Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Added Contacts

Gwynnie's first fish!


"Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up!" (Psalm 68.19) We have so much for which to thank the Lord. "[He] crowns [us] with steadfast love & mercy." (Psa 103.4)

1) The Lord has greatly increased our contacts, and we have planned several trips in the next month which will allow us to meet many more new people.
2) We've presented at some churches, and received some gifts from them.
3) Just yesterday, I met a pastor in Illinois. Now he wants us to come to his church. He also promised to arrange for us to meet half a dozen other pastors he knows. Praise the Lord!
4) I meet with another pastor close by on Friday.
5) At a local homeschool conference, we were purchasing curriculum for 4 years (the length of our first term in Suriname). The company from which we get math books gave us 50% off for being missionaries. That saved us substancially!
6) The homeschool conference was also a great encouragement to us. And we learned, in the seminars, some very practical helps for overcoming the particular reading difficulties we face with one of our kids.
7) We're learning some management skills to help us make better use of our time, arrange more of a routine for the kids, and get more accomplished. We need these skills both now, and when we are in Suriname.

Immediate Prayer Needs: Please thank the Lord with us for his manifold blessings upon us. Pray for our upcoming trips, that the Lord would provide all we need to go to Suriname, and that He would lead us to meet many more believers & tell them about the ministry.

Sunday, March 4, 2012

The Lord's Kindness

Jon, Lisa & Rachel with us in Alabama.
God has so richly blessed us in our travels. I was given the opportunity, in Alabama, to preach & present the work in Suriname. The people there are old friends, but Bro. Jon & his family are new friends. They were very gracious, and received us warmly. They have been praying for us for some time, and were very excited after hearing the specifics of the work ahead of us. Jon & his family served for several years in Alaska, and encouraged us. When I preached on Titus 3, he was greatly affirmed in the work he has done.
We also met with the elders of another church there. They were very encouraging to us, and very interested in the ministry. They will be considering how they might help.
Hanna & Parker.
Gwynnie had a hard time at first, but quickly got the hang of the trampoline.
Look out, Bad Guys!
The kids had a wonderful time playing with our friends, and their children, Hanna & Jonathan. Chad & Jyoti have greatly helped us in many ways, including watching our kids for a whole week last September--no easy task. God is so good to give us such loving friends!

Then we traveled to Mississippi, and were warmly received at the prayer meeting for revival. Afterward, we traveled home, washed clothes, repacked them, and left for Kirksville, MO.

On long trips like these, Erin works hard to teach our kids in the car. This is a challenge, but we're able to get our school hours in for the week. Sometimes we even get to stop for something special. For example, on our way home from Mississippi, we stopped at an archaeological museum in Arkansas, where a local doctor/amateur archaeologist discovered an old Native American settlement right there on his farm.

We were greatly blessed by the conference in Kirksville. Bro. Ryan Fullerton of Immanuel Baptist Church in Louisville, KY spoke on Biblical Manhood & Womanhood, including teaching on singleness, marriage & parenting. It was very helpful; I highly recommend the messages. You can hear them at www.lakeroadchapel.org. It was also our privilege to make some new friends, and tell people about the ministry in Suriname.

Finally, we came home for the Midwest Founders' Conference in St. Peters. Sis. Nancy was kind enough to watch our children for two days. Words cannot express how warmly they received us! They graciously gave us some time to address the whole group, and tell them about the ministry in Suriname. There was much interest, and we made many new contacts. Praise the Lord!

Now, we get a little breather before hitting the road again.

Immediate Prayer Needs: Pray that God would grant us more opportunities to speak to pastors & churches, so that we could fill our schedules for March, April & May.

Pray that God would lay it on the hearts of his people to partner with us, and support this ministry. And pray that he would provide so that we can move this September.

Pray that God would use us to be a blessing & encouragement to his people as we travel around. And for safe travel & his upholding our vehicle.

Pray for God's continued guidance, grace & spiritual growth as we prepare to go.

Pray for the people in Suriname, and for those already serving there.

Thank you so much! Joy to you from Christ, as you joyfully serve Christ.