Masthead header

“You’re going out of town today?!” Charis said as I was dropping her off for her first day camp. “But what if you aren’t back to pick me up?!” “Charis, have I ever not picked you up?” “No.” she said. “Have I ever not been there for you?”  “No.” came her reply. “I will be tFaithGreaterThanFearhere today too.” I said a little frustrated at her irrational fear.

I felt the Lord gently remind me…”Rhonda, have I ever not provided for you? Have I ever not been there for you?” “Um, no.” I said in my spirit and smiled as I realized Charis’ worry was a reminder to me of my sometimes irrational fears and how the Lord is always there saying the same thing, “I AM FAITHFUL! I have never not been there for you.”

View full post »

  • Kandy - What a great analogy and vulnerable testimony. Thank you for sharing your struggle with all of us. Love you guys.ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks, Mrs. Kandy! We love you too.ReplyCancel

  • Jennifer Fresh - Rhonda and Clay,
    I can completely relate to your fears concerning your girls. When we felt called to become foster parents, our 3 biological children were a huge concern. How would having other children come into our home and live with us effect them? To make a long story short, God has shown me exactly what you already know. My 3 kids were made to be foster siblings. They have loved several other kiddos as if they were our own! It has been such a joy to see!

    We are praying for you, Clay and the girls! I know God has big plans for you and your ministry!

    Jennifer FreshReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks for sharing that, Jennifer! It’s awesome to hear of His faithfulness with you guys. Thank you so much for your prayers!ReplyCancel

  • Sabrina - bon courage! it’s going to be a wonderful journey with the Lord. I realise it’s not about where I am but it’s really about God’s presence with you wherever you go. (Exodus 33:15)

    Pray for the Lord’s clear guidance, peace, and joy be with your family forever!

    amenReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks, Sabrina! We agree completely.ReplyCancel

  • Melissa Hester - Wow! This post brought me to tears! SO MUCH TRUTH in here that resonates!! And seriously, Rhonda, you are an amazing writer!! Well said, friend. Love you and praying for you guys on this tremendous adventure!! xoxoReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks so much, Mel! We love you too.ReplyCancel

  • Meryl McGinley - So excited for you all. Praying for you. Loved your message! It inspires me to continue to walk out in faith. Looking forward to your future blogs.ReplyCancel

  • Januce - Love reading this-will again and again!ReplyCancel

Meet Mark Zheng. This is the name of a man you will hear about quite a bit over the coming months and years as he is my closest friend and will be working alongside us during our time in Taiwan. He actually lives in Taipei. We had the pleasure of having Mark stay with us for most of the month of April, which was awesome! Our girls had a great time getting to know “Uncle Mark” better, which is great as they’ll have someone locally that they’re really familiar with when we do make the move.

While Mark was here, he graciously sat down to share his story on camera and to answer some questions that will help give you a better feel for what things are like in Taiwan. Right now, we’re going to introduce him and his story. In the video I also share our very first conversation, which was a bit of a “Who’s on first” situation in two languages – classic!

Enjoy…

 

If you read my husband’s first blog post, he compared his journey to Bilbo Baggins in ‘The Hobbit.’ Well, where he relates to Bilbo, I relate to Kung Fu Panda :) …..seriously though.

I grew up as a pastor’s kid in South Carolina. I can remember in middle and high school feeling frustrated because I was always looked to as a “leader” and always being held to what seemed to be higher standards than other kids around me. I loved the Lord and had a relationship with Him even then. I distinctly remember a moment where I felt like the Lord was saying, “I wouldn’t have put you in this position if you couldn’t handle it.” So, I just embraced my life, looked to the Lord, and did what He asked me to do to the best that I could at that age.

My journey led me through college then overseas where I lived for a year in Poland and a year and a half in Taiwan. I remember trying to pin point what the Lord was “calling” me to in my future and I narrowed it to music or missions or both. I met Clay along the way and together we said forever to what the Lord had for us believing it would be back overseas one day.

A couple of years ago, the Lord showed us we were in the right place and our moving overseas would be coming soon. I kind of freaked out. :) I realized that in the few years leading up to this, there had been many insecurities, questions, and doubts that I had been believing about myself.  View full post »

  • Lisa - Tears! And laughter! Ice never seen the movie, but I kind of have to now.ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - :) Thanks for reading, Lisa!ReplyCancel

  • Diana - This is beautuful!!ReplyCancel

  • Mom - What blessing to read. I’m so proud to have you as my precious daughter. I thank God for your commitment to Him and the way He has used you in my life to draw me closer to Him. Love you and your sweet family!!!!ReplyCancel

  • rachel - needed these words this morning, friend!ReplyCancel

  • Terrie - Bilbo & dragon warrior,
    what a team! He doesn’t choose the qualified but qualify those whom He chose!!!
    Don’t think it’s delayed. The journey had begun. He has been preparing His vessels in every high and low. He honors your “yes”. The Lord WILL (that’s His desire, His heart, HIs zeal) fulfill His purpose for you!
    So proud of you!!!ReplyCancel

The Shire, from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” was a beautiful and considerably sleepy little place in the grand scheme of Middle Earth. It was here, after a visit from Gandalf and a group of dwarves, that the ordinary Bilbo Baggins was invited on a journey, a journey for which he initially felt drastically under-qualified, which even made him question the sanity of the one asking. After several initial declines, he decided to say “yes”, and his life changed forever.

"Each step along the journey he had to make a choice..."

“Each step along the journey he had to make a choice…”

He became part of a grander story, one that ultimately helped him realize the depths of his identity, find a greater sense of purpose, and restore things that had gone wrong in the lives of others and the world. Each step along the journey he had to make a choice, he could turn back as things got harder and what lay ahead was unclear and potentially scary, or he could continue on and see through to completion the quest for which he was born.

This story resonates deep within me…

View full post »

  • Smitty G - God bless y’all in this chapter of following Him!!ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thank you Mrs. Smitty! I’m hoping to talk with you soon and will hopefully be seeing Amy next week!ReplyCancel

  • Becky Keyes - I would love to get your newsletter/updates!ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Mrs. Becky, I can sign you up, but you can also sign up on the “Connect” link above by just inputting your e-mail address. :)
      We’re really excited that you’re signing up!ReplyCancel

  • Betsy - Nice website, am looking forward to your updates and blogs. Am praying for you and your family every day. I’m humbled and proud of you and your family and what God has called you to do.ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks Mom! We really appreciate that and are thankful for you!ReplyCancel

  • Bill Vining Jr. - Love to get your updates. Marsha and I will support you on a limited bases. We will let you know. God bless you, (He already has) in your journey. May His grace consume you.
    BillReplyCancel

  • Clay Danner - Thanks Bill! I would love to chat with you soon!ReplyCancel

  • Janice Fleming - Love you guys and am praying much for you. Glad you are committed to God’s call and work in your lives!ReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - Thanks so much for your support, Janice! We love you!ReplyCancel

  • Martha Womack - WOW! It was so good to find you again! I sat with your mom at the OBU Faculty/Staff banquet in August and she caught me up on you and your beautiful family! She accidently stopped by today, looking for another office, and gave me your website and told me about the link for your blog. It is so heart warming to hear how God has brought you into His grander story!!! Keep up the good work, and you will always be in my prayers.
    love, Mrs. MarthaReplyCancel

    • Clay Danner - So good to hear from you, Martha! Hopefully I can see you this summer when we’re back visiting in June.ReplyCancel