Dear Prayer Partners,
Lately I have been thinking on the hope of resurrection, a concept appearing even in the Old Testament as well as with the coming of Christ. I am so thankful I worship a God who is the source of all life, and thus the source of hope as well. A constant prayer request in Bible translation work is that God would allow translators to continue making progress in the work despite the always-present oppositions in the world. In a recent BI prayer meeting, one of our Myanmar associates made the comment, “We live in a hopeless country, but we have a living hope”. It’s an incredible testimony that those in some of the most challenging situations cling to the hope described in Scripture and find the endurance to keep moving forward with joy.
Since my last prayer letter, I had two additional meetings with churches in March. At Salem Baptist Church in Salem, OR, I shared the story of Tyndale during the children’s church, followed by my normal presentation in the evening service. I was so encouraged by their missions emphasis and the heart they have to support many missionaries. The following week, I was at First Baptist Church in Colville, WA and enjoyed the conversations I had with many there. It also happened that I was able to attend a memorial service for an acquaintance in the same area that same weekend. In an unexpected way, I was able to connect with the pastor and plan to return for their missions conference.
This month, I visited two churches in Idaho. First, I presented at First Baptist Church in Meridian, ID during their evening service and enjoyed talking with several who had been or were planning to be involved in missions. Last Sunday, I visited Grace Baptist Church in Twin Falls, ID and was delighted to meet the folks there and discover a variety of connections with them. My parents also surprised me by showing up to the morning service on their way traveling home from vacation.
I also had a unique opportunity in April to present at First Baptist Church of Richland, WA alongside another missionary family who have served in Bible translation with another organization. I enjoyed the time getting to know Cameron and Valerie Hamm, who now teach several of the same linguistic classes I took during my training. Through connecting with this church, I also learned a lot more about the history of my sending church, since earlier leaders of my church were involved in starting several others nearby, including FBC Richland.
Several experiences lately have left me in awe of God’s provision to place me in just the right place at just the right time. Whether it was planning a children’s church lesson, getting car maintenance done, or circumstances surrounding a church visit that led to connecting with other churches, it is wonderful to watch how God weaves together intricate details and creates a plan far better than what I can plan.
As always, I would appreciate prayer for my upcoming meetings with churches, as my schedule for the summer is quickly filling up. Due to changes in the business, I have not been working my part-time job this past month, yet I praise the Lord for the many donations over the past few months that have covered my financial needs for the moment. It also has given me more time to focus on deputation and make progress in my training. Thank you for praying!
Praise!
- Full schedule of meetings through July
- I was able to get needed car maintenance done before a longer trip
Pray for:
- Connections with churches in the northwest
- Balancing deputation schedule with consultant training tasks
Upcoming Meetings:
5/3-5/5 Greater Grace Baptist Church in Arden, WA
5/17 Omak First Baptist in Omak, WA
5/24 Manchester Community Church in Manchester, WA
6/7 Open Door Baptist Church in Troutdale, OR
6/14 Pomeroy Baptist Church in Pomeroy, WA
6/28 Central Baptist Church in Bend, OR