new seasons often start with surprising weather...
Winter starts with snowstorms even before winter starts. Spring (at least in Canada) continues with snow storms. Summer often starts before it's officially summer, although we can be surprised with chilly weather and thunderstorms. Autumn includes "Indian summer" where it's warm, but it includes the incredible change of colour in the leaves.
So it is with other new seasons. Some start quickly - others more gradually. I had an unexpected season of unemployment and dependence on God, which lasted from October 2013-September 2016. During that time I learned how to be content and trust in the Lord. Perhaps that was one level.
Meanwhile, I've been on ten short-term missions, three of them with Tony. I've been in Kenya, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Mozambique and South Africa. Now we are returning to South Africa as long-termers for at least three years. Each mission was completely different in fundraising. I learned through this process.
Mission 1 - Kenya 1993 - was partially funded by Kingsway Baptist Church in Toronto, along with individuals through my former ministry, True Light Connection Ministries
Mission 2 - Northern Ireland 1995 - was partially funded through True Light Connection and my savings
Mission 3 - Northern Ireland 1996 - was mostly funded through savings, where the resources stretched, and some individuals surprised me with gifts
Mission 4 - Northern Kenya 2001 with SOMA Canada - was partially funded through individuals, SOMA and St Paul's Anglican church, Kanata
Mission 5 - Northern Kenya 2003 with SOMA Canada - mostly funded through savings, some at St Paul's
Mission 6 - Migori, Kenya 2005 with Tony - to plant the Alpha Course/conference - savings, friends, St Paul's
Mission 7 - Lahore, Pakistan 2006 - to speak with Eternal Life Ministries and NEWS Outreach - savings, St Pauls (venue)
Mission 8 - Lahore and Punjab, Pakistan Christmas/New Years' 2007/2008 - with NEWS Outreach, savings, St Paul's (venue plus)
Mission 9 - Sierra Leone Global Alpha Training Conferences 2010 with Tony - St Paul's (venue plus) and friends
Mission 10 - Iris Harvest School Mozambique / Outreach South Africa 2016 with Tony - Tony's inheritance, Laurie-Ann's parents, friends from surprising sources, St Paul's (venue), Blackburn Hamlet Community Church, Eternal Hope Church and church friends
So it is with other new seasons. Some start quickly - others more gradually. I had an unexpected season of unemployment and dependence on God, which lasted from October 2013-September 2016. During that time I learned how to be content and trust in the Lord. Perhaps that was one level.
Meanwhile, I've been on ten short-term missions, three of them with Tony. I've been in Kenya, Northern Ireland, Sierra Leone, Pakistan, Mozambique and South Africa. Now we are returning to South Africa as long-termers for at least three years. Each mission was completely different in fundraising. I learned through this process.
Mission 1 - Kenya 1993 - was partially funded by Kingsway Baptist Church in Toronto, along with individuals through my former ministry, True Light Connection Ministries
Mission 2 - Northern Ireland 1995 - was partially funded through True Light Connection and my savings
Mission 3 - Northern Ireland 1996 - was mostly funded through savings, where the resources stretched, and some individuals surprised me with gifts
Mission 4 - Northern Kenya 2001 with SOMA Canada - was partially funded through individuals, SOMA and St Paul's Anglican church, Kanata
Mission 5 - Northern Kenya 2003 with SOMA Canada - mostly funded through savings, some at St Paul's
Mission 6 - Migori, Kenya 2005 with Tony - to plant the Alpha Course/conference - savings, friends, St Paul's
Mission 7 - Lahore, Pakistan 2006 - to speak with Eternal Life Ministries and NEWS Outreach - savings, St Pauls (venue)
Mission 8 - Lahore and Punjab, Pakistan Christmas/New Years' 2007/2008 - with NEWS Outreach, savings, St Paul's (venue plus)
Mission 9 - Sierra Leone Global Alpha Training Conferences 2010 with Tony - St Paul's (venue plus) and friends
Mission 10 - Iris Harvest School Mozambique / Outreach South Africa 2016 with Tony - Tony's inheritance, Laurie-Ann's parents, friends from surprising sources, St Paul's (venue), Blackburn Hamlet Community Church, Eternal Hope Church and church friends
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but those were short-term missions, what of long-term?
This mission to South Africa is from November 2017 - November 2020 (perhaps longer). This is not a short term mission. We are giving up our home (so to speak, we're renting it out). We're giving away a lot of what we have, since it's hard in Canada to sell second hand goods, even if they are in good condition.
