It's been an interesting few days.

Yesterday, I discovered after being pulled over for having expired plates that some thief had scraped the tags off my plates (no ticket, sorry traffic cop).

Then, we had placed an ad on EBay to sell some craft items my wife made, and was unable to sell after two craft fairs, when, get this, the server I was hosting the pictures on crashed. So, both websites were down all day yesterday, and our email with them. If anybody tried to email us yesterday and couldn't get through, that's why.

Then, today, as I'm driving home from a job down in Arnold, MO, some punk drops a 3 inch lag bolt off an overpass and nearly through my windshield. At first I thought I'd been shot, until I saw the bolt sticking out of the glass. It's still there, because we don't have the money to get the stupid thing fixed. So, I guess I'll be driving our huge white passenger van to work for awhile. We were going to sell the blue van next year anyway, but I kind of needed it 'til then….

Sometimes, you wish they'd bring back public floggings, you know?

Anyway, thought you'd like to know so you could be praying.

Greetings one and all in the name of the LORD, and welcome to this, our first email update. I've been busily gathering email addresses the past two months, and now that our first prayer letter is going out (coming soon to a church near you), I figured it was time to start doing these updates. They will be shorter by far than the letters, but will arrive with more frequency. To date, we are at 5% support, and have been in 15 churches. We have been on deputation since September, and as the year's end approaches, we are looking forward to our imminent transition to full-time deputation. Up 'til now, I've been working for a local computer service outfit, fixing computers to pay the bills, while working in phone calls where I could, lining up meetings, and going to them on the weekends. God has greatly blessed in helping me to schedule 39 meetings so far, and we have been busily attending them.

I got the opportunity to up to Alaska in October, and spent a month up there, spread out over 5 missions conferences and 3 Sunday night meetings. It was quite beautiful, and the people were very gracious and receptive to our vision for Uganda. I have to say, I have greatly enjoyed deputation so far. I was dreading it somewhat at the onset, but I have been very encouraged by the churches we have attended. It has helped polish my preaching, my delivery of our message, and has greatly invigorated my walk with the LORD. It is quite exciting to be doing the LORD's work, and to know that what you're doing is what He truly desires.

Pray for us. We have a lot of driving ahead of us, and need God's protection. We need between 10% and 15% of our support by the end of the year so we can live once I quit my job. I would like to have next year solidly booked through June, so pray I'll be able to get ahold of Pastors (always a challenge), and be able to secure meetings. Pray God will raise the support quickly, and preferably, relatively close to home (except for lovely Alaska 🙂 ) so we won't have to kill ourselves travelling when we come home on furlough to "rest" and report to our supporting churches.

These are exciting days, and we look forward to bearing witness to all God is going to do.