NTM

Each day a bit more gets done and we’re almost wrapped up with our packing and sorting.  We would ask that you pray for some details to get worked out for my (Julie’s) medication.  It’s been recommended that we take a 90 day supply with us and so far, we’ve been unable to work out some details with the insurance company. 

We just sent out our July newsletter.  Please send us an email if you did not receive it and would like to be added to our list.

More tomorrow,

Julie

We’re only one month away from leaving for Bolivia.  We’re all very excited and busy organizing our "stuff".  We’ve come to the conclusion that we don’t own our stuff but it owns us!  We are only taking suitcases and carry on’s so most of our belongings will be stored or sold.

We have 4 Sundays left before we leave and will be at Millersville Bible Church this coming Sunday (June 28) in the morning.  Sunday July 5 we will be at Exeter Bible Church for both morning and evening services.  July 12 Julie will be away for the weekend at her 20th class reunion from Houghton College and John and the kids will be at Bethel Memorial Baptist Church and the whole family will be at Bethel on July 19. 

Our Commissioning Service will be held at Millersville Bible Church, Lancaster, PA on June 7, 2009 at 6:00 p.m.  There will be a time of fellowship and light refreshments from 5 – 6 p.m.  We would like to invite you to attend this service and pray that it will glorify God for what He has done and will continue to do in our lives.

Child care will be provided.  Please go to:

www.millersvillebiblechurch.org for directions.

Hope to see you there!

John and Julie

Next week, Calvary Monument Bible Church, Paradise, PA will be holding their annual missions conference.  We have been invited to participate this year and are looking forward to speaking nine times throughout the week.  We would ask that you pray for us during this time as our schedule is quite full.  We’re also praying that God would stir up laborers for His harvest.  Every time we have an opportunity to share, whether it be our testimony, or about our ministry, it gets us more and more exited about leaving this summer!  If you would like to get more details on the conference, please visit the church’s website at www.calvarymonument.org

We also want to share a huge praise.  Our currect pledged support is now 71%!  We thank God for the way He continues to encourage us through His provision.

Recently we had a weekend away, a gift given to us by our Sunday School class from Millersville Bible Church.  We were able to get away to the Inner Harbor and attend a Family Life marriage conference, A Weekend to Remember.  We are so truly thankful for this time to take a break from ministry and parenting and be reminded of the precious gift God has given us in one another.  It’s so easy to neglect the things that are so important, isn’t it.  Thanks Homebuilder’s Class.  We love you and thank God for you!

"Therefore we do not lose heart" Paul states in 2 Cor. 4.

This passage has become so close to my heart these last months as I’ve gone through the process of being diagnosed with MS. "Though our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight in glory that far outweighs them all." I’m so thankful that Rob and Wendy Jacobson put that to song and I learned it during my Houghton College days.
We’re still making plans to leave the country this coming July 2009. We plan to serve in Bolivia, South America. We are very excited about living in another country and culture. We hear wonderful things about the country and apparently the climate in Cochabamba is just perfect for someone who has MS! Isn’t God good.
Our kids are doing well and have really plugged in at church and school.
We send out a monthly newsletter via email. If you currently do not receive it and would like to, please send us an email and we’ll add you to our list.

We are in full swing of a new school year.  All three kids are settling into a routine and are making friends.  We are involved in several missions conferences and speaking engagements as well.  In addition, we’ve been juggling family life with the care of both Julie’s mom and John’s father.  Julie’s mom is about the same.  She’s bedridden and still under the care of hospice in her own home.  We visit daily.  John’s father was recently hospitalized and John has been very involved with helping to take him to medical appointments.  On top of that, Julie’s had her fair share of doctor’s appointments along with an MRI and CAT scan as doctors try to diagnose the cause of her optic neuritis.  We continue to press forward each day and look forward to the day we can leave for the field.  It’s been such a long process and God continues to train us as we wait on Him.

September 23, 2008

New Tribes Mission ministries in Bolivia continue to experience constant tension from civil unrest, and talks of a large protest march in Santa Cruz on Wednesday has raised more concerns and could disrupt some NTM ministries. The march is not a certainty at this time.

Civil unrest and social tension in the country led to discussions last week between the government and opposition leaders. The dialog appears to have slowly advanced, and there are indications improvements will continue.

There have been no direct threats to foreign missionaries, and so far minimal disruption in the work among Bolivia’s least-reached people groups, which New Tribes Mission carries on in partnership with the churches in Bolivia.

