Busy Busy

Miles sister's memorial service is this Friday April 29th @ 3PM @ Good Shepherd Church in Boring Oregon.  We covet your prayers for all the grieving family members that will be there, especially those that have turned from their first love!

We are looking for "entertainment" for our Banquet / Auction on June 11th.  We are also in need of donations for anything of value that could be auctioned off.  The meal will be catered, and the tickets will be $20.  If you want to help plan, set up, take down, or in any other way be a part of this exciting evening let us know.  Contact us @ 360 314-6889.
We are currently @ 58% of our "total need" for going.  This is very exciting for us as we watch God work in our lives and the lives of our family and friends. By the time we are done with the auction, June 11 we need to be fully funded or really close. Visas have to be ordered before we can enter the country and are only good for 90 days. We are praying that God will do a miracle and fund His mission by then. We cannot do it, but God can! :)
To Him be the glory and praise!

Sadness

We are all very sad that Miles sister passed away last Monday the 11th of April.  We had been visiting our children in San Diego when we heard the news.  I had just dropped Miles off at the airport and was on my way to Yuma AZ. to visit my parents.  The family is doing well even thoug it was a shock.  There will be a memorial service for her on april 29th.  Reminder to us all to stay plugged in to the only true source of strength,
"Jesus Christ".  When life gets too hard to stand, Get on your knees!

On a lighter side, my father is doing much better and is working hard at getting out of the nursing home in Yuma so that he can go home.  He looks much better than he did while visiting here at Christmas.  Our oldest son Josh spoke at a Calvary Chapel church in Alpine, CA while we were there on the topic of, "God's view of Sex and Abortion".  He did a great job.  God is doing a great work in his life.  His daughter Ainsley is at that cute stage where she is smiling in response to talking to her.  We had a great time getting to know her.  Her mother Allyl is doing fine after the birth and is looking forward to getting back to work.  We are very proud of both of them.  We also visited our youngest Trent and his wife Kristie.  They are in the procwss of a transition in their lives as Trent pursues his Masters degree.
Our praise is that we are at 54% of our total need for leaving.  If God has laid giving toward His ministry with us on your heart,  may I be so bold as to say that this would be a good time.The last half they say is the hardest to bring in.  To meet our August first leave date we have to have raised 100% of our need prior to that. 
Work Visas have to be applied for and are only good for 90 days once granted.  If we don't make the deadline then we have to start the visa process over again and re-schedule our training to not be able to leave until after the January 2012 training.  We have our passports, Visas allow us to come into a specific country and have to applied for individually.

God is in control of our leave date but we are moving forard trusting that August 1 will happen.  We cannot do it alone.  We have asked everyone that we know.  Would you be willing to invite a small group of friends into your home for a dessert or dinner that we could share with?  It is only through more folks hearing about what God is planning for us that we will be successful.  Romans 10: 14 says: ¹⁴ How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent?

Many have asked me, "How can you go across the world to help when we have so many needs right here in our own backyards?" My answer to them is the same.  Not all are called to "The uttermost parts of the earth.  Our call to MAF has been clear.  Matthew 28:19-20 ¹⁹ Go therefore^[a] and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We pray that those of you that have felt the Holy Spirit leading them to support us will take that step now so that plans can be completed.  To God be the glory for rasing the support so far and completing it in His time.

April fools

• Yes, we are fools for the Lord!  so many people ask if we know that we are in a down economy!  Of course I know that!  We are in it right along with everyone else.  I haven't worked regularly for over 2 years but God has met our NEEDS!  What I want to know is, "Do you know my Lord?"  If we are indeed called, then He will fund His mission.  He knows who we need to talk to, all we have to do is be  obedient. 
• April Fools day found me taking some collecitbles down to O'gallerie for sale. I couldn't believe everything that was considered a "Collectible" that didn't sell in our garage sale. I had lunch with a friend and then coffee with a long time friend who has been a missionary in Spain for the last 30 or so years. They are retiring and home for the duration 'til Jesus comes. They will be volunteering at the church where we met them. She had some great tips for us on overseas travel!
• As I sit here praying and planning today I am awed at how quickly our leave time is approaching. I am scheduling our trip to San Diego to raise support, visit our children and newest grandchild, visit my parents in Yuma, AZ. Every Saturday in April is now filled, and then May is when Miles is scheduled for his 8 week training in Nampa Idaho. That wil encompass all of May and June. He will have to come back from time to time for various events like our Banquet / Auction scheduled on June 11th.
• As long as I keep my eyes on the task of one bite at a time I do well eating this HUGE elephant of preparing to serve Him. Everytime I look at the entire task I get overwhelmed and want to just shut down. We are only responsible for what God puts on our plate each day. The rest gets "eaten" in His time! He has been faithful so far and I know He will continue to be! Praise His name! We cannot do this, only through His strength!
• I am also awed by our God and how much He has provided for us in the 9 weeks since our first newsletter went out. He has provided 60% of our total outgoing funds. We have an awesome prayer team, but could always use more of both. :)
•  God bless you all this week as you keep your eyes on Him and are busy about His business.