Stepping Forth With One Vision, One Purpose Week Four, March 2013

G r a c e    I n t e r n a t i o n a l    

S t u d e n t s    a n d    S t a f f,

 A m b a s s a d o r s    o f   t h e   

L o r d    J e s u s   C h r i s t:

Prayer and Praise Points, Week Four March 2013

Prayer Points

Two days after we arrived back in country, the first day all the missionaries and national leaders gathered for meetings we learned Katelyn, Michaela and Katelyn's finance, Taylor were in a single car accident.  They were on the way to Detroit from Spring Arbor early in the morning.  It had snowed and the roads were icy.  Taylor was driving and had just changed lanes when the car spun out of control and landed on the side of the road stuck in a ditch.  The miracle was that no one was injured and that the three cars in close proximity were not hit or involved in the accident.  The car was eventually extracted with the help of police and a tow truck.  No tickets were issued and basically the car worked and they were able to get Taylor to the airport in time.  The prayer request is for Katelyn's car.  When we Skyped today she reported the car has some funny rattling sounds, the brakes are acting strange and one of the front headlights appears to have been damaged.  She will take the car into the shop tomorrow.  Please pray with us that there's been no serious damage to the vehicle and that the costs for repairs will be within her budget.

For the work at The Jasmine Project.  We traveled with Linda Adams (pictured to the left), ICCM Director and Pastor Art, also the Superintendent of Mission Thailand to visit the project providing a safe place for pregnant women, some as young as 14, to have their baby instead of aborting them.  Pray for a 14 year-old (pictured below) who is there now who will deliver her baby in late May.  Also pray for Baby A (pictured at the bottom) who's parents still are unable to take him home.  Pray for the project generally as there are several initiatives being worked on that when completed will sustain and expand the reach of the support being offered to these children and their mothers.  To learn more check out the link here:  The Jasmine Project  You will also find a video about the project on the same linked paged.

Praise Points (one long praise point this week)

One of the staff members at Grace International School has been very sick the past six weeks.  She has been unable to teach and we had to rely on others to take her fourth grade class.

This past week she wrote to report that she is fully healed.  When you pray for Grace International School, the staff, and students we wanted you to hear what God has done.

The staff member had been recently diagnosed with Meniere's disease.  This last week, on Monday the teacher was able to stand before her class and tell them how wonderful she felt.

She is careful to give all the credit for this miracle to God.  The teacher reported that she learned God had spoken to many people last week about specific prayers for her.  God used James chapter 5 to encourage a couple women to lay hands on her, anoint her with oil and pray for her healing.  Before the prayer warriors were able to assemble others to join them God spoke to three other women.  One of the women was sharing in the elementary chapel at Grace and decided to draw an outline of this sick teacher on a piece of paper and every student signed their name and oil was pressed onto the paper and prayer was spoken for her healing.  One of the other three women came to the teacher's house, anointed her with oil, laid hands on her and prayed.  Ever since the prayer was offered the teacher's symptoms of dizziness and exhaustion were greatly reduced.  Yet there was still a great heaviness of darkness that permeated the week.  She reported she couldn't sleep and felt great oppression.

On Thursday three cars pulled up to the house and many people from Grace streamed out.  What followed was a beautiful time of prayer for protection, freedom, worship, thanksgiving and emotion.  The darkness lifted.  Light poured in.  God's spirit was in the place.  The teacher reported that when everyone left she was still on the couch, tired, but nowhere close to what she was normally feeling even after a short conversation.  She was overwhelmed with people's love and God's presence.  She reported how she got up to play the piano which she hadn't done in months - most recently because she had sustained quite a bit of memory loss and couldn't make sense of the music.  Suddenly she could read clearly and had such fun playing.  Afterwards she went to write down the main things that God had said to her during the prayer time.  At the bottom of the page, almost running out of room, she felt like her hand was taken over and didn't know what she was writing and looking down to see what was on the paper she saw the words, "I am healed."  And that is when she knew...God had worked a miracle. 

Hosanna!  God is with us! 

Finally she reported that earlier that morning before the three cars arrived, she couldn't walk a staright line and yet that evening she was running around their yard!  When her calm husband walked in fromwork, she said she hugged him and exclaimed, "Are you ready for this?!  I have so much to tell you!"

The teacher will be returning to teaching next week.  She will work part-time, teaching classes in the morning for the next two weeks.  The substitute will continue teaching in the afternoons.  Following April break, she plans on being back to teaching full-time for the duration of the school year.

