The Sailors Family

Well,

December was a very busy but blessed month.  We enjoyed celebrating the birth of our King and had a great time with family and friends.  The NWA Christmas party was a blast!! Jackson was a delight during Christmas.  He is 3 now and really was excited.  He is so precious to us such an awesome gift!  December also found us getting ready for the long awaited addition and remodel of our home.  As many of you know, God had us sell our home in Shelby and move to Boiling Springs near Gardner-Webb to be closer to the majority of people we are mentoring.  Please be praying for us as we do this addition and for Kryssy and Jackson as things are a little hectic at the house.

Also in December, our computer crashed!   Ouch!  That has been a mess!  January is usually a down month for us.  We generally take some of January as a sabbatical but due to the construction it has been busy.  Kryssy went to Florida to visit with her family for a week and a half and I stayed back and worked.

The pregnancy is going well.  The only slight concern has been Kryssy’s pulse being elevated and her lack of ability to sleep.  It was elevated as well with Jackson.  Please continue to pray for the pregnancy and once again, that I can get the addition done before the baby gets here!

2010 is going to be awesome for NWA.  We will continue our discipling and mentoring but also expand our family ministry with our first family oriented small group!  Like our Band of Brother’s and Band of Sister’s ministry this will be a focused time for the whole family to experience God in an intimate setting.  We are excited about this.  We will also continue our family mission trips (would love for you to participate in that if you like), “Fatherhood Training” and Father Son/Daughter events.  There is a lot more going on as well from Adventure Trips to Nicaragua to Boot Camps… for all of the scoop, take a look at the NWA website in the next several months.

As I mentioned in the December letter, last year our donations were several thousand dollars less than the previous years.  This has been a hardship financially for our ministry.  Please join us in praying for God’s provision here!  God always comes through.  TO GIVE RIGHT NOW GO HERE

Finally, I will be “officially” ordained in 2010.  I have felt God’s anointing and have felt ordained for years but figured it was time to do so in the eyes of the law and before my piers.  I have felt very led into this and have prayed through it extensively.  I am excited about this ordination and ask for your prays of support in this as we move forward!

Once again, thank you for your love, encouragement and support!

Loving Strong,
Greg, Kryssy and Jackson Sailors
greg@newwildernessadventures.com

Tags: Busy, Where have we been

Merry Christmas to all!

And you will have joy and gladness and many will rejoice at His birth.  Luke 1:14

We pray you have an amazing and blessed Christmas time; celebrating the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, allowing Jesus to bring you and your family “joy and gladness” in this Christmas season!

Merry Christmas and love today and in the New Year!

Greg, Kryssy and Jackson

Tags: Christmas

About a month ago, I bought some Old Spice Aftershave.  I needed to feel the burn!  It had been a very long time since I have had any.  Years and years in fact.   When I bought it, Kryssy was not too terribly keen on the idea.  She said I’d smell like her dad (no offense Wayne, I think you smell good, ahem!)  But I bought it.

This morning after shaving, I put some on and “bam!”  Yes, the good old burn.  Made me feel a bit more like a man.  Isn’t that funny?  But, this post is not about the masculine journey as much as love.

A memory came back to me.  I was instantly transporter back to my father’s arms when I was a child.  Remembering the way he hugged me.  It was an awesome, emotional and humbling experience.  I had forgotten the way it felt.  How safe and how good!  I just dwelt there for a few minutes.  Then Jackson burst through the door and saw me weepy.  He said, “Are you ok Dada?”  I got to scoop him up and hug him close!  Jack patted me on the back and said, “It’s ok Dada!”

Thanks dad!  I miss you and love you more than ever!  I praise God for engerneering that experience!

Tags: Dad, Old Spice

So, as you know, Kryssy and I recently moved.  The other day a very curious thing happend.  We opened a box that had been sealed in 1999ish.  In that box we found various things, mostly some of Kryssy’s stuff from College but the most interesting thing was a locked safety deposit type box that had a thick Master Lock on it.

We had a good time trying to think what might be in there.  From love notes, to fortune of course.  Well, it took a few days to find time to get into it and it really was not that important to us.  I have some bolt cutters in my truck (because who knows when you might need them right??) anyhow, I finally got the bolt cutters last night and below is what we found.  Take a look at the pictures:

So, no big treasure but it sure was a lot of fun to dream.  As you can see, it was mostly Kryssy’s stuff.  From late high school to college.  Check books, all types of recepts, gift certificates not used, pictures, a Polish recipe from an old boy friend etc..

