Dear whoever,

From my ever-so-naiive newlywed heart to yours, can I have your attention for just a few short minutes?  First, let me soothe your mind so that you might actually listen.  Yes, I realize that we got married young.  Yes, I am fully aware that we “have the rest of our lives to be married”.  Yes, I know that we have chosen a road less traveled. 

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s chat.

To the woman who I ran into at the store: It really hurt my soul when you reacted with utter disdain when you found out that we decided to get married young.  I saw the look on your face.  I saw the way your posture changed from being engaged to being disgusted.  I saw your arms lose their softness and cross in front of you.  I saw it.  And I didn’t say anything.  Instead I listened.

To the man who I ran into a few afternoons ago: My heart is saddened that you are so sure that our marriage is going to fail.  I grieve the fact that you are so sure that the things we find “cute” now are soon to turn to annoyances that make us grit our teeth.  Maybe you’re right, but why oh why is it necessary to forecast that in our marriage just 8 short weeks in?  These 8 short weeks have been bliss.  And we are so thankful.  And we are looking forward to another 8 weeks.  8 years.  8 decades.

To the couple who couldn’t help but offer advice: Thank you for your kindness.  Thank you for caring about our marriage enough to speak.  I am so glad that waiting 5 years to have kids worked well for you.  I really am.  But I am not convinced that it will “wreck our relationship” if that happens sooner.  My heart was saddened that you see children as such a burden that you must warn us against them.  Children-in God's time, no matter when that is-are a blessing.

To all of you: Marriage is a blessing.  It one of life’s greatest blessings.  It is a time to lean on the Lord for direction, wisdom, counsel and comfort.  It is a time to lean on each other and weather the storms of life together.  It is a time to rejoice together.  It is community like nothing else on this earth.  And we are blessed to get to take part in it at a young age, with Nathan still in school and trusting the Lord for our provision.  We wouldn’t have it any other way.

Can you do me a favor?  Never, ever condemn someone’s marriage before it really ever starts.  Instead, choose to bless it.  Choose to rejoice with others in their joys.  And then, when the tough times come (see, I know they will come), then and ONLY then, grieve and offer wise counsel.  We will gladly accept it.

We are not crazy…or maybe we are…but this is the path God has chosen for us.  And so we will walk in it.  Will you walk with us?  We sure would love the company.

Sincerely,

Mr. & Mrs. Burres

We're not in Kansas anymore!!!

This weekend is the only weekend in the next four weeks that I (Morgann) will be somewhere somewhat familiar!  Having just got back from Little Rock, AR and then preparing to spend the next few weekends in CA, I am looking forward to a visit to our families this weekend.  For the first time in 3 weeks, Nathan and I get to spend the weekend together!  Wahooo!

This weekend is YMI's 1st Annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon and I am so excited for it!  I have been working on this event for a few months now, so it's pretty cool to see it come to completion.

Nathan is busy, busy, busy with school and now jumping into recruiting season for BASE Sports Ministry.  As the Athletic Director for Washington State, he is in charge of recruiting all of the churches for summer sports camps.  Often times, that can be a long process of phone calls, paperwork and agreements, so he has to start nearly a year in advance.  We are excited to see how this year's new format is going to allow YMI to partner with more churches in ministry.  To see more about BASE Sports Ministry, a new division of YMI, click here.

Here is how you can pray with us:
1. Pray that the Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon goes well and that we have a good turn out.
2. Pray for Trisha, John, Garrett and Drew who are all YMI Staff traveling to speak at conferences this weekend.  Pray for safe travels and fruitful recruiting!
3. Pray for our missionaries all over the world - that they would be encouraged in the ministry they are doing and listening to God's leading for direction.

Here is how you can praise God with us:
1. Praise God that Nathan and I are able to spend the weekend together and see our families (!!!)
2. Praise God for our newest opportunity to serve in our home church here in Salem as the long-term Sunday School teachers for 5-7 grade!!
3. Praise God that conference season is almost half over and everyone has had safe travels and solid recruitment.  We are so thankful!

And just because I can...THIS BEAUTY was centered directly in front of our apartment on Wednesday!!!  One of our friends, Cassie Forster took the picture :)

2 BIG things!

1. YMI just announced the launch of BASE Sports Ministry!!!  This is the division of YMI that will be fully dedicated to training students to share the Gospel through sports!  Visit BASE's webpage at basesports.org

2. PLEASE PRAY for YMI's staff this weekend.  We are spread out all over the nation at different Awana conferences speaking about YMI and challenging Awana leaders to encourage their students to share their faith through training and missions.  Currently, I am in Little Rock, Arkasas getting ready to head out to the conference for the day.  Pray that we get students and churches to sign up for trainings and trips this ministry year.

Thank you for your prayers!  They are much appreciated.  And God always hears us when we pray.  What an encouragement!!!

