Serving God through By Prayer at SIM USA is such a joy and pleasure.  It is encouraging to know the work God has given me reaches others in beneficial ways.  One of the things I have asked contributors to do is to share answers to the prayers we publish in By Prayer.  I then inform all the contributors of these answers to encourage us all to not give up praying.  One man wrote he had an answer.  He told me the theme of ‘Women in Ministry’ featured in By Prayer made him realize he didn’t have any women in ministry in his field.  He shared this concern with his Bible school students and sent me a request for women to do ministry in his area.  One of his students came to him and said she had an idea for a ministry she wanted to do reaching out to girls in the streets of her town.  They prayed together about it and he wrote to say this student has started a ministry to the girls teaching them to make jewelry they can sell to support themselves and studying the Bible together.  It is so exciting and humbling to see how God is using my work in the SIM USA office to impact our team mates in distant lands, expanding His mission.

Somehow the calendar keeps turning over and life keeps happening.  It has been a busy, eventful few months.  I had a lovely visit in March with my brother and sister and a sweet time of fellowship with old and new friends at Sebring.  Immediately upon my return I started a week long course (class from 9 to 5) in Trauma Healing.  This training equipped me to help people who have experienced traumatic events to process and recover in a healthy manner.  I anticipate taking the trainer course in the fall.  On the heels of this packed week, work began for another edition of By Prayer.

Just as I sent that edition to the typesetter, Corey, Katie and the girls arrived for a short home assignment in the USA.  We had a packed schedule with Katie’s parents for part of the time, meetings with friends over the pool or grill, picking berries (blackberries, strawberries and raspberries) and eating them, sandwiched in with games, laughter and just a little bit of time together to visit.  Katie’s dad even very graciously installed a storm door for me.  Too soon they were all gone.

Even before Corey and Katie arrived the Perspectives course for which I had signed up began.  It explores a Christian viewpoint of world missions.  I missed two classes while they were here and have worked hard to catch up on the class assignments.  Next week I will miss class again to travel to Connecticut to spend a week with Corey, Katie and the girls, and see some of you.

I plan to drive up and back hoping to stop off to see some friends along the way.  I leave Charlotte Friday, July 1 and need to be back at work Monday, July 11. I will go up through Wheeling, West Virginia to visit friends there and drive down the eastern coast on the way back. Let me know if you would be willing to have me stop by on my way up or back.  I would love to see you.

Thank you for your prayers for a church home.  I have found a lovely fellowship that is a little farther than I wanted, but the worship, teaching and fellowship are worth it.  I am attending a summer study group and look forward to getting to know the folks in it as well as studying the Word together.

I have signed up for another course in September on coaching, and joined the hospitality team at SIM to welcome visitors to the campus by picking them up at the airport when the regulars cannot.  It feels good to feel settled enough to expend my energies in these community-building activities.

Many thanks to all of you who contributed during the matching funds campaign from November through April.  You contributed over $12,600 that was matched.  This means these funds reduce my monthly shortfall to only a little over $1,100.  While I thankfully currently have these funds to cover my expenses for the present, we still need to pray for more monthly support partners.

Praises and prayers:

• Ask for more answers to prayers to multiply ministry effectiveness through By Prayer.
• Continued praises for the place I have been given to live in. Plead with me for more opportunities to use it to God’s glory.
• Pray for safety as I travel to and from Connecticut and good connections with friends and family.
• Praise for the $12,600 in matching funds, but please continue to pray for more monthly partners.

For a few pictures click here.

To contribute to the Thailand SLC fund click on this link. Click on the “Give Now” button and add a note saying your contribution is to my MINISTRY funds for the THAILAND TRIP.