Missionary Update

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March 2010

Week of March 1-5, 2010

Itineraries:
President Dave Little – March 5-7 - Whipple Avenue Baptist Church, Canton, OH
Rob Worthington – March 7 - Calvary Baptist Church, York, PA
Peter Jenks – March 9 - Omaha Metro Pastors Meeting
John Little – March 7 - Heritage Baptist Church, Canastota, NY

Up-date on the Whitchers – Lorain, OH
Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement to us the past couple of months.  God is so good and it has been sweet to depend on His grace and perfect timing.  David remains pretty sick and is resting at home.  He has regularly seen doctors who have done many tests.  They have not yet found anything but the mono, but suspect that there may be something more to his illness.
It has been incredible for us to see God give equal grace and patience to our co-workers who are waiting for us to lead in the church planting efforts here in Lorain.  KellyAnn has been having a Bible study with a Hispanic lady named Susanna.  Thank you for praying for Susanna’s salvation.  Please pray also for other co-workers, the Taylors who have just arrived in Costa Rica for a month of intense language training.  When they get back to the U.S. they will continue to raise support.
Again, thank you to everyone for your kind letters, cards and words of encouragement.  We were so humbled the other day to hear that some students at a local Christian school are taking some of their lunch break to go to the chapel to pray for David.  Your prayers are certainly felt as we joyfully wait on the Lord.

Roy & Karen Kinney, Auburn MA
Sunday was a great day of worship with 60 in attendance.  It was Associates Sunday and our food theme was Brazilian.  We had quite a few new visitors for the day and the food was delicious!  One Christian couple came looking for a new church to attend.  They live 40 minutes away and will be returning.  Their son is finishing his masters at BJ and will be getting married and settling into the area as well.  Ron LaFlash brought his married son and wife who live in Spencer.  They need the Lord and seemed to enjoy being with us.  Delane brought her Brazilian son who helped with the food.  A special blessing was seeing Glen and his daughter, Sabrina.  Glen is a friend of Ron’s.  We met Glen a couple of weeks ago when we he was looking for someone to officiate his 38 year old daughter’s funeral.  Ron suggested us and we were able to clearly share the gospel to many unsaved as well as show love and give hope for those left here.  Seeing Glen show up in church made for a special day.  His daughter Sabrina attends a local college and is in the nursing program.  So many neat new folks to meet and all are in need of our local church.  God is good to bring people our way!
Alyssa had an expander put in her mouth yesterday.  Keep her in prayer as they seek to get her upper pallet to move before putting on braces.  Things are pretty painful for her today. 
Thank you for your prayers.  Enjoy your week.  We’ll be cleaning up from a continual storm of snow and rain all week!

David & Lois Gardner, Kentwood, MI
Thank you for praying.  The operation is over.  It was really minor as far as pain was concerned but quite major as far as results.  The results are not yet certain, but it appears that everything is “working” properly and the operation was a success.  The Dr. had said there was a 70% chance of success.  After the operation he said he was very optimistic of the results, and now I am appreciating them.  Thank you for praying.  There are still 2 weeks of recuperation but we are praising God for the results.
Another matter that we should mention, several months ago we asked prayer for our friend, Ron England, whom we filled in for in Hawaii.  He has since had another operation for cancer and is recuperating, feeling good, and planning to return to Hawaii if the Lord permits.

Scott & Brooke Greening, Schaumburg, IL
At 5:15 AM Brooke and I arrived at the Hanover Park Metra Train Station. Robert the coffee shop owner had already been working for 45 minutes. A few commuters were waiting inside the train station keeping warm inside away from the sub-freezing temperatures outside. Brooke and I quickly set up signs on easels both inside and outside the station. We were soon joined by several of team members and the work began. We greeted people as they arrived at the station letting them know that GCBC was buying their coffee. Over the course of the next three hours we talked with well over 400 people and gave out over 300 cups of coffee. It was a great time interacting and encouraging the people whose daily routine includes a one-hour train commute to the heart of downtown. Please pray that we will be able to continue to build relationships with the people we met on Thursday morning. We are excited that Robert the coffee shop owner is ready to have us back anytime we want.
The Tale of Beauty and the Beast
Brooke’s love of singing and drama has opened up several doors in our community. This Friday a production of the musical The Tale of Beauty and the Beast opens at the park district. Brooke has been helping the soloists get ready for their parts in this play over the last five weeks. Please pray that this opportunity will lead to new relationships with people in our community. It is neat to see how God is using Brooke’s interests and abilities to build relationships.
Schaumburg Township Human Service Fund
I have been investigating different opportunities to get involved in our community. God seems to have opened a door for an ideal opportunity. I am applying to serve on the board of the Schaumburg Township Human Service Fund. The mission statement of the fund is “to improve the quality of life for disabled, senior, youth, and disadvantaged residents of Schaumburg Township, including those in need of mental health treatment, by enhancing, supplementing, and expanding the charitable and educational services and programs of Schaumburg Township through developing resources and providing opportunities for community involvement.” Please pray for wisdom in making the final decision regarding this opportunity. Please also pray that this opportunity would lead to opportunities for me and GCBC to put God’s love in action in our community.
Praise & Prayer
Praise: A successful commuter care event!
Praise: New opportunities for relationship building.
Prayer: Ongoing relationships with those we met at the train station.
Prayer: Brooke’s opportunities to make relationships through the play.
Prayer: Wisdom and opportunities for me with the Human Service Fund.

