For the Beauty of the Earth

Dear Friends,

A little over a month ago, the schools and colleges were let out for “Spring Break.” It is a week-long interlude half way through our spring semester in order to recharge and reboot. Espiritu (the charter school where Hunter teaches) had their Spring Break at the same time that my school, Arizona Christian University, had its Spring Break, so we were free to spend that week together without any obligation to school or work. Hunter and I decided to take advantage of that opportunity by spending the first weekend of the break up in Flagstaff, AZ (a gorgeous hippy town in northern Arizona)!  The family that I nanny for here in Phoenix owns a home a couple miles outside of Flagstaff too, and they generously offered to let us stay there completely gratis J We were simply in awe of their kindness, and were very grateful for the offer (which we happily took)!

Hunter and I were able to enjoy three wonderful days up there, surrounded by lofty pine trees and hippies on every corner. Being removed from the big, bustling city of Phoenix caused us to step back and take note of how extraordinary and inexplicable God’s creation truly is.

Aside from exploring the cute little shops and supply stores, as well as my Mom’s alma mater (Northern Arizona University), Hunter and I took a day trip up to the Grand Canyon! (We thought it was about time as I had never had the chance to see it before.) I had no idea what was in store for me when we rolled into the parking lot on the south side of the Canyon. I had heard that the Grand Canyon was amazing, but I didn’t realize how absolutely breathtaking it would be… I literally stood in awe of the massive chasm before me. It wasn’t simply a hole in the ground in the middle of a desert. The book of Genesis wasn’t kidding when it recorded the flood which enveloped the earth in its entirety! The Grand Canyon was phenomenal, unparalleled proof that there was, indeed, a great flood that took place in Biblical times. I’ve always believed firmly that the flood took place… but never before had I had vivid proof before my eyes… It caused Hunter and I both to ponder the greatness of our Lord and Savior. He left a remnant of the flood as testimony of His wonder and His might. It also symbolizes His grace towards us as His people… He could have chosen to destroy the earth with the flood, but instead He chose to cause the waters to dissipate and He gave His people a second chance to start over and begin anew.

Hunter and I are so thankful for the glorious creation which God has so magnificently created. The wonders of nature are a testimony to His creativity. Sunrises, sunsets, the forests and all that consists within their timbered walls, the Canyon (which is, indeed, very grand), and everything that abides in our natural environment is living proof that there is a God who loves us and cares for us. May we never forget to take the time to stop and thank our Lord and Savior for His abundant love and mercy which He so generously bestows upon us. He never neglects to take care of us.

With much love and appreciation,

Hunter and Andrea

God is GOOD

Dearest Friends,

Our hearts are overwhelmed with thankfulness for all that God has been doing in our lives in this past month. A little over a month ago, we were unemployed and living by faith with no perspective income. At first, we were kind of concerned as to where our finances would come from (It's not exactly easy to find a job in today's economy). But God has been oh SO faithful to provide us with our every need! We have had no want of anything due to His generous provision towards us! Due to this, we finally were able to receive complete and utter peace, knowing that He would take care of us and provide Hunter with a job in His perfect timing.

Well, as soon as we placed our fears and concerns at His feet, almost instantaneously, Hunter was offered a job as a substitute teacher in a charter school, in South Phoenix. We were so excited! While the job is part time, it is also very flexible - an aspect that we greatly appreciate. The children can be very challenging and demanding, but Hunter loves the kids that he works with. We are incredibly blessed by this job!

While Hunter had been job searching, I had made a couple calls to various families that I knew were looking for a part time nanny/babysitter. The "hunt" had, so far, been unsuccessful, and so we just prayed that I would only get a job as a nanny if it was in the Lord's will for me. Well... at practically the same time that Hunter was offered the job as a substitute teacher, I received a call from a family asking me to nanny their four kids for a night or two per week! I was elated! I had never done any sort of professional babysitting before, so it was a new experience to meet a family I had never previously met and then be entrusted to take care of their four, beautiful girls while the parents spent some quality time together. Despite any fears I had before, I love the job, and I am very blessed to be a part of the girls' lives.

