1. In January we spent two weeks in Mexico living in the shade of a volcano.

2. While there we visited the Basilica in Mexico City (where we saw people crawling on their knees to gain favor from Mary) and the Aztec pyramids in Chalula (where we saw altars of human sacrifice).

3. Over 800 letters were sent out to share what God is doing in our hearts and in Mexico.

4. Pre-field ministry began in Vermont. While there we gathered sap from maple trees and watched as it was made into syrup.

5. It was a honor to live in R.A. Torrey’s home while we participated in a prayer retreat at Montrose Bible Conference.

6. We traveled to and shared in nineteen churches in Vermont, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, and Tennessee.

7. The children especially enjoyed four-wheeling at our friends in Hickox.

8. Ken’s mother’s recovery from a July stoke was a “miracle”.

9. We made new friends, went swimming almost daily and played lots of ping-pong in addition to the training we received while at CIT in Union Mills, North Carolina.

10. In celebration of Diana’s 40th birthday we enjoyed a hobo dinner (cooked in a garbage can over an open fire) with family and friends.

11. Attending CrossWorld’s Pre-Field Orientation in November was one of our last mission requirements.

12. A Thanksgiving telephone call and a Christmas card from a dear friend in India remind us that “missions exists because worship doesn’t”.

What are your current plans?

We are now targeting May as our departure date to Mexico but we have learned that exact dates and plans are in the Lord's hands. We simply move forward waiting upon Him to guide us.

What will you do until your departure?

We have documentation and business to care for (power of attorney, certificates to be apostilled, change in licenses, insurance), a house to sell and pack up, a van to purchase, ordination to prepare for and complete, churches to contact and share in, medical and dental check-ups, etc. In addition to these things we have a lot of correspondence, traveling, and just plain daily living.

What is the length of an average deputation?

It takes an average of two years to get to the field. We finished Candidate Orientation in July of 2004 but it wasn’t until March of this year that we actively began support development. We are all excited at how quickly support has come since some have waited five years to get to the field.

How’s the work going in Mexico?

In the words of a teammate, “Leaders are being trained. A 2nd House Church is scheduled. And evangelism training results in 19 youth committing to missions and 14 new believers.” It makes us want to be in the thick of it.

What’s the weather like in Puebla?

The forecast for tomorrow - sunshine along with some passing clouds, high 63F. This is not to be confused by the West Virginia forecast of sunny and a high of 33F. I think we can adjust!

From the beginning of our marriage Diana and I wanted to forge our own Christmas traditions. I felt Christmas was way too commercialized, had lost much of its meaning and needed to down size. Diana on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed almost all aspects of Christmas, including lots of decorations, baking, activities and celebrations. Needless to say our ideas clashed at the foot of the manager.

Through the years we have worked together to bring lots of celebration into the Christmas season while making sure that Christ remains the center of it all. We have gone to a barn for family devotions on Christmas day, given $1 gifts among ourselves, taken gifts to a child of a prisoner, trudged through snow to give away cookies, sang carols in the neighborhood, participated in a living nativity scene and incorporated Christmas ideas from other countries.

Here are some of the traditions we have made though the years: 1) Decorate the day after Thanksgiving in order to enjoy the season and avoid the pressure to have a perfect day on the 25th 2) Make a special ornament for the tree each year (make extra to give to your children when they leave home) 3) Give away cookies for neighbors and friends to show the love of Jesus in a practical way 4) Use a daily advent reading 5) Participate in the Samaritan Purse shoebox or gift ministry 6) Read a children’s book together 7) Celebrate with a Christmas breakfast 8) Enjoy the Christmas lights together and come home to enjoy hot chocolate and eggnog.

Above all find an opportunity with your family or church family to worship along with Mary when she said, “My soul exalts the Lord, and my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.”

Recently I did a survey among missionaries from Mexico and asked, “… from your perspective what are the Enemy's greatest strongholds there?” There were twenty-seven responses from seventeen organizations. Here are the results:

Catholicism/Church Traditions/Works-Based Religion (19)

· “Catholicism in general seems to be the major stronghold.”

· “TRADITIONS are chains for these people.”

· “Many don't read the Bible for themselves in this culture therefore they accept the lies.”

Worship of the Virgin of Guadalupe/Idolatry (12)

· “To see people crawling on their knees trying to gain favor from Mary is enough to break even the hardest Christian heart. To see priests bow to Mary and ignore Jesus brings one to the point of anger. To see the precious indigenous people offering the sacrifice of first fruits to the feet of Mary is enough to drive a person to tears.”

· “…VERY STRONG in Mexico is…idolatry...”

Witchcraft/Occultism/Paganism/Superstition (8)

· “ ‘Curanderos’, female or male witch-doctors, are not just users of natural medicine…Such "curers" can be paid to put a curse on someone you don't like.

· “…the traditions and customs of Mexico are so much a carry over from the human sacrifices and spiritism of the Aztecs that it is really sad.”

Alcoholism (7)

· “Heavy drinking is expected among men...”

· “Many individuals are bound by drinking problems…”

Our desire is that this survey will propel us into the arena of prayer to take back the ground our enemy has gained. Mexico for Christ in our generation!

We have lots of Thanksgiving memories. Most are good memories revolving around family and friends but there is that occasional bad one. Like the time the carbon monoxide detector went off just before dinner and I insisted on going out for a new one – immediately. This year we made a new memory when we received a call from a friend in India. She had celebrated at our home the last two years and was thinking of us.

We think of her a lot these days as she takes the light into the darkness. Here’s a portion of a letter she sent the next day, “It was nice to talk to you…I miss you all so much…Today, a 9 year old boy died. He was a new neighbor that moved into a house near my team leader's house. He had a fever for a day and by midnight, he died. He was the family's only son. He had never heard about Jesus from us. It’s a humbling time, a fragile reminder to be bold because I might not have tomorrow.”

What’s in it for us? Just a gentle reminder that while we feasted on turkey, watched the Cowboys game, and prepared our shopping lists for Friday a little boy on the other side of the world slipped into the next life without having feasted on the Bread of Life.

If Aunt Alma were still around she would ring out her often repeated phrase for this time of year, “Every day ought to be Thanksgiving Day!” It wasn’t that she didn’t enjoy Thanksgiving Day (she enjoyed a grand meal along with everyone else) but it was her reminder that being thankful is a 365 day occasion. At the risk of running a shopping list journal here are some of the things, big and small, I am thankful for these days.

I am thankful for…my mom holding on and continuing to make a wonderful recovery…family and friends who stick with us…all the enjoyment our children have found riding their scooters in our house…a piece of that miracle coming to pass…the exciting adventure of taking the cross to another people group…for a cup of tea, conversation and prayer with my wife…new friends we have met along the way…a good game of carrom or croquet…new challenges and fresh reasons to trust God…a good belly laugh…hobo dinners to celebrate 40th birthdays…our small group support system…a lamp for my feet and a light for my path…a good book and warm fire…Christmas season…pumpkin pie…those who take the time to read these crazy entries and feel the need to pray for us…

1. Stopped at McDonalds for ice cream on the way!

2. Got lost and ended up in New Jersey.

3. Ministry at Marcus Hook Baptist Church and able to enjoy their wonderful facilities, including Gym.

4. Classes, classes, classes and more classes.

5. Juggling homeschooling in the middle of the organized chaos.

6. A Saturday afternoon a Michael’s craft shop and lunch at Panera Bread. Yeah!

7. Challenged by Elisabeth Elliot’s quote, “There is no need for faith where there is no consciousness of an element of risk.”

