Part 1 of our story...

"Oh, what I would do to have

the kind of faith it takes

To climb out of this boat I'm in

Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone

Into the realm of the unknown

Where Jesus is,

And he's holding out his hand"

I thought I'd take this quiet time while Elijah is napping to really share with you what's on our hearts these days. I'm not the best as explaining my feelings or communicating clearly so bear with me, I'll do my best. Those of you who know me in "real life" probably know a lot of this already. I just want to share where the Lord has taken us these last few years and where we believe He is leading us now. As much for my own benefit so i can look back and remember all that's happened and see how God has been at work.

I should start by saying that God is good. He has shown His love and faithfulness in so many ways and with out Him I would be nothing.

Let's start back at the beginning...

Since growing up in Africa as a missionary kid I've seen the need first hand. The need for God's people to take His word over seas to those who have never had a chance to hear it...

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 10:14

Don't get me wrong, I realize there is a need for people to hear about God here in America. But I also realize that there are over 200 versions of the English bible available and basically a church on every corner around here. Compare that to the family living in Africa who have no idea a man named Jesus ever walked the earth. Or the people group in Papua New Guinea asking for some one to come and translate the Bible in their native language for the very first time. Many, many people all over the world have never had the opportunity to hear the Truth. It's like Oswald J. Smith said "We talk of the Second Coming; half the world has never heard of the first." And think about this, "If ten men are carrying a log -- nine of them on the little end and one at the heavy end -- and you want to help, which end will you lift on?" -- William Borden, as he reflected on the numbers of Christian workers in the U.S. as compared to those among unreached peoples in China.

Anyway, i could go on... but instead I'll say just watch the video at the very bottom of this page.

Back to our story. =) After high school I moved over to England for a year to go to bible school with a mission organization called New Tribes Mission. And that is where I met Geoff. The handsome Irish man also headed into mission work overseas.

After bible school He moved to Florida, we got married and started the next stage of the training a year later in the beautiful state of Pennsylvania. We were there for about seven months. Geoff didn't have to do the homework because he had already completed the training in England. We were there so i could finish the required training. But he sat in on classes anyway since there wasn't much else for him to do. We learned that wasn't a good idea because when he doesn't keep busy working he gets really down. He began meeting with a couple men on staff who he really respected and that seemed to help. During that time our family grew and Elijah was born! But two weeks after Elijah was born we were asked to leave due to my husbands severe depression. Two days later we were packed and headed back to Florida. Major bummer. This little detour God had planned totally threw us for a loop!

But you know what? I just looked back and realized how long this is getting! Sorry about that! So if any of you are still here reading to the end, thank you for listening! I appreciate it. But i think i should cut this into sections and make it a series! =) So come back tomorrow (maybe) for part 2 of The Gill Chronicles! (say that last part with a big deep announcer voice) =)

<><, Melissa

"People who do not know the Lord ask why in the world we waste our lives as missionaries. They forget that they too are expending their lives ... and when the bubble has burst, they will have nothing of eternal significance to show for the years they have wasted." -- Nate Saint