If God hadn't blessed us enough, just this last week, Hunter was given a part-time job by our school (Arizona Christian University) to make promotional videos for them! Filming and editing is an immense passion that Hunter has always possessed. So it is a wonderful privilege to be employed to simply do what you love most!

We are truly astounded by God's grace and mercy towards us! Our greatest desire is to give God all of the praise and glory for providing us with our every need. We strongly believe that God is going to use the skills which we are currently acquiring to further His kingdom when we move to Africa as missionaries someday. We are very excited to see where God is taking us on this amazing adventure called Life. Until we are able to move to our beloved continent of Africa, we are content where He has us right now :)

Thank you so much for your prayers and your support! We are very encouraged by it! We ask that you would continue to keep us in your prayers as we seek to serve our Lord and Savior each and every day of our lives and that we would also be obedient to His will for us both now as well as in the future.

With much love and thankfulness,
                              Hunter and Andrea

New Beginnings

Dearest Friends, Family, Loved Ones...

The last month has gone by in a whirl, and it has taken us a while to catch our breath. Between the wedding, the honeymoon, Christmas, moving back to Phoenix, job searching, "Thank You" cards, and the college semester starting up again, life has been very busy. Despite the busy schedule however, I apologize that I kept you out of the loop for so long! I know this update has been long overdue…

Wedding Bells

As one can imagine, there is MUCH involved in the planning of a wedding, and there are many things to consider. There’s the date, the venue, the theme, the décor, the cake, the dress, the shoes, the wedding party, their outfits, the music, the photographer, the order of service, and, well… You get the picture… and that was only the beginning! Planning a wedding is a huge undertaking that is not to be taken lightly, and it most certainly cannot be done singlehandedly. That’s where my Mom and our close family friend, Aunty Sonja came in. There is no way that anything would have turned out so beautifully nor run so smoothly, if it hadn't been for them. They were the most amazing support throughout the entire process of preparing for the Big Day... especially my Mom J We were amazed at how many of our friends and family members were so eager to assist with their various skills and talents! By the time it came to December 17^th, because of all the hard work and effort that everyone put into the planning of the wedding, everything was perfect.

                                                                                                                         

The day I became Mrs. Hunter Combs was the happiest of my life! The weather was glorious, we were surrounded by loved ones, and the venue looked like it came straight out of a fairytale book. Everything was picture perfect... and it all went by in a blur... but in all, Hunter and I had a phenomenal time with our family and friends who gathered with us to witness the covenant we were to make under God. It really felt like we were in a dream the entire time... like an out of body experience. It truly was the most incredible day of our lives!!

We want to thank all who prayed, supported, donated their talents, efforts, and time, and cheered us on as we prepared for the Big Day! We could not have done it without any of you, and we are truly thankful!!!

Christmas is the Time
A week after the wedding, Hunter and I spent Christmas with my family in Cape Town. We had a fantastic time of fellowship together!! A new family tradition (as of the last few years) has been to have bacon and waffles for Christmas Eve. It is, I must say, a very scrumptious tradition, indeed. It was Hunter’s first “summer Christmas,” so he found it sort of strange wearing shorts and a tee rather than being all bundled up and cozy :P Christmas is always such a wonderful time to remember, not only the birth of Christ, but also the reason why Christ came to earth in the first place: to die for our sins. It’s a very sobering thought to meditate over… Yet, while pondering over this very thought, I was brought a lot of joy because our Savior is GOOD and gracious towards us!! We are so undeserving, but He is faithful and good to us… for this, I am truly thankful J

Back to the Land of Cactus and Sand
Soon after Christmas, Hunter and I flew back to Phoenix, Arizona to settle into our cute, one bedroom apartment. My Grandparents and a few of our close family friends, the Gilberts and the Parks, generously offered to set everything up in our apartment for us so that we wouldn’t have to once we got back. We were astounded at how completely delightful the apartment looked when we walked through the door for the first time. It was a real and profound blessing to have our family and friends step in in such a significant way! Hunter and I are truly blessed…

