God Continues ...

Dave made it home safe and sound! We are so grateful for another ministry trip!

Our life continues ... Dave and I are visiting a church this morning that has always loved and supported us ...

But behind curtains that we cannot see, God continues ...

He continues to work in ways that we know not ...

In lives that we know not about ...

We ask that you please continue to pray for the souls in Italy...and around the world...that need Jesus.

.... and please continue to pray for us .....

On the Way Home

As I write, Dave will be waking up to face a very long day.

What a time these last two weeks have been for him!

Sometimes, trying to type out thoughts and feelings and stories can be difficult. I'm anxious to hear the stories in person!

Please be praying for the seeds that were planted. There have been quite a few … and yet, God knows each one by name. We are just a very small part.

Please be praying for Dave as he travels and for everyone as we all adjust back to family life.

Words cannot express how strengthened we are when we know people are praying. There is so much encouragement in that! We thank you for all of your prayers….

Mary

As Dave was walking through the V*tican area today, he met a lady who was from Florida.

Remember how possible it is to reach the world…just from the streets of Rome?

Her name is Mary and she and her friend were walking through the Vatic*n area as well. As they were walking, Dave over heard them talking about a leg that is hurting Mary.

Dave gave them an English tract and told them that he would be praying for Mary's leg.

Would you join us in praying for her? Not only are we praying for Mary's leg, but also for her soul!

Monday

Dave met a man named John today.

Dave has several John/Romans in the French language, so he decided to look for people from Africa that may speak French. John is from Rwanda and is a priest. He took 4 more John/Romans to give to his friends. He was happy to get these! Please pray that through the reading of God's Word, John might see God for who He really is and not the religion that man has made up.

Dave also saw Friar Piccitignito again today. Remember him? Please continue to pray for him and for the opportunities Dave has to talk with him.

Dave was feeling very good today and was trying to decide whether or not to head back to the apartment. He had set a time in his mind to head back but as that time was approaching, he was still feeling pretty good and wondered if he should stay longer. AT THAT EXACT TIME, one of the authorities came and asked to see Dave's permit (something that you are to have if you are passing out publicity on the streets). Of course, he took that opportunity to leave and head back to the apartment…. feeling very confident that his answer had come!

Thank you again for your prayers. There are now just 3 short days to reach those whose hearts are searching. Please continue to pray that God would direct Dave's steps and protect him as he goes out.

Sunday

Dave has had great success passing out tracts to people from India.

There have been a few from Bangladesh lately as well.

I have been praying for God to direct Dave's steps to the place where he needs to be every day. Yesterday, God layed this song on my heart. Now, I have been singing it often and thinking of Dave.

We thank God for the ability to listen to church services online. He's not able to listen to our services, but Dave has been able to watch Pastor Mike Hoggard's services each Sunday. Because of the time change, it works out well for Dave to go out in the mornings and pass out tracts. Then, he gets back in the afternoon to watch church. This encourages his heart for sure!

Thank you for praying!

Saturday

Remember all the tracts in Indian languages?

Dave has been meeting lots of different people from India!

Today was no exception. Please be praying that the Lord would work in these people's hearts and that they would respond to God's calling.

Sunday is a brand new day and with it comes a whole new day of opportunity...for all of us! Let's seize the opportunity to share the Gospel...wherever we're at!

May God bless you for your faithful prayers on our behalf.

A Lot to be Thankful For

We sure do have a lot to be thankful for …. every single day!

Here is some of what we're thankful for today:

• Dave talked with SEVERAL people today…all because he decided to walk home and not take the bus! Thank you, God, for directing his steps! 

• We have been given the TRUTH of God's Word and the opportunity to proclaim it. 

• We have friends and family willing to pray for little 'ol us! 

• God has provided $450 of the $1000 that we needed for Dave's lodging! 

Thank you, Lord, for one more day to serve you! 

Prayers Answered

Thank you to those who are praying for Dave!

Thursday was a much better day for him, both physically and spiritually.

Please continue to pray that He would be in just the right place and at just the right time so that he can reach those whose hearts are seeking the Truth.

Maybe this song will bless you as it blesses us (click here)….

Let Me See

I heard it in his voice today.

The fight. The battle.

It brought me to my knees in prayer.

I'm reminded of the Bible story where Elisha asked God to open the servant's eyes so that he could see the great army that God had sent. At first, all the servant could see was that they were surrounded by the enemy. What would we see if God opened our eyes to what He had all around us? What would we see if God opened our eyes to His plans and purpose? 

2 Kings 6:15-17King James Version (KJV)

15 And when the servant of the man of God was risen early, and gone forth, behold, an host compassed the city both with horses and chariots. And his servant said unto him, Alas, my master! how shall we do?

16 And he answered, Fear not: for they that be with us are more than they that be with them.

17 And Elisha prayed, and said, Lord, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the Lord opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.

The World Just Might Come to You

As the saying goes … "It's a small world after all".

One man travels to one spot and the possibilities to meet someone from nearly every nation of the world are endless.

