Holidays and a New Year

A whole month has passed since my last post. Christmas and New Year's were a busy time for my family. We celebrated Christmas with my sister and her family. I was surprised that even though I live in Maine, we did not have a white Christmas. Several of my siblings and I carried on the family tradition of quoting Luke 2:1-7. I hope we never forget to do this, and I hope that the next generation continues it.

After arriving home from my sister's in Iowa, I had one week to create scenes for our Christmas play, get the final script worked out... Although it was a simple, narrated program, with the kids walking on and off for each scene, the people seemed to really enjoy it. Hopefully next year we will have plenty of time for the kids to learn some of the parts, and we can create some more scenes.

We rang in the New Year with a night of games with our church people. It was a fun time of men versus women competitions. Afterwards, Mom, Dad, and I watched the ball drop in NY. It was a rainy night, so we did not have to worry about fireworks going off all night. New Year's Day, we watched the Old Orchard Beach Lobster Dip, basically a polar bear challenge, from our balcony. This is not something I will ever put on my bucket list.

Since December 1, we have been renting a nice apartment right on the coast. In the winter, the price of rentals goes down to affordable. It is a blessing to wake up every morning and see the beauty of the ocean. The colors change depending on the weather, and when it is warm enough, a walk along the beach ends up being a shell collecting trip.

This week, my sister and her family stayed with us for four days while her husband went to a church planting conference at Heartland Baptist College. I was able to take my nieces and nephew walking a few days, and my sister and I took a long walk as well. Mom and I drove three hours round trip to help drop them off. Tomorrow we will hopefully get back to a somewhat normal schedule.

We are prepping for a winter storm, and depending on the amount of snow, we may have to cancel church on Sunday. Pray for safety for all who will be affected by this storm. Pray that the contacts we make while soulwinning will come to church the next service we have.

We have had a number of visitors in church over the last few months. Some have returned, and a few families have joined. Pray that God will continue to bring the people He wants to build His church. We are working on several new programs for the kids ministry, including a puppet program. We also plan to start a couple of new classes. Pray for the spiritual growth of our church as well as the physical. Please pray for a new bus ministry push that God will provide workers and riders. There are several other needs for ministry leaders... for our church.

Just before Christmas, I sent out an email to several Christian colleges asking for the opportunity to present my missions ministry to their students. I have not heard back from any of them, so please pray that God will open the door for me to encourage more people to do what I do in helping missionary families.

My parents and I are hoping to make a visit to the ministry I helped in Puerto Rico. This is also my sending church. Please pray for good ticket prices and good weather when we go.

Prayer requests:

My sister Janna-pituitary tumor
Cousin Mycah- 5 mos. old getting ready for second scheduled heart surgery after a long series of infections which have postponed the surgery.

Homeward Bound

After spending three weeks in Iowa with my sister, I am finally on my way home. My newest nephew, Ezekiel was born healthy and overall happy. He was little chunk coming in at 8 pounds compared to his cousin, Ireland, who was a little over 5 pounds. I enjoyed spending time with my sister and her other 4 kids as well as my brother-in-law.

While I was in Iowa, the church gave me a love gift, and the pastor's wife gave me some warm winter socks. I had been planning to buy some, but I had not gotten around to it. Over the last month, God has provided for me in special ways.

While I was at my sister's, my dad called and said the men of the church were asking me to stick around through the spring to help with playing the piano and teaching Sunday school... I had been considering some other opportunities and needs, but I just  did not have peace about them, partly because I knew the church had a need.  So for the spring, I will be helping at my dad's church, Anchor Baptist in Biddeford, ME. Please pray as the church moves through a transitional time. There have been many visitors to the church , and several people have joined. There are several more who want to join. Although it is frustrating, I am seeing God prune back the branches so more fruit can grow.

As far as my future missions trips are concerned, I will begin making plans for the end of next year to beginning of 2020. I recently sent out anow email to Christian colleges asking g to be able to speak to their students anf church memebers about taking short term trips to help missionaries. Please pray that the recipients of these letters will see the need for more relief laborers.

Continue to pray for my sister Janna's  tumor. Pray for my baby cousin, Mycah  who has been in the hospital since birth with mulittle heart surgeries and setbacks. Pray for sisters and their new babies, and for my sister-in-law who is expecting next year.

A change in location, but not in duties...

What a busy month November has been. I spent most of the month helping to care for my sister and her family due to the birth of her new baby and her husband's broken leg. My Saturdays were spent helping my dad, studying for Sunday school, and recording Christmas songs. Thanksgiving was a quieter day than usual, but it was fun to be with my family.

Last Sunday, I traveled with my parents to a church in New Hampshire. My dad preached, and I was able to give my testimony and share my burden for missions. We really enjoyed the service, and were very well taken care of by our hostess.
Yesterday, I flew to Iowa to stay three weeks with my sister Julie whose baby is due any day. I am looking forward to spending time with my niece and nephews. We are praying for snow.

My brother-in-law asked me to share an update with his church, and then gave me their Thanksgiving offering. Then the church I visited Sunday also gave me a love offering. God is continuing to tell me to go by continuing to provide funds. Please pray as I have some big decisions to make over the next month to prepare for next year.

