In June, we came home to a house full of furniture, food, prepared homeschool room, new towels, etc.  Family, friends, and people we don’t even know came together to welcome us back by giving, cleaning, preparing and making our empty house a home.  We were so thankful and honored to receive this blessings.

This summer was then a journey of asking for help, borrowing cars, qualifying for government health care and food assistance, and finding ourselves almost ashamed to have to ask for so much.  Submerged back into a culture of many expectations and responsibilities with dwindling income, no car, and no health care made us feel irresponsible, free-loading, folks who just got back from “vacation”.  Honestly, I don’t recall anyone actually calling us any of these things to our faces or even feeling these attitudes from individuals, but being in need in a place of plenty becomes draining which can allow the enemy to sneak in and speak lies.

Our pride continues to be peeled away as our “new” car (1987 Volkswagen Vanagon) bucks down the freeway causing our entire family to be heaved back and forth as we head to church.  The Wolf  (yes, that is what we call her) has left us stranded a few times already, leaving us to rely on neighbors and/or co-workers to give us rides or let us borrow their cars.  Andy and others have spent hours already working on the van, forced to become mechanics at the drop of a hat.  It has been a frustrating inconvenience but also gives us good belly laughs.  Imagining a family of six being jolted back and forth on the freeway only brings a smile to my face.

We are constantly reminded that this is our choice.  We chose  for Andy to work only half days as a teacher.  We chose to buy an older car in an attempt to stay within our small budget.  We choose to stay within our means rather than buying on credit and building up a debt that consumes us.  But as we choose to live this way, it forces the people around us to become involved in our lives.  It has been hard to ask others to become involved, and in our culture and society it is a peculiar way to live – relying on others for help.  We are the weirdos on the street who are building something in their garage, homeschooling, stocking up food, and always asking for help.  But we hope to be the weirdos that our neighborhood can rely on and feel welcomed and loved when they are around us.

As of now we are here.  God saved our house for us and continues to provide mortgage, food, a car, insurance, health care, cell phones, internet, etc.  He does not always provide in ways we would like Him to.  It would be lovely if He poured money into one of our drawers every morning.  It would be much easier if we didn’t have to ask for help, especially when it is not a regular practice among family, friends, and culture.  But God calls us to be a Light.  A light is exposed and vulnerable, willing to shine in any circumstances.   We choose to be Light which calls us to ask for help when we know we don’t have much to give back.  Often we have been tempted to hide this vulnerability under a bushel or let Satan blow it out and steal our joy.  Jesus was a person who shared everything that He had and received everything that was given.  Love will not continue if we are not willing to receive it as well.

We have had to let the Holy Spirit work on us, remind us, and show us how much we DO have.  He shows us downtown when we visit our friends who live under the bridges, or high school kids who have just lost their father.  He reminds us of the random people (now friends) who He sends from Michigan to help us with the food pantry.  He drops large pieces of wood in the street to help with shelving for the food pantry.  He shows us all of our friends and neighbors who are constantly stopping to sacrifice time, money, cars, childcare, to help our family.  He reminds us of the beautiful gifts given to Luci before she was born.  And through all of this it has created relationships that cannot be stolen.

We have learned many of these things through mistakes we have made.  Andy and I are still learning the importance of community and loving freely.  We are learning how to throw off the shame of owing people and replacing it with the joy of being available to help and give what we have.  The spirit of Joy frees people to ask without shame and give without expectations. Joy confuses the enemy and throws his plans back at him.  Satan wants us to have expectations and agendas in every relationship.

Love gives and receives joyfully.

God gives and receives joyfully.

If we believe this, then we must take courage and step out in faith.  We must risk vulnerability to allow the Kingdom that Jesus promised us to come.  We must experience some of the shame that Jesus took on for us so that we can then put it back on Him.  Little glimpses of darkness make Him real to me, especially when I know that He can take that darkness and turn it into Light.

I love the King of kings because He saved me from the darkness that I often try to take on myself.  I love Him because He gives me the gift of Life that I do not deserve.  I love Him because He joyfully and freely gives me this gift every day.  I love Him because He does not stop loving us if we don’t know what we have, nor does He frown upon us when we choose to hide it.  I love Him because He loves me.  And the only way I can truly love others is if I know of His true love for me.

As we celebrate His birthday this month and know His love personally, we have quite a gift.   This gift has been freely given to us, let us be those weirdos who freely give back.

We are making progress on the food pantry.  With the help of a new friend, John, and and an old friend, Aaron, we were able to finish taping the drywall, then a couple of coats of paint and the installation of some better lighting.  Our next step is to purchase some shelving then we will just about be ready to go.  The shelving is pretty spendy, so we might add just a little bit at a time.

It may not look like much, but it’s a lot to us!

We already have some food to go on the shelves though!  The local churches had a combined church service last week and asked their congregations to bring canned foods for our pantry.  Waiting to find out just how much, but whatever the amount is more than we could ask for.  We were excited that they thought of us while making these plans.

