Life in Michigan
What a fun time this has been. It seems like there are new blessings around every corner. Staying with Bill’s parents has been amazing. They are so easy going and Sue has some serious wife skills I am gleaning from. It’s been special to sit around the table or living room and learn about the family and Bill’s childhood. It’s a 20 minute drive to Marshall where I’m living from Bill’s apartment. And Marshall is in the middle of the country. There are so many deer at night that I drive 20 miles an hour to keep from hitting them. The smell of manure fills the air every morning as I suit up to face the elements and begin scraping the ice from my windshield. What a culture change it has been going from the desert to almost winter here in Michigan. Yesterday Sue took me to Kohl’s and helped me find a winter coat for 65% off. It was just what I was hoping for too….kind of sporty and red with a liner that zips out. Who knew a coat was so important here. Today I packed all my capri’s and short sleeved clothes and flip flops into a Rubbermaid bin…..it feels good to be getting organized. Each day I make the drive to Battle Creek where it seems Bill’s apartment has become my daytime hang out. I’ve used the Target gift cards I got from my Phoenix friends to get stuff for Bill and my future life together. It’s been so fun to fill his apartment with a feminine touch. I’ve been making him dinner too and we’ve enjoyed the evenings of sitting at the table praying together and catching up face to face after all these months of being on the phone. Wedding plans have also picked up…..the more I get done the more I realize how much is left to do. We are pretty sure we will be taking a Caribbean cruise for the honeymoon so that is exciting too. I’ve enjoyed getting to know Bill’s church family and already feel like it is my home church here. We carved a pumpkin last weekend we are calling “Jack” and we spend much of our free time with his siblings and their spouses. I have felt so loved by them and they have become an instant peer group. I’m still looking for part time work. I’ve applied to 3 places and haven’t heard back to I’d appreciate your prayers for that. All in all, it’s a very sweet time……a time filled with so much blessing it’s often hard to believe. So that’s the update for now…….feel free to call or e.mail…..I’d love to hear from you. I hope to post pictures soon.
The Best Friends
What a great night of fun and fellowship. I was blessed with every person who walked in the door. Each one felt like another friend with different memories and different reasons God has bonded our hearts. I’m not big on the phrase “best friend” because I think God puts people in our lives for different reasons. Some friends are there to cry with you and others to ride a bike with you. Some friends can be your brother when yours is really far away. Others we can call to seek advice or wisdom on things but all in all friends are always the best when they love you and offer their hearts to you. There have been times over my time here in Phoenix that I felt like it was so hard…..sometimes it was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. But looking back now it seems like it all went so fast. I have no doubt that it was all preparing me for something really good……the kind of good you just can’t write or see on your own. Tonight as I said good bye to the best friends I was humbled by the way God has blessed me through them. And I was grateful that God provided things I needed through them………their prayers, listening ears, encouragement and fun memories will always be a part of me that I will try to “pay forward”. So thank you all for the love and for being the best. I will miss you dearly!
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Your friend,
Caye
Sent to you from my very special Vtech computer 
Romanian love!
What a great trip this has been to Romania. A team of 4 women trained 35-40 women leaders for three days. They included pastor’s wives, children’s ministry leaders, young rising leaders and even women seeking to start their own women’s ministries and bible studies. We trained on sharing your faith story as evangelism, inductive bible study, conflict management and the leader’s self care. The women were very responsive and I knew most of them from past trips. At one point before my teaching I was waiting in the back of the room and through the window the sun was setting over a beautiful Romanian garden outside the church. I felt the Lord reminding me of the great privilege to be on the other side of the world sharing God’s truth. They were so excited about my news of engagement and even sang me a special wedding song at the end of the conference (their deep love for me led me to tears). It’s always so hard to say goodbye to these wonderful people. They are so generous, hospitable and hungry to grow as believers. Thank you for your prayers. The 10 hour time change is always difficult but I have remained very healthy since I left and am so grateful for God’s strength.
Romania Preparations
Wow! This has been such an amazing season of watching God provide for my every need. I am currently living with a very loving family who have opened wide their lives to me and blessed me in so many ways. I will stay with them until I move to Michigan to join my fiancée on October 17th. I will live Bill’s parents for the 3 months remaining before our wedding and I’m very excited about getting to know his family and friends.
As I wrap up ministry here I’ve been reflective on all that God has taught me by serving him as a missionary. It has been a season I will never forget. And through it God has also etched the people of Romania upon my heart forever. I will forever have their families, lifestyles, faith and great need in my prayers. I get to return again this Monday (flight leaves at 7:25 pm) with a team of 5. My trip is Sept. 27-October 10. We will be doing a weekend training retreat for women leaders in Arad. I will be opening the weekend with a lesson on sharing your faith and public speaking. I can’t wait to see the women I’ve come to love and pray for on the other end of the world. These women strive to make ends meet but still have an unshakable faith in the “Hope Giver”. Please pray for my health. I’m a little paranoid about the travel this time since I was sick on my last trip so much. I need to sleep on the plane well and I need this inner ear infection to be better in just 3 days (the Dr. put me on a nasal steroid that is helping). These trips take a toll on the body and mine isn’t getting any younger. I will be staying apart from the team with my host family from this summer. I will also be remaining 2 extra days to connect with past relationships after the team leaves…..so pray for the long leg home. It’s a 4 hour car ride to Budapest, a flight to London and then a 9 hour flight back to the U.S. where we are 7 hours behind Romanian time. I am so grateful to have you all on my adventures with me….your prayers mean so much. When I return from Romania I only have to wait one week for my fiancée to retrieve me back to Michigan so I’m totally stoked about that.
The end of a Season
Thanks for your prayers and support on this great adventure. This PDF will explain the details and changes of my life right now…..
We have a website to learn more about our wedding. We hope you can reserve the date to join us! We’d love to have you there!
www.mywedding.com/billandcaye/
One life at a time
So proud of my girl Kristina. I think it’s my life’s honor to be a part of girl’s lives who go on to impact the Kingdom.
“The world has yet to see what God can do with one life wholly surrendered to him”