8. The children get an art lesson from a professional artist reminds us that the Lord has special surprises for our children.

9. Made lots of new friends and heard a portion of their stories.

10. Reminded of the exciting things God is doing in Mexico, AND we are praying for many of you to join us.

God is gracious and doesn’t let us flounder in comfort…which is another way of saying we are living on the edge of our comfort zone. Philadelphia beckons us with friends to meet, another round of training to attend, churches to visit and God’s mysteries to discover. Some days we feel as though we are in the fast lane and ask ourselves, “What in the world are we doing?” At other times we feel as though we are in the slow lane and ask ourselves, “Will we ever get there?”

Lest I mislead you this is a positive thing in our lives. It has given us an opportunity to prove many Scriptures such as Psalm 33:20-21, “We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.”

Also I should tell you that another positive over the last year is the establishment of a new tradition in the Harer family. Christina declared on a trip recently that it is “tradition” to stop for ice cream when we travel. So as we head toward Philadelphia be assured that not only will our hearts be rejoicing but we will do so with ice cream in hand.

We were shocked to learn just a few days ago that our next door neighbor had passed away in the middle of the night. She was a kind, middle- aged lady who enjoyed working in her yard whether it was mowing, gardening or building.

It brought back the words of another friend from Wisconsin who is much the same as our neighbor. Linda is a kind, middle-aged nurse and rancher woman from Wisconsin. She is a hard worker with a barn full of Morgan horses. Last October she was roofing her house when she sensed the Lord saying, “Linda, the second you die this will all be dust.” After she had loaded up a wheel borrow full of “Yea, buts” she sensed the Lord saying again, “Linda, the second you die this will all be dust.” Seven months later the ranch and all her belongings have been sold and she is headed to Ethiopia to live out the life of Christ.

Psalm 39:4 puts it all into perspective for us when David says, “Show me, O LORD, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life.” Life is short, may we spend every ounce of it for the glory of God. Oswald Chambers said, “I have a great vision of a Protestant movement where people of ability who could obviously make their living fair and flourishing in other domains, deliberately refuse to do it and live for Him alone going the world over for Him.”

Is it presumptuous to believe that the Christian life can be lived on the verge of a miracle? When I say miracle I mean it is evident God is supernaturally engineering events in such a way that only He can get the credit. We all stand back in awe and say, “God did that”.

Last week I mentioned we were “on the verge of a miracle”. The inspiration for that statement came from a Rich Mullins song that encouraged my heart. What does that mean for us? 1) Diana and I have been praying for something BIG in our lives and believe in faith that God is about to answer. We wait on tip-toe in expectation of what He is going to do. 2) We are drawing nearer to the time when this adventure takes us south of the border. 3) We are confident that our small steps of faith are proving to be "stepping stones" into spiritual victories. We believe the Lord is in the process of moving us into a life of seeing Him provide spiritual victories in sinful bondages broken, personal revivals, wounded souls healed, salvation of the lost and hearts changed. 4) It's the statement of a mindset.

It’s easy to have this expectation wrung out of us in this age, but we are always on the verge of God's extraordinary works if we "stop doubting and believe".

While it is not true that there are “many paths to God” it is true that there are many different paths that Christians walk. Each path is made up of born again believers who are sincerely and genuinely seeking God and who will be rewarded in varying degrees.

The first path emphasizes keeping standards and expectations with a focus on what we shouldn’t do as Christians. A negative tone is often communicated and the believer is motivated by guilt. Unbiblical requirements are usually added in hopes of bringing conformity. The Christian life is lived out of your best effort not to do something wrong and displease God.

The second path emphasizes following principles and guidelines with a focus on what we should do as Christians. The positive is communicated with a view of the benefits received for obedience. The Christian life is lived out of your best effort to do the right thing and please God.

The third path emphasizes the sufficiency of Christ’s life in the believer with a focus on Him living through you. Dependence on God is communicated in obedience with a view to bringing Him glory. The Christian life is lived through surrender to the control of the Holy Spirit to honor Christ.

Which path do you find yourself upon? The degree of peace and fruitfulness you find in your life may help answer this question. As for me, I have found myself on all these paths and probably continue to walk them all in varying degrees. By His grace may we walk in a way that brings the highest honor to our Lord.

Recently we met up with Dave and Mary Naff, veteran missionaries with SIM. Dave was an engineer at a radio station in Liberia, and Mary taught in the school there. They have been a part of my life since childhood. We would ride into the Smokey Mountains together for a picnic and listen to stories from Africa. What a legacy to have this man and woman of God praying for me through the years.

Last week they sent me the book Oswald Chamber’s – Abandoned To God. In one portion Chambers points out the continuing value of those who have prayed on our account. He says, “I want to tell you a growing conviction with me, and that is that as we obey the leadings of the Spirit of God, we enable God to answer the prayers of other people. I mean that our lives, my life, is the answer to someone’s prayer, prayed perhaps centuries ago.”

How thankful I am for those whose prayers are being answered on behalf of me and my family. Many continue to pray, while others have gone to their reward. I think of people like: O.W. & Mary Harer, John Marchbanks, Uncle Vernie and Aunt Alma, Nelson Kring, Mrs. Silas Ray, George Moon and Mrs. Dorothy Henry. Why not stop a moment and reflect? Who are those people in your life? In whose life will your prayers be a lingering influence in the near and distant future?

We miss our friends at CIT. We ate together, celebrated, shared our history, gathered around the coffee maker, made necklaces, played, prayed, cooked out, and just generally hung out together. There is a camaraderie that develops among a group who are abandoned to God and moving into missions. Our lives were challenged and encouraged by these who have taken John Falconer’s attitude for themselves when he said, “I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.”

As for our future “candle burning” we are trusting to be in Mexico sometime around the New Year but will wait upon the Lord’s timing. There are churches to visit, a house to sell, Pre-field Orientation to attend and lots of “things” to rid ourselves of. Sometimes the details can seem overwhelming but we are realizing we must walk with the Lord one day at a time. Thank you for holding the ropes of prayer.

It appears my mother will be coming home this week after recovery from her July 22nd stroke. While we are very thankful for modern medicine’s ability to treat the seriously ill, our trust is ultimately in the Great Physician and His healing touch. So, we want to take this opportunity to rejoice in the Lord and offer Him praise and adoration for His graciousness to us.

We’ve been learning a lot about language during PILAT (Program In Language Acquisition Techniques). It has been stretching, mind boggling, and tongue bending. Here’s a little quiz for you: 1) How many sounds are in the English language? 2) How many sounds is the mouth capable of making? 3) What causes dialects in the English language? In Spanish? 4) What is a glottal stop? 5) What is a tonal language? (Answers in last paragraph)

Speaking of tonal languages we learned how important it is to get the correct tone from a story of missionaries in far northern Canada among a tribe of Eskimos. The missionaries had translated the Bible the best they could even though they were not linguists. They couldn’t figure out why no one liked to read Psalm 23 until it was discovered they had translated it, “The Lord is my sheep herder. I don’t want him. He knocks me down in the field and drags me to the river.”

