Great Adventure Family Ministries GA Story

In early April 2002, one morning's devotion was based on the Scripture from Luke 14:25-35. The devotion was on discipleship, and the cost. "Being a follower of Jesus was not something one did because others were doing it. It was not something you took lightly, nor did halfheartedly. There was a personal cost and commitment involved. Being a follower of Jesus might mean giving up earthly things, but the blessings gained far outweigh them," stated the author.

We talked over what that meant for us as individuals and a family, pondering what it would mean to give up everything to follow Jesus. The discussion revolved around living outside our comfort zones and "normal" life routines, giving up our possessions, our friends and family to follow Jesus and live for Him. You might guess that it was a very lively conversation, with the kids being 16, 11, 10, 7, 2, and 4-months old.

On April 22, 2002, Dave came home early from work. He had been laid off from his job as a small aircraft mechanic. We had known that the aircraft business had taken a bad turn since the 9-11 terrorist attacks; we were hopeful that it wouldn't trickle down to his level, but it did. This sent us to our knees, searching for guidance and wisdom for the future.

Dave's dad was also in the depths of fighting for his life with melanoma cancer. He was in the hospital now more than at home. He left us for his eternal home on June 2nd, 2002.

We tried to look at these trials as opportunities, with the Lord working in and around us. We wanted to join Him at this work in our lives and constantly prayed for His leading. Dave was receiving unemployment benefits and had gotten a few side jobs, but nothing permanent in the aircraft field. The economy and industry needed to recover.

For the fun of it, we had spent some time looking at travel trailers and motor homes. We dreamed, researched and explored the possibilities of an on the road ministry for our family. We didn't have all the answers to our many questions, but still felt God's leading in this direction. Our prayers and those of our faithful friends and pastors continued. We sought out many counselors as we looked to the future.

In August, we decided to test the home market and put out a "For Sale" sign. Our whole family started going through belongings; sorting through boxes, cupboards, drawers, and closets. We had a few garage sales, and donated a lot of things to other homeschooling families and friends, churches, and charities.

Around this same time, we became aware of an organization (Laborers for Christ) that provided laborers to help build churches and various additions and remodeling projects around the country. This ministry has typically catered to the retired age group, but Dave didn't see that as a hindrance to finding out more information. Dave called the recruiter and discussed this ministry opportunity with him. Although this was not a guaranteed full time ministry/work situation, we felt that it was an answer to our prayers. Dave explained that we were a homeschooling family that desired to serve the Lord through missions and service first-hand. The recruiter stated that shouldn't be a problem. After filling out applications, both Dave and Kris were accepted to be on their roster in September of 2002. Thus, we started calling this "The Great Adventure".

Now with vigor and purpose, the plans started falling in place. Our home sold in September. We bought a 33-foot travel trailer and fifteen-passenger van and made all the necessary plans to encompass our new life of ministry on the road.

We left Minnesota on November 22nd, heading out to California for our first building project. We were saddened to leave family and friends behind, but eager with anticipation for the life ahead. Arriving in Brentwood, on a rainy December 15^th, we parked the trailer. Little did we know that this particular building project had some unique circumstances. The building committee had worked for several years getting the necessary building permits and fulfilling needed requirements for the city's strict codes. One of the exceptional requirements was that no children under the age of 18 years were allowed on this particular construction site.

Now, with six children ranging from 16 to almost a year old, this posed quite a problem! Earlier in the fall when talking with the recruiter, the inclusion of our children wasn't a problem, but Dave didn't specifically communicate that our children were with us to the project manager in California when we accepted the call to go there.

The plan was to have the whole family actively involved in witness and ministry. There was an option available, but it didn't meet the mission-oriented goal for the family. Dave and Kris went to the Lord in prayer. While praying and discussing the options, a rainbow appeared: the sign of the promises of God. We saw this as a merciful sign from the Lord of His presence and promise, and moved forward with leaving the project. As we tearfully drove off the building site, we knew nothing of the future or what the Lord had in store, but we were willing to trust and not despair. Our best-laid plans sometimes don't come to fruition, but God's plans always do.

Our family crossed the California-Arizona border early January 2003. There were no available building projects to work at through Laborers for Christ. We had found a building site in Utah through Workamper.com that used mobile laborers, but we weren't needed until March. They, too, were having troubles with building permits and the slowed process because of rain. A fuel stop in Blythe, AZ found us looking at the map; where should we go? While sitting on the over-pass for I-10 and trying to decide whether to go north or east, the family saw another rainbow in the sky. This was a comforting reassurance that God was with us and His promises still stand. We decided to trust the sign of the promise and head toward the rainbow in the northerly direction.

We found an affordable campground near Parker, AZ, and made that our home for the next four months, as we waited for the project in Utah to start. That building project never materialized for our family. Because of medical issues with our oldest daughter and the newest blessing of our seventh pregnancy, we felt it best to head back to Minnesota. We had made some friends in the campground, but none so special as that with an elderly man, named Mal. (Read our Mal story!)

The end of April 2003 found us back in Minnesota. David was searching for employment, and our daughter was getting necessary medical help, as we lived in our travel trailer at a campground in Ham Lake, MN. We did get a call from Laborers of Christ while at the campground in Ham Lake. They needed laborers to work at a building project up in Hermantown, MN. It was very comforting for us to know that there were building projects available that accepted a family desiring to do mission work. With the nearing birth of our baby, and the continuing medical needs for our oldest, we couldn't accept the call.

Our seventh child was born the last day of August, and we welcomed him to our family and camper home. Dave eventually procured a job at Seaplane Services in Lino Lakes, MN, in October 2003, working on small aircraft once again. We found a house with acreage on the outskirts of Braham, MN, in February 2004, to call home.

That is why we have chosen the name "Great Adventure" for our family's ministry. Because it has been a great adventure walking with the Lord, trusting in Him. The years of 2002-2004 have changed our lives. We have learned so much and have grown in our faith while learning to trust in the Lord for every day. This story just scratches the surface of our family of eight, then nine, living in a 33-foot travel trailer for almost a year and a half, including a Minnesota winter! Maybe someday we'll get that down in writing, but until then the "Great Adventure" continues on today. God bless you with joy in the journey!

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Photography by the Garms Family unless otherwise noted.

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