Updates and Prayer for October

It has been almost a month since our last post and we felt we needed an update. We have been progressing along and have reached 37% of our support. Harold has ended up on the road for the past two weeks, so we have slowed down a bit, but still thankful none the less.

We are so thankful for all the new partners that have come on board in both prayer and financial support that it still amazes us how God is so faithful to provide each and every one of you. Please pray with us for two things, we are presenting to our first large group at Grace Community Church in Tulsa tonight at 6p central time. Pray also as we follow-up with these saints that God will prepare the hearts of many to see the need to help us toward our goal so we can head off to serve the Lord at FamilyLife.

Also, please pray for safe travel to Little Rock for Campus Crusade and FamilyLife training on October 2-7. We will be taking Kristi and Amy along with us to see FamilyLife and meet new friends in Little Rock. On October 7 we will be participating in a world wide day of prayer for the ministry of Campus Crusade in reaching the world for Christ through all its ministries.

Thanks so much for all that each and every one of you who mean to us.

Harold & Charlotte

Another Mile Stone

We reached another mile stone in our journey to FamilyLife, we sent out 108 newsletters and an additional 78 by email. Almost 100+ prayer and financial partners. PTL

Time Off in God's Creation

We took a short break to celebrate our anniversary this weekend. We celebrated 33 years, which of course only seems like yesterday we exchanged vows at Grace Baptist Church in San Leandro, CA. We went to Eureka Springs, AR, a quaint Victorian town from the late 1800's, and stayed at a B&B that was wonderful. What struck me that was interesting about our stay, which was at an Inn that had 5 rooms and you ate together for breakfast, (not eating together or breakfast is interesting) it was that two of the four couples that were at breakfast were getting married later that day. Now again, it wasn't that interesting that they were getting married, but one couple had been together for a few years from previous marriages with four children between them and were just "getting around to getting married". How far our country and morals have drifted away from the sacredness of marriage, that marriage is only thought of as a task, not a covenant. This to me was another affirmation of our call to FamilyLife, to reach those couples for Christ and give them direction that would hopefully save their marriage.

We also had the opportunity to have dinner with one of our partners that lives in the area. It was so neat to get to know them better, especially the husband (we had known the wife since she was very little and had seen her grow up) who we didn't know at all, and see their passion for ministry at the church level.

Now back to reality, we drive home today to share the ministry and our passion with others. Pray that these upcoming weeks and months will see much fruit with partners coming along side us in this ministry. I will be home for four weeks and really want to pour much effort into raising up partners.

Harold

July Newsletter

Our July newsletter is hot off the press. Another milestone in our journey.
July Newsletter

Surprises from God?

In many cases, we act surprised when God answers prayer. We had a moment this weekend. We have been praying diligently that God would raise up new partners as we meet with people. This weekend, we had a new partner ready to give, who just needed the necessary information. Surprise? Not in God's eyes - we asked for that. Then we had a new partner call us, who had said they couldn't begin until at least December, and they were ready to give monthly. God is great! - why don't we truly believe when we pray?

"God, help us to believe how great you really are when we ask for help. Help us to remember to be thankful and give you the praise you deserve."

Update on Weekend to Remember - June

With the spring season of conferences winding down, it has been exciting to see the first time decisions for Christ. In Tucson last week with 479 in attendance, they saw 33 come to know the Lord bringing the total salvations for the spring to 1,719. It is really exciting to see numbers like this because it is like our pastor has always said, "The only thing you can bring to heaven is other people".

Here is a quote from the Tucson conference:
"After 29+ years of a very happy marriage, we learned things that can make it even better. Go from Good to Great! Both of us had a few "Lightbulb" moments that were very enlightening. We can't wait to get home, pray and work on our new and improved marriage."

A Dad's Perspective

This week has been one of the most interesting and most rewarding weeks since we started looking for partners in the ministry.
We had 3 cancellations happen this week, but God was faithful in replacing every one. One was a presentation for our son and his future bride. It was a little chaotic at first since it was home and family, but once we started, we presented our story just like we would for anyone else. At the end, we fielded questions, like 'how come the mission board doesn't pay your salary?' So, in the usual fashion we explained that Campus Crusade doesn't have a central fund for paying missionary salaries, but depends on each of us to raise the support so the burden is not so great on Campus Crusade's part and it builds faith and relationships on our part. Then in the usual fashion, we ended with the question for support. David took our commitment card, filled it out and handed it back. At first, we were shocked at the amount he wanted to give us each month, but this was not a joke. Working 4 jobs, saving for school and wedding, and all his other expenses, we were all but overwhelmed with his generosity. We also had to ask, "are you sure?" and he replied with, "I've just been waiting for you to give the presentation and ask me". It is such a joy to my heart to see his love for the Lord and ministry. David is our son who is still unsure of what the Lord wants in his life, to be a Youth Pastor or be in a position to support ministry through giving and working with kids in a lay position.
In conclusion, it makes a father proud to see David walking in the ways of the Lord. Like Prov. 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it." What a blessing for a dad on this Father's Day weekend.

