An update

I can't believe so much time has slipped away from me. Sorry that I am not better at keeping up with this sort of thing!

This summer has taken it's toll on me. I went from a National conference in June, to a few weeks of vacation in July that ended with some health issues. While I've been working over the past month, I've spent time trying to recover physically as well as emotionally. I'm getting better, but still not quite myself. Spiritually, God has shown me how I need total dependence on Him - His will, His timing, His provision, His sustenance, His ways, etc!

On a personal note - please continue to pray for my strength and peace. I could also use wisdom for balancing my ministry and personal time and pace.

On a ministry note - I am excited at the things God is doing!
-Our Crisis Response Ministry Center is getting closed to finished! (1st pic) We should be moving in September. On a sad note, the "stained carpet" is GONE from Trinity Church - they are refreshing the building after 4 years of volunteer occupancy!
-God has recently sent a few potential staff for the area of follow up ministry as well as overall Crisis Response! It's great to see the potential for that area of the ministry to expand. This 2nd pic is of a team that tried follow up a few weeks ago - all 3 are in the application process!
-We are getting ready to hold our annual planning meetings to discuss where we've been and where God wants us to go!
-We just finished a summer in which we were blessed by much volunteer involvement!

Please keep in prayer the need for volunteers - "the harvest fields are soooo ripe!" This last pic was taken last week while walking the streets of New Orleans. That is one of MANY that still decorate the neighborhoods where we are working in Central City.

Many blessings to y'all!
Mary

Ministry continues after the Flood & Hurricanes are long gone...

I have been traveling quite a bit these past few months. When I'm back and forth, living out of a suitcase, I seem to lose track of free time to keep this site updated!

God continues to do exciting things in this ministry of Crisis Response. I was just updating my boss on the last few months progress. God has increased the fruit of this ministry. We are praying that He will continue to touch the lives of others... eternally.

A few things to keep in prayer -
- North Dakota is still cleaning up post flooding - teams are needed while there are still many sandbags and much clean up. Two churches want to use this as a time to outreach to the rural community.
- There is a rebuild ministry going on in Cedar Rapids. I spent several days there working towards further relational ministry development with a group of people. It was good to get to spend some time with the people impacted and pray/encourage them and the people who came out. Pray that this process continues.
- I spent a week in Galveston also working further on the development of the relational and followup ministry. It was great to see people getting excited about making contacts and encouraging/evangelizing in that process. Please pray this will continue to work out and there would be opportunities to start discipleship groups as a result.
- In Louisiana, a few discipleship groups have recently started and we are seeing people growing closer in fellowship and spiritual understanding as a result.
- For God to continue to send laborers - whether long-term or short-term, that the help would be abundant.
- The progress and completion of our Crisis Response Ministry center.
- For the health of our team.
- For continued development of promotional materials and strategies to mobilize people and finances to sustain our ministry.
- For people to know the saving grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ and to grow in that knowledge/mature in their faith.
- For protection during Hurricane season!

I had an opportunity to attend a Sabbath Rest retreat a few weeks ago. That was a great time of learning to take a weekly rest from everything (like God & Jesus instructed) and how to spend quality time with the Lord so He can do more through me. The 3 R's I learned to do weekly were: Release, Review, & Remember. Release things to God and remember what my part is and what His part is - not to take on His part! That means all struggles, anxieties, worries, emotions, etc. need to go back to Him. I need to Review what I can do, what I am supposed to do, what scripture tells me to do and work on aligning myself with that. I also need to Remember to spend time with God in a manner that worships Him and pleases Him - this could be singing, praying, walking, reading, writing, etc., but to draw near to Him. If I can practice this 3-4 hours each week, I will be refreshed. Please try these things yourself and pray for me that I can practice this way of having balance and more spiritual renewal!

I praise God for meeting brothers and sisters in Christ throughout my travels that are like-minded when it comes to our role as Christians to reach out and share the love of Christ. I also am thankful for the many different ways He has taken care of me through these people - housing, food, transportation, fellowship, prayer, support - PTL!!

Thanks for your prayers and love!!
Blessings,
Mary

To the Beach...

I had an opportunity to finally get out and visit the beaches here. The first day I went was in the morning and it happened to be the only day that it rained here on the penninsula! I went with a small group of people. I did get in a little sun and I was able to look for some sea shells before the rain came. I also met a young man who was making jewelry. He came and planted himself down by our little rented tent. He didn't want to take no for an answer and he was very sweet, so a few of us had him custom make a necklace and earrings for us! The beach we hung out at was near the town of Los Taques and it was called "Villa Marina" which means "little town harbor". This beach was the one that had the little huts.

The next day, there was a beach visit as well, but because we were checking out another possible spot for baptisms. There are also photos of "Maraven" beaches. This name means "sea at Venezuela". This beach is the one with the cliffs next to it - it was surrounded by a hill with bluffs. This day the sun was out more and it was very hot! The temperature here gets very warm and arid. In the afternoons, every one likes to take siestas. I've not got into this habit while I've been here, but I was very tempted today after visiting the beach!

I will have more info on what I've learned and what God's doing here in my next newsletter. If you're not on my newsletter list and would like to be, please drop me a line and I'll add you!

I hope this finds you all well back in the homeland! I'll be heading back Monday which is right around the corner. Thanks for your prayers!

In Him,
Mary (or Mar-ee as they say here!)

Across Paraguay Pennisula...

Paraguay Pennisula is mainly desert-like. There are strong winds that constantly blow ("vienta" is the name for wind). The cacti are huge! I've never seen so many in my life. I took a picture showing some of the cacti along the road. The mountaneous photo is of "Santa Ana" which is a volcano that sits in the center of the penninsula. The ground is more fertile as one travels inland towards Santa Ana. The picture shows how green everything is and there is lots more vegetation and different types of trees. There is a certain shade tree that has a flat top if you see it in a picture. It looks a little similar to an olive tree. It is called a "cuji". The cuji and goats are both a very common site while driving across the Paraguay pennisula. The goats in the picture were seen many places along the road. This shot was taken while driving through Buena Vista.

Buena Vista is the oldest town on the penninsula. The name means "good view". There is a photo of an old Catholic Church - one of the oldest in the area. The other town is "Pueblo Nuevo" which means "new town". The town is actually fairly old as well, but it's newer than some of the others! We drove out this way to check out a place for doing baptisms. The church here is doing it's first baptism service and it's going to be a big event; they are inviting their partner churches to come as well. We looked at a very nice place with a pool that was out in the country.

Then, we went to the beach to check out a place there... coming up next...