Praises:
- Found a job.
- Opportunities to encourage and bless the people with whom I’ve had meetings.
- Got to see two of the teens who helped in Nicaragua last year
Prayer Requests:
- Safe travels, as I leave for PA&VA on July 1st and won’t be back until July 23.
- Health for me and my family
This week I was asking God for a verse especially for this time of pre-field ministry, as I connect and build partnerships, and study so eventually I can return to overseas ministry. He answered with 2 passages: the one above from Acts 26 and also John 14:12-14.
This Sunday I leave for 3 weeks of training down in PA and VA with my missions agency. These will be some in-depth, heavy-duty classes along with participating in their commissioning service for all new missionaries.
The last Wednesday night in May I was able to present at a church just outside of Boston, where some of my prayer partners attend. Their church is getting ready for a big missions trip themselves, thus it was great to visit with them and chat about Nicaragua as well as missions generally.
During June, a CT church and couple of individuals have signed up as monthly financial and prayer partners. Grateful for the people God is raising up to be part of this team. Currently at 29%.
One Sunday in June I was able to go up to Holyoke, MA to visit the Spanish-speaking church that sent some of their teens to Nicaragua last year with the Drama Team (this was the group we took to the Children’s Refuge Home last summer). It was fabulous to see 2 of the teens and meet their families and their pastor and recall the amazing things God did on that trip.
Coni (the Nicaraguan girl from the bus) and I have continued our on-line Bible study together. Due to the craziness in Nicaragua, she doesn’t always have internet, but whenever she does, we work through the next chapter. She is really excited about this study.
During this month, God has given many opportunities to encourage and bless young people who have a heart for Jesus and are seeking His will for their futures. Three in particular wanted to hear more about overseas missions opportunities. What a joy to share my story and encourage them for the future. Also I’ve seen God open doors with adults as I’ve chatted with them during my presentations, listening to their life stories and praying with them about current challenges.
My home church had a booth at the town’s annual 2-day fair. It was great to serve alongside my fellow church members as we gave out balloons and chatted with new people from all over town.