Catching Up ~

Thank you Jay Bennett, for making our blog look great!

Answer to Prayer!

Becky and I have been amazed by the Lord at work. As we mentioned in our prayer letter, the prayer concerning a new van has been answered. It has been running great and certainly has been well used. It certainly makes 4 hour car rides more comfortable.

The timing of this gift was incredible. We received an email about the van on a Monday night, so I called and made arrangements to pick it up. But that day my truck had been over heating so I brought it into the shop. On Tuesday we we received news that my truck wasn't worth fixing (it was going to require about $1200 in parts, yikes!). So the family that gave us the van, knew that we wanted a van, but little did they know that we really needed it, but God knew!

Work during the week has been steady, and we praise God for that. Steve has been able to work with Becky's Dad, learning construction skills and while paying bills.

Morning Perks:

The summer has been busy with meetings but we really enjoyed our family vacation. It was what we need as things picked up quick this fall. We have been guilty of burning the candle at both ends on Sunday mornings, waking up real early and getting in real late. Somehow that morning cup of coffee never tasted better!

A Wedding to Remember:

We have also celebrated the marriage of our good friends Jon (Guppy) and Kristen in Portsmouth, NH. It was a great time of deep sea fishing and solid fellowship. Jon was the last of the Faithful Five to tie the knot, it was exciting to see him and his bride drive off into the sunset on his boat.

A Word on Endurance:

As I think of deputation one word keeps coming to mind, ENDURANCE.

Numbers 21:5-6 says that the "soul of the people was much discouraged because of the way, And the people spoke against God, and against Moses. Wherefore have ye brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread, neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth this light bread." Being hungry, thirsty, or tired is not a sin. But it was the attitude that lacked faith (Hebrews 11:6).

This is a quality that marks the character of a faithful Christian. To endure temptation, trials, hardships, persecution, etc. To keep going, never stopping.

Let us look unto Jesus, who endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). And hungering after a forty day fast, He did not grumble, nor settle for a morsel of bread neither for the riches of the world (Matthew 4:1-11). Jesus didn't sell out, but endured it all, faithful to the end, being called the author and finisher of our faith. "Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:3)."

Here is a look at where we have been and where we have been going:

September 8th - Youth Rally; Cambridgeport,VT
September 9th -Bucksport, ME
September 15th - Guppy's Wedding!
September 16th - West Haven, CT
September 23rd - Hampden, ME
September 27-29 - Missions Conference; Dover-Foxcroft, ME
October 7th - Mars Hill, ME

We are currently at 50% of our required monthly support.

KEEPING PERSPECTIVE

Becky and I just spent the day visiting with old college friends enjoying BBQ and fellowship on a scenic lake front. The weather was perfect, sunny and a calm breeze. My friend Martin let Josiah and I take his kayak for a spin. Josiah played captain as he frequently directed me what island or boat he wanted to get close to. What was different about this kayak then any other I had been in was that there was a pedal for the right and left foot that controlled a rudder. I felt like such a slave to it after a while, constantly pushing one or the other trying to get us going straight. As we pulled up on shore I asked Martin, "The rudder was a battle to keep it straight." He replied, "You have to stop thinking about the rudder and the pedal, you will drive yourself crazy trying to keep it straight. Fix your eyes on where you want to go, and go!"

What a great lesson, as I think of us going to Argentina. We need to remember why we are going and who we are serving, and not get caught up in pushing pedals. If I was told while I was a college student that for a year and a half God would use Becky and I to get churches excited about missions and challenge saints in New England with the Word of God, and teach Bible studies during the week, what an exciting opportunity!!

The things of this world can certainly change our perspective on where we are in life and keep us from being effective for Christ. Colossians 3:1-2 remind us "If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." With our affection set on Christ, our eyes fixed on Him, we can travel straight.



