Archive for the ‘Missionary Updates’ Category
We just received an update from Peter and Sharon McMillan – preparing for their move to Spain.
A year ago, we did not know that we would still be here in the U.S.A. But after Paul and Barnabas’s 1st missionary assignment they stayed in Antioch a long time with the disciples, reporting all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. We are not finished reporting yet and challenging churches to be concerned about a corner of the world called Las Tablas. When we leave for Spain, the Lord will have tripled the number of people who are praying for this work! At present we are up to 84.5% support. We are in the process of generating, certifying, and translating various documents like police clearance, medical clearance, and marriage license. After we receive the letter of invitation from Spain we must take all of the documents and the applications to the consulate in D.C. After Spain’s Consulate receives our requests for working visas, it will take about two months for them to be approved. By this time the remaining 15.5% of support needs to be in place before we can purchase plane tickets.
Prayer Requests
- That our letter of invitation will be processed quickly at the Dept. of Justice in Madrid
- That we would be renewed at each new presentation with enthusiasm and zeal.
- That our remaining needed support will be pledged by the time our visa is approved.
Please continue to keep them in prayer as they prepare to begin their new assignment in Spain.
Here’s an update we just received from Craig and Ree Coulbourne, MTW missionaries from Japan.
Outcomes of Previous Prayer Requests
- [May Prayer Request] Thank God for His provision (in rather dramatic fashion) of a house for us to live in for the remainder of our time in the U.S. We were having a difficult time finding a house because most owners were not interested in anything less than a one-year lease. Finally, we found a house whose owner was open to renting to us, but seemed to be dragging his feet hoping that a one-year renter would appear. On the night before we were scheduled to fill out a rental application for that house, we were contacted by a friend who had friends who had a bigger house which was partially furnished (most of our furnishings being in Japan) which they would be happy to rent to a missionary for an uncertain amount of time, and at 2/3 the price. The house is just 5 minutes from where we have been living, meaning that each of our children can continue in the same schooling situation as last year. It was clearly a Godsend! As He has done so many times in the past, our heavenly Father has provided just what we needed. Please pray that God would give us eyes to see how He might want to use us in this new community during the time He’s placed us there.
- [May Prayer Request] Thank you for your ongoing prayers for Craig’s seminary studies. The spring semester is completed. Craig has also completed the classroom portion of 3 courses in the summer semester, though there are still exams to be taken and papers to be written for those courses (which should take up most of July). After that, he will be 8 credits shy of completing his seminary studies (3 or 4 courses). It’s possible that he might be able to complete 1 of those courses during August, with the rest being finished up in the fall semester. Please pray for God’s help in completing the summer courses, and for wisdom in deciding when and how to complete the final 8 credits.
New Prayer Requests this Month
- It’s time for our focus to begin shifting to returning to Japan. Though the final few classes of seminary (last class ends in December) and the second step of the ordination process remain (exams in late November and early December), we need to begin giving more attention to things like the funding to return to Japan and plans for the initial steps of outreach and church planting in our new target area, Urayasu City. Please pray for God’s provision of the necessary funding and for His leading in making plans for how to begin once we return to Japan. We are hoping to be able to return in January.
Dear Friends,
Mission to the World is mobilizing prayer for Peru on June 24, the day of Inti Raymi in Cusco. It is a very important day to Cusqueñans where thousands gather to pay homage to their sun god. It is one of the many reasons why missionaries say that Cusco is a dark city with deep spiritual opposition.
Attached is the newsletter with prayer requests.
Thanks!
Blessings,
Be sure to take a look at the update letter we received from Bill and Susan Carr, missionaries in South Africa.
Be sure to take a look at the update letter we received from Jeff and Patty Borden, missionaries in South Africa.
Working out in the Mission field takes much dedication, and even more faith.
We received a letter from Billy and Yashmin Clark this week, working with boys from the street in Peru, and they shared just how much faith it takes.
Please take a moment to read the letter they sent us, and be sure to keep them in prayer as they begin to rebuild their facilities.
This definitely shows what a huge hand God has with His children. In His providence, He protects them – even in the midst of a terrible disaster.
Praise God!
Knox has taken part in Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child for many years, and for the first time we’ve heard first-hand that one of our boxes is bringing joy to the heart of a little girl.
Jessica, from South Chad, received one of the boxes we put together in 2008. See the attached letter she wrote to us in thanks for receiving our gift of love, sent from here in Mechanicsville – all the way to central Africa, south of Libya.
What beautiful words she finishes with – “I love Jesus”!
Please be sure to pray for all those children who have received our OCC boxes, that God is continuing to work through their lives, and show them His love!
Have you wondered where the boxes we packed for Operation Christmas Child were going to end up?
Well, we now know. The 75 boxes that we came together and packed as a church family are headed out to:
Southwest Asia
Central African Republic
Panama
Cameroon
Sudan (South)
Guyana
Click on each of the links for more information about the programs that OCC has in each of those areas.
Be sure to say a prayer for the children who receive these boxes, that God may use these boxes to provide them with His love, and through these boxes bring them to a relationship with Christ.