Sandcastles

Have you ever tried to make a sandcastle birthday cake? 

I tried to make a sandcastle cake for Courtney’s birthday party many years ago.  The problem was it acted like a sandcastle during the building process…it kept crumbling and breaking apart.  So, after using many toothpicks to try and hold it in place and freezing the cake so it could stay in one piece it was finally ready for the birthday party. The cake held together and Courtney was able to "make a wish" blowing out the candles on her cake.  But no one knew it was literally crumbling from the inside out.  Unfortunately many homes and families are like this today.  On the outside they look good but they too are crumbling from within.  

We saw evidence of this when we were teachers and it's how God got our attention and called us to join staff with FamilyLife.  As missionaries we've had the opportunity to see firsthand what happens when couples apply God's blueprints to their marriage and family.  

Here is just one example from a Weekend to Remember Event:

"This conference has helped to open my eyes in many areas.  I not only realized how much I was doing wrong, but also realized how blind I've been.  I opened my eyes and prayed for the first time.  I accepted the Lord into my heart and into my life.  We went from talking about divorce already to actually sitting and talking for hours on end!!  I strongly believe that we are going to thrive!"

Lives impacted, legacies changed and the gospel shared...that's what we are passionate about.  Would you like to be a part of helping families have a firm foundation that can weather the storms?  We'd love for you to consider joining us as partners in ministry! 

You can join us as prayer partners right now, and if you are interested in finding out about joining us as financial partners we would love to share more with you. Or you can also go online and give an end of year tax deductible donation on our Cru giving site https://give.cru.org/0467491

Blessings! 

Tom & Laura

A Time to Rebuild

Do you have things around your house that need repair?  

After 7 years of living in Wenatchee there are some things in our home that noticeably need some attention.  But more importantly after being on missionary staff with Cru for close to 20 years we are seeing it is time to rebuild our team.  We’ve had partners in ministry that have been with us since we started raising support back in 1997 and we’ve had others come and go over the years.  Over the past few years we’ve seen our support level drop but we’ve “made do” with the “leaky faucet” of declining support.  But now it’s time to give attention to raising support so our whole focus can return to ministry once we are back where we need to be financially. 

So beginning January, we will be out raising support full time.  It’s the chance to retell our story, how God called us to walk with Him in what He is doing in lives and families through FamilyLife.  It’s a time to trust God in a new way, as we daily rely upon Him to meet our needs and raise up people who have a passion to make an impact in lives and families for God’s glory.  It’s also a time for our hearts to be renewed and refined in this process.  

Would you pray for us as we begin this process of rebuilding our team?  Would you prayerfully consider hearing our story and consider joining our support team to see how You can make an impact for eternity in lives and families?  Or perhaps you would consider giving an end of year tax deductible donation to help us start out the year stronger and equipped to begin the rebuilding process? 

You can mail a donation to our home address or give online at https://give.cru.org/0467491

Thank you! 

Merry Christmas

One thing I have loved over the years is sending out a Christmas picture with our family.  As the years have gone by and as life has gotten a little more complicated, we've had to resort to snapshots to get all of us on one card!  

We do pray that you've had a blessed Christmas celebrating the birth of our Savior and are looking forward to what the New Year brings! 

Blessings from our family to you! 

A New Addition

We didn't lose a daughter, we gain a son-in-law! 

Early in December Courtney married Juan Jose in Peru.  

They got married at the municipality and will have something special back here once they return to the states.  

This is a picture of them after the ceremony with their niece. 

A celebration with family and friends 

 Here's a picture of Courtney and Juan's parents (and their niece too).  

Courtney is wearing a traditional Peruvian wedding dress in this photo that was rented for the day.  (She said it was very heavy!) 

 Courtney sent me this photo too.  This is the location where they are going to build their house.  Since Juan is a teacher and school ends for the year in December, he is planning on spending all of January building the house and hopes to have it all built by the end of the month!  

Clifton Family 2016 Update

Guatemala Bound

The Three Amigos will be heading to Guatemala June 12-21

We are so excited to be able to go and share the love of Jesus to the children in Palencia, 

at the medical clinics,

delivering water filters,

in children's ministry,

and in praying 

for the beautiful people of Guatemala.  

Stayed tuned for how you can be praying for us.  

Boise Weekend to Remember

Last weekend Tom was able to help out at the Boise Weekend to Remember.  It such an amazing thing to read about the work that God did in the lives of people throughout the weekend.  Here is just a glimpse of the life change stories from the weekend...

Boise Top Ten Comments

February 27- March1

Attendance: 645

Those indicating decisions 

Salvation: 63

Holy Spirit: 150

Recommit Family: 117

Coming in we were fighting not speaking at all night one. By break of second day we went to our car, cried and asked for forgiveness, held each other and made a commitment to start fresh and do everything this conference was telling us. We are very appreciative for this fresh new start. 

Wife, married 10 years

The event has given my fiancé and I things that you may not think of before.  Also it has given us tools to strengthen our marriage.

Engaged man

It helped my fiancé and I to mentally prepare for marriage and to learn how to fireproof it before it begins.

Engaged woman

We are currently legally divorced since December but came to conference to see if we can work on getting back together. This conference has shown us 16 tools to at least begin this process again. Thank you. 

Wife, divorced

Although we had a very good relationship prior to our coming to this weekend, it did help us open up and be honest about an area of weakness we had not talked about before and that was our sex life. 

Wife, married more than 19 years

I was not happy at all to come. My attitude was one of giving up. My husband pointed that out to me. We had a huge fight after the session and then again on the way Saturday morning. I even was looking for ways out of the building. I took the dare of Bruce to write a prayer request. Filled with rage and bitterness toward my husband practically set the pen and paper on fire. Seemed like right after I put the request in the box God began to speak to me and showed me things and began to answer the questions that I had specifically about me and my choices that I was or wasn’t making in our marriage.  He changed my heart and mind. I confessed and my husband started to see the wrongs that he was doing. We are looking for a marriage mentor to train us to continue God’s path for marriage.  I stand amazed at how big God is. 

Wife, married less than 5 years

I have been struggling in my marriage relationship for about 4 years now. Nothing said at the FL weekend to remember was really new to me, however, it affirmed and clarified the truths that I had come to know through a very long and painful process. I wish I had the opportunity to attend years ago, to receive these truths all together without all of the painful struggle and study I have endured. Secondly, for the last 4 years I felt alone in my quest and struggle to improve my marriage. I see the light that has clicked on in my spouse. She has now committed to join me in the 100/100 plan. And now, for the first time in my 11+ years of marriage I feel that I have a partner. That I am not alone in this world. Thank you. 

Husband

I had many different feelings about this trip.  Part of me was excited and the other part was nervous because of the reality check we were about to get. I never thought I would ever think about divorce. Recently it was all I could think about. I wanted to give up. I went and talked to a friend. She recommended this trip and went on to tell me how much it saved their marriage. I can’t explain how thankful I am that we pursued this. We came in this with hopes, ears open, and hearts ready. I can officially say it saved us. I’ve learned so much. My spouse is not my enemy now. I love this man. Now I know I won’t give up.  I will keep pushing! Thank you!

Wife

Great focused opportunity to reevaluate where our marriage is.  So thankful for passionate openness, transparency, and wisdom for men dealing with correct physical temptations.

Husband, married 6 years (military)

[My wife] and I are very busy with various ministries and this weekend gave us the opportunity to reconnect, relax, and enjoy on another without the stress of outside pressures.

Pastor, married 10 years