MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 08-09-2005

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Greetings! It is done. I have finally satisfied all the rigamarole that Missouri requires in order to license a vehicle to drive. That was my whole day Monday, pretty much. It had to be done though, because we were a day away from the 30 day time limit the state gives you to register your vehicle, on account of we were in Montana and South Dakota for three weeks, and couldn’t get our van from Mission Auto until we got back (that was my whole day on Saturday). We put the plates from our deceased van on this vehicle, which was fitting I thought for it’s replacement. What a blessing it is! It has dual air, so the kids get all the climate control they need (nice on these 100 degree days we’ve been having lately). It has this nifty trip computer that lets you know how many miles you have left on a tank of gas, handy for deciding when to get gas when you’re out and about in rural Missouri and elsewhere, in addition to compass and external temperature readout. It gets 25 miles to the gallon on the highway (very nice), and has front-wheel drive, so as to be more nimble in the snow and ice when we find ourselves having to drive in it (which will be rarely if I can help it). It rides very smooth, and is extremely quiet (nice to be able to converse with my family now). Most importantly is the amount of room they give you in back for luggage, and elsewhere for passengers. We can easily get all our stuff back there, along with our sundry mission-related paraphernalia. I think they must have hired some Time Lords to help with the engineering on that one. All in all, it is an extremely versatile, comfortable, and spacious vehicle that is going to make our deputation a lot easier and more efficient. For all of you who prayed and contributed to this great need, thank you. You have helped us tremendously, and more than I can really express in words. You see, our van is paid for now entirely. God provided all the money we needed to pay for the taxes on Monday to register it, and then today, in the mail, we received a check for $1500!! This is the final culmination of seven months of prayer, need, and struggle, and now, at last, we have had our need met in full measure. What a great and generous God we serve, who has indeed supplied all our need.

Here are some pictures of what your prayer and sacrifice have accomplished:

Car 01

Car 02

Car 03

Our meeting in Jefferson City, at Old Paths Baptist Church (Pastor Alan Golden) went well. I showed our slides and presented the work in Sunday School, and preached during the morning service. Many people responded, and God blessed. Pray that they’ll be able to be a mighty influence in Jefferson City, our state’s capitol.

We’re driving out to North Carolina on Friday for a meeting in 5 Forks Baptist Church (Pastor Charles Churchill). Bro. Churchill is father to an old friend of mine, so we’re looking forward to being with them on Sunday. Pray for Anna on this drive, that it won’t adversely affect her or Gaelin. This is cutting it close, but it is the last long distance trip until after the baby is born. We’ll be finishing up August with meetings that are very close to home (within an hour’s drive), and then nothing until the end of September, when we’ll be in our home church’s missions conference. Pray that I’ll be able to get our schedule full for next year. Pray that our support will increase by the end of the year so we can be in better shape financially for the travelling we’ll be doing next year. Pray that God will supply the funds for me to be able to buy a laptop computer soon, so I can stay on top of our correspondence, and work on my language study while on the road. Pray for the birth, that it will go smoothly, and without harm to mother or baby, and with no complications.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 08-04-2005

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Howdy, all! We're home. The drive home, other than the fatigue and the weary kids, went without a hitch, so thanks for praying for us. I'll be heading to Indy on Saturday to pick up the other van, so pray about that. We have paid the first of two payments on the remainder that we owe Mission Auto, thanks to God's provision with a $1000 gift we received last month. The final payment of $1280 is coming up on August 14, and I've got to register the vehicle by August 9 (another $365 in sales tax) so pray about that also. Anna and the kids weathered the trip very well, and thank you for praying for them. Pray that the lady who's buying our van would get her title for her other vehicle soon, so she can sell it and get us the money for our old van, which she's buying from us, cause we really need the funds right now. Pray for our finances, which are very tight at the moment. Our trip west went very well, and the churches out there took good care of us, but gas is just really, really expensive, and there's just no getting around it. I can't even imagine how missionaries handle it in countries where they pay twice what we do at the pump, or more. Gas gobbled up much of the love offerings we received, and the support just isn't there yet to pay our monthly bills properly so we can use love offerings for travel expenses like we need to. I know I bring up finances a lot, but that's our biggest need currently, and I figured folks would like to pray about it. As a missionary, it puts a lot of pressure on you, and makes it hard to make the trips you need to make to get the support you need to get to the field, so it's kind of a Catch-22. Should I use the love offerings to pay for travel expenses so I can travel to churches and get support, or pay my bills on time, but have nothing left with which to travel, to raise support, to pay my bills? You see? It's a vicious cycle. At the risk of being accused of begging, I thought I'd tell you what's really going on, so you could pray more effectively for us. Frankly, I feel better knowing that people know our needs and are praying about them.

