NTM

I have enjoyed working at Wonderland Camp this Summer where many children have come to believe in Jesus for eternal life. Praise the Lord! Unfortunately the camp had to close for about 10 days because there was an influenza outbreak. So I visited my cousin in Chicago and had a lovely time with his family there and then I also visited my friend Seth in Pittsburgh PA. It was nice to relax and be with Seth and his family who are likeminded in their passion for the Lord and mission work among unreached tribes in Indonesia.

Next month I plan on going to New York to visit a friend and participate in his wedding. Thereafter I’ll be returning to Missouri to complete my missionary training. I will be sharing my apartment with someone new, Colin Rogers, also an MK (missionary kid).

Next year there is a possibility of me doing an internship in the USA while I do partnership development. Please pray for me that I would have wisdom as to how to best use the time given to me.

An encouraging prayer I have been thinking about lately says “Thank You [Lord] that I can commit my location and my situation to You…Thank You that I can trust you with my future places –ready to go, ready to stay. So I rest in the fact that You have me in this place for this day, and I praise You that you will faithfully guide me throughout life…”

In Christ Alone,

John

Its hard sometimes when you don’t know what the plan is for the next year and it seems like everyone wants to know. Please pray that I would have wisdom as I look at my options for next year to make good choices and patience for this time of unknown stuff. Pray that I would remain sensitive toward others.

Faye Brown, a nurse and missionary, came and gave us a course on International Health and wellness last week.

"International Health and Wellness prepares missionaries in international health, wellness, prevention of disease and appropriate treatments. A primary focus will be on appropriately communicating the knowledge and skills in order to empower communities to improve their own health."

We learned how to treat many diseases, give injections, check blood pressure and ears. We also learned about malaria, snake bites, worms and various other icky things.

I’m thankful that I could practise giving shots and some other medical things before going overseas. Often New Tribes Mission will go into a remote location where ther is no doctor, no dentist and no way of reaching 911 so the missionary needs to know how to prevent the disease and treat the disease as well as train the local villiagers how they can take care of their own people.

PRAY

that I may have

• Increase in my love for God and others.
• A deeper relationship with God that is yielded to His Spirit.
•  Wisdom and knowledge in establishing priorities, making decisions and solving problems.
• Courage to speak God’s Word boldly to others. Especially in evangelism and discipleship with Hispanic and American youth.
• Strengthened faith and steadfastness.
• Protection of physical health and strength amidst other people who are sick.

This weekend I went to Hispanic prayer meeting. It was outdoors next to some ponds. The child was saying "Rana" which means "frog" because he was excited to see the frog jump/dive into the pond.

Some people are wondering why I am doing a Spanish ministry….well I was going to do a different ministry but they are not doing that ministry anymore. Then I heard that they were offering a ministry to teach English to Spanish speakers and I thought I would like that. I found out that I wouldn’t be teaching English but I would be depending on my team to translate for me and I would be learning a little bit of Spanish.

Through the building of relationships with the Hispanic Youth Group  (about 45 minutes from the Missionary Training Institute) I desire to share Christ with them.

On Saturday and Sunday evenings I go with a group of 4 others to the Hispanic Church and help with their Youth Group as an outreach. Although I don’t speak Spanish I am learning a little bit and most of the Youth speak English.

This past week we just started with the first Chronological Lesson with them.

You can pray for our out reach team that we would:
1. Build  good relationships.
2. Understand where the Youth are at spiritually.
3. Be able to discern what they need.
4. Help them to the next place God wants them.
5. Grow in our Teamwork skills

There is much speculation about the origin of the word "Ozark". I have read that one possible meaning is "toward the arches" "in reference to the dozens of natural bridges formed by erosion and collapsed caves in the Ozark region. A second meaning could be "toward the rainbows" from the French "aux arcs". The term "Ozarks" refers to the mountain range/plateau region in Missouri where I currently attend the New Tribes Missionary Training Center.

Bridges are important for getting from one point to another. Relationships are like bridges in that they connect people together. I have a relationship with my Heavenly Father because of what Christ has done for me on the cross. Sadly there are about 2500 tribes that still don’t have that bridge, that relationship with God. That is why I have come to the Ozarks, I have come to be equipped so that I can tell others the good news.

Thank you for being a part of God’s bridge building team. Your support whether in praying, giving financially, going to the mission field or sending me there is all part of expanding the reach of the gospel.

Praise God I arrived safely to the MTC!

Praise God for providing various household items and kitchen ware.

Please pray that my time here that I would maintain a learners attitude and that I would continue to have my world view challenged by the word of God and that I may recognize God’s conforming of my life to His moral character.