The skeletal vision that I had is starting to fill in.  “If you build it, they will come” has been a commonly repeated phrase when we have told people our vision.

Phase One: Build It

Phase Two: Fill It

Phase Three: Distribute It

Pretty simple, which is what we want to be about.  We know the Lord doesn’t want us to get ahead of ourselves either.  We need to focus on simply being in Him (He is the vine) and our ministry will bear fruit.  If we get caught up with “doing” before the foundation has been laid, we can cut ourselves off from the vine and our ministry won’t bear fruit.  It may look like we are bearing fruit, we may be “accomplishing” a lot, but we aren’t advancing His kingdom, we are simply feeding people.

What exactly does “being in Him” mean?  Slowing down.  Taking time to pray.  Being intentional with our time.  Keeping the day-to-day things in our peripheral as we focus on the deeper vision.  I was a driver’s ed teacher for a few years and one of the things we were instructed to teach was to tell students not to focus on the back of the vehicle in front of them.  Rather, you should focus a half mile ahead while keeping the car in front of you and other possible dangers in your peripheral.  The key to all of this is speed.  If you slow down enough these other dangers don’t pose a threat.  Keep the bigger vision in our sights as we slow down and listen to His voice.

As we travel this journey we want to build relationships with our neighbors in need along the way, that, ultimately, is the big vision.  Our hope is that our neighbors will know us and come to trust us before we ever try to hand them a gallon of milk.  People are much more likely to see Jesus in us than in a can of soup.

I had the opportunity to share at the school I work at, Woodburn Academy of Art, Science and Technology (WAAST).  All together I think there were about 300+ students and 25 or so teachers.  A month or so ago I was invited by the principal to share about our journey these past few years.  She had read the article about what God had done in our lives in HomeLife Magazine and had though that our story would be good to share with the students.  I work at a public high school.

To make sure she wasn’t going to lose her job I asked to meet with her this past week so she knew what she was getting into.  I made it clear that if I was going to share about my family and I, I would be denying the most influential and important part of us if I didn’t mention Jesus Christ.  She said she was fine with that.  Again, I work at a public high school.

So this past Wednesday I got up in front of these students and shared the simple Gospel.  I told them that Serenity and I had struggled through some really tough questions the past few years.  Questions that shook the foundations of the consumeristic and materialistic life we had been living as rich Christians.  Questions that were presented to us by the Holy Spirit.  I shared about how we took these questions to the Scriptures and found that over 300 times God specifically mentions that we should treat the poor with kindness, grace and love.  That we should hold our possessions with an open hand because our treasure is in Heaven not in storehouses on this earth.  Then I shared the following scriptures:

I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. – Matthew 25:40

He who has two tunics, let him give to him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise. – Luke 3:11

Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

I shared about how Scriptures like these convicted us to change our lives to live lives closer to the heart of Jesus.  One that calls His disciples to care about the “least of these.”  Remember, this is a public high school.

I showed the video I had made.  Then opened it up for questions.  The questions were from the heart.  The teachers and students asked questions like, “what was the “worst” story you heard from a homeless individual?”  I told them about A.C. from Jackson and how he had been addicted to crack cocaine, but Jesus had spoken to him and he had given his life to Christ.  I told them about the local park in Boston where gang members had been killed a few weeks earlier and needed a little bit of Jesus.

The response was amazing.  About a dozen students randomly approached me over the past couple of days and asked if they could volunteer in some way for us.  About six or so students commented about the presentation on my Facebook wall.  Here is what a couple had to say:

“[the presentation] was amazing vato! Real inspiration, changed my mind about a lot of things! And your family was also very inspiring! See ya tomorrow hombre!”

“It really makes me open my eyes to how spoiled we are and take life for granted… Thanks so much for this!”

These kids so want to hear about Jesus!  I’m so excited about the doors Christ is opening to me in this “new” mission field.  I can’t shove the Gospel down their throats or ask for an alter call after they turn in their World War I homework (which isn’t my style anyway), but I can tell them about what Christ has done for me when they ask – and the kids are asking.  Praise be to God!

I get the opportunity to speak about MSM at the high school I teach at on November 18th. We are very excited for this opportunity, please be praying that the Holy Spirit goes before me and opens the eyes and ears of not only the student body, but the staff as well. This is an amazing opportunity since it is a public high school! This weekend I put together a video that I will be showing the student body, check it out.

Mustard Seed Ministries

We have recently recieved a couple donations towards the Mustard Seed Ministry food sharing pantry.  This above picture is a large load of non-perishables that were donated in memory of Brian Haisch, a childhood friend of mine who just passed a couple weeks ago.  The Haisch family decided to put the money (that would have gone to flowers for the memorial) towards food that would help others in need.  We are honored and inspired to be blessed with this.  Thank you Keith and Leo!

Above is yet, another food pantry donation!  Tigard Community Friends Church held a talent show and gathered many items from the attendants for a gift specifically designated to Mustard Seed Ministries.  Thank you TCFC!  We are so encouraged by the support and love you have shown our family and ministry.