I have often heard that you need to know the language to understand the culture. I finally got a glimpse of what that means in class last week. In Korean there are five different ways to say the pronoun “you”. These are used as a means of expressing respect. This is very insightful into the Korean culture and the respect they have for the elderly. In English on the other hand everyone is “you”. Grandpa is “you”, a friend is “you”, the dog is “you”.

Quiz Answers:

1) 44

2) A million plus

3) English – vowel pronunciation; Spanish – consonant pronunciation

4) When air is stopped in the voice box

5) Languages where a specific ‘tone’ is essential to the production of a word (i.e.: Chinese)

None of us are culturally neutral. How do you…give a greeting, make your point, study the Bible, get motivated, view possessions (are they “mine” or “ours”), celebrate a wedding, show respect for the elderly or view the supernatural? How close do you stand to someone in conversation? When does a child become an adult? If you do not want to honor a request do you say “no” or do you say “we’ll see” which means “no”? All of these things are a part of our culture and most of them we do without even thinking. A big part of taking Christ to the world is understanding and doing life from their point of view.

One of the things I have learned about culture applies to my prayer life. As a westerner I think in a linear pattern making a series of orderly points. I’m realizing that I have carried that over into my prayers. It goes in some order such as: Surrender, confession, worship, Bible reading and intercession. Nothing can come out of order and when it does I usually chasten myself for a wandering mind.

On the other hand most cultures think in a spiral pattern going around and around until coming to the main point. I wonder if I shouldn’t give myself the freedom to approach prayer in this way. By that I mean asking the Spirit to bring to my mind the things and the order He wants me to pray. Everything gets prayed for with no guilt for straying out of order. Is it possible that my mind would actually be more open to receive the “mind of Christ” in prayer?

While the Center for Intercultural Training is full of hard work there are also opportunities for building good memories. The swimming pool is a regular afternoon pilgrimage and we usually find time to play ping pong, pool or foosball in the evenings. Playing with new friends ranks high and the children went on a field trip to Jaars (Jungle Aviation and Radio Service) last Friday. It’s a service branch of Wycliffe Bible Translators. On the other hand missions can be a dangerous business and we were required to write out a Theology of Suffering from 1 Peter. Here are a few thoughts from that paper:

“Throughout the centuries the Lord has used suffering to purify His church. This has been true of the church body and of individuals in the church universal. Suffering can turn us away from God but more often it brings us to find Him as our only refuge and strength. As Dr. Collard reminded us in class, ‘When God is all you have, you realize He is all you need.’”

“Peter tells his readers not to be frightened, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.” This I believe is the key to living above the suffering. We can know its benefits, blessings, and practical considerations but it is the life of Christ within us that sustains us during these times. His indwelling presence is our strength, our life and our hope. This life isn’t something that is forged in the moment of crisis but something that He develops day by day as we set Him apart as Lord. When the day of suffering comes His life is revealed.”

Ever have one of those times when you sense God is putting in your heart to do something? I’ve read so many stories of those who were awakened in the middle of the night with a burden on their heart. It may have been to pray or to provide, but it was clearly a burden from God. Diana had one of those recently while going through some of our things in storage. Feeling she needed to give particular items to someone who could use them she began to ask “who Lord?” when a specific person came to mind. That leading was confirmed the next day when she learned the same person had been praying the same day for the same need to be supplied. Amazing isn’t it or is it? Maybe that’s really just God’s normal way of doing things.

I recently read the story of Majken, a Swedish lady who was led to establish an orphanage in Germany for WW II orphans. At one point she was within hours of needing a twenty-four hundred dollar payment when the money arrived. Later she learned the rest of the story. “…On a farm in western Canada, almost a world away, an old farmer could not sleep. He had been reading a magazine called the Herald of Faith…Each month Majken wrote a small article about her work.

“Impatiently the old man waited for morning to arrive. Then he arose, dressed, and drove a short distance to the home of his daughter and son-in-law. He told them that he had to go to town. ‘Why, Father? It is still early in the morning.’ The old man held up the magazine and pointed to Majken’s article. ‘This lady, this Majken what’s-her-name, she needs help. God is speaking to me, I must go to town and send some money to this place in Germany…’”

Do you tend to keep your eye on the clock in order to get things done on time, or do you focus more on the event in order to make it significant and memorable? Does hard work to accomplish a task characterize you, or do you nurture relationships through interaction and discussion? Which is more important the individual or the community? In a conversation do you get to the point or do you provide history and details that test other’s interest? How you answer these question depends not only on your personality but also on your culture. Neither is right or wrong…just different. It all becomes part of entering and understanding another culture.

C.S. Lewis pointed out the value of community in our Christian experience. He believed that because God is transcendent and majestic it is impossible for any one person to know all there is to know about Him. Therefore we need one another’s understanding in order to have a clearer, deeper, and fuller understanding. In the same way we also need other cultures to come to a greater understanding of God. This fresh understanding will not change Him, but will magnify Him in a whole new way. What a privilege the missionary has not only to take the gospel but to glean new insights into our Creator.

It is encouraging to be around so many others who are moving into a life of ministry in another country. Croatia, India, China, Kazahkstan, and Scotland are some of the destinations represented among the 30 or so in training here. Most of us are in the process of bringing to a close our former way of life and moving into a new beginning in the country of choice. In the middle of this process is a state of limbo where we find ourselves at the moment. It too comes with its own set of challenges.

One lady in the class shared today that when she feels herself being drawn back emotionally, she “runs to the Word of God” and finds strength. So we are also finding that the promises of God are bright and beautiful, blooming like a field of springtime flowers bringing refreshment to our souls. The Lord gave two Scriptures this morning that were particularly refreshing. “Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” (Isaiah 50:10) and, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” (Psalm 32:8)

We should have plenty to share with you over the next few weeks as we are required to keep a daily journal while we are here. Already the course is interesting and looks to be very profitable for living in a new culture. Just in case you are wondering, here’s our requirements for this course: 1) Attend all classes 2) Read all handouts 3) Complete all hands-on exercises 4) Complete all assigned readings 5) Complete reflection papers 6) Keep daily journal 7) Complete culture assignments 8) Write final 10-15 page paper.

I visited my mother this weekend at a Care & Rehab Center. While expecting the worst it was encouraging to see the progress she had made in a week’s time. We laughed, talked, cruised the halls, and enjoyed hot Krispy Kreme Doughnuts together. Don’t misunderstand, there is still a long way to go, but the prospects for a good recovery are promising at the moment. Now more than ever it’s difficult to think of leaving family behind and move to Mexico.

1 Timothy 5:8 and Matthew 10:37-38 are waging war in my mind. The first says, “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” The second, “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me…and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” Both are true but which has the greater bearing in our lives at this time?

So, what’s next? For now we move forward even as we wait to see how things will go. Our plan is to leave on Thursday for six weeks of training at the Center for Intercultural Training in Union Mills, North Carolina. We rest confidently that when a person says, “Anywhere, Anything” God shows His favor. As someone has noted, “He knows, He loves, He cares. Nothing this truth can dim. He gives the very best to those, who leave the choice with Him."

On July 22nd my mother suffered a stroke on the left side of her brain. After surgery and over two weeks in ICU she has been released to a care and rehab facility. Now we wait. We wait to see how much she can recover with physical, occupational and speech therapy. These days have been intense for us as we dealt with life and death issues. Thanks for all the support and prayer on our behalf.

