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?
June 20, 2007
April 18, 2007
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.
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 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 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)
March 20, 2007
It's a BOY!
Elliot Edward Diem was born!
Friday March 16, 2007 at 11:43pm. Becky was correct on her baby prediction. Elliot was born with a full head of dark hair. However she was a little shy on her weight guess, he was 7lbs 9oz. We praise God for a safe delivery and a healthy boy!
Doesn't Becky look great! (Fortunatley you can't tell that I lived in those close for a couple of days). Saturday morning Steve picked Josiah up from his sisters house, and after having special daddy time, brought him to the hospital. Josiah was his first visitor! You can see how much he enjoyed his new tools that were presents from his little brother.
On Sunday the 18th Becky and Elliot were able to come home from the hospital. Just when you thought we could not fit anything else in our car...March 2, 2007
In His Time
Becky's due date is officially one week from today: March 9th. Everything is ready to go. Suitcases are packed and in the trunk, cell phone fully charged, video camera (with new tape), names picked out, care for Josiah figured out and now we are just waiting patiently for Baby #2.
Here is where we have been this month:
February 11 - rescheduled for June
February 18 - Hill Village Bible Church, Hill NH
February 25 - Epping Bible Baptist Church, Epping NH
~~Our support is at 33%!!
Thoughts from Becky:
I'm trying to look at each day that the baby doesn't come as a gift from God knowing Baby will come IN HIS TIME. For at least a couple weeks I won't have the energy to keep up with him Josiah, so I've been trying to spend extra special time with him. We have had lots of fun playing in the snow, painting, going on walks, taking trips to the library, reading books, watching special movies, and extra snuggles. Yesterday I had an ultra sound and the baby's weight was normal. My doctor had talked about inducing me early if the baby was going to be larger than 8lbs. I have been reading a book on intercessory prayer and the book of Job. I have come to realize what tough times really means and how often I through that phrase around too loosely.
It was neat to see the Lord work out our deputation schedule this month. Our one meeting out of state my doctor didn't give me the clearance to go to. But it ended up getting rescheduled for June. Our meetings this month have been in NH, which has been nice because car rides are a little uncomfortable these days.
Thoughts from Steve:
Our thoughts and attention have been directed toward the arrival of our new Baby. We still don't know if it is a boy or girl so we are anxious to meet our new little one. Thank you all for praying for Becky. She has been gaining weight steadily and so has Baby.
The class this semester at NSTM on Church planting was excellent. Our final was this last Thursday. The last two weeks of March I begin a two week class the principles and practice of missions taught by Henry Heijermans. I am thankful for the opportunity to take advantage of the teaching. If you have interest in missions and church planting these would be worth picking up.
The book list includes:
"Spontaneous Expansion of the Church" - Roland Allen
"Missionary Methods" - Roland Allen
"Communicating Christ Cross Culturally"
"A People for His Name" - Paul A. Beals
Last week I led music in our home church. It has been almost a year since the last time I had done that. Becky and I have enjoyed the preaching of our interim Pastor very much. Currently he is going through Philippians. And it was one of those messages that I felt was just for me and it was the first time in a while that a message made me emotional. It was on Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Sometimes deputation feels heavy and what a rest we have knowing that God will get us there IN HIS TIME.
Baby Predictions:
Dark Hair and eyebrows
8.5 lbs.
Boy/Girl?? (Everyone seems to think it is a girl)
Here is where we have been this month:
February 11 - rescheduled for June
February 18 - Hill Village Bible Church, Hill NH
February 25 - Epping Bible Baptist Church, Epping NH
~~Our support is at 33%!!
Thoughts from Becky:
I'm trying to look at each day that the baby doesn't come as a gift from God knowing Baby will come IN HIS TIME. For at least a couple weeks I won't have the energy to keep up with him Josiah, so I've been trying to spend extra special time with him. We have had lots of fun playing in the snow, painting, going on walks, taking trips to the library, reading books, watching special movies, and extra snuggles. Yesterday I had an ultra sound and the baby's weight was normal. My doctor had talked about inducing me early if the baby was going to be larger than 8lbs. I have been reading a book on intercessory prayer and the book of Job. I have come to realize what tough times really means and how often I through that phrase around too loosely.
It was neat to see the Lord work out our deputation schedule this month. Our one meeting out of state my doctor didn't give me the clearance to go to. But it ended up getting rescheduled for June. Our meetings this month have been in NH, which has been nice because car rides are a little uncomfortable these days.
Thoughts from Steve:
Our thoughts and attention have been directed toward the arrival of our new Baby. We still don't know if it is a boy or girl so we are anxious to meet our new little one. Thank you all for praying for Becky. She has been gaining weight steadily and so has Baby.
The class this semester at NSTM on Church planting was excellent. Our final was this last Thursday. The last two weeks of March I begin a two week class the principles and practice of missions taught by Henry Heijermans. I am thankful for the opportunity to take advantage of the teaching. If you have interest in missions and church planting these would be worth picking up.
The book list includes:
"Spontaneous Expansion of the Church" - Roland Allen
"Missionary Methods" - Roland Allen
"Communicating Christ Cross Culturally"
"A People for His Name" - Paul A. Beals
Last week I led music in our home church. It has been almost a year since the last time I had done that. Becky and I have enjoyed the preaching of our interim Pastor very much. Currently he is going through Philippians. And it was one of those messages that I felt was just for me and it was the first time in a while that a message made me emotional. It was on Philippians 1:6
"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Sometimes deputation feels heavy and what a rest we have knowing that God will get us there IN HIS TIME.
Baby Predictions:
Dark Hair and eyebrows
8.5 lbs.
Boy/Girl?? (Everyone seems to think it is a girl)
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