July 2009
Hello Dear Friends,
How thankful we are to the Lord for a GREAT summer trip. We returned July 9 from a trip that took us to Missouri for the NTM ENRICHMENT ’09 seminar for missionaries on Home Assignment. It was great to touch base with so many people we haven’t seen in years. Some in MANY years! We went through part of Colossians and it was enriching to review again all that we have in Christ! It was a refreshing trip over all.
From Missouri, we Visited Kansas for a short time. During our brief visit there, we saw some of Linda’s relatives, helped a friend remodel a house, and did some sightseeing at historic Fort Scott. Our trip then took us back through Missouri, where we had a bit or vehicle trouble. We did purchase another van to enable us to have a 3rd vehicle for the summer while the Amy and Beka are home–that will help on the logistic strain we had been having with 3 drivers and 2 vehicles.
After picking up our “new to us” van (a 2005 Dodge Grand Caravan), we drove on up to Michigan where we opened up the Summer house. Linda became the “chief cook-and bottle washer”, and we had usually 16 or more folks to eat meals. On July 4th we hosted a Memorial service for Mom and Dad, and had 31 relatives there for the day. Everyone pitched in and the day went well. We placed a 4 ton boulder in the yard with a bronze commemorative plaque on it in honor of Mom and Dad, and their lives.
July 5, we drove Debby, Beka and Chloe (she’s walking and has 3 teeth already at 9 months old!) to the airport in Grand Rapids and headed South to Ft. Wayne IN. At the motel there, the Lord gave the boys a blessing, as they met folks from a couple of Christian bands. They recognized the guys from one of them. The band manager gave them free cd’s and they got to spend a little time talking.
July 6 we drove to Covington KY and took in the Creation museum there which is sponsored by Answers in Genesis. It was very interesting and well worth the stop. July 7 and 8 we drove to Knoxville TN and visited a book warehouse from which we have ordered inventory for our business. Wednesday we spent most of the day there going through books to have sent home. The boys were a tremendous help!
July 8 we spent the night with our dear friends in Greenville SC, and made our way home the 9th.
Beka had a nice surprise in store for us. She (and friends) had worked very hard and cleaned the house throughout for us so we could come home to a clean house. What a blessing! We had new shelving built in our storage buildings as well. All was clean and tidy. That was a great blessing! She is home for the summer and taking an EMT course at a college in Daytona Beach. She is loving it! That as well as coaching gymnastics and taking Kung fu is keeping her busy!
Our work at the NTM Home Offices continues and we are able to pretty much continue with the things we had going before we left. Much data entry and many phone calls, and letters to write for our missionaries as we keep the records up to date, and questions answered. We are also involved in helping our folks through transitions such as changing fields or going to retired status; also helping folks become members or step out of the mission graciously. Sometimes we feel like a “Jack of all trades” in order to be all we can for these dear folks who are on our team in reaching the world. A missionary couple wrote the following in their last prayer letter:
“Reaching tribal people with the gospel requires a large team of Christians….(We) tribal missionaries depend heavily on the support team back at the headquarters in Sanford….Each is a vital and important link in the chain of these who are involved in taking the gospel message to people who have never heard the name of Jesus Christ.”
Samuel and Tracy in Paraguay
We are encouraged that we are privileged to be a part in this important job.
Youth group met at our home on Friday night. We hosted 30 kids/young adults and it was so good to see them all again! What a joy to see our children walking in truth! Two of our teen leaders are in Papua New Guinea now doing the INTERFACE course. They are having a great time and learning lots! We had decided not to meet over the summer as so many families travel, but the kids have wanted to continue meeting anyway and are doing a great job with the planning. They’re a great group.
It is a blessing to see Amy’s support rising as she prepares to go to Mexico in September. She is trusting the Lord to provide all she needs (at least 60% of her recommended support) and the wisdom she needs for the decisions she will be making in the next few months. Thanks for praying for her.
As we face challenges each day with the economy, just like some of you, and others around the world, we find GOD ever FAITHFUL! Please pray with us that God will provide new folks and churches to partner with us in this ministry to the NTM family of missionaries worldwide, as well as to the more local MK & Friends youth group. Thanks so much for your part in our ministry as well. We are well blessed through your support and prayer for us. We could not be here ministering without you.
Have a great Summer!
In His Strength,
George and Linda Heckman and family
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.