We'll be in Old Paths Baptist Church in Jefferson City, MO (Pastor Alan Golden) on Sunday. Pray for our meeting, that we'll be a blessing to folks, encourage the Pastor, and be used of God to call more laborers to His harvest field. Pray for the trip to North Carolina that's coming up the week after, that Anna will be able to endure it without harm (she'd like to go, but it's getting down to the wire on the pregnancy). Everything after that is close, and we have no meetings in early September, in anticipation of the birth. Pray that the funds will be there to get us to the East Coast and back. I've got lots of phone calling to get done this month and the next, so pray that I'll be able to get in touch with Pastors, and that I'll be able to fill up the first six months of next year entirely, and all of 2006 by year's end. Pray that God will lead us to the churches where He wants us, and that He will lead them to partner with us financially to get us to the field.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 08-01-2005

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Greetings from South Dakota, once again. We're back in Rapid City for the night, and on our way back to St. Louis. Our trip to Yellowstone went great. The weather was perfect, and we got lots of great pictures, some of which I'll get up on the website as soon as I get a chance. It was without a doubt one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen. It was my first time, and the fulfillment of a lifelong ambition. Our meeting in Missoula, MT went great (Lighthouse Baptist Church, Pastor Tommy Lemmons). I showed the slides and gave our testimony, and God blessed. I went on outreach with them on Thursday night, and we got to witness for a while to a guy named Lance. Lance is very confused, about many things, so pray for Lance that he'll show up to church, and hear the gospel again, that he'll have understanding, and get saved.

We went to Florence Baptist Church next (Pastor Tim Johnson) in Florence, MT. They put us up in their prophet's chamber for a few days. It was most restful. Necessary, too, because we were running out of clean clothes, and were able to use their laundry facilities. As it turned out, they were having a Men's Prayer Breakfast on Saturday morning, so I was able to be there for that, and helped with some work projects afterward. Our meeting Sunday morning went very well, and then it was off to Great Falls, MT that afternoon. We had a meeting in Fairview Baptist Church (Pastor Richard Dion). He was out of town for a Sword of the Lord Conference, but we had a great meeting, and a great time of fellowship with his Associate Pastor Marc Elledge.

We were up bright and early this morning, and made the drive all the way from Great Falls, MT to Rapid City, SD. Tomorrow, we'll continue all the way across South Dakota to Council Bluffs, IA, and on Wednesday, at last, we'll drive back to St. Louis, MO. Whew! It has been a great trip, and we have greatly enjoyed our Grand Western Tour, so much so that we're thinking of making another trip out this way next year, but we're mighty tired and looking forward to sleeping in our own beds.

Pray for the trip home, that all will go well. God has provided all but $1000 for the new van (Praise the LORD). Thank you, everyone, who has prayed, and given. Pray that the remainder will come in by the second August 14 deadline to finish paying for it. Also, if you would, pray that God will provide the money (approximately $1500) to get a good laptop computer. We're at the point now where we're really starting to need one. That's the reason I haven't sent out an update before now, because I haven't had access to a computer before this. If I had a laptop, it would make it a lot easier to keep in communication with everyone, as well as helping me with my computerized language studies on the road.

As always, it is a tremendous pleasure to serve the LORD.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 07-25-2005

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Greetings from Billings, MT. We had our meeting in Grace Baptist Church (Pastor Richard Miller) yesterday. Everything went great. The preaching services went well, and folks were encouraged. A new family visited Sunday morning, so be in prayer about that as they ponder church membership (they need some more families to join the church).

We will be with the Millers until Wednesday morning, when we'll be heading to Missoula, MT for a meeting in Light House Baptist Church (Pastor Tommy Lemmons). Tomorrow we'll be driving down to Yellowstone, so we're looking forward to that.

Things are going great here. Continue to be in prayer for us as we drive, that things will continue to go well with the van we're using so I can get that back to Mission Auto without incident. Pray that the lady who's buying our van will get her other car sold soon (she's waiting on a "quick" title) so she can buy our old van (we need the money to pay for our new van), and pray that the remainder ($1700) will show up by Aug. 14, so we can pay Mission Auto on time as promised. Pray for our remaining three meetings, that we will be a blessing, and that God will move them to support us financially.

MISSION: Uganda Blog Update 07-21-2005

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Just a quick note before we pull out of Dillon, MT (and while have access to the hotel broadband). Our meeting last night went great. Pastor Rick Hammond has a great little church going here, in Stone Creek Bible Baptist Church. He has a real heart for God, and for his community. Pray that the church will grow, and that he and his wife will not be weary in well doing (I don't think they are, just that it would be a good idea to pray as such), and that God will continue to encourage them.

On the way to Billings the night prior, we had an encounter with a deceased deer, just over a rise, in the dark, and right smack in the middle of the lane. All I had time for was to try to center us in order to minimize the damage. As it turned out, he, well, "a'sploded", and sprayed the underside of our van with blood, hair, and deer guts. Nasty. So, we got to smell the lovely smell of cooking deer guts 'til this morning, when Pastor Hammond came over to the hotel and helped me clean all that mess out of there. Talk about a servant's heart! We swung by a car wash out of town to clean up the remainders, so we should be alright.

We'll be with Richard and Candy Miller on Sunday in Billings, MT (Grace Baptist Church). Pray for our continued driving, and that God will bless in the meeting on Sunday.