Prayer
requests:
(We will email any “urgent”/more specific
requests as they come up, but here are our more ongoing requests….)
More requests (updated Oct. 2008):
·
“Ministry”
requests:
Þ
That things
will work well with the church in our new town, as well as the new church we
may help start in a town north of us.
Þ
That there’ll
be unity and no divisions among the body of Believers here
Þ
That
He will make it evident who He’s chosen to become the leadership for these
churches – the people to whom we will “turn the church over”.
Þ
That
people come to seek Him, in other words, that there would be a revival in our
We’d
love to see a similar harvest, which only God can produce, in that town north
of us too!
Þ
That
we will continue to see any fruit God is growing here so that it will be easier
to fight discouragement.
·
“Family/personal”
requests:
Þ
We
have been very blessed by the lady currently helping to teach our children
French. We hope to find someone to fill the
void she will leave when we move to our new town.
Þ
We
also need to find someone who will help Steve and Ruth further their French
when we move.
Again,
we have been very blessed in
Þ
The other
person we are moving farther away from is the lady who takes care of our
children about once a month. We will
miss her very much and hope to find someone who will be able to be as good for
our family as she is.
Þ
As
always, we need wisdom to know how to use our time
Þ
When
we move, we pray for good relationships with our neighbors and in our new
community, and that we (our children especially) will be given some good
friends.
Þ
We
also would like prayer for extra insight into how to “vivre ensemble” (live
together, as the French often say) in this culture while reflecting His
glory.
Please Pray:
- that we will have
opportunities to talk with our atheist friends more (in person).
- that we will
‘seize the opportunities’ and not give in to our fleshly fear of the difficult
or unknown.
- for the French
believers who are scattered across the country and are very lonely without
other Christians to encourage them.
- that we will
have (and take) opportunities to talk with our neighbors more.
- that we will
have wisdom in understanding the French “legal” system.
- for health and
sleep during the ‘cold and flu’ season.
- for Patience,
Patience, and more patience! We all need more of it, as well as the
ability to not get angry with each other!
- that all the
Believers here, missionaries included, would not give in to the feelings of
hopelessness; as though there was no point in sharing our faith with others.
- for a softening
of hearts and a conviction of sin to fall on the country – that brings forth
repentance in those He is calling into His kingdom.
Current prayer requests we’ve had
all along:
1. that we will have an ability to learn the
language as soon as possible and please pray for courage for Ruth, Josh, Grace,
and Jeremiah to speak it! (Steve strikes
up conversations with anyone anywhere - not having mastered French doesn't stop
him in the least.)
2. that we will adjust to the culture here
quickly.
3. that we will easily make friends here -
especially that our children will make good friends quickly. We'd love to have friends who will patiently
teach us the culture, language, etc. and to whom we can
"minister".
4. that we won't be so stressed that we
won't be able to hear (from above) what to do to reach the people we come in
contact with.
6.
that we have the fruits of the Spirit, (rather than getting aggravated with
each other --- I personally don't understand how we can be salt and light when
we are continually hushing our children and telling them not to fight with each
other - but maybe it's just that I don't see things from God's perspective ...
maybe?)
7. that we will focus on Him and doing His will
(rather on our long to do lists).
8. Even though, we have a
lot to do and learn, we would still like to be given more ministry
opportunities. Please pray that we will
(continue to) have some (and that we will see them! ...and take them when they are given to us!)
Also: