February 2011

The past two weeks have just been a whirlwind of activity.  So much has been accomplished, and it has been really cool to see the Lord work.  The first week of February was our office's Staff Week where we spent time analyzing and discussing almost every aspect of our office, talking about things the Lord has done and ways we can change our policies and activities to better serve our partner ministries.  Then last week was Member Care week.  Our office has brought on board a Christians counselor/psychologist from Florida to assist us in member care which has many different facets.  She is coming alongside us and doing things to help the team members in our office stay healthy emotionally, mentally and physically.  It was a really great week where the Lord really moved.  I know personally He revealed some things to me about how I view myself and operate that need to be changed if I am going to be healthy in the long-term on the field...or even in life in general, not just on the field.  I will say it was probably one of the most fatiguing two weeks I've had in a while, but I praise the Lord and give him the glory for all that has been accomplished both office-wide and in the heart of each individual on our team.  Doors have been opened for a deeper sense of community amongst our team which I do feel like is a crucial part of life here as well.

After the past two weeks, we finally have a chance to focus on preparation for the trip to Peru.  Josh has been working for months on recruiting and planning for this project.  I am so excited to what the Lord is going to do, and I am praying fervently for the hearts of the people that will come to know the Lord through the work of the ministry.  The team will be designing and master planning a seminary campus and Peruvian church.  The seminary will teach Quechua pastors to preach the gospel to the Quechua people.  Please keep us in your prayers over the next few weeks as we travel to Peru. We leave this Friday, February 18 and return on Sunday, February 27.  Things you can be praying for specifically are:

-the hearts of the volunteers, that they will be open to whatever the Lord wants to teach and show them

-health and energy as the days of work and design are usually very long ones

-wisdom for one of the other EMI staff member's wife and little baby who have been planning to go.  The baby has had very mild congestion and they are deciding if it would be best to bring him to the cold weather we will be experiencing.  The doctor has said he thought it would be okay, but they are looking to the Lord for wisdom in what to do

-the harvest of souls that will come to know the Lord through the work of this ministry

Thank you so much for supporting us in prayer. I look forward to sharing what God does on the trip with you in the future.  When we return to Costa Rica from Peru, we will have one day to wash our clothes and pack for a trip to Georgia.  Our home church in Georgia, Johnson Ferry in Atlanta, is having a Global Missions Conference and are funding our return for us to be a part of.  We are so excited to share all that the Lord is doing through EMI.  There will be several open activities at the church, and we would love to talk with anyone who is interested in connecting with us during our time back.  Those dates are March 2-6. We look forward to seeing you while we are back!