I (Ian) was saved at 17, but that's as far as Christianity went for me. I went to college to study for a newspaper career, and met Julie. She had been saved at age 7, and wanted to be a missionary doctor. We married in 1980. Julie had left college, and I started work at a newspaper.

It seemed as if I had my life worked out. But in 1983 God made His plans known to us. During a church invitation that had little to do with missions, I heard God speaking to my heart: I want you in missions. At the same time, Julie felt a renewal of her desire to serve God in missions.

Through almost 10 years of waiting, we never doubted His calling because He had spoken to both of us. Several mission boards turned us away. We had debts; we had no formal Bible training; we had children.

The wait was difficult at times, but God continued to work in our hearts. Psalm 37:4 became real to us: Delight thyself also in the Lord, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Missions became the desire of my heart as my relationship with God deepened.

Over time, the very next verse sank in: Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. We trusted God to do it. And He did.

Julie and I have four children:

• Jackie, our oldest, has a degree in creative writing from the University of Central Florida, and is writing part-time as a volunteer with New Tribes Mission. She also plays swing tenor for Rosie O'Grady's Highlanders bagpipe band.
• Meghan, our second-oldest, also graduated from UCF, with a degree in elementary education. She is in China to teach for a year. She plays bagpipes.
• Brynna is our second-youngest. She is a senior Seminole High School, where she has earned four varsity soccer letters; and plays on an Inter-United Soccer Spitfire premier team. She hopes to study nursing at the University of Central Florida next fall.
• Evan is our youngest, attends Crooms Academy of Information Technology, a magnet high school. He plays recreational soccer.