Missionary Stories!

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works"  - Hebrews 10:24

When I sent out my prayer and financial support letters for the summer, I also requested letters of encouragement of how God is working or has worked in the lives of His people. We are all missionaries in God's mission field, and we all have stories of how God is working, whether or not we have the official title of "Missionary." Here are a couple stories I received from a brother in Christ from my home church family in Minnesota.

GOD REALLY DOES HEAR OUR PRAYERS

Several years ago I had to prepare a speech to give t a group of men regarding home visitations for fund raising to build a new church building. I had struggled organizing my thoughts for a couple weeks and the meeting was coming up in a couple days. I finally sat down to write the speech. I got nowhere, except to fill a wastebasket with rejected thoughts. Then the Holy Spirit woke me up that I was trying to do God's work by my own ability. The verse John 15:5 that "apart from me, you can do nothing" came to my mind. I put my pencil down, prayed to God and confessed my error and asked God to give me the words to write. I immediately got a fresh sheet and started writing and wrote for nearly two hours. The meeting was successful, the funds were received and the church building was built. From this I learned God really did hear my prayers and that I needed to look to God to help me with life's tasks.

Several years ago I was in a Church-Mens Bowling League. We bowled Friday evenings at 9:00 p.m. One Friday night as I was sitting on a bench putting on my bowling shoes and I was really fatigued after a very busy workweek, I said out loud "I sure could use some help tonight." It was not a prayer, it was just a factual statement. As it turned out I bowled three good games. In one game I was one pin short of a perfect game - 279 with a 9 pin spare in the 6th frame. I am not that good a bowler. It was truly amazing how many times when teh hit was not perfect that the pin did unusual things and I would get a strike anyway. It was apparent to me and to the many observers that I was indeed getting some help. My bowling score was not the important thing in this experience. It  showed me that God wanted me to know that He was aware of me.

These stories are such a blessing to me, and I hope they are to you as well. I think it's easy to remember that God helps us with "church things," but sometimes we forget that He wants to help us with all the tasks of life. All we have to do is admit we need Him! Thanks, friend, for allowing me to share these with everyone!

 - Keep trusting in the Lord! - 

If you have a story, please send it to me! Encouragement is always appreciated, and I'm sure my readers would love to know more about what the Lord is doing in your life as well :)

Oh the Joys!

Today was such a great day! There were so many things that just made my heart smile. This post is a little wordy with not as many pictures, but I hope you take the time to read it - every single second of the day seemed to be God bringing me more and more joy!

We had learning time this morning for the third day this week. On Tuesday we went to a story time at the library and the kids started the reading program at the library. We would have liked to have done this sooner, but we haven't had class for two weeks because of the heat (the church has no A/C.) The kids loved it and each picked out a book they got to bring with them! 

Wednesday we went to a Bible story time at the Methodist church. It was adorable! They learned about how God created the world, then made a picture of some flowers and a sun with cutouts of their hands. They even got a little snack! 

Today was a little more laid-back. We got some donations of books, so we read those for a while, and then we went outside and drew with chalk. Here's where the little extra bit of joy came in. One little boy refused to go with us Tuesday or Wednesday because he was afraid to leave his mother. In fact, he hasn't been willing to go anywhere with us at all. I realized I hadn't spent very much time with him before, so we read and played together before it was time to go outside, and I tried to just focus on giving him love. Then, his mom walked him outside with the group and then told him she was leaving, and he stayed with us! (And I think he he had fun!) This is a mother who is with her busy boys all day with no breaks. To see this little one grow in his trust of us really helped me to see God's love and grace  - and now hopefully Mom can be able to begin to find rest and peace a little more often.

After learning time I went to the trailer park for a day camp the Presbyterian church is putting on. The youth leader there put together a program and curriculum, and kids from both neighborhood centers have been going each day. They have music time, share a kid-friendly meal together, hear a Bible story, play games, and do a craft each day. It's super laid-back, which I love because it gives us an opportunity to talk and build our relationships with the kids.

