Home Assignment / Furlough / Support Raising / Itineration

I just sent out a newsletter update. You can read it online here.  There were two things that I wanted to write more about in the newsletter but decided to refrain and keep the letter short. I will write about them here on this blog.  They are two of our goals for returning to Peru.

1. Support Raising. We need to raise support to be able to return to Peru.

      I have always been uncomfortable coming out and asking folks for money. It is especially difficult these days when most people are in an economic crisis. The funny thing is that my friends in Peru say they have always been in an economic crisis their whole lives. Some people tell me that you have to be direct and ask. I have read about others, such as Hudson Taylor, who never mentioned their requests out loud to anyone but God. I think there is a balance somewhere in the middle.  First, I think the most important thing to remember is that money is only one small part of support raising.  Yes, we need money to do missions work.  Money is necessary to get us there and to keep us there. But money will only do that. It will not make us more fruitful in our work.
     We need prayer to be able to work effectively. Paul says in Colossians 4:2-4, "Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison - that I may make it clear, which is how I ought to speak."  Not only do missionaries need this kind of support but all servants for the Kingdom of God need this kind of support, especially your pastors.  If we had all the money in the world and were not backed by fervent prayer warriors, I think we would produce very unhealthy fruit if any at all. The Holy Spirit is the one who changes hearts and produces fruit in changing lives. Our goal is glorify God by bringing life-changing renewal to the people we work with. Money will not produce that. The Holy Spirit will produce that in answer to our prayers, both yours and ours.
      Another thought about this process is that God is sovereign and He is the one that lays it on peoples hearts to commit themselves to serve in donating money or time.  In my short experience I have seen the Lord do amazing things in providing for our financial support.  Many of the folks I sent letters to responding graciously. But, I must say that a majority of the financial support that came in to us did not come from our direct pursuit. Actually much of our financial support came as a surprise from folks that we did not even expect. I will continue to trust that God will provide for our needs as we need them.  I understand that God often chooses to use our responsibility and that we need to work. I will continue to do the responsible thing and make phone calls and send letters and make visits but I will also continue to seek the face of the Lord and plead with Him to provide through His people. My prayer is that He will bless and provide people with more than they need who will be able to join us in financial support and also pray that He will raise up prayer support from people who walk with Him daily and will lift us daily before the throne.

2. Recruiting.  We hope to recruit help for Parish. We want to find a Stateside Entrepreneur who wants to develop a market for the work that our carpenters can do in Peru and sell it.  Please join me in prayer for the right person to come along and join our team by helping to get the wonderful products of our carpenters into the hands of buyers around the world. We also want to find people to join our team in helping us develop this project to make it more fruitful and guide us into the right direction to make the work of discipleship in the workplace successful. Please pray with us for this. More about this to come in the future...

New Chapters

I can't seem to stay consistent on writing posts here but I will continue nevertheless.
We are about to start several new chapters in our lives. We are at home for "furlough" raising support to return to Peru next August, Lord willing. We are anticipating our third child to be born any day now. I am also going through ordination examinations to return to Peru as an ordained pastor.

We are excited to be back in Louisiana. It has been good catching up with friends and family. We have enjoyed visiting several of our supporting churches in the area and are scheduled to visit several more. We are also extremely blessed to get to live in the First Baptist Church in Zachary's mission house.

We are also getting things ready for another addition to our family. Baby Ezra is due November 3 but with the building up of contractions we are doubtful he will wait that long.

I am taking a break right now from reviewing for presbytery ordination exams. I am going before the candidates committee today. I should be studying more but need this short break to defragment my brain.

We look forward to catching up with more friends and family and also connecting with new churches in the area and wherever we need to go. Our main prayer request is for God's blessing on broadening our support base as well as for the baby and ordination.

July Update

Finally put out an update about what we have been doing over the last few months. 

See it here.