Meanwhile, Iris missionaries don't beg - they live by faith and believe for God to provide. It's right in Iris Core Value 2 - We depend on God and believe in miracles. He brings in the provision. We're learning the how. While we've learned about asking friends, churches and family before, each time is different. Sometimes God stretches the provision you have. Other times He also brings in surprising gifts from unexpected people. The thing is, you can't just look at people - those who have given before may not be in a position to give this time. Others may gift you out of the blue, so to speak. And there are always the faithful who continue to support throughout - we have at least one of those so far.
But one thing surprised me this time that I didn't expect - was something that looked like it was coming from the OTHER direction. My employer, who has been happy with my work, had a dream that another assistant came into his life. Since he is sensitive to the Holy Spirit, he took this as a time to let me fly off, without continuing to work for him while we are in South Africa (it's an internet based position). Basically, this means I will soon be laid off. I understood his reasons why - he needs someone who is local that he can connect with occasionally in person. Yet I had an impression that I was like an eaglet being nudged out of the nest, so I could fly.
I journalled about this, and asked the Lord his view on the situation. This was what I received:
Child, I am with you. Disengaging from working is another downsize – but this is a costly one, since you and Tony were counting on the regular honorarium to help keep basic expenses, let alone luxuries. I will be speaking to you more about this during your journey – as you see the surprises unfold. This is about a life of faith, which you are Tony are stepping into. Yes, the impression of the little bird being pushed out of the nest was from Me – but I will not see you crash. I will lift you up, little eaglet.
Yes, I have been taking you flying – I began this last year when your first two ministry events floundered. I am teaching you to trust Me – since the funds will come differently than what you expect. Child, I will open your eyes to see more with the eyes of faith – that you will not fear but always look to Me. You have already been partially prepared from your three years of unemployment – and I will not have you starve. Yes, you will lose weight, but not that way.
Give your events to Me again. See what I will do. I am pleased that you will have some worship songs at the events and that the focus will be on Me as well as you – that people will be able to see Me through you and your story. Do not fear, little one. I am setting up your funds that will flow into Iris Ministries Canada, as well as through other ways. You will see.
So, we'll see what will happen in this journey of faith as we learn to fly. Hebrews 11:1 NLT reminds us that "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." That faith often looks like risk. But even people who don't believe God have a form of faith - they trust that the chair they sit in will not fall beneath them. They trust that their car will start. They trust that their friends will be for them when needed. And many times that is the case, but it isn't always.
Here is the video that reminded me of how eagles learn to fly. So, let's fly together.
If you feel led to contribute via the Iris Ministries Canada portal on Canada Helps, the link is also posted below. Please make sure you scroll down to Tony and Laurie-Ann Copple. Thank you so much!
Bless you for reading and journeying with us!
Laurie-Ann
Meanwhile, Iris missionaries don't beg - they live by faith and believe for God to provide. It's right in Iris Core Value 2 - We depend on God and believe in miracles. He brings in the provision. We're learning the how. While we've learned about asking friends, churches and family before, each time is different. Sometimes God stretches the provision you have. Other times He also brings in surprising gifts from unexpected people. The thing is, you can't just look at people - those who have given before may not be in a position to give this time. Others may gift you out of the blue, so to speak. And there are always the faithful who continue to support throughout - we have at least one of those so far.
But one thing surprised me this time that I didn't expect - was something that looked like it was coming from the OTHER direction. My employer, who has been happy with my work, had a dream that another assistant came into his life. Since he is sensitive to the Holy Spirit, he took this as a time to let me fly off, without continuing to work for him while we are in South Africa (it's an internet based position). Basically, this means I will soon be laid off. I understood his reasons why - he needs someone who is local that he can connect with occasionally in person. Yet I had an impression that I was like an eaglet being nudged out of the nest, so I could fly.
I journalled about this, and asked the Lord his view on the situation. This was what I received:
Child, I am with you. Disengaging from working is another downsize – but this is a costly one, since you and Tony were counting on the regular honorarium to help keep basic expenses, let alone luxuries. I will be speaking to you more about this during your journey – as you see the surprises unfold. This is about a life of faith, which you are Tony are stepping into. Yes, the impression of the little bird being pushed out of the nest was from Me – but I will not see you crash. I will lift you up, little eaglet.