It is continually amazing how God intersects our lives even before we call upon Him. Recently I read “Green Leaf In Drought Time” by Isobel Kuhn. It’s the story of Arthur and Wilda Mathews, the last C.I.M. missionaries out of communist China. The focus of their lives during those difficult days was the promise that those “whose trust in the LORD…is like a tree planted by water, that…does not fear when heat comes…and is not anxious in the year of drought.” (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Kuhn tells how they came to realize, “the Son had left heaven, not submitting to the will of God, but delighting…They had been acting like servants who don’t want to do it but have to because they can’t get out of it. What a different attitude was the Son’s! There came a day in June when together Arthur and Wilda knelt before the Lord and abandoned themselves to live on in the stinted little kitchen as long as He wished them to. And the peace of God poured in like a flood bringing such joy as they had not known before.” As Arthur Mathews himself said, “The yoke is LIGHT only when it is TAKEN, and not as it is suffered.”

In the midst of correspondence, church presentations, required reading, and planning we live in context of family. We believe that family is God ordained and the best context to transfer our life and values. Where else do others see us as we really are, giving us opportunity to love, communicate, forgive and encourage. To top it off, if we manage our own household well we have a platform to impact others with these same values.

This is why we homeschool, have family devotions, keep the TV in the closet, shun cable, read books together, assign chores, and follow biblical roles. It’s also why once a week we take a “Sabbath” rest. Obviously this was a law given to Israel but we came to the conclusion years ago that we are strengthened as a family when we take a day together to rest and rejuvenate.

Yesterday was one of those days. It was fun, relaxing and refreshing. It started out with a breakfast tea followed up with reading a chapter on Lottie Moon (She was a missionary to China just after the Civil War). The morning was given to a service project for neighbors with most of the afternoon set aside for reading. Later games of croquet, carrom, and badminton were interspersed with pizza and sparklers. What a day! What a family!

The possibility of an end of the year departure to Mexico is coming into sight. We feel as though we are being drawn deep into an adventure that is out of our control, and it doesn’t feel safe. Then again being in partnership with God isn’t safe because there’s a wonder and wildness about Him. He is indescribable and uncontainable. Yet, in it all He is good.

It’s settling to have a track record of trusting. Recently when fear and doubt wash over me I have thought and prayed something like this: “I’ve been here before. I have felt these emotions at different times over the last year. ‘Lord, my dependence is in You. You are my refuge and strength. I trust You. Expand the boundaries of Your control in my life.’”

God calls us all to a life of trust. Your journey will not be our journey, nor ours, yours. That isn’t the point. The point is each of us following Him into places where faith becomes a necessity. Places where our roots go down deep into the eternal God. Places where we are no longer in control but He is in absolute control. Places where He gets all the credit.

1) The unseen world is a far greater reality than the seen. As a matter of fact the seen world is often filled with illusion, facade, and deception. With that in mind it becomes fascinating to watch God at work in the details of life. It’s like “reading between the lines.” You see the story unfolding but know there’s more than meets the eye. On one occasion I had just introduced spiritual conversation with a particular person when the phone rang. The abrupt end caused me to walk away feeling as though precious seed had been snatched away. Yet only days later a wide door of opportunity opened with the same person that was a “divine appointment”.

2) Over the years there are family members and friends I have prayed for dozens of times. I cannot express to you the absolute joy of hearing how first this one than that one have come to know Christ. It has led me to a conclusion – God does indeed answer prayer! It may not be on my timetable, it may not always be apparent, but He is not silent.

3) We received a warm reception and had tremendous fellowship in the seven churches we visited here. There’s just something personable and inviting about a country church. The pace is slower and there is no need for formality. Everyone is welcome to sing, give a testimony, or say a prayer. There are many heart warming stories to tell, but the one that stands out to me at the moment is the elderly lady who took my hand and said with great conviction , “I don’t speak out in public but I want you to know I WILL pray for you.” You know what? I have no doubt she will.

If time permitted I could also tell you stories of spit-second timing, prayer suppers, the cost of identification, and Mississippi hospitality.

On Saturday, June 18th my cousin, Richard Wayne Styles, lost his life in a car accident. He was my childhood hero. Richard was an athlete and coach who taught us the fundamentals of the game with patience. It characterized his life. His death raises some difficult life questions. Where do we turn for answers during these times? Do friends, college professors, religious prophets, or messengers from the spirit world have the truth that we can stake our lives on? My confidence rests in the Bible as we answer these questions. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6)

Why did this happen? It’s not fair. When Adam and Eve went against God in the garden of Eden (Genesis 2:16-17), they plunged us all into pain, tragedy, sin, disease, and broken lives. With the world possessing a nature opposed to God, the question isn’t “Why does this happen?” but “Why doesn’t this happen more often?” It’s because God is a merciful, loving, caring Heavenly Father who isn’t willing that any should perish but that all would come to repentance.

Where do I find the strength to go on? Bear one another’s burdens. We do this not only through soothing words, a hug, or helping out, but most of all through sharing how God has been real to us in difficult times. God, “comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” (1 Corinthians 1:4) Ultimately our “help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:1-2)

Am I prepared for this moment in my life? Heaven and eternity are a reality. What answer will you give when God asks, “Why should I let you into My heaven?” There’s really only one correct answer, CHRIST is our hope. He said, “no man comes to the Father but through Me.” (John 14:6) All have sinned (Romans 3:23) and the wages of sin is death (Romans 6:23). Because Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) as many as receive Him to them gave He power to become sons of God (John 1:12). This life is not only forever but it is abundant. It breaks bondages, restores marriages, builds families, heals wounded souls and gives victory in personal struggles.

Please don’t let this moment slip by without it having eternal value.

We have been in East Tennessee for a week now and boy has it changed since I left in 1983. Yes, it’s still hot and sticky, it’s still in the Appalachians, and it’s still in the Bible belt. But being in the Bible belt doesn’t guarantee an exceptional spiritual climate. In fact it can easily breed indifference and open up an avenue for all kinds of alternative morality and spirituality. That seems to be exactly what’s happening as darkness overtakes the light.

So are things hopeless here? Absolutely not! As Adoniram Judson missionary to Burma said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.” Interestingly enough these mountains, culture and region offer a wide variety of exciting mission and ministry opportunities.

* Hispanic Community – The Mexican and Honduran population is growing in this region as they provide labor for many tomato and tobacco farmers. One missionary we know is reaching these folk two or three evenings a week in the summer months.

* Cherokee Natives – The Cherokee reservation is just across the mountain in North Carolina with a calendar of events that makes interaction very accessible.

* Smokey Mountains National Park – With over 9 million visitors annually, Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge become a haven for outreach. One on one street evangelism, a coffee house, and a L’Abri type ministry are all possibilities. The mountains also provide an atmosphere for camping and prayer retreats.

* Outdoor Community – Rafting, hiking and other outdoor activities draw adventure people that make another totally different group.

* International Students – The University of Tennessee has over 700 international students with China, India and South Korea leading the way. Currently International Students Incorporated do not have a ministry on campus.

* Appalachia – Numerous ministry opportunities continue to exist within the Appalachian culture itself.

