Prayer!

We need it! We are coming upon the first critical time in this beginning ministry. We have traveled to visit many people whom we have been praying will commit to partner with us in the Lord's work in North Las Vegas. Each of these people have received a newsletter and pledge card from us asking for their partnership. We are optimistic that the next couple of weeks will really help us to have a sense of where we really are in our fundraising efforts. So we have been praying! Now please realize that during this time, life does not stop. I had to take Annette to the hospital last week because she was having some pretty painful contractions that lasted for four or five hours. Thankfully, they subsided and have not returned to that frequency or degree of pain. She will be 36 weeks pregnant tomorrow (Tuesday). Please pray for her and for the baby to hold on until late in the 37 week or early 38 week. The reason for this prayer is that we have to move out of our apartment we have been subleasing at Covenant Seminary on August 24th, and having the baby early would work out really well in us transitioning to Las Vegas. Be praying for a healthy baby and quick recover as well. You can also pray that the condo in Las Vegas (many of you have heard this story, if not I would love to tell you about it) would get nailed down soon. The owner is trying to come up with a creative way to make this work so that we will not have to pay for any housing expenses (including rent and utilities) and making it a slightly larger living arrangement than we first expected. Pray for this to solidify for our peace of mind and smooth transition. We also have been thinking through schooling for Micah (who will be in first grade). We are searching for a Christian School for him. Pray that we would find one that would serve him well and that the Lord would provide to cover this expense. As many of you know, my parents (Tom and Treva) will be moving with us to Las Vegas. Please pray that the Lord would sustain their health and that they would sell their home at the perfect time to accommodate a transition to Vegas. I have also been studying for ordination exams in the midst of this craziness. Please pray that the Lord would bless my studies and that I would be prepared to take the written tests that are due by the end of August and then the oral exams September 22nd. Lastly, pray that people would become partners with us in this ministry in North Las Vegas by completing a MNA pledge card and committing to support us through their prayer and/or finances. This would be so encouraging to us! Thank you for praying! As there is a lot going on with the ministry, pregnancy, and transition, I was particularly grateful this past week to be affirmed of God's love for me. Nobody/thing can love me like he can and does. I would encourage you to think about this truth: God is love, and he loves you. God has expressed this love in 66 books contained in the Old and New Testaments. May we all know the love of God in a more significant way this week and turn away from those things that fall so short of the Lord's steadfast love for his people! I will be praying the same thing for you.