Mission Training, Church Visits, and a College Graduation

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    The month of May proved to be a very busy and productive month in regards to our journey to the mission field. It began early on May 1st with a visit to the First Baptist Church of Durand, Michigan where Trenton preached his first sermon to an audience of about fifty people. This church was our first at which we had no personal connections previously established. However, we were very encouraged by their desire to accept us with open arms and hear about the Lord's work in Australia. 

 

Following on May 6th, Hanna was able to attend her college graduation ceremony online. She officially graduated from Colorado Christian University with a bachelor degree in Communication and graduated at the very top of her class which consisted of over sixty college of adult and graduate study students. To celebrate, we had a small gathering at our home church on May 29th. It was a blessed time with good friends, family, and food. And it was also a wonderful day to reminisce on all that the Lord had done and continues to do on a daily basis. 



May 15th and 22nd we were blessed to share our heart for the ministry in Australia with two other churches with whom we have previously been acquainted. On May 15th, we visited Calvary Baptist Church where Hanna's mission journey began over four years ago. And from Friday, May 20th to Sunday, May 22nd, we were blessed to be able to attend a mission conference at Hale Baptist Church. 
On the second day of this conference, we, along with two other missionary parties were able to get away for a day of excursion. The men enjoyed a wonderful day of fishing on Lake Huron and were blessed to have caught thirty-nine Walleye's. The women traveled to Ossineke to take the kids to a dinosaur park and then enjoyed a wonderful lunch together at a local bakery. 
The rest of the weekend was spent sharing our testimonies, visions for the field, and immediate needs to get there. Trenton shared his second Bible Study on resting in God Sunday morning, and we were then gifted with funds from a special offering taken specifically for our upcoming survey trip to Australia in November. Due to this church's generosity, we are happy to say that the needs for that trip have all been met! Praise the Lord!



As to our plans for June, we will be returning to Headquarters in Pennsylvania for Essential Mission Component Training, as well as visiting two local churches we currently have set up. The week after we return from training in Pennsylvania, we will also be taking part in Calvary Baptist Church's Australian themed Vacation Bible School Program. And we will also be spending much time finishing up a few classes we have started this month on our individual development plans. Trenton is currently enrolled in Old Testament Theology and Basic Missional Theology. Hanna is enrolled in the latter. 

Lastly, due to a generous donation, we have reached a milestone of 28% support toward our outfit and passage. That is about $15,000 out of the $50,000 we need to raise in order to get to the field. Our monthly support, however, is much lower as we are still at 3% of our $8,000 a month goal. We have started accepting empty soda can returns as an added revenue to our ministry, and have been blessed with quite a few contributions. So, if you cannot support us financially at this time, please keep in mind that that is an option as well. 

There is alot going on currently on the mission field in Australia, and there are times it is very hard for us to be here in the states. Our hearts are ready to serve on the field to which we are called, but we are keeping faith in knowing that God has a season for everything and that this season requires us to be here. We are taking full advantage of the time we have with our families and friends as we look forward to moving in the near future. 

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