At this time, no NTM personnel are seen as being in danger and most ministries continue to go forward. For example:

This last weekend in a Simba community, the local church along with several missionaries, held a Bible conference that encouraged and edified those who attended. 

The training and teaching at the missionary training center in Bolivia, which equips Bolivians and other Latin Americans — continues on its normal daily routine.

Please pray that God would bring peace to Bolivia. Also, pray for the Word of God to continue to go forward to those who need to hear. Pray that the local churches around the country will not be distracted and will be able to focus on the Lord. Pray for NTM missionaries to continue to be safe as well as to sense the peace that God alone can give during tense times.

We have had a very busy June with a trip to Florida as our major event.  When we started our training 5 years ago, we promised the kids that we would set aside some money and take a trip to Florida after we finished.  Well, it’s 5 years later and we had planned our trip for February, however, cancelled the trip since mom’s health was so bad.  Since she’s been eating and doing well, we made a decision to go at the end of May.

The kids thoroughly enjoyed our time in Florida.  We were able to visit New Tribes Mission’s Headquarters in Sanford.  We also visited 2 of John’s sisters, Julie’s Aunt and Uncle, and 3 long time friends.  The kids enjoyed seeing Walt Disney World and enjoyed the rides and shows the various theme parks have to offer.  It was a great trip and we are so glad to have had the opportunity to go.

Since we’ve been back, we helped out with the VBS program at Exeter Bible Church (one of our supporting churches).  It was a great week.  Over 135 kids came out during the week.  Over 25 kids expressed an interest in the gospel.

During the same week, we had to finish compiling the kids portfolio’s from our year in homeschooling and have it evaluated by a teacher.  It was a hectic week, but everything is now turned in and we’ve begun making plans for next year.  Since it’s been difficult to balance homeschooling, mom’s care, and deputation, we’ve decided to send the children to school this next year.  This way, we’ll be able to concentrate our efforts on sharing our ministry while the children will get the attention they need.

(Julie’s) Mom continues to do well, physically.  Although bedridden, she remains in good spirits, and in no pain.  She does grow restless most days and we ask prayer for wisdom with regards to medications and how to meet her needs.  It’s so very difficult since she cannot talk.

Thanks so much for your ongoing interest in our lives.  In church on Sunday, several of us were asked "What is the greatest compliment someone could give you?"  At the end of the service, the pastor said that the "Greatest compliment any of us could receive would be to hear the words, ‘Well Done, my good and faithful servant’".  Some days it seems like it has taken us so very long to go through this process and yet John and I know it’s all been to shape and mold us into the creations God wants us to be.  We long to hear those words someday and we thank you for your encouragement, financial support and prayers as we continue to prepare to leave for the field.

We arrived in Canada earlier this month.  We came so Rachel could participate in a chess tournament with local Christian schools as well as see our friends and supporters.   All was going well…at least we thought.

On Thursday, April 10, my day started at 7:30 a.m. after receiving a phone call from my husband, John. He and Rachel left at 6:30 in the morning with a van (our van) full of kids going to the chess tournament in Toronto, ON.  About 45 minutes into the trip, our van transmission gave out and John was only able to drive in low gear going 20 miles per hour.  The other car went ahead with a car full of kids and John found a place to rent a car so he could get the rest of the kids to the tournament.

Why?  Why now?  What a time for this to happen.  We just paid someone to fix our transmission 3 months ago?  Did they really fix it?  God knows.  He sees all and we can give the situation to Him and know that  there’s no such thing as bad timing because God knew all along that this would happen as well as when it would happen.

This past year has been a roller coaster of change for our family as my mom entered hospice care in December.  Many of our plans have had to be changed and recently we made a decision, in fellowship with our church leadership, that we would delay our leaving for the field.  This was not an easy decision as we feel the immediacy to go.  However, wise counsel suggests that it would be in the best interest of all involved for us to remain in the U. S. for another year due to both the situation with my mom as well as our support level.

It’s so very hard at times when we make plans and they seem as if it is God’s will then He lovingly closes a door.  Although disappointed, we’re not discouraged.  Our confidence continues to rest in knowing that God sees the full picture when we can only see in part.

All is still going well, just not as we planned.  But that’s ok.  God continues to direct our steps even though our plans get thwarted at times.  He is still in control for which we’re truly thankful.  Proverbs 16:9 states "A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure."