Terima Kasih

Can I just tell you that a month is not long enough!?  We have run out of time again.  There are still friends we haven't contacted or connected with in the time we have been here in Texas.  The friends we have connected with... the time has been too fleeting.  An hour or two isn't adequate.  And can I just tell you that I stink at saying goodbye!?  I think to myself... I'm really going to say goodbye well to this person or that one!  I'm going to tell them how much they mean to me.  How much I cherish their friendship or the influence they've had on my life.  But in the end... I don't.  I think I would turn into a blubbering puddle of tears.  I just say goodbye... thank you.  That's all.  That is so inadequate for the influence so many of you have had on my life or the life of my family.

On one hand... it isn't really goodbye, right?  We'll be back soon enough.  What is three years?  Nothing... a drop in the bucket, really, especially when communication is so "easy" with facebook, e-mail, skype, texting, etc.  But it is goodbye... for no one knows what tomorrow holds.

So, as I give you a hug, say goodbye & thank you... please know that it means SO MUCH MORE than those simple words.  I am truly grateful beyond words.  I could say... terima kasih... which means "thank you" in Indonesian for that is the language we'll be speaking before we know it!

Whited Update - August 7, 2010

Howdy from Texas!!

Okay, most folks we know in Texas don’t even say Howdy… but it is fun to use the word when you have a chance! 

We are looking forward to visiting with our church family here in Arlington this month at Lamar!  It was hard to say goodbye in Tennessee, but it was great to say HELLO to Texas.  So far we have had four VERY packed days.  We know the rest of the month will be similar.  Please pray that we would get adequate rest during this time (especially the kids).  Even though only 4 days have gone by, we are already feeling a bit like we are going to run out of time & not see everyone we want to.  =0(  Our calendar is still quite open, but we are wondering how we’re going to fit everything in! 

NONETHELESS, if you would like to get together while we are here, PLEASE don’t hesitate to contact us via e-mail, facebook, or phone!!  (or you can comment below)  We can do breakfast, lunch, or dinner… we can just hang out without food involved.  We can come to your house, you can come to “our” house, we can meet at the park, we can meet at a restaurant… you call the shots!  We just want to have some quality time with you.

On a different note, yesterday we had our PASSPORT PHOTOS made!!  Yea!  Another step toward going overseas!  We are excited about getting everything completed so that we will be ready when God says the time is HERE! 

Everyone asks… WHEN ARE YOU LEAVING?

The short answer:  We don’t know.  Hopefully early 2011.

The long answer:  We have to complete our shots (Dec/Jan); we have to have all of our passports (we’re working on that); we have to have our visas (we can’t apply for these until we are almost completely funded); and finally… yes… we have to have all our set-up expenses raised.  The visas & the money will be the two MAJOR factors in determining our actual departure!  SO that means YOU can HELP determine when we leave!!  =0) 

We are excited to see some special gifts coming in to our special account!  That is VERY encouraging!!  Thank you!!  We are still a LONG way from reaching our quota set by Wycliffe.  Will you please pray about sending us?  We’d love to have you partner with us through your special one-time gifts!  Of course you can give more than once if you want to!  ;0)  Please see below for a link to give or an address to mail a tax-deductible check to or you can just call. 

Below are some specific praises & prayer requests!

Praises:

A wonderful time in Tennessee visiting family & friends & our church family at Grace Park!

Exciting opportunities to share at our church at Grace Park!  (Thank you, Stan Herod!)

Such a wonderful place to stay while in Tennessee!  (Thank you, First Baptist of Hendersonville!)

God’s provision in so many ways!  The beginning of our set-up expenses coming in!

Good health on our trip thus far!

God has provided housing for us in FL thanks to some VERY gracious folks!

Prayer Requests:

Please continue to pray for my Daddy’s healing & his comfort & his rest.  Pray he would gain weight!  http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/richardmcdonald

Please pray for a wonderful time of visiting & resting while in Texas!

Please pray that God would call those to send us and that they would say YES!

Please pray for good opportunities to share our ministry here in Texas.

Please continue to pray for good health during our travels.

Please continue to pray for God’s timing in ALL areas!

HOW TO GIVE:

Our MAJOR NEED is for our OVERSEAS SET-UP EXPENSES. 

TAX-DEDUCTIBLE GIFTS of ANY amount are welcome!  PLEASE send a note stating the following: 

for Dano & Melinda Whited Overseas Set-Up Acct # 71-215422

You can MAIL it to:  

Wycliffe Bible Translators

P.O. Box 628200

Orlando, FL 32862-8200

OR You can give ONLINE at:

http://www.wycliffe.org/Partnership.aspx?mid=7D4FD8

I think this works best using an Internet Explorer Browser (the blue “e”, as our kids call it). 

Be sure and enter our special account #71-215422 with the note “for Dano & Melinda Whited Overseas Set-Up” in the Comment Box.

OR you can give by phone using the info above.  Call 1-800-Wycliffe (1-800-992-5433)

Whenever you give a gift, you should receive a receipt.  Please look at your receipt to be sure it states that your gift went to us.  If you do not see our name on the receipt, please contact Wycliffe, and they will easily straighten it out. 

YOU CAN ALSO HELP by being our ADVOCATE.  Do you have a small group in which we can share our ministry?  Would you like to host a dessert in your home and invite your friends so we can share our ministry with them?  Would you like to introduce us to your church?  These are things we can do “in person” while we’re in your area, but these are also things you can do for us if we send you the materials.  Please contact us if you’d like to investigate this possibility.  We will be in TX in August and FL in September.