Wedding Bells²

A little over a week after touch down, we were blessed with a wedding reception here in Phoenix! Organized beautifully by Hunter’s wonderful Mom, Tammie (my new mother-in-law!!), her daughter, Christina (my new sister-in-law!!), and Boo (Hunter’s Grandma), the reception was an opportunity for us to celebrate our marriage with family and friends who were unable to attend the wedding in South Africa!! The event was held at our church, West Greenway Bible Church, my Grandpa, Bill Bathman, blessed us with an inspired message, and our pastor, John Correia, conducted a really touching ceremony (a renewal of vows of sorts). We had so much fun celebrating with everyone! Hunter’s Mom, sister, and Boo did a fantastic job setting up the church prior to the reception. It was truly a beautiful reception, and we were very blessed by all who were there J

New Beginnings
It’s a new chapter in the life of the new Mr. and Mrs. Hunter Joshua Combs. At present, Hunter is in the process of looking for jobs (with some hopeful prospects), while I have gone back to attending classes at Arizona Christian University! We love married life, and it has been a very happy adjustment so far. God has been providing for us in countless ways! We are in awe with how good He has been to us. Every time we begin to doubt, God surprises us again and again with His faithfulness and His provision. We are so excited for what He has in store for us in the future!!


Thank you, as always, for your love and support in this new chapter in our lives. We are so grateful to each one of you for your involvement in our lives! You have impacted us in far more ways than you can imagine, and we are so blessed to know you all… May the Lord bless you all abundantly!!

With love,
       Hunter and Andrea

Ps: Romans 4:7-8

Coming Soon...

We are in the process of working on an update about what God has been doing over the past couple months in our lives. With the biggest event of course being our wedding! God has blessed us more than we could possibly imagine recently and we thank you for your much needed prayers and abundantly gracious support! Within the next week the story of the wedding and the move back to the States should be up. Thank you and God bless!


       "For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.   Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." 2 Corinthians 5:14-17 

 God has really been working on my heart through this verse. I hope you found comfort and encouragement in it too.

In Christ,

                           Hunter and Andrea

South Sudan

The "flat tire"

When we departed from Cape Town on September 27^th we had no idea all the obstacles we would have to face just in order to get to South Sudan. The first challenge was that we left Cape Town without even have enough money to pay for diesel to get to Sudan. In addition to that we ran into some issues when we were only about 5 hours along our journey. We were driving down the road and the car was beginning to sway a little funny as if it were windy outside but we didn’t see the wind blowing the plants along the road so we kept driving. Then as we were passing some trucks they began to flash their lights at us. So we finally decided to pull over. We all got out to stretch our legs and see what was going on. We walked around the vehicle to make sure everything was okay and to our shock our trailer had the flat tire of the century. The tire was completely gone. We had been driving on nothing but the hub. Not even the rim of the tire was left. There was a white line engraved into the road where we had been dragging the trailer. So we decided to see how far back the tire was. We drove eleven kilometers before the engraved line in the road stopped. We had been driving eleven kilometers on nothing but the rim passing trucks all the while not knowing that we even had a flat tire. The trailer could have easily flipped the vehicle as we had a heavy load of books in there. God certainly is faithful to protect us!

During this whole incident we received a call from the office saying that the funding came through and it was enough for us to get to South Sudan. God certainly is faithful to protect us and provide for us. I was greatly humbled and in awe that the Lord so faithfully provided for us when we stepped out in faith. I was reminded of Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”  

            We had many other trailer issues to face before getting to Sudan as our trailer’s axels broke five times: once in Zambia and four times in Tanzania. We continued to battle with the trailer in Sudan, as the roads are incredibly rough with large potholes littering the rugged dirt roads throughout the country. Finally after three weeks of traveling we made it to South Sudan. The day before we crossed the border from the lush country of Uganda into Sudan, Uncle John received news that his father was about to pass away. At the last minute he had to arrange a flight back home. The day after we arrived in Kajo-Kaji for our first Biblical Worldview Seminar he had to begin his journey back home to be with his family.

