As you remember a few days ago we asked you to pray for us as we were facing a pretty big decision about my (Melody’s) need to have some work done on my right knee. Last year I had my left knee replaced and now the right one is worn out and needs replacing.

We were so blessed by many of you sharing with us your thoughts and insights. As we added that information with what we felt the Lord was saying to us and have decided to go ahead with the surgery, but later in the summer. It has been scheduled for August 11.

That is far enough out that we can make the trip to Mexico, we can be available for our family during our granddaughter’s hospitalization, we can enjoy our first summer in Florida and I can get in good physical shape for a good recovery. On the other hand it’s not so far out that I will have a super long time dealing with the pain and inconvenience of a really bum knee. I am very thankful for the anti-inflammatory meds the doctors have prescribed for me. As long as I don’t walk to far or long I’m not in excruciating pain. I can still ride my bike and swim, thankfully.

So, thank you so very much for your prayers! You really helped a lot in the decision making process.

Have a BLESSED day!

Melody for us both

Doug and Melody

It is amazing to me what the Lord has done in bringing us here. I (Melody) was extremely resistant to moving to FL for many years. As a result of some unpleasant experiences in FL 24 years ago, I hated FL. When the Lord started speaking to our hearts about moving here, I was not excited about it. As He gently made more and more clear that was the direction we were to go, I grudgingly surrendered and started packing and moving that direction. Then the miracle happened! Somewhere in TN on our way down, the Lord flipped a switch, and I actually started looking forward to being in FL. I even started thinking of it as home even before we got here! How cool is that?

During the month we’ve been here, it has been very fun to see how the Lord has provided a wonderful place for us to live, wonderful jobs where we can serve Him and a wonderful place to worship. We are very excited about the things the Lord has for us in our new lives here. There are so many amazing opportunities to serve Him that we have to be careful to “take it easy” and not get over committed. Over and over at church and at work people have confirmed the Lord’s leading by saying things like, “You are such an answer to prayer! We’ve been praying for someone to fill these spots for years and this is PERFECT timing!” Isn’t God good?

By working here at NTM USA headquarters we have the opportunity to be involved with world evangelization on a much broader basis. We’re not just centered on the needs in Mexico. We have the  privilege of hearing about what God is doing all over the world, and we have a part in serving those missionaries that are involved in what He is doing in Papua New Guinea, Africa, and many other places. What a privilege!

Several of you Prayer Partners have asked how the “One Hundred at $10 a Month” project is going. We are thankful to report that we have actually seen 5 new Partners join our team. There were several others that mentioned they wanted to be a part of that project, but for one reason or another they haven’t started yet. So, please continue to pray for the new ministry Partners we need.

If you are interested in seeing our new little home and neighborhood, I have posted pictures on Facebook. I think you can click on http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/album.php?aid=146941&id=643157819 and see them even if you are not a Facebooker.

Thank you for praying for us. We know your prayers have been effectual! God is answering! Please keep on praying! We love you!

In case you haven’t noticed the end of the year is QUICKLY arriving. Please pray as we are finalizing plans for a Partnership Development trip next week. The plan is to leave very shortly after Thanksgiving (either Friday or Monday) and travel to IL, NY, and PA to visit with dear friends, regular supporters and hopefully new supporters. J

We are planning on returning to NE on Dec. 14 at which time we will take 3 days to finish packing up and getting ready to move to FL. Our departure date from Norfolk is set for Thursday, Dec. 17. Although it makes us very sad to think of leaving our dear friends and sweet brothers and sisters in the Lord, we are excited about the things Jesus has in store for us in FL.

Our prayer requests at this time are the following:

• Pray for all the details of the trip to work out.  
• Pray for hearts to be touched and new members to join our financial team.  
• Pray for $1170 of new monthly support needed-we are at 63% of our minimum support level.
• Pray for physical strength as we travel hundreds of miles and then return to pack up our belongings and clean house.
• Pray for a smooth transition to our new ministry in Sanford, FL.

Thank you so much for partnering with us.

To catch you up on the last year, we left Chihuahua, Mexico in November, 2008, to seek help from Oasis Counseling International in Norfolk, NE to deal with some personal issues that made it difficult for us to effectively minister on the mission field. We have had an amazing year learning some very valuable truths from our counselors at Oasis as well as from the precious Body of Christ at Christ Is King Community Church. The love and grace our brothers and sisters at CKCC have extended to us has anointed us in a special way and no doubt speeded the healing process considerably. We have grown stronger in the Lord than ever before. We are extremely thankful for what the Lord has done in both of our hearts in this last year. The time is now approaching for us to return to full-time ministry.