Prayer for Meg

I am still behind on getting out an update. In the meantime I want to ask for prayer for Meg as she is flying to the States to visit her sister and celebrate graduation from Rhode Island School of Design. Her father is also flying in from Japan. Please pray for travelling mercies and for a good visit with her father and sister.  Also pray for her health and the baby as she is 4 months pregnant. Please also pray for me and the two little bitties as we enjoy Daddy time for the week. She get's back on the 8th of June.

Parish Furniture: Stray at Home Art and Music Festival

Parish Furniture: Stray at Home Art and Music Festival: Stray at Home location change! follow this link to find out more

Peruvian Labor Day

Peru celebrated labor day on May 1st. Since this is a national holiday our cell group got together at our house.

We had a great turn out this day. We ate a meal and played a good game of futbol (soccer).  It is neat to see how the Lord is developing our community.  Many of the regular members of the cell group brought their relatives and neighbors. We actually had close to 30 people show up.  

I am excited to see the way God is working in our lives.  There have been many different struggles as well as wonderful blessings over the last few months. From broken arms, hernia surgeries to two births and two more expecting babies.  Through it all, I see God working in the lives of the men who are leaders of these families through His Word. As we study the Bible and apply it in conversation and in our work, I see God changing perspectives and improving relationships. There are often times when I don't see change as fast as I would like but when I step back and look at the long-term difference and look at where they are coming from, I am amazed at what God is doing in the lives of this community through His Church.  There are times when I don't know what to say for updates because this is a slow going work. We keep working our way through the Scriptures and we keep plugging away at work and keep having conversations to drive the gospel deeper into our lives and little by little God is causing the growth.  

1 Corinthians 3:7, "...so neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

Custom orders

The guys with Las Ponas just finished a custom order for furniture. They hired a woodcarver to add a little detail to the bookcase.

Short term team visit

Last week we had a visit from a team from University Fellowship Church in Norman, OK. We are very thankful for their visit. They were a very hard working crew. They helped dig out the foundation for the first phase of the new church in Parque Industrial. This was not easy work among rocks and boulders in the sand. This is a new church plant next to a new clinic in a growing yet impoverished area on the edge of Trujillo.

Meg's 1st baking class

Meg has had so much fun (and done such a good job) making cakes or cupcakes for various activities lately several people have suggested she start a cake store or a baking school. Here she is getting a taste at her first class helping our friend Lucia make a cake for her daughter's birthday party.
They stayed up way too late finishing it :)  I took this after I got home from a Macho Movie Night with several men watching the new movie, Courageous.

Wedding, baby shower and new members

This past weekend was extremely busy.   It started out with Alleen & Hermes' wedding. It was a beautiful wedding and a great example of the Grand wedding feast we anticipate at Christ's return. We all had a great time celebrating this new union. It was especially nice with all of the children dancing and enjoying the beautiful reception afterwards.

Sunday morning the downtown church plant, Christ the King, received two new members who also happen to be two men who are connected with the Parish woodshop. Kevin and Javier. Kevin got connected with us last year through the English conversation courses and is working part time for Javier and Norvil. Javier is one of the original carpenters with Parish who is running his own business here in Trujillo along with Norvil.  They are both members of the cell group that meets connected with the woodshop.

Norvil and his wife, Flor, are expecting a baby next month. Sunday afternoon there was a baby shower for them at our house. 

Prayer requests and update

I am always encouraged when I get a request from supporting churches for prayer requests. It reminds me how much we depend on the intervention of the Almighty in the work He calls us to do. It also reminds me to communicate to others to join with me in praying for the things that I am battling.
Here is a short list of prayer requests

Please mostly pray for the men involved in various bible studies that the Holy Spirit will apply the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives and transform them into faithful servants and leaders

Two men that I am discipling have recently gone through difficult health problems that affected their income. Pray for healing and renewed zeal to fight to provide for their families.

There are several pregnant mothers in our churches please pray for their health and financial providence for extra costs in already tight budgets.

Lastly, pray for four couples involved in a study on marriage and that God would transform the next generation by creating a culture where men are Godly leaders in their homes.

Here is a link to our latest update. If you are not on our mailing list and want to receive it you can find a sign up link in the newsletter.