Here where we have been and where we are going next:
July 8th - Free Baptist Church, Waterboro ME
July 9-13 - Vacation Bible School, Fellowship Bible Church, Chester NH
July 15 - Church of the Open Bible, Burlington MA
July 22- Lighthouse Baptist Church, Gardiner ME
July 29 - Community Christian Church, Cambridgeport VT

Do Thy Diligence

Steve's Perspective:
It was at the end of May 2006 that we had our very first meeting. So officially we have been on deputation for one year and we are at exactly 50% of our required monthly support. Praise God! Last year however we only had 4 meetings the entire summer.
People ask, "When do you want to get to the field?" I tell them, "yesterday." Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 4:9 "Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me" and repeats this again in verse 21 "Do thy diligence to come before winter..." Obviously, Paul knew of God's sovereign control over all circumstances and it is only if the Lord will can we do this or that (James 4:13-15). And Paul knew that although "all forsook" him (II Tim 4:16) that "the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear...(II Timothy 4:17)" At the same time, Paul urged Timothy to do his absolute best to get to Paul. The phrase "Do thy diligence" is all one word in the Greek, it means "to use speed"."to make effort," or "with eagerness." Paul wanted Timothy there and didn't want him to dilly dally.
As believer's in Christ, diligence ought to be descriptive of our attitude toward living a godly life (See II Peter 1:5-10).

Pray for us, that we would do our diligence, to get down to the Depue's in Resistencia and God would continue to strengthen them "that the preaching might be fully known."

Becky's Perspective:
We continue to prepare our house to sell and get rid of "stuff." Right now it seems in someways surreal that we are going to Argentina, and it has been over a year since we were there. I need to keep my focus on the Lord, and keep my mind "stayed on Him (Isaiah 26:3-4)" and His calling for us to Argentina. It is easy to get distracted by the "here and now" culture of the U.S.A. One of my friends told me, when leaving my first missions trip in Guatemala, to "keep the fire burning." That has been my focus this month: To think of Why? For Who? For What?
I don't ever want to forget how I felt leaving Resistencia on our survey trip, that "This is where we are supposed to be, and I can't wait to get back A.S.A.P!"

Here's a Look at Our Schedule:

June 3rd - Grace Bible Church, Sangerville ME
June 7th -Berean Baptist Church, Brunswick ME
June 8th-Calvary Christian School, Derry NH
June 17th - Church of Bethel, Bethel CT
June 24th - Kennebunk Baptist Church, Kennebunk ME
June 30th - Wedding - Audrery Crabb & Ryan Prout - Chester, NH
July 1st - Calvary Baptist Church, Westport MA

Thank you for checking in on our blog and for your continued faithful prayers!
Would you take a few moments now and pray for Argentina?

Day by Day

"Moreover brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea...And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that Spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ..Now these things were our examples..." I Corinthians 10:1,4,6.

Firstly, thank you all who faithfully pray for us!

A conversation with a supporting pastor has really stuck out at me. He said to me

"Our Christian walk is day by day. Trusting in the LORD, every step.

Like the Israelites getting up every morning going to the tabernacle to see

if the cloud lifted or if it remained. They waited on God daily, and watched.

In the event the the cloud moved, they followed."
It made me think also of how they gathered the manna. The Lord provided enough for each day. They had to work for it and gather it, but all they needed was given. Likewise we pray, give us this day our daily bread. Day by day we wait for the Lord's leading for work and for ministry opportunities. Day by day we contact more churches, send out packets, wait for replies. Week by week we travel to new churches, wait and watch.

Here is where we have been and what May looks like:

April 8 - Emmanuel Baptist Church, Old Saybrook, CT

April 15 - Calvary Baptist Church, Whitefield ME

April 22- Plainville Baptist Church, Plainville MA

April 29 - West Sidney Baptist Church, Sidney ME

April 30-May 2 - Farmington Avenue Baptist Church, West Hartford CT

May 4-6 - Salem Bible Church, Salem NH

May 6 - Christian Fellowship Church, Scotland CT

May 13 - Fellowship Bible Church, Chester NH

May 16-22 - Becky's Brother Steve is getting married, VA Beach
May 25 - Calvary Christian School, Derry NH

May 27 - Enfield Baptist Church, Enfield ME

Please pray:

- That the Lord would raise up the support we need to go Argentina.
- For our spiritual and physical health as we travel and prepare.

- For our home church as they search for a Pastor

- To be bold witnesses and faithful Bible teachers

What do you think of the new prayer card? Is it a keeper? (notice Elliott's smirk!)

(Photo taken by Ryan Prout Photo Plus - our future brother in law)