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Thanks for the Prayers

The Lord gave us a wonderful Missions Conference. It was a time of encouragement as we heard testimonies highlighting God's around our area, the USA, and the world. It was instructional as we examined the Scriptures gleaning new insights. May each of us act on what the Holy Spirit has convinced us to so as a response.

I am also thankful for the Lord's provision of money for materials needed for our mission trip as well as commentaries for seminary students in Uganda.

PRAISE THE LORD AND MANY THANKS TO THOSE WHO PARTICIPATED!!

Answering the Call

Meet my friend Sandy Carroll. Actually I should have met her over two decades ago when Dave was in a prayer/study partnership with her husband Mike. I missed many years of fun by not spending time with her earlier in my life. Here is her story about joining the Mission:Kenya.

For many years, I have been involved in mission in one way or another.Mike and I have welcomed missionary students into our home, worked on mission projects and offered support whenever needed.  We love hearing all about how God is working in their lives and the lives of people they reach.  I have always wanted to do a short term missions trip on foreign land, but the timing never seemed right.

In February 2010I read a wonderful book "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. In June, my church family was challenged to read "Radical" by David Platt.  The more I read and studied God's word, I knew that someday I would go and share the gospel with others in a foreign country.  After finishing my Radical study, Beth Calvert mentioned going to Kenya to minister to orphans at Into Abba's Arms.  I knew this was where God wanted me to go.

Col. 1.6 declares,  "This same Good News that came to you is going out all over ther world.  It is bearing fruit everywhere by changing lives, just as it changed your lives from the day you first heard and understood the truth about God's wonderful grace."
Please remember to pray for our team as we deliver the Good News in Kenya.

PRAYER REQUEST: Please pray for River Cities Missions Conference 3/20-23. We will be raising money for the mission project which includes materials for the Mission:Kenya Vacation Bible School; curriculum needs for the Children's Chapel on Sunday mornings which reach out to the community; materials for Saturday Bible studies for Into Abba's Arms children.

Pieces of the Puzzle

Do you like to put together puzzles? As long as the puzzle is relatively easy I enjoy the challenge of matching colors, assembling pieces, and hopefully turning all those little jagged pieces of cardboard into what matches the box top picture.

With a normal puzzle the picture on the box top provides a clear goal of what you are expecting to match with the pile of pieces. I mentally subdivide the puzzle into portions I think I can conquer with ease and then go after those colors, putting them together the best I can. I always hope some friend will come along and attempt the harder portions I prefer to ignore.

There are many portions to the puzzle of a mission trip. With Mission:Kenya I have in my heart and mind what I understand God wants us to accomplish. I am fairly certain the general format most of those portions should take.

Fundraising is one of those portions that I cannot do. It is one that only God can do. We saw that happen this week. The payment for our plane tickets was due on Wednesday, March 9th. We had accomplished several fundraisers and have a few more planned, but the money for airfares was due three months earlier than what was projected to beat the cost of rising gas prices. We prayed. I still fretted as I examined some folk's accounts. More prayer. 

But God put the puzzle together. He made sure certain checks were in the mail "just in time". He also worked with the IRS so that a particular tax return arrived at the perfect time. The generosity of the Praise & Worship Concert was a huge asset. Money which had been tucked away for this point was put into place. So today all the airfares were purchased.

Praise His Name!

Into Abba's Arms here we come!

We Had Too Much Fun!

We had everyone praying for the Worship & Praise Concert. Our hopes for delighting in the Lord; casting a vision for Mission:Kenya; and giving people an opportunity to participate in a freewill offering were realized. But it must be noted that we had too much fun!

The River Cities Choir is a fun loving bunch. Whenever they sing it is truly to praise Jesus Christ, (and sometimes to keep a smile on Brenda's face). They belted out songs that made you want to stand and honor the Lord.

Hurricane First Baptist Choir did a great job with the leadership of some soloists, and the accompaniment of a small orchestra. Gorgeous work to praise the King.

Jerica Hibner had to have touched the heart of God with the songs she sang.

Antioch Missionary Baptist Choir, of Huntington, seriously "feels" the music, which encouraged us to move, maybe dance, or sway or ..... They stretched those notes and brought emotion to their praise of the Lord.

The River Cities Youth Band provided still another style of lifting up the Name of Jesus, and it was sensational.

The fun totally was overwhelming though when the Antioch Mens' Chorus took the platform. Participation was demanded. No one could be still, unless they were dead. It was enough to work up a sweat.

Best of all was experiencing all the choirs sing together at the closing;  a large variety of believers but in unity worshipping the Lord of All.

We are so grateful for all those who came. The offering totalled over $3,700!!

Delayed Dreams Now in View

To me it is so interesting to follow the special working of God in someone's life. Meet Mission:Kenya team member Jean Howison. God's perfect timing is just that.

Jean’s Journey to Kenya, Part 1

I grew up in a home where Jesus Christ was honored.   I accepted Him into my heart and life when I was 7 years old at a vacation Bible school at our church.  When I was fourteen, a missionary, who was on furlough from what was then the Belgian Congo,  spoke at a missions conference I was attending with my family.  He spoke about his work and about the culture of the town in which he was working.  At the end of the conference that night, I felt the nudging of the Holy Spirit.  Right then, I prayed in my heart, “Heavenly Father, if you ever want me to go to Africa to be a missionary, I will go.” When I heard about the missions trip to Kenya, there was no question in my mind that this was, at last, God’s call to use me for His purpose, in Africa.    To make a long story short, 47 years later, here I go!  

ANSWERED PRAYER AND A REQUEST: This time last week I was a mess. I confess I was not wholely trusting the Lord to be Jehovah-jireh. We had received word from our travel agent the cost of plane tickets. I about lost my cookies. So I asked our team to pray as well as anyone else I met who was breathing. Sunday afternoon the Lord nudged me to realize we could fly out of Cincinnati and somehow end up in Niarobi. I emailed those thoughts to our travel agent, and before the afternoon was over she had us set up for flights costing only $150 more than what I paid in 2007.
Please pray for our concert Sunday evening to provide enough money so we can buy the tickets on Tuesday! I originally told our team we would need to have all the money in by June 30th, but with rising fuel costs we must buy them now!