That is right. Janet has her first passport ever and is going on her first trip with me to a World Renewal International church planting site. Pray for us June 23-July 7. What's the occasion?? What opportunities are coming? Read to the end of this post and I'll tell you some great news.
First, a look back. I just recently finished doing ministry with Kids and Juniors at Camp Quaker Haven. What great privilege to focus with them on knowing and being known by Jesus the Good Shepherd. His words from John 10 changed lives - some for eternity! Many campers openly acknowledged new and renewed relationships with Jesus.
What an awesome staff. We made sheep cool! I prepared for my part by not shaving for weeks!
A sheep by day...a shepherd by night. Each night during chapel I spoke to the kids as David, a shepherd from Jesus' time. I told stories about things I learned as a shepherd, about being there when the angels announced his birth, later hearing him speak about being the Good Shepherd, and giving my life (sin and all) to follow Him after I met the Apostle John who explained the way of salvation to me. On the second night at each camp, I carried in a sheep from my flock of 6 that God had so wondrously provided, and told how my life was changed by Jesus' story of the shepherd who left the 99 behind to go look for the one lost sheep. The message: Lost people matter to God!
I told you we had an awesome (and talented) staff!
Can you believe we walked around all week looking like this.....
And yet, God blessed it. Many children (and adults) grew closer to Christ than ever before.Speaking of blessings...
In March I traveled to Carpina Brazil (home of World Renewal Brazil) with Adrian Halverstadt in order to discern what next steps might be made for EVANGELICAL FRIENDS CHURCH - EASTERN REGION (headquartered in Canton, Ohio) to begin planting churches in partnership with WRI. There is not enough space here to describe the outpouring of answered prayer. Many did fast and pray, God moved...and is still moving. KEEP READING and looking.
God provided a public school in the neighborhood of Santo Antonio in west Carpina, and a school principal who has invited WR Brazil, WRI and Evangelical Friends to use his building as a place to start.
As you look as this place, as you see this space - PRAY right now and in days to come. Pray that this will become holy ground where people will be ministered to by hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ and seeing His love demonstrated in life-changing ways. Prayerfully imagine with us the men, women and children who's lives will be made new through salvation in Christ alone.
Who are these folks? Keep reading...
First, a family update. People ask about our kids/grandkids, so here they are!
Bergquists (above) are all great. We had a fun time with them on a quick trip to Colorado in May.
Jesse finished his Masters in Christian Ministry from Friends University.
Janet had a special Mother's Day. Jacob's wife Jill is expecting in early September.
Julie and Mark have done well in Nepal since early February, despite some nasty stomach viruses. They will both be back in the US by the end of July.
Our first Skype to the Healtons was a blessing (above). And a miracle, too I think!
Even my mother and sister Joyce are seasoned Skypers! Mom is doing great living with my other sister Sue. She turned 92 in April, and is still producing lots of handwork to share with those she loves.
A unique blessing many of us had since last August was hosting Paola Martinez (daughter of WR Mexico City church planters Ramiro and Claudia Martinez) for the entire school year.
Jeff and Jodi Kinniburgh and their sweet girls became Paola's new family while here. What a great joy to watch them love and care for her as one of their own. Thanks K-burghs!
Paola in Indiana (above) with WR Mexico City Field Representative Jim Flood on the Welcome Home Broadcast with Gary Wright (WRI President), and in Ohio (below) with Wayne Phelps (WRI Recovery Ministries), whose wife and mother are from Brazil. Fun!
I do hope to return to Mexico City in 2010 to be with our church planters (David Martinez on my left below, and Ramiro in the back). They are so faithful and fruitful in all they do.
Last year we collected Birthday Party for Jesus bags in various churches in Kansas, Indiana and Michigan. I took 17 trunks full to Mexico for these pastors and Friends churches in Coahuila. Let's get ready to do it again this year! God uses those bags and those parties to share the love of Jesus with so many in Mexico, Brazil and Haiti.
And speaking of Haiti...keep praying, keep helping, keep believing. God is at work in the midst of all the difficulties our brothers and sisters have had in recent years. They continue to need our support.
Christ's Compassion Orphanage in Gonaives is going up and God has provided all along the way. Material costs have increased significantly since the earthquake, so extra financial gifts are always welcome and much needed to finish. I desire to return soon to Haiti for a ministry trip. Perhaps one of you would hear God prompting you to designate a gift to help me. 
What's up with the goats? A.B.E.L. is WRI Haiti's Agricultural Businesses Enriching Lives, and it's all about providing chickens and goats, at least for now. We hope to add other ways in the future. A female goat-$75 or brood of chickens-$25 will provide a business and milk and eggs every day to a Haitian family. Call World Renewal (317-467-9899) to ask how you can help.At last, we come to the opportunity mentioned at the beginning of this post...
Evangelical Friends Church - Eastern Region (Canton, Ohio) has accepted an invitation to begin planting churches in northeast Brazil. God has prepared the way over many years for a unique partnership, joining brothers and sisters in Christ from various backrounds to preach the gospel in unreached areas, teach and train others to passionately love and follow Christ and to use Evangelical Friends to establish new Kingdom work.
A new home group with a few believers and several seekers has begun meeting every other week in the home of Valmir and Michele Honorio. Seeds are being planted and a harvest is coming. WE COVET YOUR PRAYERS. This is God's work, and we need his power and anointing. 
Janet and I are going to Brazil to encourage everyone involved in this new work. The leaders are themselves people whose lives have been radically transformed by the saving power of Jesus Christ. They desperately want the same for their fellow Brazilians. God has opened new doors for Evangelical Friends to be co-laborers with them. As we represent EFC-ER in this venture, please pray for us and them. Thank you for your love and support.
Shortly after we return from Brazil we will attend Friends yearly meeting sessions in Ohio and Kansas in order to give a report and make proposals for the future. We will share with you, too all the good news of changed lives and God's blessing on His work. And we hope to see you all somewhere down the road.God is giving great grace to each of the various ministries of World Renewal International. You are welcome to visit any/all of our blogs and websites to get more information. There are many ways you can be involved. We need you to keep praying. We need you to keep giving of your time, talent and treasure. You are our partners in the gospel. Your generosity in every way is greatly appreciated.