However, there are some changes in that. After much, much prayer and counsel from our mission leadership, our home church and those here in NE that are involved in our lives, it appears that the Lord is directing us to serve with New Tribes Mission USA at the home office in Sanford, FL. Attached is a letter from Dan Kreider, Director of Operations at NTM explaining our new ministry. Although we will be working in the USA, we will still be very actively involved with world evangelism. We will be reaching tribal people by helping to support, encourage and minister to tribal ministries all over the world.

Our next goal is to get to Sanford, FL by the end of the year to begin our new responsibilities in January, 2010. There are a few “sub-goals” to reach before that. First, we need approximately $1400 a month more support. The cost of living in FL is MUCH higher than it is in Mexico. It is essential to have this amount before we can assume our ministries in FL. We will be traveling as the Lord directs to connect with supporters, friends that we haven’t seen in a very long time and potential financial partners. Also, we need to go to Chihuahua to pack our belongings to move them over 2,000 miles to FL. Finally, we are planning on spending Christmas with some of our kids and grandkids in Tennessee.

Thank you so much for being patient with us and continuing to pray for us so faithfully. We need you to keep praying! God is continuing to do marvelous things in our lives, our relationship and our ministry; but we need you to keep praying. Pray that we will continue to grow in our understanding of what God is faithfully teaching us day by day, and that we will faithfully respond to His great grace! Pray that God will touch hearts; that He will raise up co-laborers to join us in the amazing job of reaching tribal people with the gospel. Please ask the Lord to lead us to the churches and individuals He is choosing to join our financial partnership team. Lastly, pray for the finances for the traveling. The cost just for vehicle gas for our travels could be as much as $800.

If you have any questions or want more information about anything, please, please feel free write us. We will gladly answer any question you might have. We serve such a faithful God Who has proven His faithfulness over and over. He still “supplies all we need according to His riches in Christ Jesus,” Phil. 4:19.

1. Wisdom and grace to minister to tribal missionaries as well as tribal people

2.Wisdom in training missionary candidates

3.  Wisdom in developing the English program for them

4. Several financial, physical and spiritual needs

FROM MELODY’S PEN: I’m sure by now you’re beginning to wonder if I’m a woman of my word or not. Well, I promised an update and here it is! 
Like you, Doug and I have been really busy lately. Since Doug is part of the security committee team here in Chihuahua, he was extremely busy day and night with the recent detainment of our co-worker, pilot John Van Wormer. We are so extremely thankful for the way the Lord worked that situation out and John was released. We are still praying about the situation; however, as we have been told the prosecutor may possibly appeal the judge’s decision to release John and the plane. Along with the security committee team meetings, Doug also had a good bit of buying to do for the mountain missionaries. To help the tribal missionary be able to devote more of his time to evangelism and translation, Doug often gets their varied, needed supplies together to be sent out to their remote tribal station. The tribal missionary is unable to just run down to the store, drug store or hardware store to get needed supplies. Those are all several hours and maybe days away.

In the midst of all that, Doug had the distinct privilege of ministering to a hospitalized Guarijio Indian lady, Felicita, and her adult son Crispin for two weeks by visiting her, interpreting for them due to their limited Spanish fluency and sending updates via emails to missionary coworkers to the family that lives in a remote area.

While Doug’s been busy with his activities, I’ve been busy at the Transcultural Institute teaching English to the students who are training to be missionaries. Above are 3 of my 16 students – Calixto, Bero and Erika (left to right). At the beginning I was super stressed about the whole thing. I had never done what I was being asked to do and I didn’t have a clue how to get started. I’m happy to say now, that the Lord has given me the direction I needed and the class is going really well. The staff at Rancho Siloé is trying to accomplish a couple of things through teaching the students English. Of course it is to their benefit to be able to speak a second language – any language, but especially English since more than likely their co-workers will be English speakers. However, that’s not the only benefit. They are also learning technical aspects of how to learn a foreign language and culture. Hopefully we are giving them tools that they will be able to use when they move to a tribal location and are trying to learn a tribal language. One of the challenges I have with the class is time. We need more time! I meet with them 3 days a week for only 40 minutes a time. I have offered to go out extra days and stay during lunch if they want. If they agree to that I will need more gas money to make the extra trips.

On a little more personal note, we are doing fine. Back in April we mentioned something about the health problems I was having. We are very happy to report that I have been responding well to the treatment. My blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, etc. are all looking really good. I have a few side effects to some of the medication like slight dizziness, but over all I’m doing really well. I’m happy to report that I’ve even been able to lose a little weight. What a relief! Thanks for praying! Now please pray for me to get some relief from the constant back and neck pain that I’m enduring. I think it’s probably a result of being on the crutches so long after that honking big knee surgery I had a few years back.

