We need you to pray! It’s come down to the last few weeks we can wait to make the “go/no-go” decision on this ministry trip to Thailand. We’ve prayed all along that the Lord would make clear to us whether we should go, based on if the right solution could be found. A few possibilities did not pan out and as we got into this month, I’ll admit that I, Joel, really had doubts that this would work out. 

But after a meeting with some of the tech-team that I might work with if we go, this Thursday, I found myself renewed in my desire to go and to trust the Lord. And in the last 48 hours, two more VERY good possibilities have come to our attention. So, we’re praying for these folks to have confirmation from the Lord that this is or is not something they should do. WILL YOU PRAY FOR THAT RIGHT NOW AS WELL?

In the meantime…

After a family break with long-time good friends (Thanks D&K!), we hit the ground running with school starting for the kids and a regular work/ministry routine. It’s always bittersweet when the summer break ends but it was time. Jack begins his epic Senior year along with Owen who follows behind him as a Sophomore at the same hybrid homeschool AND Kate begins 7th grade. We have high hopes for how the Heavenly Father will use this school year and its challenges and blessings to draw our kids (and their parents) closer to Him.

Our work with Equip Asia enters a new phase as most of the creation of new courses is complete for the time being. So, we are digging into the needed organization and refinement that is long overdue. We’re getting to jump-start this with some time together. For the first time in our two years in this ministry, MOST of our leadership team and their wives will be together here in Sanford for a couple of days of fellowship, relationship building, evaluation, prayer, and probably a whole lot of coffee drinking. PLEASE BE PRAYING for this time together, August 19-21!

Finally, since we last wrote we’ve seen REAL growth in our support team! This is always encouraging. At the moment when we have a need, I, Joel especially get down in the dumps and lose sight of the big continuing picture God paints of provision as we rely on him. He’s brought some new and renewed supporters to our team.

We’re still on the lower side of where we need to be and will share more about that later this fall, but some hopeful signs have shown themselves. PLEASE PRAY for us as we work to communicate well and draw people in to join our team. We trust that it’s God who moves in believers’ hearts to align them with us, but we also understand the responsibility we have to be good communicators.