This box though reminded me of a deep seated truth in me that I have gotten away from thinking about on a daily basis.  That being:

Psalms 40:1: “I waited patiently for the LORD;  he turned to me and heard my cry.”

The bottom line being Patience/Waiting on God.. We didn’t rush to open this box with some false hope.  We waited until we had time and had a lot of fun with it.  We didn’t find some cool treasure, but God used this to remind us of truth.

One more scripture from Isaiah 40:31: “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

This all speaks to hope and trust that the Lord will come through.  We could go a lot more on all of this, but for now lets stop and focus on waiting on the Lord.  Get some time, get quiet before the Lord and listen.  What does He have you waiting on?

Tags: Mystery, Treasure, Waiting on God

I was watching 18 Kids and Counting one day and saw the mom making homemade laundry detergent. I saw her make a 5 gallon bucket worth and said it lasted them 2 months. Of course, that is for 20 people. She said it cost them $3 to make it. I did some figuring and figured that a 5 gallon bucket would last the 3 of us like 10 months.

I have not made the 5 gallon bucket. Here is the recipe for it. Go Here. It just seemed like too much work and I found a dry version that I liked too. The dry version cost around $3-$8 (depending on the type of soap.. ie, smelly or organic soaps cost more although I would not recommend them) and makes about 90-100 loads for us. The other thing is that it is environmentally friendly.

Here is the recipe:

Equal Parts: Borax, Washing Soda, Baking Soda (I make 4 cups of each)

Grated Washing Soap (Fels-Naptha, Ivory soap, Sunlight bar soap, Kirk’s Hardwater Castile, Octagon by Colgate and Zote)

In one tupperware container, mix together the Borax, Washing Soda and Baking Soda. Take the washing soap and grate it up in another container. When using it: use 1/8 of the mixture and 1/8 of graded soap. I ran the water a little before putting the clothes in and put the mixture in and swish it around then put the clothes in. It works really great. Better than anything I’ve ever bought.

After finding that the laundry mixture worked well, I started talking to other folks about it as well as looking for other home cleaners and remedies.

Shower Cleaner: spray rubbing alcohol on shower and sprinkle baking soda over the surface. Use a stiff rubbing brush but you don’t have to rub hard… It works so good. It’s amazing.

Vinegar seems to do everything. Here are some uses.

I have used it for several things but one thing it works really well for and is much cheaper is a substitue for Jet Dry in your dishwasher. It works great. Just fill up your jet dry container in the dishwasher. You glasses will be spot free.

I always love to find ways to save money for our family, have a low impact on our environment and have a better product. These were some ways and I am sure there are plenty more. Maybe you have something to add.. I would love to know and when I get up the courage to try the liquid laundry detergent, I will let you know how it went.

Tags: Do It Yourself, Homemade Household Cleaners

Below is a message recorded by Pastor/Missionary and NWA Friend, Manolo Lozada from Nicaragua. He was recently in Shelby visiting for a week raising support for his mission in Nicaragua. He is always such a blessing and an encouragement. Take a look at his video:

Tags: Missions, New Wilderness Adventures, Nicaragua

Would you be willing to support:

• The discipleship and mentoring of young men and women?

• The counseling and guiding of men going through sexual addictions and then the restoration of their lives and families?

• The training of pastors in Nicaragua as well as the training of men as Christian guides to lead others to Christ, disciple them and help them find their place in God’s Kingdom?

IF YOU WOULD THEN READ ON!

YES LINK

Greg is currently working for and employed by a ministry called New Wilderness Adventures as a missionary.

Through NWA Greg and Kryssy have had the opportunity to go on the international and home mission field to disciple, train pastors, mentor young men and women, and lead families of all ages into serving God through missions. Greg has also had the opportunity to go into 2 Texas Prisons where NWA gets to lead services for over 400 men and women. Two units; Beto Unit in Tennessee Colony and Hobby Women’s Unit in Marlin. Barry Strickland, our missionary in Dallas TX has the privilege of going weekly. Greg also leads NWA’s Guide Network initiative where we are training Guides. Through this, Greg daily walks with men who want to disciple and mentor other men. In essence, Greg gets to mentor the mentors. Moreover, Greg daily walks with men going through sexual addictions. Daily counseling and leading them in the restoration through Christ’s work of healing. Lastly, Greg and Kryssy walks with men, women and their families; simply being their for them in the “fox holes of life,” day by day!

NWA exists to build the family by introducing men to Christ, the ultimate man, and to introduce them to a life of adventure as His followers. NWA believes that God intends men to be strong and noble. We seek to reach men in all walks of life through adventure, marketplace ministry, discipleship, and counseling.

