OH and CT

It was great to see Julie and everyone from Open Arms Christian Church in Ohio this last Sunday!

What a blessing to share with this faithful and loving church 💗

 From Ohio, we made our way to Connecticut for a special visit with my mom's oldest sister, Denice, whom I haven't seen in almost 20 years!

Visiting Churches in the Northeast

 

I was originally thinking that when my head pain is fully better and before returning to Mozambique, I would visit with several churches who have been so faithfully partnering with me in this time. 

There is some positive change regarding my head pain, and I will share about this as I see how it progresses. Although I am not yet fully well, I have been praying about visiting these churches.

I believe that it is a special opportunity to praise God and declare His goodness and faithfulness when I am still in the midst of this, not just when it is over.  Of course it is also a privilege to praise God at that time too! 

So, God willing, I'm planning to visit these churches and people in the Northeastern US from the end of August until the end of September, and hopefully later visit a wonderful church in New Mexico.

I would appreciate prayer that I would be encouraging and edifying as I share about God's wonderful goodness and faithfulness in this time! 

~ Thank you! ~

Summer visits with my sister and brother

A special time at the Calaveras County Fair & Jumping Frog Jubilee with my sister's family!

My niece and nephew each held their favorite frogs.

The frog jumping competition is based on the 1865 short story by Mark Twain.

Bucket hats with my brother's family!

Celebrating my nephew's 13th birthday at a Dodger game.

I thank God for these times with my sister and brother and their growing families. 

Why? And God's Breath

Whether people ask this question or not when they or their loved ones are going through any form of suffering, I believe that many people wonder about the "why" on some level at some time, and it is very hard.

If there is a time when we wonder about a "why" in our present, could we understand and be encouraged by things that God breathed for us from the past?

Here are just a few -

  

Can we understand something spiritual in the suffering of Job when God revealed a heavenly perspective during Job's earthly experience?

Could we see God's work amidst the long years of suffering in the life of Joseph and David as they were tested and prepared for future leadership?

Can we recognize God's grace and power in Paul, who suffered, persevered, and praised, accomplishing God's great purposes?

Could we meditate on Jesus, who learned obedience by the things that He suffered, and then the most glorious outcome of all because of His obedience - our salvation? 

Can we too trust and obey God, no matter what suffering we, or our loved ones, face?  

When a "why" may not be answered in the now,  can we allow God to breathe encouragement on us from the past?

Life from the dead and light in the darkness

Jesus!!!

and that life was the light of men.

John 1:4

(a block print my mom made for her Easter card in the 1970's)

Local wildflowers after the long drought and then the rain. 

Happy Easter!

Traveling Prayers

Wesley Duewel, former missionary and president of One Mission Society, wrote a wonderful book called, Touch the World through Prayer. 

One of the things Duewel reminds us of is that we don't have to be physically present to "touch" (or embrace) anybody, or anyplace, or anything in need of prayer. 

Our prayers travel to the One who is omnipresent, omniscient, omnipotent! 

My colleagues in Mozambique ask us to pray with them as (now 1.85 million people) have been affected by the rains (and subsequent flooding due to Cyclone Freddy). The local church and missionary group in that area are isolated right now.  

We don't have to be there physically to pray.

"We can reach our world, if we will." 

Wesley Duewel

Isaiah 12:2