Numbers 9:17-23
17 Whenever the cloud lifted from above the tent, the Israelite’s set out; wherever the cloud settled, the Israelite’s encamped. 18 At the Lord’s command the Israelite’s set out, and at his command they encamped. As long as the cloud stayed over the tabernacle, they remained in camp. 19 When the cloud remained over the tabernacle a long time, the Israelites obeyed the Lord’s order and did not set out. 20 Sometimes the cloud was over the tabernacle only a few days; at the Lord’s command they would encamp, and then at his command they would set out. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only from evening till morning, and when it lifted in the morning, they set out. Whether by day or by night, whenever the cloud lifted, they set out.22 Whether the cloud stayed over the tabernacle for two days or a month or a year, the Israelite’s would remain in camp and not set out; but when it lifted, they would set out. 23 At the Lord’s command they encamped, and at the Lord’s command they set out. They obeyed the Lord’s order.
This verse has become the definition of our lives this past year! When the cloud lifts, we have set out and when the cloud has settled, we have stayed. What a change a month can bring; the cloud has lifted, and we are on the move again! It has been eleven months since we set out as missionaries, ready to follow the Lord where He would lead us. What a journey this has been. I think we can say with confidence this has been the best and the hardest year of our lives. The lessons that we have learned, the adventures we have had, the time with our kids, and the experience of living by faith have been priceless. The adventure continues as we, again, move into a new chapter of our lives.
We have been asked by our home church, Calvary Chapel Napa, to come back and serve in a new capacity. Calvary Chapel Napa is launching a new ministry called The Bridge Napa. This program is a residential discipleship ministry to those that struggle with addiction. Aaron will be one of the people overseeing the program, providing safety, structure, discipleship, and supervision for the purpose of restoring people back to God, family, work, and community. After much prayer we have accepted the call to come back to Napa and serve along-side our home church and community in this exciting and much needed ministry.
Oregon quickly became our home for the last two months and we are sad again to be moving on. We loved our time of service there and will treasure our friends, new and old, and the church that so warmly welcomed us. It is hard when “the cloud lifts” and we know it is time to move on, however, as a family, we have promised God that we will be on His mission wherever He sends us, for as long as He sends us.
Aaron will continue serving the Law Enforcement community, now primarily in Napa. We attended a training in May on the subject of first responder peer support which proved to be a very useful and important training. Aaron is looking forward to continuing to fellowship with these amazing men and women as they encourage one another to grow in their relationships with our Heavenly Father. The discipleship group is still meeting once a month.
God quickly and miraculously provided a house for us in Napa, despite the insane and ridiculously competitive market. We have found the saying true “where God guides, He provides.” We are very grateful for the people that He uses to accomplish His purposes. The house the Lord has provided will not be ready for us until approximately the second week of July. In the mean-time we are hoping to spend some time in Monterey shadowing and being trained by the Pastors of The Bridge Monterey, where the residential discipleship program originated fourteen years ago.
There are two big questions that keep coming up that we want to address:
First: “Is Aaron going back to work in law enforcement?” The answer is no, we do not believe the Lord is leading that direction at all.
Second: “Are you still missionaries?” Yes, we are still missionaries. We know that we are challenging peoples common understanding of missionaries. Normally we think of missionaries as people in far off lands. Right now, we are continuing to serve as local missionaries to our community. Our definition of being a missionary is being set apart to live solely for the purpose of being on Gods mission to make disciples of all nations (including this one). That means we live by faith. It means that we trust God to provide for us what we need when we need it. He has yet to let us down and we are so grateful. There is nothing more exciting than to live by faith and watch God come through, we LOVE it!
Until next month!
The Mosleys – Aaron, Jackie, McKenna, Mia, Isaiah, and Penelope