Andy has also been asked to speak, on Nov. 18, at a Woodburn High School assembly!!!  He will be sharing many stories from our travels as well as the vision of ministry here in Hubbard.  This is a HUGE miracle!  God has given Andy so many amazing opportunities to be the Light of Jesus at this high school.  Please be praying for him as he prepares for this.

These are awesome testimonies of how God has shown us His favor for this new season of Mustard Seed Ministries.  With all that we have been going through (adjustment to life NOT on wheels, Andy starting a new job, having a new baby, building the food pantry, getting sick, homeschool, car/RV problems and life in general) He continues to go before us, even if we are not ready.  Before we even have shelves in the pantry, we have food to begin stocking!  Without even asking, God has provided an unusual opportunity to communicate His Good News to a huge group of high school students!

We have had some time to pray more vision for Mustard Seed Ministries.  Our next activity will be taking a flier, our kids, and the little red wagon around the neighborhood to begin spreading the word and communicating to our little town of Hubbard, that we, the Coulombe family/Mustard Seed Ministries, are available.  That can mean many things….available to share food, a listening ear, prayer, discipleship, a ride to the grocery store, etc.

Please be praying with all of us as we seek His face, live Life, and love on our neighbors.

We’ve recently received a few requests of our sweet new baby girl, Lucilla Ann!  She is now 4 weeks old!  Can you believe it?  Luci is fitting into our family quite nicely!  Avery, Ally, and Eva are still enamored of her (mostly Ally and Eva) asking to hold her all the time.  The adjustment has been a little rough at times but we are persevering!  If you want to see more pictures of the fam, just click on our Flickr pictures!

We wanted to give a brief update on what has happened in the last couple weeks…related to “ministry”.

1) We have found a lovely little spot to place Big Buster!  He will be parked close by, in Woodburn, so that we can get a few things taken care of before we officially put him up for sale.  Thank you to our friends who have blessed us with valuable space on their property!

2) HOWEVER…Big Buster is unfortunately stuck up in Ridgefield, WA.  He will not start.  We are praying and beginning the search for a good diesel mechanic.  Any ideas???

3) Andy and good friend Aaron Chaffee taped and mudded the drywall in the food pantry today!  Next will be shelving and stocking it with food!

4) Someone has generously given us a Spanish, cd and workbook, set!  Praise the Lord!

Blessed be His name…no matter what the situation!

So, after much prayer as well as working through a lot of emotional attachment we have decided to sell Big Buster.  In a weird kind of way Big Buster is kinda part of our family.  He was with us in thick and thin, he gave us shelter, warmth, coolness, and freedom.  Most importantly, he allowed us to reach out to the least of these on our journey and follow God’s call on our lives.

We bought him back in May 2008 for $23,000.  Although to many of you who followed us it seemed like all we did was fix him, he really did quite well on the trip and other than a few issues (mainly tires and a bad transmission computer that only intermittently reared it’s ugly head) it was a great RV and did all that we asked of it.  We put about $10,000 into him over the year: $1,200 in new tires, $400 in front brakes, $250 in front barrings, $3,500 in replacing the transmission ECU (main computer), $4,000 in converting the fuel system into running on both diesel and vegetable oil, as well as miscellaneous repairs.

Our asking price is $25,000.

There are so many things to list about Big Buster, and this really isn’t the best place to do it.  If you have any questions click on the “contact” link above and email either Serenity or I.

Check out Church Under the Bridge!

We would love to see more join up with this ministry and have an opportunity to see a little glimpse of the Kingdom.

Next date for this outreach is October 25!

We have been envisioning the Mustard Seed Ministry food pantry for a while now.  I think we were in Los Angeles staying at a county park on the beach directly underneath LAX when the Lord gave us a vision of what MSM was supposed to look like when we returned to Hubbard, Oregon.  A simple food pantry was one component.  Not one where the poor traversed public transit, were given a number and waited in line to get a prescribed bag of canned foods, but one where people from the neighborhood can come and hang out, get specifically what they need and in the right season can even get fresh corn, strawberries, tomatoes and other fresh produce grown from people’s own backyard gardens.  We would not have a layer of service that separated us from the poor, but rather we would have the opportunity to commune and build relationship with people who live around the corner.  This is our heart.

This past weekend, despite coming down with H1N1, I, along side Paul Morse, a member of Tigard Community Friends Church just up the road in Tigard, Oregon, began the process of framing, putting up drywall and shelving an 8′ X 16′ space in our garage.  It came together very nicely and I didn’t vomit on Paul once (that would have been nice, build a brand new food pantry and the first thing I do is throw up all my groceries in it   Next weekend I plan to mud and tape the drywall and then soon after my plan is to put up shelving.

a before shot

Paul (the journeyman)

done with the framing

now time for the drywall

Andy (the apprentice)

Just enough room for us to park The Werewolf (or VW Vanagon) with the food pantry on the right

and Avery approves