TOMORROW...

Right now, YMI is entering into "conference season", which essentially means that everyone on staff is traveling on weekends for the next couple months.  Morgann will be traveling for work every single weekend between now and October 20.  Nathan gets a little more of a break in travel due to his school schedule, praise God!   

Fall and Winter seasons are times for recruiting and training.  Morgann is focusing on recruiting kids for trips in 2014 and making sure that volunteers are all lined up for training camps taking place in 2013.  Nathan is focused on recruiting churches for sports camps next summer.  This is a really fun season of seeing our hard work pay off as the numbers of kids and churches committed to ministry next year is rising.

But the BIG thing right now is that YMI is getting ready to reveal our biggest announcement EVER.  TOMORROW, stay tuned for a REALLY exciting announcement from YMI.  Mark your calendars:

We. Are. Stoked.

Welcome!

Hi friends and family (mostly family, I'm guessing).  We [read: Morgann] have started a blog for YOU!  With us being down in Salem and you being up in ___________, Facebook is great and everything, but we figured that you might want more than an occasional post about YMI Teams.  :)

So, we have created this space so that you can stay updated on what is going on in our life together.  We will strive to post pictures, new adventures, funny stories and do our best to include you in our life while we are making a life of our own.  

It's a weird season to be in.  It's weird because we are so sure that this is the Lord's will for us - and naturally for you too.  But it's weird to go from living at home, attending church together and planning a wedding to just moving and learning to establish our roots on our own.  

It is good.

It is very good.

So here, we find ourselves in Salem, loving being married.  It is the best thing.  I (Morgann) have dreamed about being a wife since the time I was little.  It has always been my dream.  And now I know why.  This is the best season of life so far.  I absolutely love being a wife to my incredible husband.  

So, here's to new adventures as a married couple!  Here's to funny stories, challenges from God's Word, and pictures that speak 1,000 words that I don't have time to write down.  Here's to a new season of life where grace reigns, people matter and God leads.  Here's to being together, to being family.  

Welcome aboard.  We are so glad to have you on this journey with us.

Love, 

N + M

A little update

Hey...remember that one time I started a ministry blog and then didn't post on it for almost 2 months. Yeah...sorry about that. I underestimated the busyness that would come with my first summer in ministry and, oh yes, getting married (small details). Haha. So, here's to a new beginning of blogging and a "Summer in Pictures" for your enjoyment!

 June/July

I got help train these college students to go out and do international ministry this summer.

Gene Hunt and I traveled to Arkansas to teach ministry at an Awana camp there.

I got to help launch our Peru 2013 team!  This summer I spent lots of time training so that I can help carry the launch/debrief load next summer.

This year, Brasil was colder than it has ever been when we sent a team.  This was a picture that we posted as a joke for our missionary in Brasil.  We all got a chuckle out of the start contrast.

As part of my training, I got to help debrief (really just observe) of the South Korea team. 

Summer in ministry is crazy.  I was busy learning new things, especially because this was my first summer with YMI and I got to help a lot with making sure that logistics worked out well.  I am really thankful that my first summer with YMI is under my belt and I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do in this next ministry year!

On a more personal, but certainly related note...I am no longer "Morgann Green", but "Morgann Burres".  On August 10, 2013, I got to marry my best friend, Nathan.  He too, is a missionary with YMI and works as the Athletic Director for the Northwest.  He runs sports camps all over the area and is helping to get B.A.S.E. up and running. (B.A.S.E. is the new sports ministry division of YMI.)

Here are some pictures from our wedding day:

We had a large wedding party and it was fantastic!!

So happy.

"I do."

We decided on sunset pictures after the reception and it was one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen in my entire life.

Well, as if the wedding wasn't enough change, 2 weeks after we got married (read: 4 days ago), we moved 250 miles south to Salem, OR.  Nathan has one more year left of school at Corban University in Salem.  He is studying Student and Family Ministries.  We are now all settled in and ready for school to start tomorrow.  While we are in Salem, we are both still working for YMI.  We have a 2-bedroom apartment where the spare bedroom functions as my office.  I am working from home and Skyping in to important meetings at the office as well as commuting up about once a month to check in.  We are thankful that the Lord has provided this flexibility with YMI.  We love that we can still be doing ministry while we are away and are looking forward to moving back at the end of the school year.  

Here are some pictures of our new home:

Family room

Kitchen

Master bedroom

Unit #310

My office space/Nathan's homework space

Kitchen table

So, now that things are more stable and we are all settled in, you can expect to hear from me on a much more frequent basis.  I should be posting close to once a week.  Right now is a "recharging" time in ministry.  The summer just ended and we are gearing up for next summer.  I have lots of traveling coming up for work to speak at conferences and we have some training camps just around the corner!  So exciting!

Our Last "Burres'-to-be" Newsletter... (!!!)

Burres Update 2