Waiting on God

Waiting...it can be painful, frustrating and discouraging. They say that this is the hardest time for a missionary doing this support raising thing. It is during this time of waiting that many give up. I wish I could say I haven't thought about it (Sherri typing). The amazing thing, the very few times the thought has even entered my mind, we receive word that someone else has decided to support us! Even more encouraging than that has been the way that God has met with me, just right where I am at! Last week in particular there was one really ugly day. Let me spell it out for you, I do mean, U-G-L-Y. Ever have one of those days? Please, someone tell me I am not alone! You're like a two-year-old, hands on hips and you want an answer...NOW (and you throw in a little stomp of the foot)! God met me right where I was that day, as pitiful as it was. After He did some gentle disciplining, the next day He sent two friends to encourage me! Looking back over this past year, I wouldn't change the waiting. It has been during this time that I have been forced to trust God more, pray harder and dig deeper into His word! When things go well, I tend to depend on God less, I've realized. Sometimes God allows us to wait so He can spend time preparing. James 1:2, 4 says, "is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete". I'm willing to wait, Lord!

Missionary Ministry Links in Costa Rica

FYI: If you look at the "Links" on this page, right hand corner, the one labeled Mission: Costa Rica is Nathan & Amber Babcock's blog. They came up from Charleston, S.C. on the Sunday that we did our first presentation at the "Grove". Their blog is now written from Costa Rica! They were able to leave in September having raised their full support. You can read all about what's been going on down there in the past few months since they've arrived...it will bless you!

Seeking Support

This past week has been a week of "contacts". As we've gone through our days, God has used friends and some of our supporters to let us know of some local churches where they specifically have contacts with the Pastor, and would like for us to send a letter about our ministry. Some have even gone before us and spoken to their Pastor directly on our behalf. Yesterday afternoon I pulled out the two sheets of "notes" that I had taken all week in conversations with these friends and supporters. I sat at our kitchen table and stuffed envelopes with a letter, the Global Outreach brochure and our prayer card. As I sealed the first envelope and placed on the postage stamp, I felt a sense of urgency to pray for the "church". And so I continued in that fashion, as soon as the postage stamp was placed, praying for that individual church until each envelope was complete. What started off as a seemingly mundane task, evolved into a time of asking God to work in the churches that were receiving the letters, not just on our behalf and for our ministry, but in His behalf; begging God to bless, to heal, to grow these churches. Again, I am reminded of my short comings. I pray for our church, but I cannot remember the last time I prayed for Garner ACC. Well, you get the picture and the point that God made. Would you join me in praying for these local churches where the Gospel is spoken? God knows their names. 14 letters are going out in the mail this morning. These churches, Gospel preaching churches, need our prayers to have an impact within their congregations and on our county!

Preparing for Service

John 3:30 - "He must increase, but I must decrease". This is the verse that inspired the title of our blog. It is an intimate prayer of ours. That we would daily "die" to ourselves so that more can be seen of Him in us!

Why a blog? This blog was created with the hope of keeping our family, friends and supporters informed as we endeavor to reach the mission field of Costa Rica. It is here that we hope to share with you our missionary journey and I can promise you this, it will come with typo's! :)