Serving Him,

Melinda for the Whited Gang

Dano, Melinda, Olivia, Derek, Emma, Wesley, & Virginia Whited  =0) 

To keep up with our family and ministry happenings

visit our blog or find us on facebook.

http://whited-underhiswings.blogspot.com/

Saying Goodbye is Hard to Do

I can't elaborate on this like I would like to... why?  because we're saying goodbye to Tennessee!

I don't have time to send out an e-mail update, but I thought I would ask those of you who read our blog to pray for safe travels.  We'll travel to Little Rock tomorrow (Monday) and spend the night with a Wycliffe Associate family (HUGE BLESSING).  Then on Tuesday we'll continue our journey to Arlington, Texas to the First Baptist Church of Arlington Mission House (another HUGE BLESSING)!  We'll be in Arlington until the end of August.

Our time here in Tennessee has been wonderful... but once again TOO short.  =0(  It is VERY hard to say goodbye.  Once again, we have not had the opportunity to see everyone we wanted to see.  That is one of the hardest things when we travel.  We hope you'll understand... and know that we'd LOVE to hear from you when we ARE in town to set something up.  =0)

Well, I need to get back to work so that I can finish packing... AND get some sleep!  I'm MUCH nicer that way!

Thanks for praying!!  =0)

Blessings,
Melinda  =0)

Speaking in White House, TN July 25, 2010

For all of you in the Middle Tennessee area or Kentucky, we wanted you to know that we will be very briefly sharing our ministry during the three morning services THIS SUNDAY at Grace Park (aka Tri-County Baptist for those of you who have been out of the area). The services are at 8 a.m. (little white chapel) 9 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. (main sanctuary). 

This is the church Dano & I met in during youth group so many years ago! It is located right off of I-65 exit 108 in White House, TN. (address below)

We are hoping to share our passion about the need for Bible Translation & the role aviation plays in that. We are also hoping to encourage folks to pray for us as we prepare to go overseas. Furthermore, we hope there are those who would want to come along side us to send us overseas... or at least pray about that possibility. 

If you are unable to make it for whatever reason, please pray for us... that we'd share what the Lord would have us to share. And please pray for those listening... that they'd be open to do whatever the Lord leads them to do. 

Please contact us if you have any questions!! =0)

Blessings,
Melinda =0) 

The Church at Grace Park
506 Hester Drive
White House, TN. 37188

http://www.graceparkchurch.net/index.html

Week One in Tennessee!

Well, one week ago we left our NC home to drive to our TN home.  We arrived safely... thank you for your prayers!!  Today when we were driving "home" from an outing, Wesley asked if we were going to our old home... and I had a hard time trying to figure out which house he meant since in the last month we have lived in three houses... our "old" house in SC, our "new" house in NC, or our "July" house here in TN!  It is times like that when I grieve the idea of my kids having ONE place they consider home.  BUT then I remember that God has called us to this.  Our family is no surprise to Him, and He is in control.  Besides... we should NEVER consider this Earth our home... we're just passing through trying to keep our eyes on things eternal.  Well, I didn't mean to go there... back to the update!

We have been extremely busy this past week with seeing family, speaking in a combined Sunday school class (THANK YOU!!), doing some ministry work (on the computer), making phone calls, getting settled... and all the other things that go along with running a household with 5 kiddos.  We still have lots of phone calls & e-mails to make & send, more family & friends to see, and I can already feel that time is running out!  =0(

As of now, we plan to leave here August 1st or 2nd.  This will put us arriving in Texas on August 2nd or 3rd (Olivia's birthday)... appropriate since she was BORN in Texas!

If you'd like to get together with us and say goodbye (here in TN or TX)... please contact us!  If you'd like to hear more about our ministry and how you can be involved... please contact us!  If you'd like for us to share our ministry with your small group on a Sunday or any other day of the week... please contact us!!

To contact us, you can comment here, message me on fb, or e-mail me.

Have a blessed day!

Melinda  =0)

July Newsletter - July 2010

Please find our newsletter below.  We hope you’ll be able to take a few minutes to read it.  

Please pray for us today & tomorrow.  We are planning to drive to Tennessee on Wednesday (me the Suburban… Dano a U-Haul).  Dano is getting a defective tire replaced today while I pack.  We have had a couple of VERY exhausting weeks, but we are praising the Lord for seeing us through!  Thank you for faithfully keeping us in your prayers!  Praise the Lord with us for the faithful friends who helped in many ways from babysitting, packing, cleaning, praying, and even a meal!  Thank you, friends! 

Serving Him,

Melinda for the gang

Dano, Melinda, Olivia, Derek, Emma, Wesley, & Virginia

The picture at top & the picture below go along with the story on page one of the newsletter:

PS  If you are viewing this on facebook and cannot view the newsletter, please click on over to our blog for easy viewing.  http://whited-underhiswings.blogspot.com/  You should be able to click on the pictures of our newsletters which will cause them to enlarge so that you can read them.  If you would like to receive a pdf of this file via e-mail, please contact us to be added to our e-mail list.  Thank you!  

New Plan

As of now... the new plan is to start driving to TN on Tuesday.  Hopefully we'll finish that day, too!

Please pray for protection over all of us.  Dano will be driving a U-Haul truck with mine & Dano's bedroom furniture that my sister will be babysitting (and enjoying) for us for the next 3 to 20 years!  Plus there will be a few other things in there that we're delivering to TN.  That means I'll be driving the Suburban with all the kiddos.  Hmmm... maybe occasionally another child or two can join him....  I'm sure he'd like the company.  hee hee  I haven't made a long drive like that in a long time.  We are both exhausted... so your prayers are PRICELESS!!

Please pray for us to finish up at the other house... we are ALMOST done.  We could not have completed it without the help of friends!!  Thank you to all of you out there who have helped & who have prayed!!

Blessings,
Melinda  =0)