Nathan and Rachel Allen “The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.” Prayer & Financial Partner Exclusive…
THIS POST IS INTENDED ONLY FOR THOSE WHO HAVE CHOSEN TO PRAY FOR AND SUPPORT THE MINISTRY GOD HAS GIVEN US OF CHALLENGING AND EQUIPPING MORE LABORERS FOR THE HARVEST. (Or for the really curious. It’s ok, you can click through too…)
Wayumi Summer Update – July
It’s amazing how fast the second half of the summer is going! We had a very busy week off during the 4th of July week with close friends and family visiting all week. Our best friends, Wes & Jodi, from Michigan stopped by overnight on their way out to Maine and then stayed with us for a few days on their return trip to Michigan. Jason and Laken Cizdziel spent the holiday weekend with us. Rachel’s brother and sister-in-law and family spent about 24 hours with us on their way home from Massachusetts. A very busy time indeed. It took us a little bit to recover, but I was well rested when it came time for camp to start for our third week.
This group was from Denver, Colorado 14 in all. They traveled 30+ hours in two days to get here. This group is from a supporting church of one of our co-workers – Greg and Hannah Lilley. So their oldest two boys, Luke and Levi, joined the group for the week and slept in the hammocks in jungle camp with them. What a committed group of teens and leaders! We had a great time with this group and we are looking forward to their future decisions about serving God.
As our time here is drawing to a close, we have booked just about everyday with friends to see. Including a trip to an Amish farm where one of our current students at the Bible School, John Beiler, grew up. A trip to Washington D.C. for the first time in our lives, with the kiddos! We are going to be staying with Jason and Laken. One of the interns, Josiah, is coming with us. We will be getting back on Sunday, the day that our next group arrives.
Pray for us as we travel and that our times of visiting with friends will be fruitful!
Thanks for reading our update!
Financial Partners Update +1 !
Since our last update on finances, we are happy to announce a new monthly financial partner! We were so excited to hear from former students about their interest in our ministry:
“You really impacted us during our training and we see that God is using you both in your various ministries. We’re glad that we can be a part of your ministry in this way.”
I was crazy encouraged to get this email one morning and hope you find it encouraging as well!
Wayumi Summer Update June
Here we are again at Wayumi for the summer. I tell some people this is my disneyworld – the happiest place on earth. After last summer I couldn’t wait to get back here and see many lives changed once again. We started out with 6 weeks of camp planned – 3 weeks straight with a week off for the 4th of July, then another 3 weeks. We were hoping to have 4 interns, a guy and girl from both Bible Schools and I was going to be exhausted when it was all said and done.
Well, true to the Word of God, Proverbs 16:9 says, “We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.” (NLT) Here are some of the steps: We were only able to secure one male Bible school student to be an intern. We found out the week before we left Jackson, MI that one group had already cancelled, and then the night before we left a second group had cancelled. Major disappointment began to set in. But I slowly began to realize once again that God is still in control.
We arrived here Saturday June 4th and quickly set up house and began to get the camp in order for our first group of 28 people that arrived on Sunday June 12th. After arriving I was introduced to a girl by the name of Marie “Meezie” Sanford. Meezie is an NTM MK (missionary kid) and volunteered to help out for the summer. Jeb Wishart is our guy intern and is a Bible School graduate. Also, another Bible School student, Rachel Minium has been available to help as well as my intern from last year, Josiah Vanderdecker will be joining us next week as well! So I now had four interns! What a blessing that has been!
The first group arrived on Sunday and the week was off and running. We learned a lot last week, especially the interns, getting their feet wet and are now better prepared to run with me for the rest of the summer with 4 more weeks of camp. As it turns out, with the cancellations we will have camp every other week all summer.
Answered Prayer
One tool that is important in every missionaries life is a camera. Besides the personal use we get are the ministry moments that we can capture and share with you! In the course of capturing some of these ministry moments, Rachel was standing on the side of a small hill on wet grass. The laws of nature being what they are in those conditions – lets just say friction was lacking. Down Rachel went camera and all. The jarring that Rachel received was significant enough that the camera lens would no longer retract. Later that day Rachel posted on facebook the disappoint in the broken camera. It was such a heartbreak as we just purchased it recently and were still getting used to it.
God in his sovereignty chose to use that communication to move in the heart of one of my favorite supporters that goes by the name of “Anonymous.” A few days later I happened to be checking our account online and saw a contribution that was more than enough to cover the cost of the camera! Praise the Lord! So I called my favorite camera store, Picture This Jackson and ordered the replacement and it is on it’s way here now!
Thank-you Anonymous once again for your generosity and care for the ministry God has given us!
Opportunities
WARNING: THIS ARTICLE MAY LEAD TO INVOLVEMENT IN A MISSIONARIES LIFE. PROCEED WITH CAUTION. NO COERCION OR PRESSURE ARE INTENDED BY SHARING THIS INFORMATION. SHOULD YOU CHOOSE TO CONTINUE READING THERE IS NO OBLIGATION TO PARTICIPATE, BUT WE WOULD WELCOME ANY AND ALL INVOVLEMENT!
My snake story
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Doesn’t every missionary have at least one snake story? Well, I didn’t have my own until our first week here at Wayumi this summer.
The Evolution of a Missionary
As I’ve been thinking about our role in missions, I’ve been thinking about this idea of the evolution of a missionary. It would seem to me that when people think of a missionary, it is of a well-seasoned overseas missionary who has been trained, equipped and possibly already had field experience. Until recently had I thought of the behind-the-scenes process of a missionary getting to that point.
So I’ve begun to put together this idea of what it looks like for someone to become a missionary and the process they go through. Of course it would start with one’s one salvation, then discipleship, then a challenge to reach others, a positive response to that challenge, training, determine area of service, support raising, service, ongoing support raising and then retirement.
We have the fun privilege to be on the challenge and training aspect of that timeline. It’s a huge blessing to see those we’ve had a part in challenging and training reach their destination and begin to minister where God has lead them.
A moment in the life…
Recently I was asked, “What is your ministry?, What do you do?” Today I thought would be a great example to try to illustrate those questions…
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Progress
The End of an Era
The feature that set NTBI Jackson apart for so many years made way for a new era just a few weeks ago. The Fitness Center was finally open! A brand new rubber floor…bright lights…two new Flat Screen TV’s were hung where there may have been a “No Life Guard on Duty” sign. The old weight room is empty. We will soon add more weights, treadmills and ellipticals. P90x and other exercise routines are a common sight. How thankful we are to the Lord and to some of you for providing what was needed in order to finish this project!
No More Waterless Apartments
Talk about a surprise…several months ago, we discovered that in order to meet the current health codes, we would need to install water in every married apartment. We know that our married alumni are saying… NOOOO! Let them experience no water! Sorry that is not an option. So…this May-July we will be installing new kitchens in 11 apartments.
What are some NTBI Jackson Alumni up to?
- The Akolet (Martins and Warners in PNG) should be hearing the Gospel within a couple of weeks now. Already there are 3 language helpers who have heard the good news and trusted Christ.
- The Siar (Sanfords, Jacksons and Lujans in PNG) are finishing up literacy lessons in preparation to begin teaching for the very first time this July. You know they are excited and full of anticipation.
“Let us come boldly before the throne of grace…” on behalf of these two people groups and the NTBI alumni working with them, trusting that God will give a great harvest!
