another beautiful day in Cornwall

We have just ended our last full day in Cornwall, tomorrow we will put out a few more booklets and load up just after lunch to head back to London. by the end of our trip I believe we will have put out around 7,000 booklets. it is going slower the last few days since we are doing smaller villages.

Speaking to Bro. Gossmeyer he has said that on a good day he can get out about 200-250 booklets. remember putting them out here is not like in Oklahoma where the land is pretty flat, these cities are all built on large hills and it is not laid out the same either the roads wind around and the houses may be behind one another or up an alley way.

Basically we have been able to do in the week we were here what it would take Bro. Gossmeyer 7 full weeks of going out every day, which of course is not usually possible. In reality we were able to do what would have taken him anywhere from 3-5 months to do. what a shot in the arm.

One of the greatest miracles is that for the whole time we have been here it has rained only once, and that was on Sunday morning when we were in services. the people here are shocked that it hasn't rained on us. God has cleared the way for us to maximize our time here.

Everyone is doing well, and has had a great time. I believe that it has been a real blessing to the Gosmeyers as well, and the testimonies each night show that those who have come have a new found love and respect for the work here as well as renewing their relationship with our missionaries.

continue to pray for us as we travel to London tomorrow, we will take a look around there on Wednesday and then head back early Thursday morning for home.

what a week

We have had a blur of a week. I apologize for not updating the blog sooner, but we haven't had access to the Internet until now. We got to London on Wednesday morning and had a good day traveling down to Cornwall. We stopped in Bristol at the Muller homes and museum, that was such a blessing to see. then it was on to church in Exiter.

On Thursday every one was jet lagged but we started the work we came for and assembled the books and tracts for distribution as well as getting a good start on distribution.

Each day we spend a good portion of time out putting the booklets out and then we go and see some sites. In the evenings we have Bro. Gosmeyer bring a devotion to the group and then we give testimonies about what God has been doing. Already God has spoken to many about areas in their lives.

On Saturday evening we helped with the church float in the local parade. We won first place for floats, and got to get the word out in the community about the church at the same time.

Today we had some great services with the church here, and this afternoon the young people canvased a nearby village while the adults caught up on some much needed rest.

All together we have put out 5,000 booklets so far, with two good days of distribution yet to go. On Tuesday afternoon we will head up to London and take Wednesday to look around. It has been a great trip so far, continue to pray for our work and safety.

I'm going on a trip

I appolagize for missing the last couple of days, getting ready for our trip to England have been crazy. I am excited and everyone that is going that I have talked to is excited as well. We have been preparing the children for the trip and today we are packing everyone up to go. You know I cannot help but think as we prepare for this trip, about the preperations that each of us must make for Heaven. We are getting ready to take a 10 day trip to England, and we have spent months planning and preparing and anticipationg for all the things that we may need. We have dreamed and imagined about all the things that we will do, and how much fun it will be. and that is only for a 10 day trip to another country. Soon everyone will be taking a much greater trip into eternity. What if each person put as much effort in preperation for that as they would for a trip just out of town. we would be telling our friends and neighbors, everyone we have seen lately we have told, "oh, we are getting ready to go to England!" What if we were to do the same thing about our trip to Heaven? Things would sure be different.

Bro. Ivan seems to be feeling better, I had a good talk with him this morning. Pray that the stent will fix what has been ailing him. Other than that, everyone else seems to be the same.

Tomorow is the last fund raiser of the year and the kids will be washing up the cars, it all starts at 9am so bring your car on down and help them go on the mission trip and to camp.

the blessing of children

Ps. 127:3 Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward. I heard from Cassandra Schrader today and the LORD took care of the birth of the child and she is fine. Her name is Jaden Harjo, and they said she is just fine. It seems that many in our day have adopted unscriptural philosophies in many areas. One of those areas is concerning children. Many have bought into the thought that they need more things, thus they must have fewer children since children cost more money and prohibit them from enjoying life. It seems that they miss the truth of God's Word that children are a blessing. Not only that, the first command that was ever given by God was to be fruitful and multiply. God intended us to have children and to raise them up for His honor and glory. Our family is our first mission field. I am not saying that everyone should have a dozen kids, but we should be more sensitive to God's will for us than that of our secular society. The fact is that the decline in the size of the family has mirrored the decline in concern for the lost among many. As families have become more and more focused on possessions and personal freedom for dad and mom, they have become less interested in reaching out to others. God help us not to be conformed to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds to do His will.

