A Time of Transition

No, we are not in Argentina yet. We still live in Raymond NH. If you don't see us on Sunday morning, we are still living in Raymond 6 days a week!

So... What has deputation been like?

Becky:
The Negatives. It has been lonely sometimes visiting new churches. It takes time to build relationships with people. Steve and I are starting to get used to not being at Fellowship ever week and having start building friendships from the ground up. Josiah too has been feeling the transition. Holding him in my arms and keeping him well behaved and having an intelligent conversation with people we meet is a challenge.
The Positives: It has been neat to see how other churches do things differently. Even with order of service, worship times, etc. Every chance we get to talk about our ministry it renews the passion that my have to serve the Lord in South America.
Prayer Request: I'm feeling nauseous from this pregnancy and still on my toes with Josiah. Pray for long naps and calm stomachs. Pray that I can prioritize my time so that I can be giving out to the people around me (especially Josiah).

Steve:
The Negatives: I feel a bit David did. He was anointed by Samuel as king of the nation of Israel, but he did not immediately serve as king. So positionally he was king, but conditionally he was still a shepherd boy who had an ear for music. So this transition point for me, Positionally: we have been commissioned to Argentina. Conditionally: I still draft septic designs during the day. Pray that I can be diligent and faithful at work and trusting in God and patient.
These last few weeks I cut back my time at work to three days a week. Hoping to make more phone calls and make more contacts. Pray for open doors and this time to be used wisely.
Positives: The summer has been slow making contacts but these last few weeks the Lord has been opening up doors and our schedule is getting filled up! Praise the Lord. I praise God for putting some real gem of pastors in our path along the way that have been real encouragements to us, in prayer and in example. I am thankful too for friends who have been acting as our "agents" and helping us get some more meetings to present our work.

Josiah:
Negatives: car seats, bullies in nurseries, late nights
Positives: munchkins at D&D and new buddies along the way

Deputation underway

We are currently at 10% of the support needed to go to Argentina!! I have recieved emails from some of our national friends we made in Argentina. They remind us to that they are praying for us to return quickly.

Returning from the 2nd part of our canidate orientation at BMW in Atlanta GA, Becky and I were faced with some new and exciting challenges which require steps of faith. 1.) When do we sell our house? 2.) When do I quit my job and take deputation to the next level? The answer to both of these questions is: in God's perfect timing. When is that? I was encouraged in my devotions the other day in reading about King Hezekiah. The passage in II Kings 18 descibes him as a man who trusted God, in fact more than any other king before or after him. That is quite the statement! But as you continue to read this passage you see this word "trust" come up again and again, as this trust in God was being challenged. Trials came, the winds blew and the rain poured, Hezekiah held on to God. He stayed so close to God that he was in God's shadow (Psalm 91:1). Might we be characterized by this same trust as we take steps of faith to fulfill His call in our lives!

Becky and I are so encouraged and blessed to have a sending church that has been standing behind us: with prayer, fellowship, encouragement, and financial support.
You can learn more about our sending church at:
www.fellowshipbiblechester.org