Melody and I pray all is well in your respective households. We are doing fantastic. We just wanted to give everyone a quick update and let you know about a couple prayer requests. Most of you know that we are now in the final stages of preparation for a ministry in Papua New Guinea with New Tribes. Our status just updated last week to “En route”, which is very exciting for us as it’s been a long time in coming. Currently, we are engaged in full-time partnership development, which means building the support team that will help us with prayer and financial needs.
Last week we were notified that there will be a shipping container going to New Guinea in late September. With that in mind, we are scrambling to try to get everything together, taking stock of what we have and what still needs to be purchased. We will make a trip back to Missouri from August 22nd until late September to oversee the packing and shipment of our belongings. While in the area we plan on speaking with individuals, small groups and local churches to share what God is doing in our family and in tribal missions. To all of my Missouri brethren, if you know of individuals or churches that would be interested in hearing about our ministry with tribal missions, please let us know.
We are very blessed to have so many supporters already, and it wouldn’t be possible without the Lord’s help, bringing friends like you into our lives. We are currently at 63% of our recommended monthly support of $7323. We still have 37% left to raise before we can leave in January 2012, and are confident that the Lord will provide for our family in His timing.
We would encourage those of you who have been on the fence, waiting to make a commitment of prayer or financial support, to take that step and see how God would lead you to be a part of what He is doing in tribes across the globe. Melody and I can’t wait to see how God completes our team of supporters. One thing is for sure…He always surprises us with how He chooses to work! I’m attaching two forms that describe the different ways you can further partner with us in ministry.
Thanks to all who are currently praying for us and making sacrifices of time and finances to send us to New Guinea. We are deeply grateful and count it an honor and a blessing that God has brought you onto our team.
Melody and I would like to ask for prayer as we plan and make critical decisions in the weeks and months ahead. The following are some things you can be praying for with us.
Prayer requests
- Making prayer and devotions a priority before all else
- Wisdom to make wise financial decisions as stewards of the money the Lord provides
- Perseverance as we seek to develop new contacts and share our ministry
- That Melody and I would be sensitive to the needs of our girls as we make preparations to leave
- Wisdom in parenting and keeping a strong marriage
- Finances to come in for one-time big ticket items
- Plane tickets- $12,000
- Shipping our belongings ahead of us to New Guinea- $2500
- Computer/Tech equipment- $3500
- Purchase of household appliances in country- $1500
- 4×4 vehicle to travel surrounding cities for supplies- $20,000-$30,000
We hope this email wasn’t too long-winded, but we had a lot to communicate to you all. We pray that you will get excited about God and follow hard after Him, strengthening your walk with Him daily.
Love the Lord,
Josh & Melody Simmons
New Tribes Mission
Tech Specialist to Papua New Guinea
Mobile #757.581.8654
Email: josh_simmons@ntm.org
Website: blogs.ethnos360.org/josh-simmons/
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.”