Herb & Wanda Taylor, Costa Rica
Good morning. Just wanted to send a note to tell you that we have arrived safely in Costa Rica. We had a good trip starting about 3:30 a.m. yesterday morning. We arrived here at our home about 4 p.m. A long day.
We have a very gracious host, however, they are not believers, so pray for us in this.
When we arrived there was not water, until finally this morning. It was good to get a show, even though it was barely warm. This all reminds me of the time we were in Jamaica and Mexico.
We have Internet service all the time for which we are thankful.
We did meet a lady 4 doors down who is a believer…her husband is a professor in a reformed Presbyterian school. We will attend church with them tomorrow until I can make contact with an ABWE church planting missionary here and see if we can get to their services. Not sure how all that will work out yet.
Classes start on Monday. This is of course why we are here. Pray for us that we will grasp things well. Visiting with both host families last evening was a good start. I believe the one lady knew more English that what she led on, so as to make us speak Spanish.
This month should be the equivalent of a semester, so we are praying much. Pray that the Lord will allow us to learn well.
FEBRUARY 28, 2010
Our Home: The home here is small but clean and comfortable.  We are used to small so that is fine with us. The homes here have bars on the doors and windows and barred and locked gates protect each home. Our home is located three blocks from the Spanish Institute so we will walk to our classes each day.
Our Hosts: We are staying with a gracious (Catholic) couple, Jose and Maria Sandi. They are dual citizens of the United States (they lived in the U.S. over 40 years) and Costa Rica (they were born here). Jose has been battling cancer - two years ago the doctor told him he had only two months to live but he is still alive. They have remarked on how God has been good to let him live this long. Pray that we will have wise words to bring the conversation to their need of the Lord.
Our Hopes: We begin our Orientation this Monday morning, March 1. We have already been trying to concentrate on learning Spanish by conversing with our hosts and a neighbor lady. This morning at church we understood most of Sunday School but got lost during the morning service as the speaker spoke very quickly. We hope to learn much!
Our “Holas”: Hola (pronounced “olah”) means “hello” in Spanish. We would love to receive lots of “holas” or “hellos” (whichever you prefer) from all of you while we are here. It has been SO ENCOURAGING to hear from many of you already. You may contact us via e-mail, through facebook, via skype or you may call our house here through the vonage number (407-403-6550). Our hosts speak English so they will understand you if you ask for us. However you decide
to do it, we will love hearing “hola” from you!
REMEMBERING OUR PURPOSE:
Planting: help our team of 7 establish a Hispanic (bilingual) Baptist church in Lorain, OH.
Partnering: assist established churches across the U.S. in developing Hispanic ministries.
Preparing: train Hispanic church leaders for future ministry to Hispanics.
Herb & Wanda Taylor 540-660-1325; 660-1326 herbandwanda@gmail.com
FEBRUARY 25, 2010
We will attend language school at The Spanish Institute in San Jose’, Costa Rica for the month of March. Please pray for the following items:
1) Classes begin for us on Monday morning, March 1. We will have classes each afternoon and will be busy studying and practicing Spanish throughout the day.
2) Pray that our brains will cooperate in this effort!  It will be busy and challenging!
3) We will be staying with a Costa Rican family. Pray that we can be a godly example and encouragement to our hosts.  We don’t know if our host family will be Christians or not, so please pray that we will be a Godly witness where needed.
4) We are supposed to have internet access where we will be staying, so please keep in touch with us through e-mail, facebook and skype. (We probably won’t be using our cell phones.) Please use technology and stay connected with us!
THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.
BE ASSURED OF OUR PRAYERS FOR EACH OF YOU!
REMEMBERING OUR PURPOSE:
Planting: help our team of 7 establish a Hispanic (bilingual) Baptist church in Lorain, OH.
Partnering: assist established churches across the U.S. in developing Hispanic ministries.
Preparing: train Hispanic church leaders for future ministry to Hispanics.
Herb & Wanda Taylor 540-660-1325; 660-1326 herbandwanda@gmail.com

