Welcome Heidi!- And Thank you all

Update 2- January 2023'

Heidi is here! She’s healthy, gaining weight and starting to make big strides already!

It has been a nice change of pace, being on paternity and maternity leave, and a welcome respite to an incredibly busy season. Though a blessing, moving is rarely hassle free, and a week before Christmas, we had finally found a home, but we’d have to be moved in before Heidi arrived Jan 5. So with my belt tightened and brim back I, along with some helpful hands, managed to get us transitioned by Christmas Eve and fully unpacked the day before Angelina was induced. WHEW! Now taking a step back, I can finally refocus…

I’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who’s helped my family over the past month:

My parents Mark and Rachel- Thank you for watching Milo over and over again. For taking the time to travel to parks and museums, to not only sustain him, but to help him grow and thrive when Ang and I were simply too busy or too tired. You have been more help than you realize.

Johnson Tran- You have always been there to lend a hand. You could have spent the whole day working and, regardless of your energy level, you would still helped me lug giant items from the YWAM campus down to our house…for hours at a time. You are a true friend, and brother… on that note…

Bekkah, Chandler, Cierra- as well as Johnson, you’ve all spent well over 12 hours helping to paint before we even moved a single box, a huge chore I wouldn’t have been able to complete without you. Chandler and Bekkah, on top of painting and much like Mom and Dad, you’ve brought a lot of fun into Milo’s life and have been there for Ang and I through our worst.

YWAM Ozarks- You’ve had to pick up a lot of our responsibilities in the kitchen, and believe me when I say, it’s a lot! Thank you to ALL who have gone shopping, cleaned, prepped meals, and greeted guests with full stomaches on our leave of absence. Also to your staff who’ve helped in any way shape or form, we have felt the impact, and we are extremely grateful.

Don Robinson- We are so incredibly blessed to have you as a friend in real estate. You’ve helped us into our first home and into the one we are currently residing. It’s a wonderful place for our family, and we have you to thank for the smooth transition.

And finally, our friends at Hope Church- When we were transitioning into our new family dynamic, those of you who helped by brining us meals made the long evenings that much easier and less stressful.

I know there are a few folks I’ve missed, but note, even if I didn’t make mention of you specifically, we are extremely humbled by your help and generosity over the last month.

You have all exemplified, in Matth. 25: 31-46, the characteristics of the sheep and have helped us when we were most in need. May God bless you for the time and energy you’ve spent on our behalf.

…Though our days have certainly slowed down for a little while, God’s plans for 2023 have not. Of course, baby or no baby, we must always be pushing forward for the glory of God. This month has brought about some exciting new possibilities by the way of a few well orchestrate connections. I am pleased to say, that we have a new prospective torch bearer for our coffeeshop. Her name is Amy Workman and she feels led by the Lord to continue where we left off, using the cafe as an outlet for ministry. She will be coming out at the end of the month to look over the shop and make her final decision. Please be praying that God speaks clearly to her, and that all the doors that are needed to open and close do so by the kingdom’s leading.

We are also making solid plans for Osaka Japan, a trip that I know is Spirit inspired. Johnson Tran, as I have made mention, is an incredible man. Selfless and determined. He has a way of listening to the Lord with an unshakable vigor that we all strive for. He and his wife, for some time, have felt compelled to start a YWAM school in this location, and as close friends, Angelina and I have decided to support the Trans by helping them vision cast this idea the Spirit has placed on their hearts. Though we know the difficulties of traveling overseas with a newborn and toddler may seem daunting, we are sure that this will be a growing experience that will be nothing but positive, especially for Milo being at the age where he can start to appreciate new cultures and lifestyles. We are looking for support specifically for this trip in July. Tickets will be almost $4000 for the three of us (Heidi rides free) and living expenses will be near $4000 for the month (which covers rent, food, and transportation). We are aware this is not an easy task, but we are certain we can achieve this goal with the help of our friends, family and supporters. We are confident that this trip will lay the groundwork for a future campus that will send a generation of missionaries to other countries around the world. That the love of Christ will be spoken of and poured out, for decades to come, by the lips of those who will attend Discipleship Bible Schools, seminary courses, and study groups in Osaka. I believe a movement is coming, and we are thrilled that our family can be woven into that tapestry.

At Hope Church, we have made some headway into our Morocco scouting trip. Jacob, our lead pastor, has reached out to several of his contacts, and we are praying that communications continue productively so that our trip may commence as planned for mid spring. Should this trip not become a reality, we do have several other locations in mind that we are prayerfully considering. This will be an incredible opportunity for our congregation to venture outside of their western comfort zones and into the nitty-gritty of missions, to give them a longing for the unreached and a desire and love for the continual spreading of the gospel message.

Life is good. And as a family, we are growing a greater appreciation for the plan Jesus, the Father and Spirit has set before us. Everything seems to be drifting into place. It feels as though we have just crested a tidal wave and are looking at smoother waters ahead. Will there be turbulent swells? Absolutely. But, we serve a great and mighty creator that has, can, and will carry us through.

We love you all deeply,

May the love of God continue to warm your hearts as we press through to spring-a-new.

Sincerely-

Angelina, Steven, Milo, and little Heidi Keller

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