It looks like we are adjusting our plans for the arrival of baby #2. The more we have talked and prayed about the timing of when we move down to Peru the more it seems it will be best to wait until we have the baby to move down to Trujillo. This may put us waiting until the end of the year before we are able to move.
I also have a new work situation while we are here in Jackson. An opportunity came up to work with my brother doing home renovations so I left the coffee shop and started working with him this week. This will allow more flexibility for working on support raising and allowing Meg to work on her part-time post-doc work.
God is good all the time!
May 8, 2009
Apr 2, 2009
Two Exciting Announcements!
Our family is growing! Due Oct. 24th!
Also, Meg is now Dr. Meg! She passed her PhD. defense today!
Mar 30, 2009
Updated website for Parish Furniture!
Check it out! www.parishfurniture.com
They also just presented the furniture at an Architectural Digest Show in New York this past weekend. More to come on how that turned out. They also have plans to present this furniture at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair May 16-19th. Please pray that this will go well.
Please also pray for the rest of our support so we can get down to Peru and join in all the exciting fun with this ministry. We have been abundantly blessed so far. Meg and I visited a Church in Convington, LA for their missions Sunday and were greatly encouraged. We also have a busy week with both a conference in Brookhaven and one in Jackson! Please pray for wisdom and the right words to speak clearly of the gospel of Jesus Christ and what He is calling us to do.
I will be posting more exciting news soon!
Mar 7, 2009
What does a furniture shop have to do with church planting or missions?
I haven't heard this question yet, but I am anticipating it. We are in the midst of our first missions conference this weekend at Redeemer in Jackson,MS. I have found our support raising experience to be surprisingly encouraging. I have often heard it is the most difficult process. I have found talking with folks actually encouraging. Well, it is encouraging when I am actually able to have the time to get on the phone to talk with them. The most encouraging thing is that much of our support has come in outside of our efforts. 
It seems God is raising the support without us. It is easy to forget that the support we need is not only financial. Some churches have told us that they don't have the funds to support us but are interested in what we are doing. This doesn't mean they can't support us. If we only wanted money we might go to the government or some foundation. We need support in prayer and fellowship, perhaps more than we do money. I recall that one of the biggest struggles of a missionary is feeling alone on the field.
One big prayer request is for Meg's finishing her dissertation. In the midst of the busy mission's conference this weekend she also is trying to finish her dissertation to turn in Monday in hopes of defending this month to be ready for graduation in May.
Another prayer request is for the safe transport of the first shipment of furniture from Peru getting ready for the Architectural Digest show March 26-29. They are also about to load the first container of furniture to be shipped for the Contemporary Furniture Fair May 16-19. Both of these shows are in New York. Please pray for success at these shows. If things go well and we get many orders, it will be very important for me to be getting to Peru in June.
We praise the Lord that our support is somewhere around 50% already!
It seems God is raising the support without us. It is easy to forget that the support we need is not only financial. Some churches have told us that they don't have the funds to support us but are interested in what we are doing. This doesn't mean they can't support us. If we only wanted money we might go to the government or some foundation. We need support in prayer and fellowship, perhaps more than we do money. I recall that one of the biggest struggles of a missionary is feeling alone on the field.
One big prayer request is for Meg's finishing her dissertation. In the midst of the busy mission's conference this weekend she also is trying to finish her dissertation to turn in Monday in hopes of defending this month to be ready for graduation in May.
Another prayer request is for the safe transport of the first shipment of furniture from Peru getting ready for the Architectural Digest show March 26-29. They are also about to load the first container of furniture to be shipped for the Contemporary Furniture Fair May 16-19. Both of these shows are in New York. Please pray for success at these shows. If things go well and we get many orders, it will be very important for me to be getting to Peru in June.
We praise the Lord that our support is somewhere around 50% already!
Dec 29, 2008
Newsletter
Dear Friends and Family,
Meg and I are excited to say that after years of preparation we are finally planning to move to Peru and work with Peru Mission’s Parish Woodshop Project. We are now beginning the support-raising process by seeking partners in prayer, emotional, and financial support.