Jim & Janice Mitchell, Pueblo West, CO
We had a great “Adult banquet” Friday night at the Golden Corral with 24 people.  Janice did a good job with the candy bar game and we had one new couple as well as a lady that one of our ladies is working with, join us.  It was a good unifying event that I ended with an emphasis on Christ’s promise, “I will build my church.”
Janice had a good opportunity to go out with the unsaved lady that came to church last Sunday PM with her husband.  They related very well and she came to both of the services this morning.  Please pray as Janice continues to build a relationship with DeVon.  Both her and her husband need the Lord.
Please pray for March 8th when we will have the FBBC chorale singing at our church.  We want this to be an outreach time and hope that our people will take advantage and invite people.  The weather here is very unpredictable in March, so pray we will have good weather that night.  We are very thankful for the folks willingness to make arrangements for the housing of 44 people, quite a feat for our little church.
We are praying earnestly for God’s continued blessing here in Pueblo West.  It continues to be an awesome challenge, but God has met every need.  Just this past week Dave Little was speaking at my parent’s church in Florida and as a result we are booked to go there and present our work with an assurance that they would like to support us.  We have also been blessed with additional support from an anonymous giver.  I am learning more and more how God rewards faith. PTL.  We are very excited that God would use us in His work in CO.  Thank you for your ongoing prayers!

Roy & Fran Cupples, Fullerton, NE
Praises and prayer requests:
* Even though tonight’s attendance was down, the Lord brought Ted and his wife to the evening service. Ted has been coming faithfully to the morning service for 3 or 4 weeks but never to the evening service.  He and his wife came to the banquet and she came with him tonight.  That is definitely a praise!  After the service we took them out to Subway and had a good visit.  Please pray that they will both believe on Christ for salvation.
* Ray is home after having back surgery and is doing quite well.  We trust that the surgery will relieve his pain.
* The men did more mudding and taping on the foyer.  Carpet has been ordered and painting will happen soon.
* I (Fran) drove many miles by myself this past week and the Lord gave me safety.
* Several came to SS this morning who had not been coming in a while. There are more who come only for AM church.  Please pray that they will come for SS and evening service.
* We have two couples - the husbands come to church but the wives do not.  One wife works a lot on weekends.  It is surely difficult for the men.  Please pray that the wives’ hearts will be changed.  Both are believers.
* This week I am going to try and get a couple juniors to go with me to invite some kids to SS.  Please pray that the Lord will do His work in the lives of the ones we invite.
* Roy and I are going to speak at our state conference/luncheon.  We need wisdom, direction and time.
* Please pray for the guests who attended the banquet - that the Lord will use His word to bring them to Christ.  Just about half of the folks were guests.
* We have several individuals and families who come regularly but are not members.  Pray for hearts to change.
* Karla’s two children (both out of high school 1 & 2 years) are making very unwise decisions concerning lifestyle, drinking, etc.  It is very distressing to their mother and the consequences for their actions will not be very pleasant.  Please pray for the son and daughter.
Our memory verse today was:  “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.  Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”  Matthew 9:37-38
Fred & Marie Henzler, Perry, GA
March 2 - I need your prayers. When I went in to the jail this morning (3/1/10) they told me that I would be in charge of the deputy’s funeral. There will be a full military funeral and a full Sheriff’s Office funeral. Both the Air Force and the S. O. will be having firing squads and pallbearers.
I am to work out the details. I have had a lot of military funerals but all I ever did was preach. PLEASE pray for me. Also pray that I might make the message plain. The funeral will be at 2 PM Wednesday. Viewing tomorrow – March 2.
On Tuesday (2/23) we got out of our sick beds (We are sleeping in separate beds.) to go to the Jail and give out Bibles and books. When I walked into the Major’s secretary’s office, (Marie was putting our things in the locker.) she gave me bad news. One of our deputy’s apartments burned during the night and he was in the Burn Center in Augusta. Laffey Staton was kept on Life Support until Saturday morning so that the family could come to Augusta and to have a medical team remove his organs. An EEG showed no brain activity.
MR. “MAKES YOU FEEL GOOD.”
Among the deputies, he was my best friend. He always had a great smile and a joyful serving spirit. I sometimes said that if all Christians would have an attitude like him: many more people would want to know Jesus.
AVAILABLE.
In spite of our colds, we were at the Jail Tuesday through Saturday. I talked to three lieutenants , two sergeants and several other deputies.
Marie talked to several of the women. Please pray for many who have been touched by this death.
NEIGHBOR.
Our door bell rang as we were getting ready to leave to go to the Jail yesterday, our neighbor died at 3 AM. Please pray for the Adams family.
TV NEWS.
This week’s TV News was about people we know. Two high profile trials were on TV. One of our inmates was charged with shooting a code enforcement officer and another inmate was on trial for a horrible sex crime. The Jail shares the parking lot with the Court House, so it was hard to find my parking place.
D. A. RESIGNS.
Another top TV story was that our DA resigned to run for a public office.
BORED?
Is your life dull and boring? Come follow us around for a week! “Boring”
might sound interesting.

