48 states, 1 faithful God

RV travel | family missions | faith-based journey | Malawi missions | trailer life | obedience and prayer | God's timing

After visiting 47 states, Illinois finally got its moment on our family travel map. We weren’t exactly in top adventuring form when we rolled in—exhausted from the road and still thawing out from the cold, dark night as we made our way from California back to Indiana.

 To top it off, a low-hanging tree knocked one of our roof vents off (add that to the growing list of trailer repairs we still need to do—along with the awning—before we head out to Boston this summer). 

Let’s just say, we were a little rusty.

Beauty in the Unexpected: Scott Air Force Base

Even in our weary state, Scott Air Force Base surprised us. It was absolutely beautiful.

Located near the St. Louis Arch, the base's campground is tucked among trees and sits alongside a peaceful pond. Even though our stop was brief, we soaked it in and proudly added our Illinois state sticker to the collection on our RV.

From Airports to Miracles: Welcoming Malawi Friends

Our second trip into Illinois brought more joy—and far less cold. This time, we drove up to O’Hare International Airport to welcome our dear friends from Malawi.

I’d braced myself for the worst—Chicago traffic, airport chaos, and customs delays—but God went before us, and everything flowed like clockwork. The moment we pulled up to the arrivals area, there they were—smiling and waving. 

What a picture of God’s grace.

From there, we hit Chick-fil-A (because of course we did) and headed home to Indiana.

Since then, life has been full and sweet. We've shared meals, laughed a lot, visited Sweetwater and Winona Lake, and even worshiped and shared the vision for Malawi missions at our church. 

We’ve gone shopping, visited the dentist (a wild story I’ll share another time—God made some amazing connections), danced at a wedding, and soaked up every minute together.

There’s still more to do before they head back, and I know saying goodbye won’t be easy.

Huge Answered Prayer: The Malawi Container is Arriving! 🎉

To everyone who’s been walking with us on this faith-based mission journey...

The container is set to arrive in Malawi this week!

It’s been a long road. Many of you have prayed with us through delay after delay. We don’t always understand the "why" behind the wait, but we trust this: 

God is sovereign, and His timing is perfect.

Relentless in Prayer, Bold in Obedience

At church this morning, I heard a something that hit home:

“Faith looks like being relentless in prayer, even when it seems like God isn’t answering.”

So many times I’ve asked: How do we know the difference between what seems like a good plan or God's plan?

The answer is simple but powerful: Prayer.

And when we want God to fight our battles? Obedience.

We’re called to show up and fight. That might sound scary, but it’s not—not when we know we’re fighting from victory, not for it.

 God has already won.

Learning to Fight in Faith

Fighting for Malawi has taught me so much.
It’s not just about sending supplies or planting crops—it’s about standing in the gap:

👉 Standing in the gap against poverty and disease
👉 Against red tape and corrupt systems
👉 Against stigmas, shame, and silence
👉 Against spiritual warfare and deep discouragement
👉 Against thirst, hunger, and lack
👉 Against comparison, perfectionism, and the trap of approval-seeking
👉 Against language barriers and cultural divides

In the process, I’ve been stretched in ways I didn’t expect.

• I’ve learned how to give and receive.
• How to walk humbly and trust God’s provision—even when it shows up out of the blue.
• I’ve met eternal brothers and sisters on both sides of the globe.
• And I’ve learned what it really means to fight—not with fists, but with faith, prayer, love, and presence.

Want to Get Involved?

If you’ve been following our story and feel a tug in your heart—whether it’s to support, pray, or join us in some way—we’d love to hear from you. Truly. 

The more the merrier.

God is doing something powerful in Malawi, and we’re honored to be a small part of it.

Thanks for coming along with us—from Illinois to Indiana, from airports to mission fields. 

Whether you’ve prayed, given, shared, or simply cheered us on, we are so thankful for you.

Let’s Keep Showing Up

Let’s keep showing up. Let’s keep fighting. Let’s keep trusting the One who writes better stories than we ever could.

“Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” — Isaiah 30:18

This verse has carried me through many seasons of uncertainty. It reminds me that God isn’t just willing to act on our behalf—He longs to. 

Even in the waiting, He’s working. 

Even when we don’t see it yet, His heart is full of compassion. 

What a comfort to know He rises up to meet us, not because we’ve earned it, but because He is good.

 Prayer

Lord, thank You for going before us—when we’re weary, when we’re unsure, when we’re waiting.

Help us trust Your timing, seek Your will through prayer, and obey even when it’s hard.

Make us warriors of faith who fight with love, compassion, and endurance.

You are the victor. We are Yours.

In Jesus name, Amen.

• I would love to hear your thoughts and experiences, feel free to leave a comment below. 

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Love,
Brooke @tinyurl.com/2f6yxxmb