****Never Destroyed We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corin. 4:8-9

It is that season again, when the valleys become a little deeper.  As I shared with my precious friend, Valerie West, we both cried through texts and she prayed for me these scriptures.   I know this is a hard season for many and felt it is good to open up and share my heart in hopes it can encourage many of you also.  Hard-pressed on every side.  Fighting the enemy especially in my mind.  This is a busy time for Vincent and I need to encourage, not get frustrated or discourage especially when I am tired.  Picking up the towel and doing devotions with kids when he is late and finding ways to bless him.  Seeing friends blessed with the same things we pray for is so exciting and yet sometimes honestly difficult.  Remembering this is the season of the baby gained to heaven and finding the beauty through it all.  Constantly reminding myself I need to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit for any teachable moments, to forgive, love, be very flexible, stay humble and giving as Christ does for His church.  We can feel hard-pressed but we are not crushed!  When I feel hard pressed I meditate on this scripture picturing the strongest arm punching through the thickest spiritual warfare wall with ease. Health issues: the mole on my back, feminine issues that may need surgery and many nights waking up to a swollen throat.  Perplexed I ask, “God why won’t you heal me from this?  How is this working for Your glory?” These scriptures remind me, I am NOT in despair.  He knows exactly what is going on in my body and why, all I need to do is trust in Him. Muslims all around and knowing some of their hearts and the places my husband goes to keep peace for the church and share the gospel, even in threats we know God never abandons us!  There are seasons where we can all feel struck down but need to read and remember we are not destroyed!  Jesus has already won and we are in His all-knowing, all faithful, all loving, already conquered arms!

Fun Photos of Everyday Life:

  1. When you have few tools, and need to get the job done. Here is Vincent using one of the boy’s plastic play toys to fix our broken toilet. Didn’t work so well by the way.
  2. When you pray for rain but need to also dry your clothes. Here is our laundry being on the extra, extra rinse cycle.
  3. When you’re not dressed to impress and the compound is a mess. That is always when you have important surprise visitors like the former MP coming to share and pray with Vincent and also get schooling ideas for his children who are moving back to Midigo.

Ministries Be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great thing He has done for you.”  1 Sam. 12:24

Updates on some of our ministries:

Our Children- Zachary and Ian have been so blessed having Angela here to work with them.  They are like little sponges so eager and excited.  Gaga is blossoming with the morning and evening prayers and lessons with Angela also.  All our older children are doing well in school and look forward to their break in August.  Daniel is such a blessing to have in our family and we continue to pray that God would provide a sponsor for him soon.

Children’s Ministry- This month we graduated our oldest students!  It was a joyous time with the smallest pieces of cake ever.  Talk about God multiplying!  One cake fed the whole church and Explores class.  When school is in session a vast number of our Children’s Ministry come from Muslim backgrounds and many are Muslim but like to come.  Through a lot of prayer realizing this, we are starting afresh at the beginning of the Bible.  Back to creation and getting creative.  We hope to go through the whole Bible before they graduate.  We still have few resources and materials for them, especially for the mass number of children so please continue to pray with us.

Sports Ministry- Our sports ministry is flourishing. The team is well known around the region causing more players to join.  We are renting rooms in the center and making a dorm for the football/soccer players.  This gives us more time for practice and discipleship.  They are preparing to start tournaments soon.  Please pray that God will be glorified and His Word will go out through these matches and continue to change hearts.

Hall and Compound- We are blessed this month to be able to provide jobs for 2 more people.  One of them being a new Muslim convert who hopes to save up money for auto mechanical school.  We praise God that He is faithful to remind us He is in control, we should not rush before His Timing.  It has been difficult waiting for God’s timing to survey the land but we have been blessed for listening.  The government is hoping to turn our village into a city.  They have come to survey to see where they are going to build roads. One of the main roads is going to be near the land we are going to survey hopefully by the end of August. We will use these roads to better plan the stadium and the buildings for the community center and library.  God’s timing is always perfect!