We celebrated our seventeenth wedding anniversary on Saturday, June 4th. The Lord has given me a wonderful wife who is truly a Proverbs 31 woman. Diana works vigorously, speaks with wisdom, watches over the affairs of her household and above all fears the Lord. Now on the biggest adventure of our lives she is not only “going along” with the idea but has fully “thrown in her lot”. I can tell you this, a man certainly needs the support of his wife in fulfilling his God-given responsibilities as head of the home (Ephesians 5:22-33). This is especially true when there’s a battle to fight and an adventure to live. So, I rise up to call her blessed and sing her praises.

Obviously, our marriage isn’t perfect and we have said many times that we didn’t think we were selfish people until we were married. (That has only compounded as children came along.) Determining how to spend the money, what to do on the weekend, and where to squeeze the toothpaste opens the door for plenty of selfishness – and hurt. I’ll admit I still have a long way to go in looking out for Diana’s interests more then my own. Even as I write these words I am painfully aware of that fact.

I suppose in our seventeen years we have learned hundreds of lessons about a marriage relationship, many of them more than once and some repeatedly. The greatest discovery we have made has come in the last few years. We have learned that our marriage is at its best when we are pursuing God and daily submitting our lives to Him. It’s amazing how He then orchestrates our marriage to make it what we always wanted in the first place.

I have had the privilege of sharing the gospel in many ways and in many places. Some of those opportunities could be considered “difficult”: the streets of New York City, Mormon neighborhoods in southern Utah, Jewish neighborhoods in Cleveland, among the French in Montreal; a motorcycle club rally with Brothers of the Wheel, Hispanic work in inner city Chicago, among Appalachian folk of Odd, West Virginia. Never has there been a response like there was recently in Genesee, Pennsylvania.

While on the deputation trail a pastor friend and I decided to spend Saturday afternoon in outreach. Approaching two men who were working on a truck we struck up a conversation. We soon learned that the older of the two did not like preachers or churches. He felt that a number of preachers had taken advantage of him; one in particular hadn’t paid for a transmission repair. When we prepared to leave I apologized for past wrongs and asked if he could forgive the men for how they had treated him. Apparently by that point we had overstayed our visit because the younger man put an electrical cord in my face explaining in graphic terms where he was going to stick it next. He continued to yell at and curse us as we walked to the van and pulled away.

I believe in sowing seeds by showing Christ’s love through random acts of kindness and in building long-term relationships with those who are lost. I also believe in taking God given opportunities to boldly present Christ to those I hardly know or don’t know at all. Sometimes this brings suffering, cursing, and slander even when it's done in a tactful and non-offensive way. The apostles themselves were flogged for proclaiming Christ in the temple courts and ordered not to speak in the name of Jesus. Acts 5:41-42 tells us, “The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Christ". Did this treatment discourage them and shut them up? No, they rejoiced and day after day continued to proclaim the good news that Jesus is the Christ.

Let us pray for one another that when opportuninity arises we will not be silent (Acts 18:9) or ashamed (Romans 1:16) but that we would declare the mystery of the gospel fearlessly as we should (Ephesians 6:19-20).

1) We are two for two at being sick on the road. This time it was a nasty cold that turned into an asthma attack for Maria. We tried using an adapter in the van but the output wasn’t strong enough. So, we pulled off the first exit and decided on the nearest motel. With breathing machine in hand we asked at the front desk for the use of an electrical outlet. As Maria took her treatment it occurred to me that we were not in the middle of nowhere without reason. Surely God had a purpose in our unexpected exit. With that in mind we greeted a gentleman from India and asked if we could read holy Scripture and pray with him. To our surprise he not only said “yes” but expressed appreciation afterwards. It is so exciting to live expecting such “divine appointments.”

2) In front of the house was a sign with one simple word – “PRAY”. As we drove by, the Lord impressed upon my heart that we should go back and give them one of our prayer cards. There we met Ethel. We explained to her what God was doing in our lives and that we could think of no one better to pray for us than a person who promoted it on their sign. As it turns out Ethel is a women of prayer, supports missionaries, leads a Bible study, has a Bible bookstore in her home, and is now a ropeholder for our family. After fellowship, prayer and hugs we left amazed at God’s hand in our lives.

3) We are thankful for how the Lord is giving pleasant surprises to our family. Before leaving a friend’s home to go to Pittsburg she expressed how she wished we could attend the Carnegie Science Museum. It sounded like an interesting idea, but we weren’t actually anticipating visiting it. So, it was quite a surprise when different friends treated our family to the museum four days later.

4) We left for Pittsburg not knowing where we would stay or what church we would attend on Wednesday. God provided a church at the last minute and late that evening we began the search for a motel. The first one we tried didn't have a good reputation, if you know what I mean. The second required we purchase two rooms for our family. The third didn’t work for us either. At this point one of our children suggested we should pray which we did. You guessed it, the next one was perfect! I cannot tell you how blessed I feel to have our children see God’s hand and hear them talk about His intervention in our lives.

If time permitted I could also tell you stories of the woman at the pool, the blessing of Elvis, unexpected gifts, cursed for Christ, and flea market follow-up.

We received a letter from a fellow CrossWorld missionary and I feel compelled to share it with you. It paints a great picture of those who labor for Christ in darkness and relative obscurity.

“…The major events through which God chose to glorify Himself included allowing rabies to snuff out the life of my closest friend. During this same time, my pastor informed me that someone had entered our local church and done an animal sacrifice and buried fetishes in the churchyard. There were a series of robberies at the church, while I was away teaching. Upon my return home, lack of water and betrayal by a close friend caused us to seek the Lord daily. While all this was happening, I was teaching 3 hours a day, trying to provide for 20+ blessings that live with me, and received 5 unexpected visitors for nearly a week. Then I got malaria and I lay there thinking of you, and praying for you because that is what I could do best under those circumstances. During this time, the Bible on tape was a wonderful blessing to me as well.”

“…Humanly speaking, I considered bailing out, but God didn’t seem to accept my reasons and provided sustaining grace instead.”

“…Years ago, we were showing the Jesus Film in the northwest when it got violent since the local satanic worshipers opposed us and incited many to hinder the work. (It was obviously effective!) In the end, God enabled us to show the film as planned in 10 locations, but the curses of the wicked did have an adverse physical affect (temporary paralysis) upon the pastor and me after the tenth showing. Through the power of prayer, God chose to deliver us several days later, after we fully realized that we were not fighting against flesh and blood. Now I want the people to know Christ, and at the same time, I remember the battle vividly and know that I must have orders from the Commander in Chief for these types of battles or I will fail.”

What do I take away from this letter: 1) We seem to have been lulled to sleep in America when it comes to the reality of spiritual warfare. It’s just as real today as it was in the garden. 2) Missionaries need those who are willing to roll up their sleeves and labor in intercessory prayer. 3) Why are Christians in China, India, and Nigeria with much less Bible teaching, often more in tune to spiritual dynamics of the Christian life? And how do we move into that arena with those in our churches?

The Word of God is precious and powerful. It has a living quality because it is the breath of God. A. W. Tozer reminds us, “The Bible will never be a living Book to us until we are convinced that God is articulate in His universe... If you would follow on to know the Lord, come at once to the open Bible expecting it to speak to you.”

When I read and ponder Scripture I’m nourishing my soul. Sometimes it’s storing up for a future day, sometimes it’s clearly addressing a present day need, but sometimes it’s as though the words are being personally spoken to me at that moment. I had that occasion just a few days ago. Throughout last week our family had been praying about a certain issue and asking for an answer by Friday. In addition I was personally praying about other issues. By the end of the week not only did these prayers seem to go unanswered, but humanly speaking matters seemed worse.

