Container and Shipping
The big (very green) metal box is finally here! Our 40 foot shipping container was delivered May 20th and now sits just next to the house where we are staying in Idaho (on Sparky’s parent’s farm). Our boxes, numbered and labeled complete with detailed packing lists, are now forming colorful plastic-brick walls inside the container. (We’re on box #89 right now ) Most of the items needed have been donated, purchased, or promised already; however, we still have a “packing list” on our website for items that we would still like to gather, Lord willing, before sealing-up the container. Please let us know if you would like to participate in providing some of these last few items. Our goal for having it packed and ready-to-go is July 22nd.
Thank you for your prayers: we have a shipping company! We are still waiting for a more exact total cost of shipping, but our “rough estimate” so far is $10,000. This should pay for the container to get from Seattle, Washington to Kinshasa, Congo. We will have to get the container from Idaho to Seattle, and are still praying about those options. From Kinshasa, we are hoping to build a trailer for it and tow it to Dibaya to use as a secure storage building at the Bible Institute.
Support
Praise the Lord! We have partnered with new monthly supporters. This means a need of just $690 per month. Please remember that no gift is too small. If you break it down mathematically, with new or increased support amounts we would be completely supported with:
28 at $25 per month or
14 at $25 and 7 at $50
Where does this support go? The amount lacking goes toward the ministry funds. In order to effectively train national pastors and their families, evangelize unreached people groups, and aid in planting churches, this last amount must be covered.
Our outfit and passage amount is still an ever-moving target. At this point we are estimating $28,000 is still needed. This includes the cost of shipping the container, gathering the rest of the necessary supplies, regular maintenance items for the pick-up, and for the materials to build our house when we get there. Other one-time gifts are needed in addition for Bible Institute buildings which cost around $2500 each.
The Plan, Lord willing
We will fly out of Boise, Idaho at 7:45 am Monday, September 26th, 2011. Mark it on your calendars…we appreciate your prayers!
Ruth
This is a bit of a story, but an important one, so please bear with us. A dearly loved lady in our home church (Mrs. June Thomas) has been suffering with cancer for several years. Just a few days after our return to Idaho, she took a bad turn and we knew the end of her life here on earth was near. We took the kids to see her on a Monday morning, and she passed away that afternoon.
Our youngest, Ruth, has been asking a lot of good questions about heaven, hell, death, sin, and Christ’s forgiveness, for several months now. She asked again as we were saying our earthly good-byes to Miss June. On that Monday evening, May 16th, Ruth told us she was ready to ask Jesus to be her savior so when she died, she would get a new body in Heaven, just like Miss June. Sparky told her that if she really believed, and wanted to do that, she would be able to pray on her own. Our little 4-year-old said the most beautiful prayer: “Dear Jesus, I know I have done lots of bad stuff. I don’t want to go to the scary place. I want to go to heaven when I die. I know you can do that because you died on the cross for my sins. Amen! Now I want to make good choices…that makes Jesus happy.” We were so thankful that the Lord was able to use our beloved Miss June for His glory, even in her death. What a time of rejoicing there was in heaven that day!
As parents, we are extremely blessed to now have all three of our children as professing believers in Christ’s finished work on the cross. Please continue to pray with us that we will be all that the Lord would have us be as we raise these precious treasures to love and serve Him.
If you have any questions about what will happen when it is your turn to die, please speak with us about it. Nothing is more important!
Your missionaries,
(Romans 10:14-15)
Time in Kinshasa