February 2023 Pre-field Missions Update

 

February 2023 Pre-field Missions Update  Our first full month of discipleship class with our new sending church. Here we are pictured with the small group we get to learn with every week.

February was a busy month of both unexpected blessings and challenges. Between working part-time jobs the first half of the week, and maintaining a busy ministry schedule the second half, we find that we are never short of stories to share! The majority of our month was spent establishing a new schedule in regards to our new sending church, attending Sunday and Wednesday worship as well as discipleship on Thursday nights as pictured above. It has been a time of wonderful refreshment and growth that we now look forward to every week.  Despite the many weeks of relatively bad weather we’ve experienced, the Lord protected and provided for safe travels to multiple other churches including Harbor Church of East Tawas and Calvary Baptist of Gaylord. Both churches, scheduled for the same week, we found to be very uplifting and passionate about the Lord’s work. With the generous financial contribution of both, we have finally reached 50% of our one-time moving fund, and the possibility of them also partnering monthly is being established sometime in the near future.  Aside from our busy schedule outside of home, we have also been blessed with the opportunity to work through a wonderful, six-session Bible study with those in our household. Over the past few weeks, we have learned a valuable lesson on what the Bible says about relationships and how we can best cultivate those in our own lives. I will include the link below for anyone interested in taking part in it. It really is phenomenal!  https://miletwo.church/relatable Hanna has also finished two more chapters in her upcoming Christian fiction novel, and is looking forward to working on the most important chapter regarding salvation this upcoming week.  Our lives took a bit of an unexpected turn this past Sunday evening, however, when Trenton had to be taken to the emergency room for arm troubles he has been dealing with over the past few weeks after falling on some ice while coming home from work. Overworking it thereafter led to a torn/ popped tendon in his right bicep muscle and he is now scheduled to see a specialist for further treatment this upcoming Monday afternoon.  Despite the unexpected medical ailments, we praise God that He provided the insurance when He did last month. He was indeed not surprised by any of it, and we are thankful to not, once again, be forced into debt.  This upcoming month is just as busy in most aspects. We have fewer church visits, however, the one we do have is quite a distance from home. On March 23rd, we will, Lord willing, be traveling to Milan, Michigan for a four-day mission conference at York Baptist Church. So, please pray for direction in regards to our conversations as well as Trenton’s many speaking engagements and presentations during the duration of the visit.  On March 2nd, we are also meeting with the pastor from Harbor Church of East Tawas to discuss their supporting us on a monthly basis. So please, pray for that interaction as well.  The following are some prayer and praise points we would ask you to keep in mind as you go about bringing requests before the Lord.  Prayers: For our visits/meetings this month. Though we start the month with a set schedule, it often changes as we add things and/or change them. Pray for guidance and for open hearts.  For Trenton’s specialist visit this upcoming Monday. He has not been able to use his arm much. Please pray for healing, and/or for strength to continue on with our busy schedule despite the physical setback.  For Hanna’s book. She is working on the most important chapter regarding salvation starting Monday and is also looking into finding an affordable editor.  For our discipleship class with our sending church. Pray for continued growth, not just on our part, but also on part of those learning along with us.  For this upcoming May. We are currently scheduled for a lot of travel this month, including a three-day training in Pennsylvania and a three day church visit in upstate New York. Hanna has been asked to share with the women at their annual Mother’s Day Banquet. Praises:  Praise God for our being able to meet once again with the Iosco County Newspaper this week in regards to an article being written on our survey trip. It is scheduled to air this upcoming week.  Praise God for safe travels as the roads have been difficult to predict this month.  Praise God for potential new supporting churches. It is so good to finally see some movement in our monthly support! Praise God for a quick response from doctor’s to Trenton’s arm injury. It could have been a lot worse, and we are beyond thankful.  May the Lord continue to work in your lives as you seek to serve Him over the next few weeks. We look forward to sharing again soon! Trenton at the hospital this past Sunday evening. Unfortunately, we have not seen much improvement since then, but we are hopeful for his appointment this upcoming Monday.  Us with the assistant pastor of Harbor Church of East Tawas following the service the week of the 12th. Their building is being renovated, so they have been making good use of the Tawas Community Center! We were able to partake in the Hale Baptist Church Sweethearts banquet this month and had a blast! Turns out we know each other way better than we thought!