Here's what to expect from the Steeres this year.
Baby Steere
Thank you to all who have sent gifts and hand-me-downs, and who have prayed for us during this time. And thank you in advance for grace as we stumble through the first few months of parenthood. We will probably err on the hermit side, but I promise we'll eventually come out again to socialize with you.
New Writing Projects
My favorite project thus far on the new blog has been writing a call and response piece on race and neighborliness with my dear friend Monica Prince. Check out "Dear Black Neighbor" and "Dear White Neighbor," and you'll see why it was such a difficult, but rewarding endeavor.
I also continue to write for Awaken Magazine, with recent articles on resisting the urge to nest and how to thrive in dark corners of the world.
New Music Projects
Below is a fan-favorite from the album, "Merry Christmas, I Guess." A quirky original piece by Sam, sure to warm even the grinchiest of hearts.
In 2015, Sam hopes to work on an album of hymns, both new and old. He is also busy recording YouTube videos and building a Patreon portfolio. If you would like to follow/support his music, Patreon acts as a virtual "tip jar" for Sam and will give you access to his latest creations.
Moving to France
So, come September, we'll be leading the One Thing DTS, acting as Mom and Dad to our baby and whoever else God calls to join the school. We are humbled and excited to step into this pastoral role, finally co-leading in the kind of egalitarian setting we've been longing for since we began mission work. We are expectant for all the ways God plans to use each of our giftings—even Baby Steere's!
Now, we are crunching the numbers and looking over all our paperwork, trying to nail down a monthly fundraising goal and get ourselves ready for the big move. We'll keep you updated on that process, though we are excited to say that we don't expect our daily expenses to be that much more than they were in Kosovo (about $1300 per month). We will have a higher start-up cost, as we'll be furnishing an apartment and shipping some items from the States to cut down on travel baggage (because 1 baby + 4 suitcases + 1 tiny European train is not a happy equation). But, again, we'll keep you posted once we have a better estimate. For now, we encourage all our supporters to listen to the voice of God. If he leads you to give to our ministry, great. If he leads you to invest your resources elsewhere, that's great too. He has always given us our daily bread, and we trust him for all our needs this coming year, too.
Please keep us in your prayers: for a good birth, a happy transition into parenthood, continued creativity, the wisdom to lead well in France, daily provision, and God's faithful presence in all these areas.
We are so thankful for each one of you, and we pray that you have an abundant year!
Love,
Liz, Sam, and Baby Steere