FINALLY!

I'm sure that is what many of you are thinking! Many things have happened since my last post, which is mostly why I haven't been updating. We are currently gearing up for our summer programs which are going to be amazing!

In less than two weeks I'll being flying back to SC to visit and raise more support. As many of you know, I do receive a salary, but I am considered a part time employee because that was the position available when I took the job here. I am very appreciative of those who support me, regardless of which manner you choose and are able to do so. To those of you who pray for me, I thank you. I heard a speaker last week who said, "Prayer is the work, and ministry is the reward." This is easier said than done, but such valuable wisdom. To those who give financially, I can not do ministry without you either. Money isn't everything, but it is necessary.

I will just be honest, I am struggling. Of all of the newsletters and contacts I made before moving to Houston, I am currently financially supported by TWO individuals. That's right, two... I do not like to talk about money, because it is always a sensitive issue and my pride gets in the way. I do not like to ask for money, because I like to work and support myself. However, if God has blessed us financially, out of obedience we should bless others. In our last staff meeting, we were told that a envelope came in the mail with a donation for the mission centers. The donation was from a child in elementary school. If a child can be obedient in something so simple, I think we as adults can do the same.

As some of you may know, I have wanted to go to seminary for some time now. Weeks ago I began praying about it, and asking God to give me an opportunity to be trained and equipped to continue the work he has and will lead me to do. I made a commitment that if God provided a way for me to go, then in faith I would go even if financially I didn't feel I would be able to. I went ahead and applied to Dallas Theological Seminary, which has an extension campus in Houston. After a few weeks, I received a letter that I had been accepted!! The degree I will be pursuing is a Masters in Cross-Cultural Ministries. I have registered for classes, and I am confident that God will provide everything I need in order to continue to walk where he is leading me.

I want to share some other things with you. A few weeks ago I spent the weekend in Mississippi with my family. The focus was on seeing my youngest brother who will leave for Iraq on June 1st but has already begun the lock down period. It went really well, and I was also able to see my Dad. The three of us went fishing together for the first time in over ten years. It was great! Storms messed the fishing up, but nonetheless we were able to spend time together.

Today we hosted our 13th Annual Golf Tournament fundraiser. Originally, we had lost our underwriters and many sponsors because of the financial crisis. Thankfully, many churches and individuals stepped up to the challenge and helped to make the tournament a success. We thought we would only have about 100 golfers; we had 196 men and women hitting the green today. :)

As I said before, we are getting ready for the summer. Anybody that works at the mission centers will tell you that it is absolute madness during the summer. It is great, but extremely hectic. As it has taken me a while to blog during the preparation period, I will also be blogging less frequently during the summer. I will attempt to blog every couple of weeks, but please understand that we will be going wide open for the entire summer. We will also have 16 or 17 summer missionaries who will be split up between each of the three center. We will also have many more activities going on, as well as more individuals who participate in our programs.

Something exciting that is now part of our ministry at Joy involves our children's birthdays. A church has come forward and has committed to providing "Birthday Bags" for all of our children, ages 4-16. Each month I email a list of the children who have birthdays for the following month as well as their ages and what gifts they might like. Then a few weeks later, Sandy and Franke who are the leaders of this whole project bring the bags to the center. As the children's birthday come, we give them a birthday bag which includes a gift, as well as supplies for a small birthday party so the children can celebrate with their families. My director told me this past week that one of the moms came to her and asked if we were going to be able to provide a gift for her son's birthday. We told her not to worry because we would be able to. She was very appreciative because she was not able to buy her son a gift for his birthday. It's a unique way to show the kids that they are loved and valued that goes beyond the walls of the church, all because a Sunday school class that wanted to get involved in meeting needs of the people in our community.

We also did some special projects with the kids for Mother's Day. We planted seeds two weeks ago in small planters so that each would begin to sprout. Also, this past week we had parties where the kids could make cards for their moms. The kids were able to give their moms a flower that they had taken care of and homemade cards with a note to their moms. It was amazing to see how something so small could touch their moms' hearts because the moms knew how much work and thought the kids had put into it.

Again, thanks to all of you who read and keep up with my posts, and for your patience. Please continue to pray for all of us here that we will continue to glorify God alone in our ministries, and that God would continue using us to reach our broken communities.



8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.

11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:8-11