May Praises/Prayer request and Updates

Once again, I looked at the calendar and realized another month is almost passed by. It is hard to believe all that we have done this month and all the folks we have had the privilege of meeting. It has been amazing, to say the least. God is working in big ways to help us accomplish what He has set us out to do. The support raising is coming along and lots of prayers are being answered.

We have been on the road a lot this month. We took a trip to Green Bay for Easter. We made it in time to see Katie's team win their soccer game. After the game, Grace and Hope stormed the field and tackled Katie in the dirt. That was the highlight of the game for G and H. They also thoroughly enjoyed playing their own soccer game on the side of the field with Colleen and Aunt Re. We also celebrated Grace's birthday with family and had lots of fun. And staying at Gramma and Grampa's is always fun since there is always something going on.

The following week we went to DesMoines/Pleasant Hills to meet with Lance's family. Our time at Rising Sun church brought back lots of great memories of Lance's childhood. It was wonderful to spend time with the family and Lance's Sunday school teachers of his early years. Both trips were great. We got to meet with family and share hours of laughs with folks we don't see often enough.

Lance's parents stopped by this month on the way back to Iowa for the summer. The girls really enjoyed time with Gramma Sharon and Grampa Larry. They got to witness Grace putting the final touches on her feat to ride with no training wheels and also experience the tears of her kindergarten shots. That was painful to all of us and caught us off guard since she is one year from being a kindergartner, but that is another story. Hope liked having more people to show off her scooter skills and push her on the swing. It was a good visit.

This past weekend, we had the privilege of being interview before the congregation at our home church, Parkview. It was absolutely wonderful. We had been praying for such an opportunity and we are so grateful to the Mission's board and Sheldon Schroeder for making it happen. After the interview, we had a table set up so we could meet with folks and share with them what we will be doing and get more folks involved. The turnout of support was amazing. God blessed us richly on Sunday with many words of encouragement and well wishes as well as divine appointments that would not have happened without God's hand interceding. We need to give a special word of thanks to Linda and Chris for all their help through the day. You two are a huge blessing in our lives.


So now that I think we are done filling you in on the details of all we have been up to. I guess it is time to get those prayer requests updated.

Praises

• Many divine appointments have occurred that we could not have arranged on our own. We are truly entering into His network and not ours. He is connecting us with the right people at the right time.





• Many generous gifts have been pledged and the number of supporters continues to grow.





• Parkview church is in the process of building their budget and we have received preliminary notice that they are close to finalizing financial support for us.





• We are making progress on our support raising and we are now officially over 1/3 of the way to our goal. Yeah, God.





• God lifts us up every time we start to slow down and He fills us up with new strength.





• The girls are doing great and really getting used to the idea of moving and can almost recite our whole story if asked. The other day I asked Grace, "Where is Daddy going to work next?" Her answer, "Agape". Then I asked her "Why is Daddy going to work there?" Her answer, "Because God wants him to." From the mouths of babes, it could not be much clearer than that. Hope has made us an "Agape Song" which she sings at our meetings.

Prayer Requests

• Please pray for continued strength as we keep running this marathon.





• Please continue to pray for the sale of the house. The showings have slowed down so now it the time to pray for more traffic to get through the house and bring the right buyer through. This house belongs to God so we know the timing will be perfect for the sale of the house and support to be complete. Pray for us to have patience and watch Him work this out.





• Please pray that more partners will join us with monthly/yearly support. We need to secure funds for this year and for the years to follow, so monthly/yearly supporter help us to know the funds for the future. One time gifts are also helpful but monthly/yearly support is what we need the most of.





• Saturday, May 2nd is Swisher garage sale day and we will be selling lots more stuff. Please pray for great weather and a successful event.





• On May 10th, we have the opportunity to share a Ministry Moment at the Shueyville United Methodist Church for each service. Please pray that God will open the hearts of the people who hear our story and create divine appointments with the people of SUMC.





• Please pray for God to continue to open doors for relationships to be built and for stories to be shared. That is what makes this adventure so enjoyable. We love hearing the God stories of the people we meet and getting to share ours with them.





• Please pray for our big items to sell. We have sold one ATV and are now working on the camper and other ATV.





• Please continue to pray for our girls. Even though the little ones are starting to "get it", being on their best behavior for every meeting is getting to be hard. Please pray for them to have a gentle spirit and patience with us chatty adults.

As this adventure continues, we would just like to thank each of you for sharing this time with us. We are so grateful for all of you would read this blog and for those who lift us up in your prayers to the King. We are lifting all of you up in our prayers as well so please let us know of specific requests you have so we can join you at His throne.

This is a very busy time of year for many people, including ourselves, so let me leave you with one thought from Galatians 6:9 to remind you to keep going and never give in. "9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." This is a hard race, so keep moving forward and keep pressing on for Him.

In His service,

Lynn, Lance, Grace and Hope