Here is a link to a short video about Alyssa’s Mission/Choir trip to Germany. Hope you enjoy it.
This weekend the Cartaxo Church Plant team will be touring several possible locations for the Community Outreach Center we plan to open in the Fall. We would appreciate your prayers. We need God to give us a good location to rent that will meet our needs and be highly visible in our community.
I have been pondering on the word ‘triumph.’ Normally, when someone does something for the first time, success is limited, and often, they just don’t do well at all. Usually, a person has to try something many times in order to triumph over the difficulties which come with learning something new. In other words, when things don’t work out well and they want to say “umph” because it is hard work, instead of giving up, they need to “try” again. I just had the opportunity to learn how to ride a scooter over Spring Break. Anything requiring coordination is challenging for me, so I had to work hard and keep trying to get better for two days before I could ride it well. For me, that was a “triumph” activity. I hope that encourages you to triumph in an area you are struggling with.
Thanks so much for praying!!! Our house in Panama has been sold. This is a huge relief to those who’ve been managing it for us. It is also a financial relief to us. As you praise God for this answer to prayer, please say a prayer for our neighbors. Ask God to use the new owners to be an influence for Christ on our neighbors. (We don’t know if the new owners are Believers or not. We just know that we love our neighbors and pray that we’ll be reunited with them in Heaven.)
Praise God! I had seven consecutive days without a headache. That is by far the longest stretch in the last 3 months. I had a headache the last two days, but I’m headache-free again today. Thank you so much for your prayers.
Of course, not all headaches are literal. We’ve made three trips to the notary in the past two days in an attempt to get a permission slip notarized. That was definitely a headache. Our vehicle is in the shop and we had to make two trips there already. That is a bit of a headache (and the bill is going to be a big headache – we have oil leaking into the turbo cooler or something like that). I’ve been trying to complete some reports but can’t access some necessary information. I’ve contacted an office regarding another issue but received no response to my email or phone message. More headaches. BUT God is so much bigger than our headaches and my heart is filled with joy.
This part of my life has been stressful recently because I have been given a choice. I can go to Cedarville in the fall or I can stay in Portugal and possibly have a ministry of teaching English to Portuguese people. I have noticed that I pay attention to God a whole lot more when I have a problem. As I seek wisdom and the right choice I end up praying more and spending more time in God’s Word. This shows me an important principle: God brings us closer and strengthens our relationship with Him by putting us through trials and “problems”. In this way I am comforted because the GOD I believe in is capable of giving wisdom and He wants to spend time with me. God only gives us what we can handle even if it stretches us. God is faithful and in that I stand my ground in Portugal. If I did not believe that I would not be here. I challenge you to stick with God even when it gets tough.
One thing that we do here to begin relationships is try to find creative ways to get involved in people’s lives. Recently, our partner, Isabel, discovered one of those ways. One of her neighbors will be having a baby soon as an unwed mother with a questionable boyfriend/father. She still lives with her parents and finances are tight. Isabel offered to have a tea party in honor of the baby. Baby showers are not done here, so this turned out to be a novelty that her friends wanted to attend. Ladies from the Samora church also agreed to attend to show the love of Christ to this young mother and her family. 14 invitations were sent out by the expecting mother. We’re praying that God will use this tea as a way to begin relationships with a couple of these young ladies, and that it will give Isabel the opportunity to share about her faith with this family. Since clothes with English words are rare but desired, I’m hoping to bring a few baby outfits from the States to give away at future showers.
I was thinking recently about the fact that Portugal has not had a very rainy rainy season this year and how people are saying that we are experiencing a drought. This made me realize that not only are we in a physical drought, but we are also in a spiritual drought. I have been praying much these past few weeks about what I am supposed to do with my life. As I reflect, I realize that I am praying for me–not for those who are in need most. I need to pray for rain. Not just physically, but spiritually. As said in Facing the Giants, we need to prepare our fields for rain. I am preparing my fields by praying for those who come to my mind, praying for wisdom in my life, and praying for physical rain. I challenge you to prepare your fields for rain. I do not know what that means for you, all I know is that God rewards those who seek Him. My thoughts turn to a prayer: ”Lord, send the rain!”
While riding my bike in a neighboring town, I observed an older woman carrying a half dozen 5 liter jugs down a path. She was filling them with water from the municipal well. Judging from the number of jugs in her cart, she would make five or six trips down that path that day before returning home.
Yesterday I found the old municipal well in our small city. As I walked back to our apartment, I thanked God that we don’t have to go the well and then carry back our family’s water each day. (We did that for a few months in Panama when our well went dry and it was time consuming and not much fun.) My mind also drifted to an encounter between Jesus and woman at a well. She was thirsty in every way and Jesus offered her living water to quench her thirsty soul. As I walked back to our apartment from the municipal well, I looked at people a little differently. I saw pain and lostness in their eyes. I saw tired women and drunk men. I saw people with running water in their homes but unquenched thirst in their souls. I saw a vivid reminder of why God has allowed me to come to Portugal.
After 82 years of faithful service to the King our Prayer and Financial Partner, John Barram, was called home to Heaven. Though we never met, our paths crossed many times. He and his wife were at one-time supported by Panama Baptist Church, their son worked at Bethany Camp, they served in Portugal, and were used of God to start the school our kids now attend. I’m grateful to have been able to call John a partner.