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Well, I'm finally home for a few days. I spent the last week serving as camp nurse for a Wisconsin church's family camp. I didn't really know anyone going into the week, but ended up making a lot of friends and having a great time. The camp was held on the grounds of a small Bible camp in north central Wisconsin.

Since my last post, another church has taken me on for support, bringing me to 83.8%. Praise the Lord!

I'm now home for a little while, so I'll be able to get back to my home church and do a bit of work at the hospital. My next official deputation meeting is in early September. I will, of course, have some other deputation work to do with sending out more packets and contacting pastors. I'm still trying to schedule meetings for the remainder of this year and spring of next year, all the while hoping that I won't need them:-) All in the Lord's timing though.

A Happy Camper

It's been a little while since I've been able to post here, but I've been busy at camp with only limited internet access. I am in the midst of my 5th week as the Camp Nurse at Camp Assurance. By God's grace, all the illnesses and injuries have so far been fairly minor. I only have one week left and am praying that it will stay this calm.

I have really enjoyed being a part of the ministry here. Due to a large number of campers for one of the junior weeks, I was able to be a counselor for a cabin of eight girls. During that week, one girl in my cabin was saved and two got assurance of their salvation. It is a tremondous blessing to be used in the Lord's service.

I have been continuing to travel on the weekends. I had a meeting in Corning, Iowa and another in Beloit, Wisconsin. (I will be assisting the church in Beloit as camp nurse for their family camp in a couple of weeks.) This Sunday, I will be visiting a church in Oak Park, Illinois.

The Lord has continued to provide support, bringing me to 79%. Please pray with me that the remainder of my support would come in by the end of the year, if that would be the Lord's plan.

A Profitable Time

The last two weeks have been very profitable times for me personally, although not very active on the deputation side of things. I spent June 2-7 at the Wilds for a conference with my mission agency, Gospel Fellowship Association. It was a week of helpful workshops, encouraging messages, and enjoyable fellowship. I especially enjoyed hanging out with some other New Guinea missionaries, one on furlough, two short termers, and one on deputation.

When I left the Wilds, I intended to head to Wisconsin for a meeting in La Crosse. First, I was detoured due to the flooding in Indiana. Then, the flooding and mud slides in Wisconsin led me to cancel the meeting all together. I hope to reschedule it for later this summer.

This week I have been home for a change:-) My home church had special meetings with John Van Gelderen. It is the second week of meetings that he has had here since I began attending, and the Lord really used his messages to open my eyes further to some of the truths of His Word.

Tonight after church, I will be heading over to Camp Assurance, a small Christian camp in Eastern Illinois. I will be serving there as camp nurse and general utility person for several weeks this summer, while still doing some deputation meetings on the weekends. I'm excited to be a part of that ministry for a short time.

Vacation!

Well, it's been good to be in Greenville and catch up with friends and family. This past week, I took some time off and joined my brother and his family on a vacation in St. Augustine, Florida. We stayed in his RV at a campsite in Anastasia State Park. It was fun to visit various historic attractions (such as this lighthouse) in the mornings, then spend the afternoons at the beach.

I'm now back in Greenville for the weekend, then on Monday I will head to the Wilds for the annual GFA conference.

May Already?

My last post was titled "Busy April," and it certainly was. So busy in fact, that I can't believe it's the middle of May already. The Lord has been good through it all though.

I spent April 19-24 in Cedar Rapids, IA for a mission conference at Friendship Baptist Church. I really enjoyed that week, as I already knew many of the missionaries. It was a time of real encouragement and spiritual blessing. The following weekend, I was in Green Bay, WI. There I was able to stay with an old college roommate. It was fun to meet her family and catch up on her life.

From there, I drove to Milwaukee, WI to spend a few days with some friends. Lake Michigan was beautiful although the weather was quite windy and cool. I actually saw a few snow flakes -- in the last week of April!

On Wednesday, April 30, I spoke at Bethel Baptist Church in Schaumburg, IL. It is quite a large church, but everyone was kind and friendly, so I didn't feel too overwhelmed:-) The next two weekends (May 4 & 11), I spoke in Fort Atkinson and New Lisbon, WI.

At present, I am in Greenville, SC to speak at Mount Calvary Baptist this Wednesday evening. I always enjoy coming to Greenville as I still have many friends here, not to mention 2/3 of my immediate family (dad, brother, sister-in-law, and 2 nephews).

I have been having a bit of difficulty filling my schedule for this fall. Please pray with me that the Lord will lead me to those churches in which He would have me minister.

Busy April

Well, the pace has certainly picked up in the last week or so, and no sign of slowing in the near future. On Saturday (April 12th), my home church hosted an area-wide youth rally with around 65 people attending. Of course, the days ahead were busy with preparation. On Sunday evening (the 13th), I had the opportunity to speak at a small church in Famersburg, Indiana. They support the Smiths, the missionaries with whom I will be working. Also this week, my church has been having evangelistic meetings with Mark Kittrell.

Friday, Belinda Richter, a fellow PNG missionary, will be flying into Bloomington, IL. She will spend the night with me, then on Saturday we will head to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a Sunday - Wednesday missions conference. We'll come back on Thursday, then I'll leave Saturday for Wisconsin. And so it continues:-)

Being busy is a good thing though, as it means many opportunities to present the ministry in New Guinea and also opportunities to impact people as I share with them what the Lord has done in my life.

Please continue to pray for safety and increased support in the Lord's time.

Answered Prayer

Thanks so much for your prayers for the airstrip inspection. It basically went well, and the inspector gave conditional approval for a shorter airstrip. We will still need the approval of his superior but at least the first obstacle was crossed.

This past weekend, I had a deputation meeting in Aurora, IL. The pastor of the church is someone I had known as a child, so it was fun to renew old acquaintances and catch up.

This coming weekend, one of my supporting churches is hosting the statewide Illinois ladies retreat. I am going along with several ladies from my church. I am looking forward to the rest and fellowship, as my schedule will get very busy after that.

Thanks again for your continued prayers and encouragement.