When I was first asked to bring my family to Peru and work in a woodshop, I admit that I was a little hesitant. I could not see how this fit in with my calling to missions. However, over the last couple of years while doing woodwork the Lord has taught me the value of building relationships and bearing witness of the gospel’s impact on our lives. One of the most effective ways for bearing witness of the reality of the gospel is to work with someone on a daily basis. As we share our lives with co-workers, they cannot help but see the change in us that the Spirit is working. This happens when they see our brokenness and the healing that takes place through resting in Christ. I am confident this is one of the most powerful ways God grows his Kingdom. When Christians walk with Jesus in the workplace, others will see Him and hear His message.
This is the goal of Peru Mission’s Parish Furniture Project. We aim to work with Peruvian carpenters to build good furniture and export it to the States (www.parishfurniture.com). While we do this we hope to build relationships, bear witness of Christ and teach His Word. We pray that the result will be that they walk with Jesus and bear witness to the world around them in their communities. We also aim to teach them how to do good and just business. Our prayer is that this will not only help them spiritually by the transforming work of the gospel but it will also help the economy in Peru.
My role will be to work in the shop along with these men and build relationships. I will also teach Bible studies before and/or after work and spend time investing in their lives in discipleship and mentoring. Meg will be taking care of our daughter Satomi and pursuing ways to serve using her Microbiology background either in tutoring, lab work, or research.
Meg and I only need to raise $50,532 per year for the first two years. This can either be in monthly commitments or in one-time gifts that total to the $101,064 we will need for both years. We are praying to have all our support raised and move to Trujillo by June of 2009. So far, the Lord has already provided about 20%.
Please consider and seek if God is calling you to partner with us in this ministry through prayer, correspondence, or financial support. As Paul asked the Colossians, “…pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…” Colossians 4:3, we need your prayers. I do not ask you to sacrifice for this ministry or for us, but I do ask you to pray and ask God whether He would lead you to give of yourself to advance His Kingdom through this ministry or in some other way.
In the joy of resting in Christ,
Stuart Mills and family
Meg and I are excited to say that after years of preparation we are finally planning to move to Peru and work with Peru Mission’s Parish Woodshop Project. We are now beginning the support-raising process by seeking partners in prayer, emotional, and financial support.
When I was first asked to bring my family to Peru and work in a woodshop, I admit that I was a little hesitant. I could not see how this fit in with my calling to missions. However, over the last couple of years while doing woodwork the Lord has taught me the value of building relationships and bearing witness of the gospel’s impact on our lives. One of the most effective ways for bearing witness of the reality of the gospel is to work with someone on a daily basis. As we share our lives with co-workers, they cannot help but see the change in us that the Spirit is working. This happens when they see our brokenness and the healing that takes place through resting in Christ. I am confident this is one of the most powerful ways God grows his Kingdom. When Christians walk with Jesus in the workplace, others will see Him and hear His message.
This is the goal of Peru Mission’s Parish Furniture Project. We aim to work with Peruvian carpenters to build good furniture and export it to the States (www.parishfurniture.com). While we do this we hope to build relationships, bear witness of Christ and teach His Word. We pray that the result will be that they walk with Jesus and bear witness to the world around them in their communities. We also aim to teach them how to do good and just business. Our prayer is that this will not only help them spiritually by the transforming work of the gospel but it will also help the economy in Peru.
My role will be to work in the shop along with these men and build relationships. I will also teach Bible studies before and/or after work and spend time investing in their lives in discipleship and mentoring. Meg will be taking care of our daughter Satomi and pursuing ways to serve using her Microbiology background either in tutoring, lab work, or research.
Meg and I only need to raise $50,532 per year for the first two years. This can either be in monthly commitments or in one-time gifts that total to the $101,064 we will need for both years. We are praying to have all our support raised and move to Trujillo by June of 2009. So far, the Lord has already provided about 20%.
Please consider and seek if God is calling you to partner with us in this ministry through prayer, correspondence, or financial support. As Paul asked the Colossians, “…pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ…” Colossians 4:3, we need your prayers. I do not ask you to sacrifice for this ministry or for us, but I do ask you to pray and ask God whether He would lead you to give of yourself to advance His Kingdom through this ministry or in some other way.
In the joy of resting in Christ,
Stuart Mills and family
Dec 26, 2008
Merry Christmas!