Saturday morning while reading Psalm 95 I came across verse 7, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts..." “Do not harden your hearts”. That phrase came alive as though God was speaking it to me. It was a call to not to lose heart or let it become hardened. It was a reminder to fix my eyes “not on what is seen but on what is unseen.” It was the living quality of the Word of God.

Journaling has always intrigued me, but up to this point I've never seemed to have the motivation to keep it up on a daily basis. Something that has worked for me is jotting down my thoughts in a wide margin Bible. In a sense it has become a journal as prayers, comments, poems, dates, quotes and confessions are recorded almost daily. I have found writing prayers of praise from "my inmost being" particularly enjoyable (Psalm 103:1). Our family offers to the LORD this sacrifice of praise:

"The brilliance and radiance of God's glory is undiminishing. The mountains, the oceans, the stars only give faint shadows of His worth and splendor. Lord God Almighty, You are the Mysterious One whose glories infinitely arise above our ability to adequately praise You. In vain the highest angel tries to adore You in a way that is worthy of Your majesty. Adoration and exaltation belong to You alone."

"Savior of All Men we gladly proclaim that you are God Supreme, the Lord Most High, the Anointed One. Let jubilant praise break out among Your people and sincere worship come before Your throne. With joy and hearts bursting with praise we acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Prince of princes against whom no power or kingdom can stand."

"Lord, we worship Your holiness. As we are surrounded by the overpowering, absolute purity of all You are let Your holiness seep into every pore of our souls. By Your grace bring us to brokenness, righteousness and rejoicing. At that moment we surrender to You our lives to control us, motivate us, and dominate us for Your glory. We will sing your praises from generation to generation."

What happens in the life of Christians who live in expectation of God’s direct and consistent intervention? We have friends whose life is characterized by expectation. Their understanding of God is more than information, more than theory, more than history, more than “something could happen.” Because of their expectation the amazing, miraculous, and supernatural surrounds them.

It makes one stop and reflect…and question. Do I expect to be an instrument in the hands of the Redeemer to lead others to Christ? Do I expect addictions and bondages to be broken and spiritual healing to take place? Do I expect God to provide in the moment of need? Do I expect revival in a corrupt society? Do I expect all things to work together for good? Lord, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24)

I guess the more important question is, “What does it mean to live in expectation”?

* It’s a work of the Spirit obtained through absolute surrender.

* It’s grounded in the Word of God and doesn’t rationalize His promises away.

* Although expectation is not just “positive thinking” it is really believing in Divine intervention.

* Expectation believes even when circumstances make the answer appear impossible.

“In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3

While at Montrose Bible Conference we had the privilege of living in the home of R.A. Torrey. Torrey was a man mightily used of God during the late 1800's and early 1900's. He was president of Moody Bible Institute, pastor of Moody Memorial Church, world-wide evangelist/revivalist, founder of Montrose Bible Conference, and author of more than 40 books. His writings have challenged and inspired my life so I'm including a sampling of them in this journal entry.

On walking with God: "God wants our company. God wants us to walk with Him and He is well pleased when we do. God is more concerned that we walk with Him than that we work for Him. Martha was taken up with her service for her Lord, but Mary was taken up with her Lord Himself, and He testified that Mary had chosen the better part. It is quite possible today to be so occupied with our work for God that we forget Him for whom we work. If we would please Him we should first see to it that we walk with Him."

On prayer: "True prayer is prayer in the Spirit; that is, the prayer the Spirit inspires and directs...When we first come into God's presence we should be silent before Him. We should look up to Him to send His Holy Spirit to teach us how to pray. We must wait for the Holy Spirit, and surrender ourselves to the Spirit, then we will pray aright...When we pray in the Spirit, we will pray for the right things and in the right way. There will be joy and power in our prayer."

On God's provision: "A number of years ago (1888), I came to the place where it seemed my duty to give up my salary and work for God among the poor...From that day on, every mouthful came directly from my Heavenly Father, not a meal on our tables...not a coat went on my back...not a dress on my wife's back, nor the clothing on the backs of the four children, that was not an answer to prayer. We got everything from God. I was never more serene in my life."

As Elijah’s spirit rested upon Elisha may the Lord grant Torrey’s spirit to rest upon my life (2 Kings 2:9-15).

Island Pond, Vermont - the lake is still frozen, snow lingers on the hills, a cold breeze blows, and the sap is running in the maples. Saturday our family went to the B & B Sugarhouse to join in the process of making maple syrup. First the sap is collected and placed in long vats. A huge wood fire is built to bring the sap to a boil. As it evaporates, it becomes pure sweet maple syrup. It was a wonderful family experience, now all we need is a hot stack of buckwheat pancakes.

We have all struggled with cold/flu-like symptoms on this trip, but that has not kept us from plenty of ministry here at the Grace Brethren Church. This has included: a challenge to prayer at a Saturday morning men's prayer breakfast, a Mexico presentation during Sunday School, a sermon from Isaiah 6 during Worship Service, a devotional at a Tuesday evening Women's Bible study, and a teen challenge on Wednesday evening. We leave Thursday morning for the Montrose Bible Conference in Montrose, Pennsylvania.

I have been encouraged and challenged by one of George Muller's favorite verses this week. Psalm 81:10, "I am the LORD your God who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it." As Muller was establishing an orphanage in Bristol (eventually caring for over 2000 orphans at any one time) he felt God gave him this verse as a promise of His provision. It is said of George Muller that before asking God for a need he would search the Scriptures for days for a promise from God. Then with his finger pointed to that verse he would pray in confidence asking God to answer. I suspect that we all need that continual reminder to pray in confidence of God's promises.

Over 2000 years ago Jesus gave His disciples the mandate, "...go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Certainly that mandate has been followed by the disciples as well as by thousands of men and women who have taken the gospel to every nation if not to every tribe and language. But what about the modern church? Are we holding up our end of making disciples...to the very end of the age?

Today there are approximately 98,000 missionaries serving in other lands (that's less than the number of seats at the Rose Bowl stadium); 60% of the languages of the world do not have even a portion of Scripture; Christians are persecuted in China, India, Afghanistan, Korea, Cuba, Indonesia, Sudan and many other countries; Turkey, the homeland of Paul's missionary journeys, is the largest unreached nation in the world since few of the 66 million Muslims have ever heard the gospel; Scotland and England who have given us Hudson Taylor, Mary Slessor, John Paton, David Livingston, Gladys Aylward and William Carey have turned to a post-modern view of life with no room for God in their thinking; and, Mexico City has approximately 1000 neighborhoods with no church that proclaims the gospel.

What is the key to reaching the world? While I am no missions strategist I wonder if the answer is far more basic than greater funding, better strategy and newer technology. I wonder if to fulfill the "great commission" we are in desperate need of a "great awakening". What if God in an extraordinary way drew individual hearts and churches to a passionate worship of His splendor and majesty, a preoccupation with His holiness, humility and brokenness, and a cleansing work of the Holy Spirit? I have to believe that such a work of God among His church would result in many saying "Here am I send me" and then becoming His instrument in some way to reach the world. May He grant us such an awakening.