I also saw Ladine Ketler today and she is in quite a bit of pain. She has developed pleurisy which is when fluid gets in the lining around the lungs, I have had this before myself and it is very painful. she was however especially talkative today. Jo Ellen said today that she has progressed faster than they thought she would and they are talking about sending her home this Friday possibly. continue to pray for these dear ladies.

better is little

Proverbs 15:16-17 Says, "Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith. Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." I was reminded last night in our services of just how much we could do without in America. Bro. Tran's testimony about life in Vietnam and what his family has gone through to serve the Lord ought to make each of us ashamed about how little it takes to hinder us from serving God. For many people to go through a little financial trouble causes them to doubt God all together, yet we forget just how blessed we are even then compared to the majority of the world. There stood a man who's father was killed for preaching the gospel, and yet he is willing to plod the same path for the cause of Christ, we should all take note and remember the great treasure that we have in our walk with Jesus Christ.

Cassandra Schrader called today and told me that her cousin, Bobby Harjo, missionary to the Native American Indians in New Mexico is having a family crisis. His sons wife is having a baby and the cord is wrapped around the baby's throat. Pray for the family and the health of the baby if you will.

Prayer and power

I read a book this week called Praying effectively for the lost. I plan on getting a copy for each family in our church. It was a very good Biblical perspective on how to pray for the lost. As I read it I was impressed with a greater urgency to pray for a number of people who I know need to come to the Lord.

As I prayed I also was impressed with the Scripture that admonishes us to pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers into His harvest. If we are going to pray for our lost friends and family members to get saved, it only stands to reason that we should also pray for the one that God would send to reap such a harvest of their soul.

The longer I am in the ministry the more and more I am impressed with the absolute necessity of prayer. Truly we can accomplish nothing without Him, and there is no way to get His power and presence without prayer.

We finished up VBS last night with 107 kids in attendance, I am not sure about the number of decisions but I will let you know I find out.

Last night Bro. Don Steele's grandson Joshua was in a motorcycle accident last night. He was kept overnight for observation. He has a broken leg and some swelling on the back of his head. they may release him this morning. please keep Him in prayer.

bless the Lord

Psalm 103 is one of my favorite Psalms. the theme is blessing the Lord for all the things that He has done. This week at VBS we have had some great blessings. Last night we had 3 more saved that I know of, we had an attendance of 87 kids. I am sure glad that tonight is the last night since I am already worn out. This morning though I opened my Bible up and read, "Bless the Lord O my soul: and all that is within me, bless His holy name. Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:" We sure are blessed with benefits, and when we get weary we must remember how blessed we are, and we must in return blessing to the Lord, the giver of all blessings.

Notes on the sick: Ladine Kettler has had her breathing tube removed and her condition is improving. Jo Ellen Hunt is doing well and is in good spirits, both would be blessed by visits if you can go by. Jo Ellen is in St. Anthony's on the 6th floor, Ladine is now in a regular room on the 3rd floor of Southwest Medical. Seth Carter was riding his bike today and ran into a fire hydrant braking his foot in two places, I think he takes after his mother. Keep these in prayer.

I also got a note that a family that visited two weeks ago Ben and Jenifer had a death in their family, they lost a grandmother, pray for them and pray for their salvation as well, they seem to be open to the Word right now.

We look forward to VBS tonight and need all the helpers we can get so if you are free come on out at 6:30 and be a blessing yourself.

VBS, Hospital, and buildings

We had a great night with 83 Kids in attendance and 6 young people trusting Christ as their Saviour. I cannot wait until Thurday Night when we will have our Carnival.

Keep praying for Jo Ellen, and Ladine, both are till in the Hospital. I will be going up to see them this morning.

Our Building Fund is doing well, we are down to $151k owed now. Our progress has been greater than projected since the pledge in February was only $70k for the year and that included $20k we already had. We have paid down $72k and still haven't applied the $20k that we have set aside in the Building fund account. That means that we really only still need to raise $131k. Keep praying and giving and We will keep seeing God take control and bless.

6/9/09 - VBS

Our first night of VBS was great with 75 children in attendance. We had a wonderful turnout of workers, but as the week goes on we will sure need them and maybe more. I am looking forward to our Thursday night Carnival. That is always a great time, and we get to leave the families with a very good impression of our church as a result. don't miss getting to be involved in VBS this year.