Belarus and Romania Update #4

I am typing this with a joyful cramp in my hand. I have just finished writing numerous thank-you notes in hopes of expressing even a small amount of my gratitude to you who gave so generously toward my upcoming trip in just this past couple of weeks. As a result of those gifts, my funding is up to 87%, and I am overjoyed! One of things that God has been impressing on me is not just His faithfulness to provide but also how amazing is the body of Christ that so many of you would give so sacrificially. As I began this ministry journey four years ago, I was astounded at how quickly gifts flew in the door to support my first trip. Since that time, I have been consistently humbled more deeply as so many of you have supported me again and again in successive years. I really don’t know what to say, and I pray that I will be ever faithful to God’s call for me and your expectations. I am also representing you as I attempt to carry His banner in the dark places.

The first few days after my last update were quite the flurry of activity. After telling you that our team’s Belarusian visas were approved and received, I found out that our application packet was simply returned to us unprocessed. We hadn’t received correct instructions and left out the primary visa application document. As a testament to God’s providence, the one member of our team who does not live locally in Hampton Roads was in town last weekend and was available to sign his application and provide the necessary information. I ran around the church on Sunday and on email over the weekend to compile everything we needed, and the full applications were signed, sealed, and sent off to the Embassy for processing late on Monday afternoon. There is a real time crunch on now, and we’ll need the prayers.

On the trip front, we made some great progress in this week in firming up the Romania portion of our trip. We have accepted invitations to speak at a seminary and a university in addition to our planned seminar with local and national politicians. Great! We are excited at these new opportunities, and they will connect us with people in Romania who are true leaders among protestant Christians. God continues to open amazing doors for us, and I know that even more divine appointments will transpire once we’re in country.

Here’s what you can be praying for this week:

• My family. Karen is anxious about my time away. Please pray that there will be peace in my house and that the children will not react negatively to my being gone. The boys know that daddy goes on ‘big trips’ but it’s never easy for us to be separated for so long.
• Visas! We absolutely must have our approved visas back in hand by Friday, October 12, as one team member is going out of the country ahead of the rest of us. This timeframe is feasible but tight. Please pray for no more hang-ups.
• Safe travel. We will cover about 12,500 miles in the air and on the ground (thankfully mostly in the air!) during this trip. Please pray for smooth connections, safe drivers, and clear roads from place to place.
• Preparation of our hearts and minds. Each of my team members has a life outside of this trip and ministry, and we’ll all be busy with the day-to-day right up until we leave. Please pray that God would be preparing us for the message we have to bring, the people that we will meet, and the servanthood that we need to demonstrate. Pray for humility, wisdom, and effective communication.

Thank you all so much! Only two weeks to go now—wow. More to come…