My dad would often pray something like the following for me, "...he's yours Lord and we want to give him to You. Whether it be in a foreign hostile land or right here at home, we want to give him to You..." Sounds pretty crazy doesn't it, a parent giving their child to the will of God in a "foreign hostile land"? And what causes adults to take up the banner to follow the will of God into a "foreign hostile land"? Well, that's not easy to answer but someone has given us insight anonymously by writing what follows:

"The will of God will never take you, where the grace of God cannot keep you, where the arms of God cannot support you, where the riches of God cannot supply your needs, and where the power of God cannot endow you.

The will of God will never take you, where the Spirit of God cannot work through you, where the wisdom of God cannot teach you, where the army of God cannot protect you, and where the hands of God cannot mold you.

The will of God will never take you, where the love of God cannot enfold you, where the mercies of God cannot sustain you, where the peace of God cannot calm your fears, and where the authority of God cannot overrule for you.

The will of God will never take you, where the comfort of God cannot dry your tears, where the Word of God cannot feed you, where the miracles of God cannot be done for you, and where the omnipresence of God cannot find you."

The first verse I can remember memorizing was John 3:16. When I was a child my grandfather and aunt came to the public school I attended to offer a Bible program of flannel graph lessons, singing, and Scripture memory. I memorized it to earn a Gospel of John.

I’ve recently been thinking of the simplicity yet power of John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It gives the gospel in a nutshell: (1 the character of God (2 our destiny without Him (3 Christ’s death (4 belief/trust (5 eternal life.

Its power is well illustrated in the life of Gladys Aylward. Once on an eleven day trek into a barren area of China she encountered a Tibetan monk who invited her to the monastery. Amazingly when she arrived there were 500 monks waiting for her to explain the gospel. It seems that eight years earlier a monk had gone to the market and received a tract with John 3:16 quoted. He took it back to the monastery and tacked it to the wall. The monks eventually decided that when God sent a messenger they would receive him.

John 3:16, simple enough for a six year old to understand, powerful enough to penetrate behind the walls of a Tibetan monastery.

During our small group this week a friend said that his father, Mr. Fisher, “never goes anywhere without his Bible.” Recently Mr. Fisher visited a relative in the hospital. Carrying his ever-present Bible he entered the room next door to read Scripture. Although a complete stranger he was welcomed with open arms. Operations, loneliness, life and death have a way of making us receptive. The long and the short of it is there is another name written in the Lamb’s book of life.

This story reminds me of Jonathan Goforth. In his biography his wife says of him, “Whether speaking to one or one thousand, Goforth was never known to attempt to deal with souls without his open Bible. As in Toronto during his student days, so down through the years, his Bible was his ever-present companion.”

It makes sense to me. The Bible says of itself that it “…is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” It does seem however that in my circle carrying the Bible has come into ill-repute. In order to avoid being labeled as “pushy” or a “Bible thumper”, it’s just easier to leave it at home on the shelf. That way no one is offended. Hmmm, is this a trick?

Just after Candidate Orientation we received a note from a friend that read, "Figured that about right now things might seem to look impossible..., but God!" It was very encouraging and probably why I recently took note of 1Samuel 23:14, "Day after day Saul searched for him, but God did not give David into his hands." That led to the discovery of Acts 7:9-10, "Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him and rescued him from all his troubles."

What a powerful statement. What a statement of comfort. It says that no matter how dark the day or impossible the situation the Eternal, Incomprehensible, All-Powerful God of the universe is our deliverer. He is the Great Shepherd and He delights in rescuing us. "I feel as though I've blown it as a parent beyond recovery, but God..." "Circumstances from the past crash in on me, but God..." "The darkness has a strangle hold, but God..." "The future seems so uncertain, but God..." "___________________, but God..."

That my friends is a reason for rejoicing. It's a reason to trust. It's a reason to worship the LORD with gladness; and come before him with joyful songs. It's a reason to enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. (Psalm 100)

Prayer is a mystery. I'm sure we will never explore the depths of it and may not even skim the surface. Why is it that some of our prayers are answered while others seem to go unanswered? Where is the consistency in all of it? I don't know! But here are some thoughts I have about prayer - answered and unanswered.

1. More than getting answers, prayer gives us reason to linger in God's presence and commune with Him.
2. We can pray with confidence when our prayers are grounded in God's Word. He is faithful and keeps His promises.
3. As we continue to surrender our lives to God the more we are controlled by the Holy Spirit. The more we are controlled by the Holy Spirit the more we pray with the mind of Christ. When we pray with the mind of Christ our prayers are answered.
4. Purity of heart makes a difference. We are reminded in the Psalms that, "If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened."
5. Unanswered prayer gives us opportunity to continue to trust and depend upon God.
6. Persistence is honored in God's way of doing things. He gives us opportunity to keep coming back.
7. God is sovereign, just and good. We can't hold Him hostage to our understanding of things.
8. Even though we don't understand the consistency of it all we can continue to pray in faith.

A small child once asked his father, who was standing in front of the kitchen sink, for a drink of water. The father being loving and kind was happy to grant the request of his son. Needing to get a cup for the water he turned toward the cabinet. But the child thinking his father wasn't willing to answer his request began to plead, "Want drink, want drink, want drink" as he tried to maneuver his father back to the sink. Each time the father tried to get a cup he was met with the same response, keeping him from answering the child's request. We like this child cannot always understand the working of our Father. He can be in the process of answering even when we think He isn't.

Christians across the world are being persecuted. I don't mean they are discriminated against for job opportunities, called dirty names or made the butt of a joke. Those who claim the name of Christ, our brothers and sisters, are being imprisoned, tortured, and murdered.

Last October one of our small group members was in India as a short term missionary. On Sunday evening we learned that the Emmanuel Children's Home where she served came under siege by a group of Hindus. Reports tell of orphans, workers and national pastors being beaten. Attempts on the life of the orphanage director have been made in the past, and reports say the orphans are in even greater danger if he isn't turned over to this group.

Connected with this orphanage is a Bible College. Upon graduation each student takes the "Martyr's Oath." Following is a portion of that oath:

* I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus with my lips by proclaiming the good news to all who hear, and by edifying the body of Christ.
* I take a stand to honor the Lord Jesus with my mind as I meditate upon His Word and promises to me.
* I give my earthly treasures and all that I possess to follow the way of the cross.
* I commit to love my family, orphans, widows, lepers, the wealthy and the poor to the way of the Christ.
* I surrender my will and my life to His will and His life.
* I surrender this body on earth for the perfect will of Jesus, and should my blood be spilled, may it bring forth a mighty harvest of souls.
* I pledge allegiance to the Lamb.
* I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone who believeth.
* Whether by life or by death, I MUST GLORIFY JESUS. Amen.

May their suffering move us to prayer, may their faith move us to surrender.

When Jonathan Goforth was moving into the Chinese province of Honan from the north, Hudson Taylor wrote him a letter stating, “We as a Mission have sought for ten years to enter the Province of Honan from the south and have only just succeeded….Brother, if you would enter that Province, you must go forward on your knees.” What I believe he meant by this statement was that every detail both great and small should be made a matter of prayer.

This is how we want to live out our lives, but what does this mean practically? It means that prayer is intertwined with every letter sent, decision made, visitor received, ministry initiated, temptation encountered, counsel given, witness shared, principality wrestled, conversation articulated, lesson taught… It is in this heart of dependence upon God that we receive the power and blessing obtained in prayer.

