Heading Slowly Home

 I left my sister's house last Friday. Baby Joel is doing very well. Although there has been a little growth to his left ventricle in his heart, the doctors do not think he will have enough growth to function properly. He is expected to have surgery sometime this summer to repair this as well as few other issues in the heart. 

I am staying with my sister in Indiana for a few weeks. Please pray that the FTMM will be lifted so I can fly home instead of needing to drive with various family... It took two years, but finally the states and Congress are taking a stand against the unConstituional procedures the president allowed the CDC to implement. Please pray for those fighting these battles.

Continue to pray for Ukraine. I am in touch with missionaries who are taking in refugees, and the stories they have to tell are sad. Pray for those in Russia who have been warned to leave that God will give them peace in their decisions of whether to stay or go.

Please pray that I can begin planning trips to the places I had promised to be in the summer of 2020. Pray also for my parents as their housing situation is about to change again. Pray for their health.

Praise and Prayers

Another month gone, I didn't even realize it. Caring for six kids can definitely keep a person's mind busy. It is hard to believe that in a week, I will be heading home to Maine, and it is harder to believe that I have been in Iowa for almost four months. 

Baby Joel is doing very well. He has grown so much in the last few weeks, he is getting to be much more sociable and tries to talk quite a bit. He has learned to reach for his toys, hands, hair and anything else he takes a fancy to. His next appointment is on March 31, so please pray everything still looks good, and please pray that his heart has grown so he doesn't have to have  all the extensive surgeries. Pray for my sister as she continues to care for him and his six siblings.

Please pray for my parents as their housing situation is a little crazy right now. More than likely, they will be having to move again in the next few months. Continue to pray for their health, and for an unspoken request.

Continue to pray for my ministry. It has of course been on hold while I cared for my mom and now my sister's family, but countries are opening up now, and I may be able to begin traveling again soon. I am hoping to help those I had lined up in England and Europe, so please pray since I will possibly be helping Ukrainian refugees.

Please pray for Ukraine and Russia. While our media, including conservative news, are spinning their various tales, missionaries in both countries are sharing what is truly happening. Pray that the Gospel can be given to the people. Pray for those who are leaving the countries. The US has warned Americans to leave Russia.

Wars and rumors of wars: I am not worried about the future since I know that this is just one more sign that Jesus is coming soon.

Miracles

 I apologize for not having posted in over a month. I have been caring for my 6 nieces and nephews while my sister and her husband stayed at the hospital with baby 7 after his heart surgery. We prayed for miracles with all the complications baby Joel was born with.

The first miracle was that his first surgery was not the typical first surgery for the heart defect he has. He stayed in the hospital a month simply to make sure the surgery had gone well, and so he could get strong enough to stay home and not need to be readmitted for any reason.

The second miracle is that the surgery, which was expected to be very difficult due to veins that run in abnormal directions around the heart, was actually textbook according to the doctor.

The third miracle was that his mom's milk is so far enough to sustain his weight without needing any formula. The formulas they used to fortify his milk while he was in the hospital did not sit well in his tummy. Thankfully, mommy's milk seems to be working well. 

 The miracle we are praying for now is that the heart will grow and the typical first surgery will not be needed. He is still expected to have surgery at 6 months old, but we are praying that God will allow the heart to grow and remove the need for any future surgeries.

My parents returned home after they knew the baby had come through the surgery and was doing well. My mom has been dealing with stress related heart issues, so prayers for her would be much appreciated. my dad has been running the kids program for our church, so please pray that we can get someone to come in and be a help in that area. Thankfully, we have a faithful lady who plays accordian, and she has been doing the music while I have been away.

Things are moving in the judicial world in regards to the continued mandates for air and public transportation travel. The first win for some to fly who cannot mask has happened for a 4 year old boy who was being denied a mask exemption by numerous airlines which caused him to have trouble getting to medical appointments in Boston. Please pray that God will use this case as well as several others in the courts to cause Congress to step in and say enough is enough in regards to the unnecessary measures.

The Canada truck convoy sparked a worldwide convoy protest on top of the continued protest marches around the world. People who have survived communism and socialism in Europe... are standing up against all the mandates. Some countries have already ended the mandates because of these protests. Please pray that God will continue to open doors for me to travel again.

I know that God brought me home and kept me home in order for me to care for my mom and now my sister's family. Although it has not been easy, I continue to wait to see what God will have me to do for the future.

My plans when I return home are to spend time with some of our kids who made professions of faith just before and during the Christmas season. I want to talk with them in depth about baptism and make sure they fully understand what it means to be baptized.

A New Year, A New Nephew!

 Because of Christmas, New Year's and the expected birth of my nephew, I decided to wait to do an update.