Here’s what Mark Folk, founder and director of NWA says: “I am passionate about inspiring men toward a lifestyle of ongoing transformational intimacy with Christ, so that they might fulfill- both in life and personal ministry- all that God intends for them as His image bearers.”

We have already sponsored ourselves and are participating as Golfers in this event. All we need you to do is to sponsor (Greg or Kryssy) with either a pledge to be paid after the event, or you can sponsor one of us with a secure on-line gift by clicking on the “yes” link below.

We will be golfing 18 holes and need sponsors for each hole at the level of your choosing. We are hoping for $100.00 per hole but please feel free to give whatever you feel God telling you to. We have sponsored ourselves for hole #1 at that level, and are asking you to sponsor one of us for one of the remaining 17 holes. All gifts are appreciated! Last year, some folks gave a few dollars a hole and we had a few that were able to give $500 or more on pledges. Once again, all gifts are so appreciated.

We really are thankful for your willingness to stand with us in our passionate support and investment in the ministry of New Wilderness Adventures.

Please respond by clicking on the YES link below. Your gift is tax deductible. You will receive a receipt for that purpose as well as a “Thank-You” note and report from me on how the day went.

So, can you help us with the rescue and discipleship of men and their families by sponsoring one of us in this golf tournament?

It is NWA’s ONLY MAJOR FUNDRAISER FOR 2009!

Thank you so much, this really means a lot to US!
WITH LOVE, Greg & Kryssy Sailors

PS.. corporate sponsorships are also available. A corporate sponsor will have their name on a hole, in the paper and on the T-Shirt! For more information on that, email me.

Click here to learn more about New Wilderness Adventures

YES LINK

Put in Greg or Kryssy’s name on who you are sponsoring or you can email us and we will manually log you in at:

Greg: greg@newwildernessadventures.com

or

Kryssy: kryssy@newwildernessadventures.com

and lastly, you can give directly by making a check out to:

New Wilderness Adventures (memo Greg or Kryssy) and send to:

1050 Sam Lattimore Road

Shelby, NC 28152

Tags: Fundraiser, Love, New Wilderness Adventures

On Labor Day, Kryssy and I were on our way to meet our friends Ben and Julie from Ohio. They were in NC looking at the possibility of moving to Raleigh/jobs etc… We had a wonderful visit with them. On the way to see them I got a quick call from Walter, one of NWA’s board members and a good friend. He asked me to pray for the family, that they were taking Kieran (his grandson) to the hospital. He had some kind of injury to his leg after being taken out of his car seat. We had no clue what would ensue. Take a look at the video here!

So, that initial prayer for Kieran’s health and healing turned into a prayer about restoration and justice for him and his sister Aubrie. NWA went to bat. You went to bat for this family. Praying against the enemy’s work of division, deceit, lies and intimidation. Pray for health, life and liberty. All of this is occurring right before and while I was in Texas. A lot happened during this time. Both kids were taken into foster care, the Arnold’s got a great lawyer and God began to really bring an awesome team together to get these kids back and to clear them of the trumped up abuse charge that was ridiculous. So many inconsistencies for sure.

So, just prior to going into court, Walter Arnold showed us this scripture from Romans that God had led him to that morning:

Even if everyone else is a liar, God is true. As the Scriptures say about him, “You will be proved right in what you say, and you will win your case in court.”

Tuesday the 22 of Sept, Barry Strickland and I went to the court hearing in Dallas TX. We went to pray in the room and over the family. There were several other people there as well praying and all of you. Click here to see the video below for that report!

Praise God.. Justice prevailed. Scripture is good because God is good!

The family was resolute that God was going to come through in this case. Their faith was awesome!

This was a very tough situation and there are still some things that have to be resolved, but it is awesome to see how God came through for this family and to see the power of prayer.

Here in NC, and around the US, we all know how tough a job the CPS (child protective services) worker has. It seems it is feast or famine with them. In NC we have a 2 year old who was killed because it seemed they didn’t do enough. And now, as we see with our friends in Lancaster TX, they go overboard. Too much. It’s a tough job and line to walk. Would you join me in praying for the Arnold family as this continues and against abuse of any type and praying for healing, socially, emotionally, spiritually, mentally, and physically for those children and for anyone around you that God prompts you to pray for. Pray also that this event in TX is a catalyst for everyone involved to see the love and provision of God in their lives. It certainly has effected me greatly and made me look inwardly at God’s care and protection and prompted me to be more mindful of my own children and their wellbeing!

Tags: Abuse, Care, Family, Fox 4 News Dallas, Justice, Richard Ray