others from seeing how undone I had become in that moment. Tears began to flow, emptying my soul, but my heart began to fill with His love. I was overcome with the simple and profound comfort that our Father pours out on His children. I am no one, but He knows me. I have nothing to give, but He continues to give me everything that my heart longs for.

What permeated my soul only moments before was replaced with the Holy Spirit filling me with a most tangible expression of love. My heart filled with His goodness, His promises, His faithfulness, His gentleness, His peace...

I love Jesus. I am indebted to Him daily for the work that He has already done for me on the cross, but also for the way He leads us. I thought of the words of Peter in John's Gospel when Jesus asked the Twelve if they were also going to abandon Him because He asked His followers to eat His flesh and drink His blood. John 6:68-69 says,

Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God."

I don't share any of this to show my goodness or faithfulness or how I've grown. I only share this detail of my daily life with you to point to the goodness of our Savior. I am no one important or special. I have no significance on my own, but He calls me His. I am His child, and our God does an amazing job caring for His children.

If you are overwhelmed, please trust Him. His Word proves Him faithful, and I'm daily seeing the proof of His promises fulfilled in my own life. 

Thank you. Thank you, Father, for your simple, profound and eternal comfort and love.
-ted