My parents and I traveled to Iowa for Christmas this year to be with my sister Julie and her family. Christmas was a fun time spent with my nieces and nephews and my sister and her husband. We played games, made cookies, watched movies, and just enjoyed each other's company. Julie was expecting baby number seven, and he was having some complications in the womb. The doctors thought he would come before Christmas, but he decided to wait. On January 6, Julie went to an ultrasound appointment, and the baby seemed to be in distress. The plan was, if the baby wasn't born by the 10th, then labor would be induced. With the signs of distress, the doctors decided to induce that night. Joel Jirah was born around 11:15-11:30 weighing 8lbs. 14oz. he came out face up and screaming which was a good sign. Julie was able to hold him for a short time before he was moved to NICU. The doctors are keeping him still due to the heart issues he has. He will require surgery in the near future. Please pray for Julie and Andy and baby Joel.

The New Year was spent indoors due to an ice storm. The weather has remained cold since, and we did get a bit of snow, but the temps have been so cold, that the kids could only play outside for a short time. We had nights of heavy winds and extremely low temps the last couple of days. Hopefully we can get a bit warmed up before the snow melts away.

With the issues my new nephew has, he will probably be in the hospital for awhile even without surgery, so I will remain in Iowa for a few weeks or so to help with the other six kids. Please pray for my parents as they will head home in a few days. Pray especially for my mom as she is still struggling with her own heart issues, and I will not be at home to help her.

Please continue to pray that countries and airlines end their mandates. I heard that England is relaxing a bit, which means I may be able to complete my scheduled trip there if the aairlines relax some of their measures.

Tis the Season!

 I waited until after our kids Christmas play to post this update. We have been working on this program, Emmanuel, since October. This year, the kids had speaking parts, so it took a lot more work to get them ready. We had 19 kids in the play, and several of their families came to watch them perform. I was so proud of the work these kids put into their parts. It was a blessing to watch them. You can watch the live video on our church Facebook page Anchor Baptist Church. https://www.facebook.com/151833174833798/videos/2909005502747301 Please pray that some of the families will begin attending church. One young man raised his hand for salvation, but I do not believe he trusted Christ at the time.

A week ago, I held an impromptu Christmas party for the young ladies in our church. We had food and I gave them the option of playing games or watching a Christmas movie. The movie choices were Rudolph, Muppet Christmas Carol, or It's A Wonderful Life in color. They chose It's A Wonderful Life, and they loved it. It was a nice time of fellowship and fun.

We had our first snow a few days ago. Winter has come in slowly this year, and I fear that means it will be a longer one. After living in warm countries for the last few years, Maine's 9 months of cold is hard on me. I do not mind the snow, but the days of extreme cold and no snow are not my cup of tea.

Please continue to pray for our church as we try to grow the kids program and use it as a tool to reach the parents. Pray that we can get some help for our music ministry, kids ministry, and bus ministry. My dad does most of the pickups for church, and if our song leader isn't here he does the music and preaching. He also helps run the kids program on Saturdays. We do visiting on Friday afternoons. Having a another man or couple to help would be a huge blessing.

Please pray for my sister Julie whose baby is due in January but will most likely come early due to some heart issues. Please pray the baby will not need surgery. Pray for my sister Jacqueline is expecting her first baby in March. Continue to pray for my mom's health as well.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 I'm thankful today for parents who take a stand for truth even when it means they may face heartaches for it. 

I'm thankful for politicians who are working to try to turn our nation around even as they are vilified. 

I'm thankful for a heritage that believes in fighting to maintain the freedom the Pilgrims came in search of.

I'm thankful for my family and friends. So many have supported me  over the years.

I'm thankful for my church family, and especially the kids I get to work with and teach.

I'm thankful to live in America which is still the freest nation on earth.

A Goodly Heritage

 The start of November has been busy. My parents celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on November 7, but we held the party on November1. One of my brothers and two of my sisters were able to come. We had a great time emphasizing the goodly heritage my parents have passed down to us. Seven children and 22 grandchildren carry on the tradition of singing and quoting Scripture as families, and all are in church. My dad has been preaching for 48 years. 

Our Christmas play is coming along. We have been practicing every Saturday, and the kids have been  memorizing their parts as well as Luke 2:1-7. Please pray that all of this will come together. Pray also that this will be the key in getting the parents into church.

Please continue to pray for our church. we have many needs for help in various areas. Pray for my dad and  mom as they continue to try to grow the people. Pray for my sister Julie's baby who is to be born in January. The baby has some birth defects including some heart issues which may require surgery. Pray for sister Jacqueline who is also expecting in March. My traveling ministry is still at a stand still, so pray that doors will open there. While I wait, I continue to work with the young people of our church and play the music.