Please pray for my dad and mom, and Anchor Baptist Church. Pray for growth and laborers. Continue to pray for my baby cousin Mycah  who has had 4 heart surgeries, and has been in the hospital since birth.He continues to have ups and downs. My sister Janna had some good news that the natural treatments she is doing are shrinking her pituitary tumor.

Even with all the heartaches and difficulties, God has been good.

Busy Days

I cannot believe this month is half over. As the frog says, "Time is fun when you're having flies." Although my days have been filled with caring for my three nieces and a nephew since the birth of my sister's baby, I have been able to stay involved in our church. We have had visitors at just about every service the past few weeks. I have been recording Christmas songs for the three weeks that I will be with my sister in Iowa while she has her baby. I also help type my dad's Sunday school notes, bulletin, and work on other projects. For the next couple weeks, I will be teaching the 4-6 year's old Sunday school class.

Last Friday, my brother-in-law and my dad were cutting some fallen trees for firewood. A tree had also fallen on the house where they were working. A neighbor came to pull the tree off the house with his tractor. He did not realize the roots were still in the ground. The tree bowed and snapped, and a large portion of it flew about 40 ft. It hit my dad in the shoulder, and my brother-in-law braced for it using his hands to deflect it. The force spun him around and broke his leg at the ankle and on the femur. He will be off work for 12 weeks. God has already provided for this need by making it impossible for my parents to get the house they applied for. We will be staying here for the next couple weeks until Dec. 2 when we will move everything into an apartment. Friends came and finished cutting a lot of the firewood for my brother-in-law, and other friends brought a Thanksgiving basket over. Several pastors have decided to help support him u til he is back on his feet.

Our fall program ends this Sunday. I have invited several visitors for our Thanksgiving meal, and I'm praying they will come. We are also praying that former members will be able to come and visit for a homecoming day.

Please  continue to pray for my sister Janna's with a pituitary gland tumor, my  four months old cousin Mycah who has had several heart surgeries, and still has more to go, for a house for my parents, my sister's pregnancy, my parents health, and our  church. I also am working on plans for next year's trips, so please pray God gives me direction.

A Busy Month

October has been filled with travelling back and forth from my parent's to my sister"s, Joy. She gave birth a little early to a beautiful baby girl, Ireland Hope. After a long stay in the hospital, she was able to come home, and has been doing well adjusting to her noisy siblings and home life. Joy has been doing well for the most part, but could use prayers that she regains her strength quickly.

God has been good to our church here. We have seen many visitors, I and another lady were voted in as new members, and there are several more waiting to be voted in. We just started our fall program, and so far the ladies are winning.

Please pray for our harvest party on Wednesday. Pray that people from the community will come and hear the Gospel while they enjoy the games...

Please continue to pray for our housing situation. Pray that the loan can be completed and the papers can be signed soon. There is a lot the Devil is trying to do to discourage my dad through this situation.

Please pray as I continue to work out details for next year regarding my missions ministry. There are so many needs, and it is hard to know where I should start. Pray God opens only the doors I should go through.

I do not remember if I posted this before, but our family has had the blessing of five of the grandkids trusting Christ over the last few months, and four of them have been baptized.

Family news

So much has been going on the lives of my family this week. Many of you have prayed for my sister Joy who was expecting. She had Ireland Hope yesterday at about 2:50 pm. She had been in and out of the hospital with labor pains for four days. We thought we might deliver Ireland at home, but her husband made it back and switched her to an ambulance very quickly. Labor was long, but the baby and mom are doing well. The baby has had a couple Brady episodes and is a month and a day early, so pray there are no further episodes or complications.

My sister Janna's little boy, Emmett, fell and broke his collar bone. Pray that it heals quickly with no complications.

My sister Julie's pregnancy is going well, but keep her in prayer too.

My dad's family have had three deaths in the last week. One was unexpected. Pray that people will come to Christ at the funerals.

Technology Glitch

I apologize for being almost a month late in posting. I had created a post last week, and I thought I posted it, but it is not on this website or my Facebook.

Life has been busy since my arrival home. I have become involved in my dad's church here in Maine. Currently, I am playing the piano for the services, and I will be helping play for the kids Sunday school starting tomorrow.

Two weeks ago, my cousin in Alabama passed away, so we made an emergency trip down for the funeral. Although it was a sad time, it was so good to see family I haven't seen in three years. I was also able to spend time with three of my sisters and some of my some of my  nieces and nephews. The funeral was a time of rejoicing more than sorrow because my cousin had been wheelchair bound all her life, but she still had an impact on many people coming to Christ.

Last week, I stayed with my sister and her kids while I sent my parents on a trip to Prince Edward Island for my mom's birthday. I enjoyed spending time with my sister and her husband playing games and playing with my nieces and nephews.

This week, I hope to finally focus on scheduling meetings to share my ministry. Please pray that God will open doors. My main goal is to encourage other people to do what I do. Pray for my dad and the church here in Maine. There have been visitors almost every week, and several people have asked to join the church. Continue to pray for my two sisters who are pregnant and my sister who has the brain  bleed.