By: Dave Parrott
I felt most definitively that a post is owed to all our dear readers, and so one shall be given:
In order is an update on the state of the Brazil team visas. It is not any manner of 'high panic' situation. They have no visas. They will figure something else out. God's will shall be done, and we have no real worries. Prayer on the matter would still be good, if just for guidance for the TREK leadership to know what we are to do about this hiccup.
As well, the money for Team Deutschland is doing quite well. Only two team members are short on funding, but only by about $1300 each. This is good, considering that our team, as a whole, needed around $12,000, we've come quite a way, even in a short five days. God's goodness abounds toward His children. We are greatly praising Him for His provision, and dearly grateful to all our supporters, without whom we would have a hard time getting to Germany, let alone affording to eat while we are there.
Lastly, it is five days until we step onto the airplane and say goodbye to North America for a time. I know for myself, this concept has not yet dawned on me in any proper depth. I am excited, but probably not as much as I ought be. I shall surely understand the concept in full when I look out at Berlin for the first time.
I know the rest of the team is extremely excited, and (to some extent) worried. For any stress felt by any of the group, prayer for that would be both wonderful and helpful. Not that it's any dire need; stress never killed anyone...actually, I'm quite sure that it has at some point, but that in no way invalidates my argument. (You can laugh, I was trying to be funny...sorry about the poor quality of humour)
Monday, October 27, 2008
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
We need you!
By: Raf Duerksen
It’s time to raise your prayers and if you have anything else in your power to do, please do so.
The visas for the Brazil Team have been rejected with a resounding NO!!!! from the Brazilian consulate. Please pray and intercede for TREK leadership to take the correct actions on this matter; pray for the people at the consulate that God might soften their hearts and minds to not only accept the applications but to also expedite the process; pray for confidence for the Brazil team as their near future is uncertain at this point.
Above all, let us continue to praise the Lord our God for the wonderful things he has already accomplished and worship in the confidence that nothing is above our Triune God who can and does accomplish mighty deeds. Thank you.
**EDIT**
As team Germany we would also appreciate your continual prayer for financial support. Several team members are still in dire need of more funds to be able to go on the assignment part of TREK. As a team we fully believe in the bountiful goodness of God and we believe that each one of us has been called to TREK and to this team for a specific purpose. One verse that has become very important to us these days has been from 2. Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
One of the most important things we need is prayer and so we ask you again to please pray for God to raise funds and call people to donate. If you also feel called to donate money to some of our team members, please contact teamgermany2008@gmail.com and we would gladly forward you the pertinent information. Once again, thank you for your prayers and for being our sending community.
For our thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
It’s time to raise your prayers and if you have anything else in your power to do, please do so.
The visas for the Brazil Team have been rejected with a resounding NO!!!! from the Brazilian consulate. Please pray and intercede for TREK leadership to take the correct actions on this matter; pray for the people at the consulate that God might soften their hearts and minds to not only accept the applications but to also expedite the process; pray for confidence for the Brazil team as their near future is uncertain at this point.
Above all, let us continue to praise the Lord our God for the wonderful things he has already accomplished and worship in the confidence that nothing is above our Triune God who can and does accomplish mighty deeds. Thank you.
**EDIT**
As team Germany we would also appreciate your continual prayer for financial support. Several team members are still in dire need of more funds to be able to go on the assignment part of TREK. As a team we fully believe in the bountiful goodness of God and we believe that each one of us has been called to TREK and to this team for a specific purpose. One verse that has become very important to us these days has been from 2. Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.
One of the most important things we need is prayer and so we ask you again to please pray for God to raise funds and call people to donate. If you also feel called to donate money to some of our team members, please contact teamgermany2008@gmail.com and we would gladly forward you the pertinent information. Once again, thank you for your prayers and for being our sending community.
For our thoughts are not my thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9
Thursday, October 16, 2008
By: Dinah MacArthur
So Sup,
So Sup,
I'm Dinah....aka the BRUNETTE. Candi is the blonde. :)
I have a huge feeling that my posts are not going to be NEARLY as entertaining and as intellectual as the rest of my teams...but i also have a feeling that you can deal with this minor issue.
SO... I'm Dinah MacArthur from North Vancouver. I just turned 18 on September 24th. Team Germany is BY FAR the best team, and even though we have no "reds" in our troop, we still work together amazingly.
Might I add...Raf, Jo, Candi, and Dave are STILL trying to find out things that bother me.
Ok this is the stupidest post ever I don't even know why i'm writing it...
k in a nut shell, HI i'm Dinah
I'll write better later!
:)
PCE
xox
Missionaries aren't perfect...
It is no challenging thing to often think only about oneself, I find. It is odd, really, that such a thing can happen with such ease and regularity. I am constantly surrounded by people; talking and interacting with them, yet I seem to forget about their sentience. How foolish and selfish this is! My entire calling is to care about others: to preach the gospel to them for the edification of Christ's Bride and the saving of lost souls, yet I am so often worried about the things in life that matter least.
What ought I say to this or that person; where will the resources for this or that endeavor come from; when must I do this or that thing; how should I address this or that problem? What useless and wasteful questions these all are. What manner of man am I to lie awake at night pondering some doctrine or other when there is a place that my Lord is not praised? There is so much of my self left in me. As long as I am locked within this most vile flesh, I shall be tied to its carnal desires, and there shall be sin within me! No greater misery could befall any person.
Living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, one would think, would come naturally. What a misfortune that not all men become as the Apostle Paul upon his salvation, preaching at his first opportunity after his sight was renewed.
Oh, to speak of the things I see the world doing! To tell men of the danger they are in, should they not repent and believe; to tell them that God will not be mocked by their disregarding His sovereignty and holiness. Yet I so often stand idly by when something must be said, in fear of the opinions of men. Oh, to seek only the Glory of Christ Jesus, whom God raised from the dead!