I pray you all had a good celebration of the birth of our Savior. We are having a good visit with my family. The LORD has provided in many ways since my last post. I have been blessed to have many jobs doing cabinets and/or trim for several friends and have been working at the coffee shop. Meg is still working on her degree. Please pray for her as many unruly bacterium are keeping her from finishing as soon as she hoped. Our little munchkin is keeping us delighted as she is almost walking and speaking in tongues:)!
We were excited to get our prayer cards in the mail the day we planned to leave for Zachary. Now they are finally in the mail! I would not have waited to send the letters if I had known it would take until Christmas to get these cards in. In August, I thought maybe one more month then by October maybe just a little longer and so on. I trust God was sovereign in allowing such a delay. It seems I may have missed many folk's budgets for 2009. Somehow I still think God is doing some amazing things that show He wants us to be a part of this project and that He wants it to work. For that reason I anticipate seeing Him provide in marvelous ways to make this happen! May He be glorified.
Blessings to all and a Happy New Year!
We were excited to get our prayer cards in the mail the day we planned to leave for Zachary. Now they are finally in the mail! I would not have waited to send the letters if I had known it would take until Christmas to get these cards in. In August, I thought maybe one more month then by October maybe just a little longer and so on. I trust God was sovereign in allowing such a delay. It seems I may have missed many folk's budgets for 2009. Somehow I still think God is doing some amazing things that show He wants us to be a part of this project and that He wants it to work. For that reason I anticipate seeing Him provide in marvelous ways to make this happen! May He be glorified.
Blessings to all and a Happy New Year!
Oct 30, 2008
He will Provide!
It has been quite a week. I was told last Monday that there was no more work for me at the shop. So Tuesday I was at home watching our girl while Meg went into the lab earlier. As I mentioned in the last post I was wondering if I should quit work and do support raising work more. Well, it seems God answered my question in a way. However, it seems that I still need to do some work to bring income to pay bills until it is wise to start drawing on our support account. So the Lord provided several pick up jobs and I am starting training at Seattle Drip coffee shop tonight. I am hoping these two jobs will allow a little flexibility to watch our daughter and work on support raising.
When it comes to support raising, we are very close to getting our prayer card printed up and sending out our paper letters. We are very encouraged that even before we send out our letters, God has laid it on hearts to give so that we are at 20% of our support! We need around 50K per year. We are aiming for 2 years so raising for 100K total.
Oct 15, 2008
What's been going on
Meg and I went on a little vacation last week to visit her sister in Rhode Island. It was a very refreshing trip. It must say it was much needed.
We are getting much closer to sending out letters for our support raising. Our prayer cards might be going to the printer sometime this week. I am just about ready with the letter and addresses. I still need a couple of addresses for some on my list. If you want a letter either by email or paper mail please send me a note and include which address you want to receive the letter.
I actually have today off from work because there is not enough work in the shop. This is kind of good and bad. It is good because I am free to work on support raising today, and it is bad because I am not making enough money. Please pray for us in that regard.
It has definitely been good this morning because I was able to get most of the support letter written. It also makes me wonder if I should transition to full-time support raising. The problem with that is that we would need to raise more money to cover our living expenses now. We hope to wait to live on the support at least until we are about to move to Peru. Please pray for wisdom with that decision. I have definitely been encouraged so far to see God raising the money and making connections without us. That gives a real sense of confirmation that this is His work and He will see it done. When I see Him do things like that I think it would be best to continue working when there is work and work on support-raising when I can. Even with this economic crisis I am confident that God will provide for our needs. It is clear that He is calling us to go to Peru and I trust that He will make it happen.
Sep 14, 2008
Sep 10, 2008
New Website!
Now there is a new website for the furniture project. You can find it at parishfurniture.com. They also have a new video describing the project on youtube.
Aug 30, 2008
Arrival of first pieces of furniture
Yesterday the family and I drove down to Zachary to help Don work on touching up some of the furniture that arrived from Peru. Don will be taking this furniture up to Charlotte, NC to meet Chris and Brad to start their trip fund-raising for the shop. Actually, I will be driving the furniture up to Jackson on Monday in case Gustav prevents Don from being able to leave.
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