Biblical Worldview Summit in Kajo-Kajo

Now our team was down to three members, which meant we all had to really pull our weight. We had a good turn out to the BWS with many pastors, and evangelists attending the seminar. The people were hungry for the Word and very eager to learn and apply the training to their lives. Everyday we had outreaches planned that we all took part in and we saw many lives changed. We had the opportunity to preach to inmates at a prison with no walls, at a military barracks, and in several schools as many of our students went out evangelizing door to door in the town. We saw and heard testimonies of those who came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit and saw their need for the One and Only Savior Jesus Christ. 

Preaching at a military barracks

A man listening intently as we shared the Gospel

The Lord opened the door for us to be able to preach the Gospel in a military barracks. At first when we got there, there was no one ready for us so we decided that we would begin singing. So Daniel, Mike, myself, Canon John, Emmanuel, and a couple of the other Bari leaders began singing. It wasn’t long before the people began to slowly trickle in and sit down to listen to what the strange white people had to say. There were many children, some women, and a few men that congregated to listen to us. Daniel began speaking to them about Gideon and Emmanuel our interpreter was hard at work translating into Arabic. Soon we began sharing the Gospel with them. We shared about how they had achieved their physical freedom from the Islamic north but now they still needed spiritual freedom from sin, which can only be found in Jesus Christ. As we shared the Ten Commandments with them they began to see their true sinfulness and wretchedness in the sight of Almighty God. After explaining to them that even our good works cannot save us from the wrath of God, soon came the question: “How can we enter the Kingdom of heaven?” This is when we were able to share about the wonderful work of our Righteous and Loving God by sending His Son to die in our place to pay the punishment for our sins (2 Cor. 5:21). Mike also shared with them the story about the rich man and Lazerus from Luke 16:19-31. While he was preaching everyone stopped dead in their tracks for the lowering of the South Sudanese flag and Mike began explaining how their flag had the Gospel in it: the black stands for our sins, the red stands for Christ blood shed to pay for our sins, the white stands for the fact that God will cleanse us white as snow if we trust in Christ, the green stands for growth in Christ and the blue with the star in it stand for the fact that one day we will be in heaven in paradise with Christ if we trust in Him alone for salvation. God really used that time to open the people’s hearts to their need for Him to be their Lord and Savior. We saw the Lord work as many people responded when we asked if they wanted to receive Christ. I was reminded of the fact that we serve an awesome and a mighty God, Who is able to change the hearts of sinners. But most importantly I was reminded that “there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved” except through Jesus Christ our Lord (Acts 4:12).

We had the opportunity to Show the Jesus Film on many occasions to evangelize to the people

While we were in South Sudan the Lord gave us the chance to do training in five different major towns: Kajo-Kaji, Lui (the birthplace of Christianity in Sudan), Mundri, Maridi, and Katobi. Thanks to God’s faithfulness and the faithfulness of those who supported this mission we were able to distribute thousands of books. Supplying hundreds of pastors, evangelists, teachers, and hungry believers with libraries of valuable discipleship resources. We also were able to supply nine different libraries with many Christ-centered discipleship books; we were also able to give discipleship training to hundreds of individuals. I am in awe by the way God uses such broken vessels as myself to further His Kingdom. We are but broken sinners, who have been redeemed by the Holy, Living God. Yet because our Lord is capable of all things He chooses to use us for His glory.

Evangelist and pastor training in Lui, the birthplace of Christianity in Suda

 

Please be praying for the believers in South Sudan as they are now the newest nation on earth but still have many struggles facing them. They still need lots of discipleship as there are many who are religious but do not have a personal relationship with the Lord. Also, South Sudan is at a strategic point as they sit on the edge of the Muslim world. We need to pray that God would send workers out into the harvest to reach the unreached peoples of Northeastern Africa. Also, pray for the Christians in the Nuba Mountains in north Sudan as they still are under severe persecution by the Islamic government of the North.