Harold

Newsletter by Email

If you would like to receive our newsletter and prayer requests by email instead of by mail, please click on the link and sign up.
Newsletters by Email

June '08 Newsletter

A new milestone was reached today as we finished our second newsletter/prayer letter. If you have some time and want read, here is the link. http://www.dsdgraphics.net/June08Newsletter.pdf

Praise the Lord, He's led us to 20% of our goal! (That includes some of you, for whom we are grateful.)

The Beginning of June

It is great to be back on track talking with people about FamilyLife. We have begun to contact our long time friends on the west coast this week. What a blessing to be able to catch up with them and their lives. Some of these friends are "old" high school friends from church. The fun doesn't get much better.

Harold

Back on Track

Our full schedule of activities for May finally came to an end today with a trip to Tahlequah, OK to see my parents at Go Ye Village.

Jon performed in his last (?) band concert and graduated from Union HS. He will officially be done with school on May 28 due to the December ice storm. His graduation party was last Saturday with only a few friends showing up. Who knows if the Memorial Day Weekend was an issue or what, but he was still very grateful.

Kristi had a great time at her triple (two other friends with birthdays at the same time) 16th birthday party.

It was bittersweet as our youngest, Amy, graduated from elementary school. She was excited to have earned a place on the Principal's Honor Roll. Our children have had many special teachers and memories through the years.

Now it is time to focus on partnering with our friends in financial and prayer support. We are at almost 18%, which hasn't changed much due to the fullness of May's activities but God is faithful.

Harold & Charlotte

Training at CCC is Complete

We officially ended New Staff Training Saturday night and are happy to be on the way home. Our brains are on overload, but we are anxious to share our ministry even more and are motivated in anew to get to Little Rock as fast as possible. On Saturday night, we were commissioned by Campus Crusade along with all the other 40 new staff to serve as missionaries. What an awesome responsibility we have before us.

One thing that stands out more than anything else is to 'out give' the Lord by increasing what are own personal giving has been. As we know, God blesses in so many ways when we are obedient in our giving. Giving back the first of what He has given to us is what He has commanded us to do.

Our new goal for arriving in Little Rock is whenever the Lord provides the support through partners like the many we already have. What a blessing you are!


Harold & Charlotte

Three Days of Training

After three full days of training, we are already slowing down - thank goodness for sleep. We finished all the HR stuff with CCC yesterday and are now going into the Ministry Partner Development (MPD) phase with FamilyLife for the remaining days.

On Sunday, we were dropped off at a mall, Downtown Disney, or Int'l Street to share the "4 Spiritual Laws", which was a real stretch for me. What was interesting was that everyone around was very rushed and always moving from one place to another; hardly anyone had time. Charlotte was able to go through the booklet with with a young mother from Costa Rica, but I could not find anyone sitting still or stationary enough to talk to. I did have a trainer with National Seminars call, and I was able to share the ministry and our call with them, which was good. I really like the relationship building process that I get when I travel with other people so I can share my faith.

It's almost 8am on the east coast and we are headed down to our training. The kids seem to be doing fine, Kristi is getting better and Amy's asthma seems to be in check, so PTL for that. We're so grateful for those who are looking after them. Thanks for your prayers.

Off to Orlando

Today is travel day for all the New Staff with Campus Crusade. We will arrive around 3p EDT and meet up with some friends from JumpStart training in January. Charlotte is cramming to have the "4 Spiritual Laws" memorized by the time she gets to Orlando. I have mine down, but will be reviewing on the way. We ended up taking two different flights and different airlines to maximize frequent flier miles and save our partners a little money. (Thank you.)

Please pray that we will get the rest we need throughout the week. We had pretty good storms last night and didn't sleep well. I will probably fall asleep before the plane leaves the ground and wake up when the pilot screams at us about 15 min. later. Oh well.

Harold

Only 8 Days Until New Staff Training

Training for our new ministry is only 8 days away now and we are tying up all the loose ends with the kids: places for them to stay, concerns of Amy's asthma care, etc. are prayers being answered.

The other thing that has been a challenge is word perfect memorization of the "4 Spiritual Laws". It has been a little harder because of the different Bible translations and the way I memorized certain verses, but the message is still there. We are all sinners and need Christ.

In the last 6 months, since our initial Preview Weekend in Little Rock at FamilyLife's headquarters, I have had a new friend keep me accountable, who I will get to see again since he is in Tyler, TX. What a blessing to have others who are concerned about us like this. It has also been a privilege to have my coach at FL (Keith) and my good friend in Forrest helping me through this process. The Lord is GOOD!

Harold