I guess prayers to trust in the Spirit to lead and to strengthen, and to count it a blessing to suffer -- be it physically or otherwise -- for the name of the Lord.
May God's face shine upon you all,
Dave
What ought I say to this or that person; where will the resources for this or that endeavor come from; when must I do this or that thing; how should I address this or that problem? What useless and wasteful questions these all are. What manner of man am I to lie awake at night pondering some doctrine or other when there is a place that my Lord is not praised? There is so much of my self left in me. As long as I am locked within this most vile flesh, I shall be tied to its carnal desires, and there shall be sin within me! No greater misery could befall any person.
Living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, one would think, would come naturally. What a misfortune that not all men become as the Apostle Paul upon his salvation, preaching at his first opportunity after his sight was renewed.
Oh, to speak of the things I see the world doing! To tell men of the danger they are in, should they not repent and believe; to tell them that God will not be mocked by their disregarding His sovereignty and holiness. Yet I so often stand idly by when something must be said, in fear of the opinions of men. Oh, to seek only the Glory of Christ Jesus, whom God raised from the dead!
I guess prayers to trust in the Spirit to lead and to strengthen, and to count it a blessing to suffer -- be it physically or otherwise -- for the name of the Lord.
May God's face shine upon you all,
Dave
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Rant thing...
Seeing as this is the official team blog for the Germany team, and only Dave has written so far I thought I'd write something. Let me introduce myself. My name is Rafael, my home for now is Winnipeg, Manitoba although I was born in Switzerland and grew up in Paraguay. One of my biggest blessings throughout these last two weeks has been this team and the fact that we are being sent out in teams and not by ourselves. I was contemplating this fact a little while ago while hearing a report from some missionaries from Thailand that are part of the MBMSI Team 2000. It is so amazing that a group of 5 wildly different people (although our character assesment tests showed us that we seem to be more similar than we thought) from many different backgrounds, with different interests and with different gifts can come together and become one of sorts. Last weeks topic was The Church in which at several points we touched on the idea that in Christ, the many become one. We today live in a world in which sameness, balance, the ability to produce more in less time has taken over every endeavour and has flattened life into molds and cast-dies. As the Church, and in a team as the representation of that church, we proclaim that although we are one in Christ, this does not make us the same, or copies of each other, but that each of us brings something unique to this body of Christ. Often times it seems that the "world" is threatened by the seeming anexation of the individual into this body. As I look at our team, I am glad that we are not just individuals, but that we are part of a team which means that we all bring something to the table and we all are willing to leave something behind in favour of something better, in favour of a team, in favour of the church. It is my fervent believe that it's God's grace that we are not just individuals, but part of his body, part of the bride, part of a collective. Thats all for today, I do hope that it makes some sense.
A post for the sake of a post
Well, I feel a quick post is in order. Mainly because I was just setting up the rest of my team to be able to post on this blog and, seeing as I was already here, why not?
There's not actually too much to say at all right now. Training is still going well, the team is pumped up, and I dare say that life is going good all around. I would like to get a team photo up on here, so you can put some faces to the names of the team members...which reminds me that I have yet to mention the names of my teammates. Here you are, then:
Rafael Duerksen (team leader)
Candi Fender
Dinah Macarthur
Josiah Dahl
Dave Parrott (that's me)
So that's all. Nothing exciting yet. Shame, no?
There's not actually too much to say at all right now. Training is still going well, the team is pumped up, and I dare say that life is going good all around. I would like to get a team photo up on here, so you can put some faces to the names of the team members...which reminds me that I have yet to mention the names of my teammates. Here you are, then:
Rafael Duerksen (team leader)
Candi Fender
Dinah Macarthur
Josiah Dahl
Dave Parrott (that's me)
So that's all. Nothing exciting yet. Shame, no?
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Hello, Blog!
Well, I finally appear to have gotten around to creating a team blog...though I may wind up being the only member to use it. I probably should have consulted my teammates beforehand to see if they're interested. Either way, what's done is done.
Seeing as this is here for update purposes, I suppose that I'll give the basics of my current circumstances as a new missionary:
I (and my team) are currently entering our second month of training in the TREK program. I have been blessed so greatly through it, and have grown leaps and bounds by God's infinite Grace. I am so thankful for this, for I doubt my ability to successfuly minister unto the people without it. Though all I need is God's favour and the Holy Spirit, the wisdom we are being equipped with shall most assuredly of great assistance. From day to day I do not know what to expect, and try to abandon myself to God's providence.
That's about that. I'll make no guarantees on update frequency until we get close to leaving for the field (November 1...or 2, depending on flight bookings). Maybe once a week. Something like that sounds reasonable. Perhaps whenever something lodges itself in my mind. Far more reasonable. It is decided, then.
Until the next update takes this blog by storm, may God's Grace be with all who may read this blog.
Seeing as this is here for update purposes, I suppose that I'll give the basics of my current circumstances as a new missionary:
I (and my team) are currently entering our second month of training in the TREK program. I have been blessed so greatly through it, and have grown leaps and bounds by God's infinite Grace. I am so thankful for this, for I doubt my ability to successfuly minister unto the people without it. Though all I need is God's favour and the Holy Spirit, the wisdom we are being equipped with shall most assuredly of great assistance. From day to day I do not know what to expect, and try to abandon myself to God's providence.
That's about that. I'll make no guarantees on update frequency until we get close to leaving for the field (November 1...or 2, depending on flight bookings). Maybe once a week. Something like that sounds reasonable. Perhaps whenever something lodges itself in my mind. Far more reasonable. It is decided, then.
Until the next update takes this blog by storm, may God's Grace be with all who may read this blog.
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