Sounds a lot like 1Thessalonians 5:17, “pray continually.” I am firmly convinced this is the Spirit’s work. He will not only remind us to pray, but when given control will formulate prayer within us, throughout the day and in all situations. How encouraging it is to find ourselves praying and be able to say, “God worked that into the fabric of my life.” Let us go forward – On our knees!

We’re moving ahead but what exactly does that mean? What do missionary appointees who are praying to get to the field by September do day to day. Here’s a list of some of the bigger items we need to accomplish:

* Prayer card designed and printed

* Prayer letter written, copied and sent

* Display table put together

* Website updated

* Passports to obtain

* 2 books to read and reports to write

* 2 ten page reports to write about Mexico

* Three weeks of school for cultural adaptation

* Two weeks of school for how to learn a language

* One week of pre-field orientation

* Begin Spanish studies

* Make church presentations

The one before us at the moment is writing the prayer letter. It is said of Geraldine Taylor (Hudson Taylor’s biographer), “She communed with God over every day’s work, often over every sentence, sometimes over the very words. She knew without Christ she could do nothing. So she received the book from Him, but it was not an easy process.” As we write this letter we are praying that the sentences, phrases, and very words will be formulated by the mind of Christ and energized by the Holy Spirit as it is read.

After returning from Mexico we are now preparing to take one giant step toward Puebla. It started last April when we begin to specifically pray that God would put in our path what He wanted us to pursue for our lives. At one of our lowest points we received a note from Jasper Jalal of CrossWorld asking if he could serve us and bless us, “as you seek Him for the next step of faith.” We took that as a direct answer to our prayer, but not necessarily His final answer.

God confirmed this leading in many ways over the next months including: personal conversations with International Director Dwight Lehman; a visit to mission headquarters in Bala-Cynwyd, PA; affirmation from friends; support from our parents (Yes, even at our age this is important to us.); two encouraging weeks at Candidate Orientation; a profitable meeting with team leader Neil Prentice; a positive two week stay in Mexico; and, the blessing of the elders at Daniels Bible Church. It all adds up to one thing – MOVE AHEAD!

We rejoice if the Lord continues to lead us to Mexico. We rejoice if He detours us at the last minute into a path we didn't anticipate. The important thing for us in the end is that we walk in the fullness of His Spirit day by day, moment by moment and enjoy Him forever. Psalm 39:4 says, "Show me, O LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life."

Here are snap shots from our time here in Puebla:

Walking through the neighborhood in the early morning is a very enjoyable time. On this particular morning I'm on the way to the bakery for some breakfast pastries. The sun is shining (as it is almost every morning), mothers are walking their children to school, and work has already started. I can hear the gas men bellowing their call, see vendors on their three-wheeled bikes, and watch as yet another housing development goes up. Friendly faces greet me with, "Hola" (hello) and "Buenos dias"(good morning).

We have attended both a Sunday morning and Thursday prayer service of the Totonac Indians. Many of them have moved to Puebla from the villages in search of work. The building where they meet is a simple block building with cement floors, metal/wooden benches and no heat. The night we are there three elderly women sat bundled in jackets and hats to keep warm. When the time for prayer arrives pieces of cardboard box are given to everyone to make it easier to kneel on the hard, cold concrete. No frills here.

Yesterday we visited an Aztec pyramid that was a temple of worship before they were conquered by Cortez. It's the largest pyramid in the world by land mass and we are able to see portions of the original as well as a reconstruction. One plaque reads, "…when Cholula suffered a scarcity of water…The priests made a pilgrimage to the upper part of the mountain where they sacrificed children between the ages of six and seven. According to custom, the children were messengers of Tlaloc and upon sacrificing them they would ask for rain." In front of one of the altars we praised the Lamb of God and called upon Him to deliver those who live in the bondage of darkness.

Before we go let us introduce you to Ritchie, a sixteen year old young man who has a quick smile and unbelievable soccer skills. He came to Christ five years ago when Neil came to his neighborhood for a Vacation Bible School. But that wasn't enough for Ritchie, he wanted his family to know Christ as well. So, through tearful, fervent prayer and a bold witness God has honored his request by allowing seventeen family members to come to Christ.

God is doing some amazing things in Puebla.

We are living in a community of three thousand newly built homes with plans for ten thousand more within the next few years. These homes are built from identical plans with each floor being 10'x 32'. Each neighborhood has sixty of these homes with the street in between becoming the children's playground. Cars are parked on the "yard" in front of the house which will take all of 3 minutes to mow in the summer. It is a lower middle class neighborhood that by American standards would probably be considered poor. Mexico seems to consist mostly of the poor, poorer and poorest.

This is the location in Puebla that CrossWorld is laboring in the harvest field. Many people in transition, who are free from family pressures, make this a place ripe for the message of good news. As God gives the increase churches will be established that meet in these homes. Size alone will necessitate that these churches can only grow up to 10 - 12 before they form a new church. Leadership will be handed over to the Mexicans from the beginning. The greatest thing about what's going on here is that no knows exactly what God is up to, but are waiting with confident expectation that He will reveal it in His perfect timing. Let me get personal and radical for a moment and ask, "Could it be possible that God would lead you here to work together with us as teammates?"

Personally, it is refreshing to encounter and worship Christ in another part of the world. As a matter of fact it seems there are even more opportunities to depend upon and trust Him here than in my comfort zone at home. I am reminded of the words that He brought to my fearful heart just before leaving for Bible college, "I will never leave you, nor forsake you."

It doesn't take long to realize you're in another world once you arrive in Mexico. Outside the obvious difference of not being able to understand the language there are already many sights, sounds, and tastes that remind us we are no longer in America. Here are a few of the things that have stood out to us: crowds of people (Mexico City's population is 23 million - Puebla's is 2.5 million), the Popo volcano, concrete homes (everything is built in concrete), bottled water, street vendors, Roman Catholicism, and dry climate.

It also doesn't take long to realize this world is a very dark place. As we walked through the streets we encountered witchcraft (once with a blind folded man handling a snake), and multiple vendors selling nudity. But the most heart breaking of all was when we visited the Guadalpe basilica. It is the second most visited basilica in the world and is believed to be the place where Mary visited Juan Diego. To go there is a pilgrimage of sorts and we watched as men, women and children crawled to places of worship, lit candles, slept in the open ground and attended mass with thousands of others. It gave a whole new meaning to Christ's words, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest."

As for the family the children seem to be adjusting better then we are, although Maria has had to take a breathing treatment today. Diana just avoided a stomach bug the first night here as she forgot about the water and found herself brushing her teeth with sink water. I have felt like trash today aching all over along with a headache. At the moment we are chalking it up to the altitude. Thanks for your prayers.

The tickets are purchased, immunizations are taken, and documents have been obtained, now all that awaits are the final details for next Tuesday’s departure for Mexico. If I were still twenty-three excitement would be running high for the adventure ahead. At forty-three it’s more of a confident resolve and earnest seeking after God instead. It’s still an exciting adventure but it takes on a reality check with a family to consider.

I’ve been thinking recently about God’s hand being upon us during this trip. I pray that we would be usable vessels around whom spiritual activity and victories swirl. It is said of the early Christians that, “The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.” (Acts 11:31) I don’t know what that means for us since we will be there only two short weeks and will be unable to speak the language. One thing I do know is it’s not about what great exploits we are going to do for Christ, but what He is going to do through us.