Eric & Erin Moore, Wampsville, NY
These have been an exciting two months serving the Lord.
The Lord has given us the opportunity to share the ministry He has called us to with two churches January and one in February. This was exciting because it was our first deputation experiences. Starting deputation can be a daunting and scary thing, however the Lord is good and gives grace to overcome our nerves and trust Him. Turns out deputation has been a wonderful experience getting to know God’s people and seeing how the Lord is working in their lives.
God has also blessed by bringing along new partners in this ministry. Many have committed to lift us up before the Lord in prayer, “that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ.” (Colossians 4:3) The Lord has also moved a church to invest financially in the work God has called us to. We are currently at 12% support and our calendar for the remainder of the year is starting to look quite full. Please be praying for us in the opportunities that we will have on deputation to minister to many people as we seek to serve the Lord and present His work.
In addition to being on deputation, we continue to serve at our sending church, Heritage Baptist Church in Wampsville, NY.  This is a church plant that is 4 years old and is beginning a building project in the Spring.  During the building project, we are seeking to strengthen the men of the church by having a monthly prayer breakfast and Bible study on a Saturday morning.
On the home front, we praise the Lord that we were able to purchase a house near where we feel we are called to plant a church. So far we are enjoying home ownership, and discovering all the little things that need to be fixed. It has been nice to have some additional space for Elliott to run around. We are also busily preparing for the Lizzie’s arrival the end of March.
We appreciate your prayers and notes of encouragement.  Thank you for partnering with us in this exciting ministry.

Rob & Beth Worthington, Roxbury, NY
I just wanted to get a brief update out to you all, just to keep you up to date on our day to day operations.
Since the New Year, our days have been filled with internet searches, data entry and many hours of phone calls to pastors.  In the past two months we have been able to send either hard letters or emails with our information to 189 churches.  Of these 189 churches, we have been able to book 33 meetings, with many others not able to have any more missionaries in this year.  We have had a good time in the five churches we have been in this year so far.  We are praying to be able to get into at least 45 churches during 2010.  We are arriving quickly at that goal.  Please pray to that end for us. 
Our support has been increased by $80 a month so far.  We have currently 29% of our support, I believe.  Please pray for the other 71% to come in quickly.  I would rather be working on church planting than raising support, but both ministries are needed.
Coming up this April and May we will be on a long road trip.  We start in Wisconsin at Northland Baptist Bible College and their missions conference.  Our trip then moves to Wyoming where we will preach in two churches in Casper, then we go to San Diego, where my son will be graduating from Marine Corp boot camp, Lord willing.  We follow that by going to Phoenix for three Sundays of ministry and exploring that SW city metropolis for Asians to start a foundation for a church or two.  Then we travel back to Northland Baptist Bible College for my daughter’s graduation service and two more churches the following Sunday in which to minister.  It will be the longest we have ever been on the road.  But it will be an important trip because of our desire to plant churches in Phoenix.  We have a lot of contacts there and there is yet a tremendous need for the foreign nationals of that city.  Please pray for us while on that trip.  It is only a little more than a month away, hard to believe.
We want to thank you all for your prayers and support.  They are greatly needed and they go a long way!

Tim & Susan Heinrich, Tracy, CA
Thank you to those who have already sent 7,000 Eggs for April 2. We are so thankful for the faithful partners who help us reach Tracy with the gospel!!
As we feverishly prepare for this huge outreach, we still need about 5,000 eggs. If you are planning to help with this, please let us know.
Some of our friends have found it cost effective to order pre-stuffed eggs and have them shipped directly to Tracy. There is a family in Georgia that provides jobs for physically challenged individuals stuffing plastic eggs. Their prices and quality are quite good.
They sell 1,000 filled eggs for $136(Shipping included). Orders must be received by March 5th to ensure Easter Delivery. You can call them at 1-800-647-3509 or click on the link below to go to their website. You can order directly from them, or send donations to us, and we will order from them. Please let us know, so that we can keep track of our totals!!
We will be ordering the remainder of our needed eggs from this company by March 5th.

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