Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Prayer Requests

Please be in prayer for us. Maggie currently has an application in for a tourist visa to Brazil. If it's God's will for her to go short term this summer, we pray that it will be approved.

Of course, as things go for us, we've had a surprise. After months of calling the consulate and getting the answering machine and having no one call me back, I spoke to a live person yesterday. It was the lady who originally helped us. She said to call back in 15 days and she would see what she could find out. Why 15 days, after 11 months, I don't know. Please pray for us. After we've made steps to stay, it will be emotional to go if the visas are approved. There will be some things that will have to be worked out as far as supporters go, also, after all this time. Of course, it will still be emotional if we find that they are denied. And to be told to wait again...But we know that God is in control.

Saturday, April 05, 2008

From the upcoming newlsetter


“A man’s heart plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps.” Proverbs 16:9

We want to let all of you know how much we appreciate your prayer, support and encouragement. As you know, it has been 11 months since we applied for our visas. We know that God called us to ministry, and we have a desire to serve in Brazil. We know He has worked in mighty ways throughout this entire journey. Because of God, we are debt free. We have sold our house. We’ve developed many wonderful relationships and raised a support base. We also know that when he wants to release us to Brazil, our visas will be authorized.

Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the revelation awaits an appointed time: it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.”

Many times in scripture we find God’s plan taking what seems to us as humans to be an unreasonable amount of time. We see Abraham (Genesis 15) and Noah (Genesis 6 & 7) moving on in faith, waiting for God’s promise. We read of doors to service being closed to Paul (Acts 16:6-10). We feel that the doors to Brazil are being closed to us for the present. This is something that we don’t understand, but we do trust the One who is in control.


When God calls, we want to be prepared. We need to have some “roots” while we are here, but they need to be loose. We, God willing, will not accumulate any debt, or un-needed material items. We will rent, not buy, a house.

We also plan to be busy in the ministry. We believe we are commanded to do this, and that it will help to better prepare us for Brazil.

We had a few difficult months dealing with the idea that we may not go to Brazil next month, or even next year. However, we now are really excited at the opportunities to serve as we wait on God. We’d like to share a few of these with you. Please pray for us as we press on.

Truth Project

We are excited to begin working with Truth Project. This organization was started by our friend Junior (Juniclei) Miranda. Junior is a Brazilian from Santarem, where Amanda Smith is serving, and near Obidos, where we hope to serve.
Junior is now married to an American and living in Indiana. He is a soccer coach at Covenant Christian High School. His ministry uses sports evangelism and music to reach the lost. Junior began this ministry by taking short term trips to Brazil. Truth Project now is reaching out to the Hispanic population in Indiana. They have invitations to minister in other states, Mexico, and Guatemala. We hope to help with different sports clinics, VBS with a sports theme, and doing maintenance and repairs on churches among other things. Our background with Spanish and Portuguese will be helpful!!
Maggie will be trying to get a tourist visa to go to Brazil with Truth Project in June. Pray that this goes through for her. We are not all trying, because we believe this would raise red flags, since our volunteer visas are still being processed.

Faith Family Ministries

We are still active with our church. Different members of our family are involved with AWANA, youth, the nursery, Kids 4 Him, etc. We are hosting a group for the upcoming Mii.experience. Maggie, Jody and Jacob will be going on a short term trip to Mexico in July with a group from church. They will be doing construction.

Other Plans
We also hope to contact a Hispanic church in Frankfort to see how we might work with them. Jody’s speaking Spanish, and making contacts while interpreting for the hospital might be helpful.
We’d like to try to do an outreach in a park, similar to what we’d do in Brazil. We were thinking of an evening of games, puppets, snacks, crafts, and a presentation of the gospel geared towards children. We could then send information home about the second evening which would be for the entire family and would include food and a presentation of the “Jesus” film. We have plenty of supplies in trunks waiting to be used!

If you have any questions, or any ideas for us, please let us know. We want to be open to what God has in store.

CONTACT INFO
Phone: 765-659-1430, 765-242-2684
Mailing address: PO Box 506
Frankfort, IN 46041
online at: www.casa1631.blogspot.com
www.lovemministries.org
email: fields.jody@gmail.com