November 10, 2008
Subject: November prayer update
Dear praying friends,
In this Thanksgiving season, I’ve got so much to thank God for. Please join me in doing so!
Praise God…
- My Chicago/Illinois/Wisconsin trip was wonderful! From hearing the story of suffering and restoration of a beloved praying friend as we walked the quiet roads of her little farming town, to getting a pep talk from a former addict and gang-banger who met Jesus and ended up serving in a ministry to male prostitutes on the streets of Chicago, to sharing life and a meal with a friend wrestling with a betrayal, to hearing the maturity and imagination tumbling forth from the new recordings of a young music student I’d mentored, to praying with a young woman that God spoke to through the stuttering syllables of my last sermon, to many other moments with friends old and new, I felt time and again that I would need to be a poet to tell the ways I saw God’s grace among us. One of the churches I spoke at surprised me with an offer of a strong partnership. The church is prayerful, missions-minded and has good structures in place to support their missionaries well. I was moved and humbled by the tears of the congregation as we prayed together after my talk. And despite driving over 2000 miles and being rear-ended by a young driver, I not only traveled without weariness or harm to self or property, but I was thoroughly refreshed.
- The first meeting of the Elm City Vineyard advocacy team was a huge encouragement. In particular, the meeting dispelled some fears I’d had about my first years in Taiwan and I felt so loved by the friends that gathered around me to support and pray for me. It was a good beginning to ongoing mobilization of the church in supporting me and even other overseas workers that we may send in the future.
- Financial support has continued to build – I’m now at about 78% of my budget goal.
Please pray for:
- Continued growth and wisdom for Elm City Vineyard (my church in New Haven) as the church deepens its partnerships with its overseas workers. Our first step – there will be advocacy team meetings every other month to pray and provide practical encouragement (e.g. make care packages) for the workers.
- Holiday travels – over the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, I’ll be taking time to connect with supporting churches and individuals in Virginia/Maryland. Please pray again for God’s grace over this time.
Thank you again for your prayers, and for journeying with me. Send me a note on how you are if you have a chance… would love to hear your news as well.
Love and Peace,
Audrey