           

The Journey Begins

13 October 2011 

We have had quite the adventure so far on our way up to South Sudan. We have faced hardships and trials and had some really incredible times of ministry as well. Every step of the way the Lord’s hand has been in it all as He has given us opportunities to share the Gospel with people along the way. We had the opportunity to share the Gospel with a Muslim man who really was hungry for the Gospel the other day due to a delay that we had. It was really amazing to see that, this man was the whole reason we were right where we were at that moment in time. He had a Christian father and a Muslim mother and he believed that both religions were basically the same. We were able to challenge him gently and lovingly with some truth and he went away saying that he was going to have to read his Bible and stop taking for granted what his imam told him to be true about Christianity. It was so good to be able to speak the truth to someone who was so hungry for the Lord.

            The farther north we are getting the more and more I am feeling like I am in Africa. When we got into Tanzania I felt for the first time since being here that I am now really in Africa as everything is very rural and undeveloped. Now that we are in Uganda I feel even more so that I am in Africa. Kampala is absolutely the most chaotic yet intriguing place I have ever been. There are cars everywhere with pedestrians and bicycles mingled into the mix. There are about 30 shops in a space that in the States would only have 5 stores in a shopping center. And these shops are mostly about 20 square feet with things just packed on every square inch of the walls. But the country is absolutely stunning, beautiful, lush with vegetation, and the people are also much happier than the other countries we have been in.

            Now as we are preparing for the ministry that lies ahead of us, we would greatly appreciate your prayers. Pray that we would be used to bring glory to our Lord and Savior and that He alone would be glorified through us. Pray that He leads us every step of the way as we continue to work our way to South Sudan and as we prepare to do leadership training in the world’s newest country.   

Hungry For the Truth

6 October 2011

While we were still in South Africa before we crossed the boarder I had the chance to share the Gospel with a man who was very open and ready to hear about Christ. The man was a security guard who was watching people’s vehicles in the parking lot. I handed him a tract and I asked him what he thought would happen to him if he were to die.

He told me very plainly, “I don’t know.”

 I said to him, “Isn’t that important to know since we will spend much more time dead than we will alive?”

He told me yes but that he maybe someday when he went back to church he could go to heaven then. I told him that going to church won’t save him and neither will all the good works he ever could do. I asked him if he had ever told a lie. And I began going through the Ten Commandments with him. He knew that he was guilty and deserving of hell. So I asked him if he knew what Jesus did for him. He somberly shook his head and said, “no.” So I told him that God sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for his sins to take the punishment that he and I both deserved. He died and was crushed for our sin and after three days rose from the dead, which proved that he was God. Now Jesus is alive forevermore and is reigning at the right hand of the Father. I told the man that the only way we could be saved is by trusting in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation. When we do that we can know for sure that we are saved. Not by our works or going to church or anything else but solely by the work of Jesus.

            Immediately the mans’ face lite up. A smile grew across his face. He said that he was so happy to hear that. Looking down at the tract he said, “I must go tell my friends about what God has done for them.” I told him, “yes you should!” I also left him with a gospel of John because unfortunately I didn’t have a whole bible.  It was such an incredible experience and I feel blessed that God would have been so gracious to put a man so ready and hungry for the truth in my path.

I am reminded of what Jesus told His disciples in John 15:11: “These thing I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” When we begin to follow the Lord in obedience we experience His joy. When out of the overflow of our hearts we serve Him, He gives us joy that is inexplicable. I encourage you to walk in intimacy with the Savior today and to follow Him in obedience. He will give you a joy that can only come from Him. We are loved perfectly by our Lord Jesus Christ because He has died for us, that is why we live for Him. He has redeemed us (1 Pet. 1:18-19), He has adopted us into His family (Eph. 1:5), He loves us unconditionally (Rom. 8:31-37), He died for You while you were a wretched sinner (Rom. 5:8), You were dead and by His power alone He made you alive (Eph. 2:1-10), You deserved Hell but now will receive heaven, and this is all because of Jesus not anything you have done! Serve our Savior today who has given everything for us. It is a joy to live and walk with Him the Only One, Who could ever love us perfectly.