Sheet Metal and Paperwork

You may ask: What exactly do those Floyd's do? Well, I am about to tell you...

Ross currently works at Kliklok-Woodman. You can view their website here: www.kliklok.com. His company produces packaging machinery. In layman's terms, that simply means that they make the machines that companies purchase to package their products. These machines are purchased for use on assembly lines and put the products into their packaging; potato chips into bags, pizzas into boxes, etc. Ross works in the sheet metal shop of the plant and starts work at 6 a.m.

www.kliklok.com

Currently, I work at a non-profit missions organization called Mission to the World (MTW). This organization is the international missions sending agency for the Presbyterian Church of America (PCA). I work in the two-week department which sends teams to work with foreign missionaries for 1-3 weeks. Most of our teams go for one week but a few go for longer. My responsibilities include the administrative/paperwork side of things. In short, I make sure that the teams receive and complete all of their necessary paperwork and financial requirements. I assist the regions of Mexico, Central and South America, and Sub-Sahara Africa.  Our organization website is www.mtw.org. (I do not start work at 6 a.m.!)

www.mtw.org

So that's what we do...exciting? Well of course! We may not have the most glamorous of jobs but we are where we are because the Lord has placed us here. 

Colossians 3:23-24 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.
 

Here and Now: Meet Riverside

I just realized that the second blog post is much more difficult than the first. There are so many directions that I can go and numerous stories that I want to share. But which one first? So I decided that I my first segment of posts would show where we are right now. It is usually so easy for us to tell of the past or even of the dreams we have for the future. Sometimes realizing where we are in the here and now can be a bit more challenging. I do look forward to telling of the past and our dreams for the future but explaining where we are now seems crucial for setting a point of reference.

So first and foremost, where are we geographically...Meet Riverside.

We currently reside in a pleasant little community on the upper west side of Atlanta called Riverside. We are ITP (inside the Perimeter) off of Bolton Road between South Atlanta Rd and South Cobb. For the OTP (outside of the Perimeter) peeps that is the Vinings area ITP. 

Riverside is smaller community that I feel has a lot of heart. One of the first things that we noticed when we moved here in May 2010 is that Riverside embraces community. The residents here truly care about the community where they live. It is diverse. A good mix of blue collar and white collar. Houses built in the 50's or earlier and homes that are a few years old. Even the age ranges are diverse. There are individuals who have been here for a long time but I would say that the majority of community is comprised of middle aged singles or families. We meet many people who are in the mid 30s. There are not many children running around our neighborhood but there will be in a few years. Many of the families have newborn or young children. So I hope that gives you a snap shot of Riverside. It is a vibrant area that I believe will continue to grow and change in the years to come.

In all, Ross and I are confident that God has brought us to this area for a purpose of making His name known among this diverse group of people. It brings numerous challenges but we are confident that Christ is at work here and has been long before we arrived.

Proverbs 16:3 "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans."

Beginning in the Middle

Well, today I decided to create a new blog. I have been considering it for a long time now and decided to take the plunge. I am still not sure what it will look like, but I think it is important for me to share life with my close family and friends.

First of all, the title of my blog is Milestones and Missions. In a nut shell, Ross and I know that the Lord has called us to serve abroad in the advancement of His kingdom for the sake of His name. We are in the process of meeting some milestones that will allow us to reach our specific long-term missions goal. However, I firmly believe that missions is where we are! As Jim Elliott stated, "Where ever you are, be all there." This simple phrase has changed my view of missions all together. It is challenging and exciting to think that the God of the universe is sovereign and has us right where we are, not out of coincidence but for the purpose of making His name known. So "missions" is all around us...it is where we are.

Secondly, the title of this post is Beginning in the Middle. This is not the first step or the beginning of our journey. We have felt the call to serve as foreign missionaries for many years now. Both Ross and I felt God leading us in this direction even before our wedding day over 3 1/2 years ago. So I don't really feel like this is the "beginning" even though it is the beginning of this blog.

So join me in our discovery of the path that God has planned for us. It has and will continue to be an interesting ever changing journey. I hope that I will be able to communicate through my grammatically incorrect words the amazing things that God is doing in us and prayerfully through us.

Join me...