The Deans in the Field

We are beginning a new adventure. The uhaul is secure on the back of the Tahoe and we are heading to Oregon or bust, rocking out to kids bop 19. There is a beautiful rental on Wild River Loop with the Dean family name on it.
I’m thrilled to embark on this new adventure with my husband and kids. I’m excited to work with the youth at Faith, and be an encouragement to the people around me. Who knows where we will end up but God knows that we are ready to serve. So with pure hearts will gladly accept our new mission and look forward to all the things He has for the future of our family.

Things are getting started, jobs are being laid out, and a task is upon us.  Steve arrived yesterday morning and we have had such a great time talking with him and discussing where we all see God moving ministry in Fiji. I’m humbled to be apart of this vast empire.  To work in a beautiful country with equally beautiful people is nothing short of amazing.  The work here is plenty and at this point I feel the harvest may be starving.  Some of the people know God but they lack the knowledge of the personal relationship with him therefore are majorly stunted in their growth and walk.  There are still many men, women, and children that live day to day without the knowledge of a savior, without the hope of heaven, and living only in darkness with hell at their doorstep waiting for someone to show them the way, truth, and light.  That is why we are here.  To give people opportunity when at this point they have none.  To show people there is something after this life, that there is more beauty in Christ then anything they have ever seen before.  Have you ever felt loved? That feeling of overwhelming joy in knowing that you are greater then yourself that someone really loves and cares for you. Ive lived in darkness, i’ve lived in my own selfish desires with no hope and I understand what it is like to fear tomorrow.  I’ve packed my life and moved across the world to make sure that anyone that wants freedom can have it.  Anyone who doesn’t want to live in brokenness and bondage, anyone who wants to wake up from fear and aloneness can, by introducing them to the ultimate God the one true God, Jesus Christ, whom has risen and will come again. To make sure that we are all ready for that day….. because its coming……

When you think about transition you never realize how hard it truly is.  We have all been doing well with everything that had been put in our path.  Today Matthew was having a really rough day at school.  We dropped him off and walked around the campus to drop Abi off where he met up with us crying.  He didn’t want to be in class.  He seemed overwhelmed and homesick.  Something that we are dealing with at times but for a little boy this has been more difficult.  Abi has been doing great in her class she is getting along with the other kids and teachers but Matthew has had some struggles.  The kids are different here then at home which is obvious.  They are more interested in him because he is different then to become his friend. There are others schools in town but this one is close to home and has the Kindi (kindergarten).  So we will be moving him to another school at the end of this year hoping that he will feel more comfortable.  But if we have anymore days like today we are not going to make him stay somewhere where he doesn’t feel comfortable.  So when you think about us toss one up for the dude……

I hear in your writing the frustration of figuring out what to do next, the ease of getting your home set-up, getting the kids in school and making a home is yesterday and now what do you do today.  Be strong for each other and comfort each other while you find your way.  You two have been through a lot in the last couple years, and maybe this time is for you.  We at home are so very proud of you and we don’t take lightly the choice you made to have this awesome experience working for the purposes of the lord.  Be strong and I’m sure when Steve gets there he will give Chris some suggestions.

Jen, you make me proud.  When I see you I see a little girl that liked to follow her daddy around, a young teen who liked to be around kids, always helping and never saying no to helping others.  I see a young teenager going through the some pretty tough years, lossing and gaining friends.  I see a young lady, home from her first date with the last boy she’ll ever date - knowing Chris was the one.  I see a young bride looking through the blinds saying “wow, all those people are here to see me get married”, and a young mom - wiping tears, scrapes and saying clever thinks like “you’re stuck for a reason” and “dirt don’t hurt”, counting to 3 for the third time, and laughing because your kids are so cute and funny it takes all your might to remember why you counted to 3 the first time.  I see a little girl that says, “I love you mommy” and hugs me with all her might and a little girl still savoring the opinion of her daddy.  I see you, my Jennifer, my very special Jennifer and I love you and I’m proud of you.

Anonymous asked: Is this your yard? :-)

this was on the way to our new home

We have been blessed with a home and a beautiful place to live but even though I sit and stare out into the open land I wonder where do I fit.  This has been somewhat easy be in some ways difficult.  Getting the kids into school going to the market, turning our house into our home has been easy, but the emotional side has been hard, which I know that is bound to happen.   Moving thousands of miles away from my family and my home is going to be difficult.  The transition is tough.  People treat us different here.  Not badly by any means, just different.  We are finding that the relationships we had with out college students in both ministry and mentoring is not the way they do it here at all.  Chris is having a tough time with that because there is a group of boys that he really wants to become close with but its almost as though they respect him too much to be his friend if that makes since.  Respect is huge here, even more so then in the states.  They respect pastors and there family so much that its not something that we are use to yet.  We will find our bearings eventually, but in the mean time we just ask ourselves where do we fit?