Friday, September 18, 2015

Thoughts from Kara...



Last month I traveled back to Missouri for a wedding of two young adults I had in Children’s Ministry many years ago. The young man was even the ring bearer in our wedding! While I was in St. Joe I stopped in to surprise a dear friend and Bible Study teacher I had while I worked at the church there. I knocked on her door and when she opened the door she was indeed surprised.

She said,”I didn’t think I would see you till we were dead!” Her way with words has always made me smile! As I walked into her room at the assisted living facility, I saw her table filled with her Bible, and many other books and commentaries. I knew she had been studying to teach a Bible Study class. She typically spends around six hours to prepare. This amazing 93 year old woman is still in the trenches studying God’s Word to share with others. Her heart for the Word and for people being discipled is incredible. The class that she was preparing to teach was on prayer. This saint is also a prayer warrior. She told me that recently she has started journaling her prayers and then going back to see how God has answered them. 

She was saddened by the fact that she would no longer be able to financially support us, which she has been faithful to do since we became missionaries. I reminded her that her prayers were most critical in the ministry we have been called to do. I also told her that a church had made a one time gift that covered her gifts and that God had already provided.

Talking with her was water to my soul. It reminded me that God can and will always use us if we are willing to be obedient regardless of how old or young we are. I am blessed to have been able to learn from her and call her friend.

Ministry Update



In June and July we were blessed with the opportunity to take a Sabbatical. After eleven and a half years on the mission field, our board agreed that it would be beneficial for us to slow down and rest a little.  During our Sabbatical we had the opportunity to go back to the Midwest and spend a week at church camp. It was so refreshing to spend time with our friends in ministry. Two weeks of camp blessed us with a $3,000 offering. After camp we were able to spend some time with family in Iowa and Nebraska.

Back in Arizona we were able to slow down and focus on our relationship with God and with our kids. Tory was able to go up into the mountains a couple of times to read, pray and journal. It was a much needed time of refreshing.

During the end of July we hosted one short-term ministry team from Community Church Big Bear in Big Bear Lake, California. First Baptist Church in Scottsdale blessed us with their VBS curriculum and supplies and the team from Big Bear helped us provide a VBS experience for the kids in Moonbase. The team also painted the home of an elderly gentleman who recently lost his wife of 35 years. We were able to serve him and spend time being Jesus with skin on for this hurting man.