Thanks for you prayers for Grace International School.   Prayer does make a difference!

Hosanna!  God has not left us alone!

Prayer and Praise Points, March Week Three 2013

Prayer Points

Jim and Margaret Nelson.  Margaret's father, Dick went home to Glory this past week.  Pray for Jim and Margaret as they travel from Asia back to the states to be with family and celebrate Dick's life and love of His savior.

Pray for Connie and Corey Persing.  Connie's mom has a few weeks left in her fight with cancer.  Please pray for the Persings as they determine the best timing to return.  Also for Connie's mom as she prepares her heart to be with Jesus.

For all the transitions happening in Asia.  Specifically pray for the transitions in leadership.  David Yardy from being the Asia Area Director to the FM Cross Cultural Consultant and for Steve Evoy into his new role as Asia Area Director.

Pray for the missionary community in Asia who for some are coming back to their field of service and for those who are going back to the states for a time of partnership building.  


Praise Points

The Area Asia Conference started well yesterday evening.  Everyone arrived safely.  What a great opportunity for the 70 plus missionaries to re-connect and renew community.

Spring break affording our girls to make a great transition of mom and dad leaving and being able to spend quality time with friends and former Grace International school alums.  

Grace International School Alum Week where students from all over the world who formally attended Grace, gather to encourage each other and re-connect.

How the Lord went before us as we traveled back to Thailand with limited lay-over time, great seats, and all our bags arrived with us.

Prayer and Praise Points March, Week Two 2013

Prayer Points

Steve Evoy and his family as mentioned in the "Our Neighbors" section.

David and Sherrill Yardy as David transitions from being Asia Area Director to the FMCUSA Cross Cultural Consultant.

The Asia Area Retreat coming up March 14-19 and the International Child Care Ministries (ICCM) meetings that will follow.  Pray for safety in travels for all the missionaries making their way to Thailand and for spiritual refreshment for all in attendance.  Also for those who will be retiring like Jim and Margaret Nelson and Fred and Barb Adams and David and Sherrill Yardy who will transition into a new leadership role.

Michaela, Katelyn, Josiah and Whitney, and Seth as we say "see you later." (We like this better than, "good-bye.")  This is the first time in our missionary career to be on the field without children so you could also pray for mom and dad.

Peace and calm in the midst of wrapping up all that needs to be done over the next couple days before leaving for Thailand.

Healthy and stamina during this time of transition for us.

The return of the iPad stolen earlier in the week.


Praise Points

God's provision while we've been in the states and for 100% commitments for our Missionary Support Account and for Country Shares for Thailand.

For leadership at Grace International School and with Community Bible Study International who have capably filled in while we've been away.

Missionary member care the Lord has worked out and that will be provided for the missionaries attending the Asia Area Retreat.

For folks like Kevin and Val Williams coming to serve missionaries at the retreat providing programs and care for the children of the missionaries.  Also for their hearts to explore future ministry in Asia visiting Grace International School to see what the Lord might have in store for them.

For supporters and partners who are coming out to minister using their gifts and skills in medicine to minister to people on the border between Thailand and Burma.

For the partnerships of individuals and churches in our ministries and those of the country.

You're Not Alone...You're Not Forgotten

What the Scriptures have to say about you not being alone and not forgotten:

"Surely these shall come from afar; Look!  Those from the North and the West, and these from the land of Sinim."  Sing, O heavens!  Be joyful, O earth!  Break out in singing, O mountains!  For the LORD has comforted His people, and will have mercy on His afflicted.  But Zion said, "The LORD has forsaken me, and my Lord has forgotten me."  "Can a woman forget her nursing child, and not have compassion on the son of her womb?  Surely they may forget, Yet I will not forget you.  See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; your walls are continually before Me.  Your sons shall make haste; your destroyers and those who laid you waste shall go away from you."  Isaiah 49:12-17 (NKJB)

These Words, "Yet I will not forget you" are from God spoken to God's people, His "ZION," His Church on earth, you, particularly for trying and difficult times...our storms of life.  God's people suffer from the same distresses that touch all people.  So the question can occur:  Has God forgotten His people or left them to die at the hands of their enemies or their storms?  God answers here in no uncertain terms: GOD HAS NOT FORGOTTEN!

Though it sometimes seems as if He had, He cannot forget His people or forsake us; so we  journey on together, mysteriously joyful and with feelings umpired by peace toward heaven's  port with Him in our boats.