Another milestone!

I just finished a week of Pre-Field Training Live. Prior to this, I took 3 online courses to learn more about cross cultural missions and other topics that applied to going into full time missions - ie. spiritual warfare, communications, cultural practices and norms, theology, evangelism, etc. This week of live training helped to bring the online courses 'to life'!

This photo is of part of the group as we had a lesson held in a crematorium. The focus was on "giving up our rights" to go into the field of missions. Such as giving up the right to comfort, be right, control, be understood, make decisions, have pleasant circumstances, see results, etc. This lesson really hit home with me as I've reflected on the past time I've spent in Louisiana. There has been many sacrifices that I've had to make and I haven't always handled it well or should I say gracefully. Sometimes, I argue with God rather than humbly submitting and accepting present circumstances and His will. I am excited about the next steps that He has for me and I think that I am getting better at surrendering to whatever the moment requires. Thanks for your prayers and love!

Since I am finished with this training, I can now spend more time in the field and campaigning for the needed support. I look forward to being able to focus on this and feel relieved that the formal training has been accomplished... for now! I know I will continue to attend classes and conferences as I love to learn and will have new opportunities for that. The week of Pre-Field Training has been refreshing and very beneficial!

There's nothing like a view from the top!

I've been in the beautiful state of Colorado this week in the mountains west of Colorado Springs. I'm attending training called CHE which stands for Community Health Evangelism. It's been a great time of learning and reflection. I'll even throw in retreat. It's been very long days but I'm learning a lot about Lifewinds model to disciple a community and foster positive change.

Each day, we have taken a long break after lunch to go out hiking and enjoying the country. I'm not used to this altitude and I could be in shape by the time I leave!!

We made it through Gustav ok. Our mission has been working down in Houma since that hit. We're also doing relief efforts in Texas to address the damage by Ike there. I'll update more on that as I know more. In Colorado, I'm outta sight, outta mind - no cell phone connection and feel like I'm in the ice ages with that. What did we ever do before cell phones??

Blessings to you all!

No Place Like Home...

I’m back in Wisconsin presently. I left Louisiana about 3 weeks ago to revisit Iowa, and then to my home area to work on campaigning for long-term missions.

In Iowa, it was great to see how much progress churches are making both in Iowa City and in Cedar Rapids as far as transitioning from immediate relief efforts to developing a long-term ministry. Iowa City is continuing to do a few Saturday work days a month. They have a team formed for looking at long-term recovery and they are looking for ways to help the nearby neighborhoods. They are in the process of rebuilding themselves as the church was flooded by 6 ft of water. With the help of their congregation and other volunteers, they were able to clean out the church and the surrounding property. They are now entering the rebuilding stage, so please keep them in your prayers. They are temporarily operating out of a school and other buildings. That creates a lot of extra stress on top of rebuild decisions.
About 5,000 homes were flooded in Cedar Rapids along with many businesses. Cedar Hills EFC is also hosting teams a few weekends a month and working towards long-term unmet needs in the area. The church was not directly affected, but was preparing to move into another building as the flooding has hit the area. They have a busy schedule with preparing for and making the move along with trying to host volunteers and further form a crisis response ministry. Please pray that God will continue to help their transition and future plans. They have a FEMA park that is in the backyard of their new church building – what a mission field!

LaValle, WI was also hit with flooding in June. The Community EFC there took on 3 feet of water and had to be gutted out. It’s a small community with lots of surrounding small towns that all took on damage from the flood waters. Please pray for rebuilding efforts and outreach opportunities around the church and in nearby communities. The pastor’s vision is that disciples would be made in several surrounding towns through outreach efforts. He can really use help and teams that wish to do relational and construction ministry.

I’m taking the rest of August to campaign for long-term missions. Please pray for me as I continue in this process. It can get overwhelming at times with all that is going on in the field and trying to find the time to contact people, keep everyone updated and visit churches. Please pray for refreshment as well as balance!!
When I get back to Louisiana, I’ll be moving again. We have to remove the trailers that we have been staying in from the church property. That means we have to find other homes for staff to stay in. Please pray for us as we transition. I’m reminded of Matthew 8:20, “…foxes have holes, and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lie down and rest.” In leaving to follow Jesus, I am beginning to understand how places to rest are only temporary as they exist. I don’t believe that I am supposed to get too comfortable while I am in this world!

Thanks so much for all your prayers – I can feel them and know that God is listening!!

Greetings from Iowa

I was recently at an EFCA National Conference in St. Louis with my team. That was a great time of networking and learning the latest EFCA news. I made it down to the Arch while I was there, but I didn't have time to ride to the top. The Mississippi looked like it was close to flooding it's banks (not too far away from the Arch!) and I was surprised at the width and volume of the waters as they flowed by!

Instead of going back to Louisiana, I got re-routed to Iowa. There's been lots of flooding in Iowa and it's been oppressive just looking at the aftermath with water still in the streets and neighborhoods, homes gutted and roads closed. It reminded me of being in New Orleans with all the wet belongings thrown out on the curbs. There will be rebuilding needs going on for a long time.

Parkview EFC in Iowa City was flooded with 6 feet of water. Their parking lot is still full of water and probably will be for a while. They have relocated their offices and services right now and are staying 'a float' one might say. I'm very impressed with how they have mobilized the church body and volunteers to completely gut their church and start working towards the recovery phase. They have also pulled together to make transitions that they didn't anticipate. Please keep them in your prayers. There's also a church in Cedar Rapids where I have had contact with the care team. They are looking at how they can make sure all their members are doing ok which is quite a task given the size of their congregation and the problem with flooding. It's great to see the body taking care of their own and pitching in to help each other.

I have been very welcomed and will continue to be a resource as I can and build a relationship with these churches. It's hard to see what they are going through, but it's encouraging to see how they are pulling through it!

Please keep all those affected in your prayers and that things will "dry up" where flooding has occurred.