They played a game of tag where they wore nylons on their heads and the person who was "it" had to try to grab them all. They all looked pretty funny with those socks on their heads!

 The Bible story today was about Saul and how his heart was changed from being mean to being nice. Of course the descriptions of his "meanness" were tamed down for the kids, but it's a good thing to learn either way!

The kids have been talking about how to share love with others. Today, they shared love by making a nice card for someone they love and appreciate. 

After the camp was over, I went over to Seneca, ran a few errands, then spent time with the kids. Someone had put a broken "drum set" from guitar hero by the dumpster, and we used that and a pop-can-and-pea-rock-maraca to form a band. We sang, danced, and played together for over an hour! The kids performed a few songs in groups, which was fun to watch them coordinate, but my favorite part was when it was just one of the girls and I together. She wanted to sing a song I didn't know, and I'm so glad I didn't because she did a solo performance. She had been a little shy during previous songs, but she sang her heart out for this one, playing the drums as she went. I was so proud of her! I was her only audience, but it was so refreshing to see her be able to get rid of the tough act she puts on so often and be the beautiful little girl God made her to be. 

Oh what a wonderful day it was!

A (Birth)Day in the Life of Me

My birthday was kind of just like another day, but it was filled with some extra fun and celebrations. I documented the day, both to show you what a great birthday I had and to show you what life's like around here!

I started the day off with some time with the Lord and nice run (my kicks are shown below)

When I got back from my weekend trip home, I was quite excited to see Allison got to borrow Dave's mustang convertible!! We drove to the office in style!

Every day at 9, we meet at the office for a time of prayer that Peter leads every morning. We pray for the ministry and people who God has put on our hearts. 

The Summer Sizzle planners were meeting when we left our prayer time in the front part of the office. 

And we were off to work on the 4th of July float! 

 I'm a "Ray of Sunshine!"

 Sometimes bird fly in the shed, so we had to protect our beautiful work!

What a good-looking team!

This is the point where I have fewer pictures. We took a break for lunch, then went to Walmart to buy a few supplies and visited a family. We stopped by the neighborhood centers briefly, and one of the kids at Seneca drew me this beautiful cake! What a sweetheart :)

Then it was off to food packing and distribution! 

I love bagging soup!

Gotta get every last drop, so teamwork is always good :)

 Doing dishes and filling bags

Donna really helped make the day special. She got me a cake and some beautiful flowers! She is so much fun to serve with every week at food distribution. We have great conversation, and she is a great example of what God's giving and grace looks like. 

It was fun to be able to share the cake with fellow volunteers, as well as with those who were coming in to pick up their food. 

We had such great fun and fellowship with one another. We have all been truly blessed with such great community with one another.

 I just thought this was cute...Kevin's pizza bags.

Yeah...they stole my camera. 

After food distribution, we went back to Ron and Deb's. They have been such a blessing to us this summer, I'm glad they were able to be part of the day!

Then Mom arrived! (The rest of my family came the next day.) They were all able to stay the 2nd through the 4th, and we had quite a bit of fun together! She and I got some sandwiches and ate down by the lake together - very peaceful and relaxing :)

After dinner and a walk along the lake, Mom and I went back to Ron and Deb's and had cake, ice cream, and strawberries!! Their Bible study was going on, so I was able to share the day with my partners in ministry. Kevin and John were able to come too, so it was a great party! Thanks, Deb, for the delightful cake! (And the bars...and Angie for the cookies...we obviously had lots of dessert today.)

 22 candles and I blew them out in one gust!

 WOOHOO! On the way downstairs to make...flowers! John doesn't look too excited here, but he was definitely the most talented flower-maker of all of us! 

These beauties helped to put the finishing touches on our 4th of July float!

Yep...we're exhausted. I hope there is no longer anyone who wonders why we go to bed so early every night!

 Thank you to everyone who spent my birthday with me and helped to make it great! A special thanks to Allison, who was with me the whole day long - working hard, having fun, and bringing God's love and joy to my life like always. Though it was busy, the most important thing is that we could still see the Lord at work! He has given me a year full of blessings, and I am so grateful to belong to Him :)