Yes, we are still melting here in Florida, but wouldn’t have it any other way. Buying ice cream does tend to be a little tricky though …
First, you stand in a long Wal-Mart line to make your purchases.
Then you rush out to the fiery furnace that used to be your car and burn yourself trying to get the groceries in.
Next, you position the ice cream where it will get the most air conditioning and quickly speed away.
Once you park in your assigned slot across the street from the New Tribes Mission building where you live, you remember that all four of your teenagers have gone to a birthday party that afternoon.
You begin to wonder (okay, worry is more accurate) how you’re going to get all that food up to your second-floor apartment – without the ice cream melting more than it already has. Time is ticking. Your make-up is already beginning to slide off of your face.
Oh! There’s someone else’s big, strapping teenager crossing the street! You snag him and call your husband out of his office to help too.
The three of you look pretty awkward juggling all the numerous bags and four gallons of milk across the street, up two flights of stairs, through five different sets of doors and into your apartment – but you make it.
With arms now three inches longer than they used to be, you manage to get the ice cream safely into the freezer. Mission accomplished.
However, while that is a little peak into our daily life, that is not the real mission that we are here for. We are here to do our part in helping tribal people come to know the Lord – and desire to do it with all our might.
So, when my husband is not busy lugging groceries across the street …
… Rand continues to program and develop “CLAware,” the NTM tribal software that missionaries now use to learn complicated tribal cultures and languages.
In fact, it will soon be used to also teach our missionaries the trade languages, such as French and Spanish, of the country that they will be working in. This will allow them to start their practice of CLAware even before they reach a tribe.
Praise! He and his partner have added quite a bit of new functionality to the program and expect an updated release within the next month.
Praise! Rand was blown away the other day when he looked on the CLAware website and noticed that there had been literally thousands of attempted downloads of the software!
While most of those were unsuccessful due to the size of the files, it was exciting to see the huge, growing interest in using CLAware.
Praise! Rand is also excited that a third programmer will be joining their team within the next six months. This will help speed the continuing work of CLAware – fast becoming the tribal missionaries’ right-hand tool.
And when I am not frantically trying to get ice cream into the freezer …
… I am busy writing articles for NTM@work magazine about the exciting tribal work that God is doing all around the world.
Praise! The August issue features the magazine’s first ever tear-out Prayer Schedule which I wrote to help people pray for tribal missionaries and their specific church-planting tasks throughout the week.
I also write encouragement articles for our missionaries that will hopefully inspire them to keep-on-keeping-on.
Praise! And just in case they will encourage and inspire you too, I finally got the last two posted on our website! "First Contact"click here >> and "Choking on Life"click here >>
And when our four teenagers are not enjoying ice cream at someone’s birthday party …
Shane is attending New Tribes Bible Institute in Wisconsin. He learned and grew so much this year and was excited to be asked to be an R.A. (in charge of a group of boys and holding devotions) when he returns in the fall.
Karis just graduated and is planning to stay here in Florida for one year to work and earn money to attend college next year. She received the Beacon Award for outstanding Christian character. It is the school’s highest honor and is only awarded if someone is found who qualifies.
However, Karis has been struggling with an eating disorder. But we have gotten her some professional help and are confident that she will be able to overcome it.
If you would be interested in the full story and how to pray for her and our family, there is an article entitled, “Dancing in the Rain” on our website. Click here >>
Tyler and Jenna are excited about returning to homeschooling for their Junior and Sophomore years. Tyler is still playing the piano and will be leading the worship at the mission youth group this fall. Jenna is falling in love with poetry and learning the guitar.
And since one of our children lives in Pennsylvania and doesn't have to worry about ice cream melting …
Ryan and Hannah are busy chasing around the most beautiful baby girl in the whole world. Riley Joy, born on December 31st , just learned to crawl and "talk." She has "ba ba" and "ma ma" down to a science!
We’re convinced that Hannah is probably the best mother there ever was. And Ryan, if he didn't have to work, would probably be content to be with the two of them 24/7.
And what are you busy doing?
Wherever this letter finds you and whatever it finds you doing – do it with all your might. Don’t let any of the moments or opportunities or possibilities that God has provided for you, melt away into nothingness.
Grab up all the packages that make up your life - get help if you need it - and make your way across all your streets and up all your stairs and into every door that God swings wide open and arrive exactly where you’re supposed to be – at home in His will. And that is the very best comfort food of all.
Yet ice cream does run a very close second! Have you ever tried Peanut Caramel? Absolutely wonderful – if it doesn’t melt first!
But one of our most comforting thoughts is you. Thank-you so much for your part in bringing tribal people to Him -- by your kind and loving support of us. We couldn't live or work or enjoy ice cream for that matter -- if it wasn't for you. So, thank-you for allowing us to melt in Florida -- and help spread the Gospel as we do!
Love, The Burgetts
For more specific and detailed praise and prayer requests for our family, check out our Pray page on our website.Click here >>
Disclaimer: This personal ministry website is provided by New Tribes Mission (NTM) as a courtesy to its members. NTM makes no warranty regarding the accuracy of the information on these pages. Opinions expressed are provided by members in good faith, but are entirely those of the member and do not necessarily represent policy, doctrinal position, or opinions of NTM. If you encounter information that you consider questionable, please e-mail the NTM web team.
GET INVOLVED
