A Busy Summer
This summer turned out to be an exciting adventure for us. Cheryl was not able to travel with me to Alaska but she enjoyed the rest and relaxation from me, so I think so we both benefited. Ha!
June – I was able to fly to Kenai, AK and spend a week sharing with some missionaries from Send, Intl. I shared with them some of the issues that we had to face working with tribal people and how important it is to understand their world-view in order to present a clear gospel of the grace of God. Most of them were younger missionaries in terms of service but I sure gained a new appreciation of what it means to sacrifice for the Lord. Many of these laborers are working in very difficult conditions in the frozen tundra of Alaska. They have truly counted the cost and I felt privileged to be among them.
I was able to fly into a camp located in the mountains of Alaska and gain a new appreciation of the pilots and the hazards that they also face. I was surprised to go into one place where they are training young workers from the remote villages and then find that Franklin Graham is also involved in this location with the Wounded Warriors Project. I enjoyed my time there and was thankful for Terry and Gloria Dilley for putting me up for a few days and flying me back to this location in his Cessna 180. Good times.
Cheryl and I then attended an Enrichment Conference put on by New Tribes Mission for those of us on home staff and furloughing missionaries. We enjoyed the fellowship. Then I was the camp missionary at Whispering Winds Bible Camp, which I always enjoy, before traveling over to Cape Girardeau, MO to meet with the Schroeders, a young family who is now in the training desiring to be tribal church-planters.
July – I was able to travel to Oshkosh, WI to help NTM Aviation with their booth at the airshow. I had some great contacts and met some wonderful folks with whom I will be meeting shortly.
September – Cheryl and I traveled to Dallas, College Station, Houston, Tomball and Waco, Texas. It was a trip to visit supporters of the ministry that we are involved in. What a privilege to be partnered with them and reconnect. Without our supporters, we could not be involved in the ministry that we are in now. Time and travel are the two aspects of this ministry that cannot be done without the faithfulness of the financial partners we have. We thank you all.After we returned to Wichita, I traveled up to Deerfield, IL to Trinity International University to attend their annual mission conference. Then I jumped over to Jonesville, MI to visit Cornerstone Bible Church after which I traveled up to our Bible Institute in Jackson, MI. I really enjoyed getting to meet new folks who are desirous to be used of the Lord.Then came the long drive. I headed over to Bismarck, ND to attend a STEER Missionary Conference. STEER is a tremendous group of farmers, ranchers and cattlemen who give of their time and resources to fund missionaries and mission organizations who work in foreign lands or are directly involved in helping those who work overseas. I am going to be working on a letter in the near future to share what they do because I believe that what they do is very unique and a tremendous way to fund the Lord’s work in a way that will help spread the Word of God to the ends of the earth.
October – We will be having a missions conference at our church here in Wichita. First E Free will be having Steve Richardson, president of Pioneers-USA, here to speak to the congregation. It should be great. Then I will be heading up to Moody Bible Institute to attend their annual mission conference. I will be going full blast for that week and I am so looking forward to the time with the students. After the conference, I will head up to New Tribes Bible Institute – Waukesha, to visit with our students up there. Some of them are young folks that you have been involved with, through your gifts and donations, in getting getting them there. Thanks so much.
November – November will start out with Cheryl and I going to LaGrange, WY for Frontier School of the Bible’s mission conference. I will be the keynote speaker for this event and we are grateful for the opportunity. From there, I will be heading to Fort Wayne, IN to spend some time with some families who want to get into mission aviation. Then I will travel to Winona Lake, IN to Grace College’s mission conference and spend time with students and professors who want to give their lives to reach others. My next stop will be Yellow Springs, OH to visit a church I became acquainted with earlier this year. A wonderful group of folks and I trust that we can share in a way that will be a blessing to others. At this point, I will head to Adams, TN to speak to some future missionaries with another organization about Foundational Bible Teaching. This will be a blessing and I trust encouragement to others.If we have other meetings yet this semester, we do not know about them yet but that is what we are here for. Thanks for your prayers while traveling. We have been kept safe.
We Are Going To Be Grandparents Again!
Finally, we are going to be grandparents again. Joel and his wife Katie are going to be having a little child in March but we do not know if it is a boy or girl yet. I think that this is one of the events that grandparents look forward to so much. The grandkids can be a blessing because we can impart the wisdom we have learned over the years to them. Please pray for safety as they get ready to have their little one in March. We rejoice with them.
In closing
Cheryl and I want to thank you for all of your kindnesses. We have appreciated your prayers and support as we travel down the road making the needs of tribal people known to others. Please pray for more laborers and people who will be willing to partner with them in prayer and finances. Your help is much needed.
Keep the faith and may we ever “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen.” 2 Pet. 3:18
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