Monday, Dave was able to meet a man from Nicaragua named Marvin. They were able to talk for a little while. He also met Friar Picctrignito, who was a very interesting individual. He spoke some English, but mostly Portuguese. Dave had a Portuguese tract on hand and was able to share that with him. Please pray for both of these men.

After coming back to the apartment and resting, Dave headed out again. He says he is really enjoying being close to everything. It really helps him out a lot. Later that evening, Dave heard some people speaking English. Our ears always perk up when we hear English over there! It turns out that these people were from Houston. They wondered what Dave was doing in Rome and so he told them. Right there in the middle of the street, these people stopped and prayed for Dave! What a blessing!

Our family at home is doing well. We had a productive and fun day together, but we are always thinking and praying for our much loved husband and dad. Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers!

One Among the Thousands

As you can imagine, I waited anxiously to hear from Dave today. Many people at church asked how he was doing. We are truly thankful that people care and that they take an active part in praying for us. I wasn't able to tell them much this morning, but so glad we heard from him when we arrived home! Tonight, I'll be able to share.

Here are some of the highlights of his day …

There were lots of people, but not crazy like when Pope John Paul II was sainted. The

 people from India are not as devout Catholics as the Polish people are. Most of them 

were there for curiosity. Of course, a lot of her people were poor and may not have traveled. I passed out tracts all morning and then I went through a park. 

I met two different groups of Indians that were just hanging out there. I gave them tracts. 

I put all four tracts in their language together, Hindu..Urdu..Bengali..and English. It's hard 

to know which one they speak. 

Praise the Lord, I slept good last night!  

Oh That They Would Have Eyes to See

Maybe you are interested in reading what the world has to say about Momma T's event?

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/05/world/europe/mother-teresa-named-saint-by-pope-francis.html?_r=0

Maybe you are interested in how the C*atholic religion makes someone a saint?

First, the person’s local bishop investigates their life by gathering information from witnesses of their life and any writings they may have written. If the bishop finds them to be worthy of being a saint, then he submits the information that he gathered to the Vatican’s Congregation for the Causes of Saints.

Second, the Congregation for the Causes of Saints can choose reject the application or accept it and begin their own investigation of the person’s life.

Third, if the Congregation for the Causes of Saints approves of the candidate, they can choose to declare that the person lived a life heroically virtuous life. This isn’t a declaration that the person is in heaven, but that they pursued holiness while here on earth.

Fourth, to be recognized as someone in heaven requires that a miracle has taken place through the intercession of that person. The miracle is usually a healing. The healing has to be instantaneous, permanent, and complete while also being scientifically unexplainable. Miracles have to be first verified as scientifically unexplainable by a group of independent doctors, then the person is approved by a panel of theologians, and then the final approval lies with the pope. If this is the case, a person is declared a blessed.

Fifth, a second miracle is needed in order to declare someone a saint. The confirmation of a second miracle goes through the same scrutiny as the first.

A very cool study is to take your King James Bible and a Concordance and look up the word "saints". The Bible has lots of neat things to say about the saints and you sure don't have to be dead to be one! 

A banner of "Momma T" hangs from St. Peters 

God Provides

Dave has arrived safely in Rome! Praise the Lord!

Despite being on an airplane or in an airport for over 18 hrs, he has hit the ground running and is not waisting any time. The "sainting" is Sunday morning and he wants to make the best of things. Please be praying for strength and that Dave would be right where he needs to be to reach a person searching for hope and truth.

I mentioned I would tell you how God is good to provide…. I saw a little bookmark that read "Where God guides, He provides". How true!

When Dave was praying about going to Italy this September, a friend of ours gave us $100 for our ministry. He didn't know that Dave was thinking of returning for the EVENT tomorrow. Because Momma T (see previous post) had a lot to do with people from India, Dave decided to take that $100 and use it for tracts in those languages…such as Bengali etc… The amount needed for these tracts? $99.45! God provided.

Another friend, after hearing that Dave would be returning to Rome, gave him $80. We were able to purchase his airline ticket with our Frequent Flier miles and just pay a small processing fee. The cost of those fees? $75! Again, God provided.

So far, our only personal cost has been to pay $1000 for Dave's lodging for two weeks. Even though we have had some recent life changes in our home, we have no doubt that God will continue to provide. "Where God guides, He provides"!

I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, 

nor his seed begging bread. 

Psalm 37:25

Thank you again for all your prayers on our behalf! 

Momma T

In just a few short hours, Dave will jump on a plane and head east once again. We're so thankful he has another opportunity to go! In my next post, we'll share more about how God worked all that out. It is a joy to see how God works!

The main reason he is going at this time is because of the "sainting" of one of the Cath*lics beloved. One of our missionary friends gave her the title… Momma T. As we were in Prayer Meeting last night, our pastor jokingly asked if Dave was going because he thought this event was special. No, but we sure will use the opportunity to reach out to some C*tholics who may be searching!

Please be in prayer for Dave as he travels…. and, as on other trips…. please be praying he will be in just the right place at the right time. Please be praying that God would be preparing the hearts of those Dave will talk with.

Thank you so much for your faithfulness in praying!