FROM DOUG’S PEN: For years I, Doug, have been quite baffled with just how God would have our family communicate our needs to our friends and family. Historically, I have withheld the details and depth of our family’s financial needs, believing that God could and would meet our needs without telling others about the needs. Our mission gives us the freedom to take that approach, but encourages us to do just the opposite, which is to let our partnership team join us in prayer asking God to meet our specific needs. So Melody and I are changing our approach and now desire to give all of you the opportunity to pray with us concerning our needs.

This is the third month in a row that our monthly support received has been way below the amount we need to cover our expenses and support our ministries. The shortfalls have been $450, $650, and $300 monthly. Some of you may be wondering "how do you guys survive month after month without being fully supported?" Do you actually "need" the money you say you need? Does your mission fill in your monthly shortfall? Realizing that these questions may be in the minds of many of you, we would like to attempt to answer these questions. First, I’d like to clarify that our mission organization does not cover any lack of financial support. So, where do the funds come from whenever we are short? The lack of monthly committed support is sometimes covered by people who send one-time gifts or by regular donors who send in gifts "over and above" their commitment. When our monthly expenses are not covered we cut back where we can and ask the Lord to provide what is needed to get through the month. However, when we find ourselves several hundred dollars short any given month, or several months in a row, it does drain energy from us wondering how God will provide for the current expenses. And, yes, God has proven His faithfulness during our years of ministry, but the financial pressure is still present month after month, and every now and then this constant pressure leads to personal and marital stresses. If we were able to have 100% support commitments, any extra gifts received could be used to help further mission projects, buy equipment needed for ministry, help our low supported coworkers, etc. And that would be a much more encouraging situation, allowing us to minister without the stress of financial pressures.

It is obvious that God does allow financial shortfalls as part of His purpose in our spiritual growth, leading to greater dependence on Him. These needs also move us to greater fellowship with the Lord talking with Him about our needs. He never gets tired of hearing our requests. God delights to meet the needs of His children. He wants us to keep asking, to keep depending on Him. His Word says that "we have not because we ask not." So, please join us in asking and we’ll rejoice together in God’s answers and perfect timing. Please join us in asking God for the following:

Medical: Co-insurance payment of $180 pending for August & September medicines

Medical: Co-insurance payment for October projected to be $160 for medicines, diabetes quarterly lab work, and doctor visits

Monthly support commitments: $500 per month needed

Ministry needs: Printer cartridges & gas for trip to visit believers in Agua Azul

Personal needs: Dental work, eye exams, shoes, costly van repairs

Spiritual needs: Communication & unity in our marriage

Our jobs may not sound all that dramatic or exciting, but nevertheless they are an important part of getting the gospel to the unreached tribes of Mexico. Thank you so very much for all your help – your prayers and your financial support. Thank you for praying for us and with us!

In Christ alone, our only hope,

Doug & Melody

2. Pray for continued safety as we travel from Colorado to Chihuahua, Mexico the second week of July.

3. Pray for us to have wisdom so we can be a blessing and encouragement to the friends and family we will be relating to this last week of our trip. 

Thank you SO much for praying for our trip and our daughter’s wedding. It has been more than awesome!

Here is a picture of the new Mr. & Mrs. Nick Fried as they were serving communion to the guests at their wedding. Sharing communion with Kate and Nick was one of the most unique and beautiful things I’ve ever experienced at a wedding. It was a beautiful picture of how Christ gave Himself for us and He alone is our sufficiency in all areas of life, but especially in marriage. During that part of the ceremony each guest was invited to come forward and receive the elements from Nick and Kate with cupped hands representing our dependence to receive from the Lord His good gift of salvation and all that entails. As Nick placed a piece of the bread in our cupped hands he said, "Body of Christ, bread of heaven." Then we passed to Kate and dipped the bread in the cup as she said, "Blood of Christ, cup of salvation." Then we returned to our seats as we partook of the elements. It was an extremely moving ceremony. The whole ceremony was an exceptionally powerful reminder of what a marriage is and what a man and woman commit to each other as well as to God as they start a life together. It was the best wedding ever!

Thanks again for your prayers,

2. Pray for protection for new believers in several tribal areas and that they will ge grounded in the faith and will grow strong in the Lord.

3. Pray for a profitable experience with our new houseguest, Tony, and his sisters. Pray Doug and I will be able to minister to him and his sisters.

4. Pray God will provide in every way for our summer trip to our daughter’s wedding. We will be traveling from June 4 to July 15.