Yes, I have been taking you flying – I began this last year when your first two ministry events floundered. I am teaching you to trust Me – since the funds will come differently than what you expect. Child, I will open your eyes to see more with the eyes of faith – that you will not fear but always look to Me. You have already been partially prepared from your three years of unemployment – and I will not have you starve. Yes, you will lose weight, but not that way.
Give your events to Me again. See what I will do. I am pleased that you will have some worship songs at the events and that the focus will be on Me as well as you – that people will be able to see Me through you and your story. Do not fear, little one. I am setting up your funds that will flow into Iris Ministries Canada, as well as through other ways. You will see.
So, we'll see what will happen in this journey of faith as we learn to fly. Hebrews 11:1 NLT reminds us that "Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see." That faith often looks like risk. But even people who don't believe God have a form of faith - they trust that the chair they sit in will not fall beneath them. They trust that their car will start. They trust that their friends will be for them when needed. And many times that is the case, but it isn't always.
Here is the video that reminded me of how eagles learn to fly. So, let's fly together.
If you feel led to contribute via the Iris Ministries Canada portal on Canada Helps, the link is also posted below. Please make sure you scroll down to Tony and Laurie-Ann Copple. Thank you so much!
Bless you for reading and journeying with us!
Laurie-Ann
a dream about learning to fly by faith
My friend Wei Wei Chan had an encouraging dream where we were lead to fly by faith. We are part of Kingdom Culture, a community in Ottawa that believes in marketplace ministry and living your faith supernaturally in the everyday world. Here is her dream: "I had a Wonderful dream with you last night, you were in my dream and I believe it's a God dream. It involves KC. Pretty much KC was in this wooden looking room, and there was this wide opening and on the other side of the opening there's this deep pit; and we can see across from the pit, is like the streets. Pastor Shawn and Michelle was teaching us that Holy Spirit is teaching us how to fly, that it is POSSIBLE that we physically can learn how to fly so Pastor Shawn said the only way to learn it, is to actually do it, and so a whole bunch of us at KC lined up on the edge of the wide opening. It was like this large window, except it fit like probably 10-14 people across, so I think about 10 -14 of us was lined up, I saw Chris (Hyunju's husband) as well, he was highlighted as you were highlighted in the dream and we stood in front of the edge except before the edge of the pit, there’s this elongated super long flower pot holders...not a pot but you know the rectangular soil pot holders that’s super long?
But this was really big and long, so there was soil in front of all of us, and we were instructed to pull out a seed/ sprout thing and as soon as Pastor Shawn did the count down , all of us placed the seed/small sprout down into the soil, it glowed and we all began praying WE BELIEVE, we have FAITH we can fly - and then count down went after prayer and we all literally hold hands and jumped off the edge into the pit. All I remember was I was falling down and down, some people began flying and I was specifically going down deep almost hitting the bottom and then I kept praying and believing Holy Spirit and suddenly I knew how to fly, and I flew up and met everyone else. Everyone was able to fly! We all flew up back into the edge and then I saw you (Laurie-Ann), and it was your turn to line up with the other set of people and I began talking to you about it, and you were smiling with full confidence and then we did it together, we jumped and flew and you were nervous a bit but you did it, and we flew out into the streets, and began to talk to people (believers) and telling them that with Holy Spirit, we can fly! We taught them by demonstrating and the great part of the dream was, I saw MY DAD also learning to fly so yeah that was essentially the whole dream and I woke up and literally saw a heart. But I woke up remember what you wrote about the eagles!"
But this was really big and long, so there was soil in front of all of us, and we were instructed to pull out a seed/ sprout thing and as soon as Pastor Shawn did the count down , all of us placed the seed/small sprout down into the soil, it glowed and we all began praying WE BELIEVE, we have FAITH we can fly - and then count down went after prayer and we all literally hold hands and jumped off the edge into the pit. All I remember was I was falling down and down, some people began flying and I was specifically going down deep almost hitting the bottom and then I kept praying and believing Holy Spirit and suddenly I knew how to fly, and I flew up and met everyone else. Everyone was able to fly! We all flew up back into the edge and then I saw you (Laurie-Ann), and it was your turn to line up with the other set of people and I began talking to you about it, and you were smiling with full confidence and then we did it together, we jumped and flew and you were nervous a bit but you did it, and we flew out into the streets, and began to talk to people (believers) and telling them that with Holy Spirit, we can fly! We taught them by demonstrating and the great part of the dream was, I saw MY DAD also learning to fly so yeah that was essentially the whole dream and I woke up and literally saw a heart. But I woke up remember what you wrote about the eagles!"