This past month has been loaded with business and pleasure as I prepare for my departure to Brazil. While the days seem to fly by, I praise God for the many opportunities that He has given me to take advantage of during this time. He is enabling me to be an effective worker for Project AmaZon as well as providing many opportunities to continue to build and maintain relationships with close friends. But this month has really been filled with travel, visiting Colorado, California, and a weekend in Chicago.
Back in April I was invited to my home town of Cissna Park, IL, to speak with a local church’s missions board. I was overwhelmed with emotion as I met with them and was able to share my testimony of Christ in my life. These were people that watched me grow up, but have rarely seen me in the past eight years since I left Cissna Park, let alone since I was saved! It was such an awesome reminder for me to reflect on how God has completely transformed my life. Also, to have the support of my home town ‘family’ as I leave for the mission field is an essential blessing.
Late April brought a trip to Colorado Springs, Colorado for some training on a software package developed by Global Mapping International. As one of my responsibilities, I have the pleasure of working to develop maps of PAZ church plants to be utilized in analysis and planning activities for the future of PAZ in Brazil! This is definitely an exciting time for me to be a part of the future of PAZ! Not only did I learn the basics of the software that I will be using, but I was able to glean information from five other missionary veterans who attended the workshop!
After returning from that ten day trip, I had a couple days to recuperate at home, but not for long! I caught up with some friends and family, reorganized myself and left for a weekend retreat in Chicago with the multicultural PAZ church plant in Berwyn, IL. A team of PAZ missionaries were in the States and were able to host this Encounter weekend (done in Brazil almost every weekend at various PAZ locations) in a modified format suited for a US church. Myself along with two other new PAZ missionaries were able to participate in the retreat. This should help us to be able to more readily understand how the Encounters are run, especially considering the first one I go to in Brazil will be Portuguese instead of English like here in the States!
So from Chicago, it was a quick trip back home for Mother’s Day and then off to Morton. The following Monday, I saddled up again, this time flying to California for a week long trip with fellow PAZ missionaries. This was a great opportunity to spend relaxing ‘vacation’ time with my soon-to-be missionary family that was here for a wedding
For a more detailed look at some of these activities, visit my archived blog posts.
Thanks to you all for your continued prayer support during this time of preparation! I praise God for all of you in my life and pray that He will bless you for your participation in His work!
Praises
- As of today, the Lord has provided me with 54% of my needed monthly support!
- Safe travels to Colorado, Chicago, and California, as well as blessed time at each location!
Prayer Requests
- Guidance through the visa application process. That God would give me peace through it and prepare the way for a speedy approval.
- As I work through the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course, that God would teach me about missions and that it would continue to build my desire to share the Gospel message.
In Christ,
JAE
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