Patience...and more patience...

"By your patience possess your souls." (Luke 21:19) Another word for patience is longsuffering. And that says it all. When you suffer for a long time, it means you put up with more than you want to. Pray for God's patience to so be established in your soul that nothing you have to put up with will ever uproot it. UGH!!!

Every Tribe

Hi!! The Kirbows will be out of state on June 15, so we will be changing this months coffee club to June 22. Sorry for the inconvenience.

July Coffee Club

Someone just pointed out to me that July 13 is in the middle of fair week. We thought it would be better to change that one to July 20. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Every Tribe Coffee Club

Dear Friends,
God has provided 3 great nights for us!! They are as follows:
Tuesday, May 25, 6PM-Joe Lanham Joe has a long history of mission work in Haiti, having lived there and also having traveled to and from on short term trips. He has a very interesting story of work in hospitals, "adopting" a daughter, and even being shot! We will meet at Jeff and Sally Moore's home, 408 S. Clay.

Tuesday, June 15, 6PM-Amy and Derek Kirbow. The Kirbows and been missionaries with YWAM, long and short term, in Africa, Russia, Yemen, and probably places I don't know about. You may also have heard about Amy's work with stained glass, and now midwifery. This time we will be at our house, 1355 Burlington Ave.

Tuesday, July 13, 6PM-Fred and Betsy Eiler. The Eilers are with World Missionary Press. We met years ago when I was looking for materials to take to Brazil. The Eilers invited me to spend the day with the at WMP, and I was amazed! Learn more about how this organization is helping spread the gospel to "Every Tribe." We will meet at the Moore's, 408 S. Clay.

You may wonder why these are all on Tuesday. I have found that many missionaries have their weekends scheduled out months in advance. For some reason, Tuesdays seem to be the least busy day of the week. Sorry if it doesn't work for you. If I found there was a need, I'd be willing to video tape.

I always appreciate an RSVP, but if you forget to, or find yourself available last minute, please come any way, and invite a friend!!!

Things Turn Out Best...

Wow!! Look at this post from a fellow LOVEM Missionary:
Jody Kennedy International
Things turn out best...
April 2, 2010

"Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out." - Art Linkletter

Mission work is full of surprises, unexpected situations and challenging obstacles. Yet, the result is always predictable when God is glorified and the gospel is clearly and directly presented. God has His way with both the missionary and those touched by the missionary. Below are some lessons that must be learned and re-learned when serving the Almighty God.

-Learn to be led by the One we are serving and adapt our priorities to meet His

-Learn how to cheerfully change your plans when unexpected conditions require it

-Do not be discouraged when faced with unexpected challenges. God has already prepared a way to overcome them in a way that will glorify Him

God said,
10 I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please. 11 From the east I summon a bird of prey; from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that will I bring about; what I have planned, that will I do. (Isaiah 46:10-11 NIV)

Missions is about following God's lead and trusting Him with the result.

Prepare!!

Go to the ant, you slacker! Observe its ways and become wise. Proverbs 6:6
In my devotion for today I was reading about delayed satisfaction. The ant doesn't spend all its time eating. It works to store food so it will have it when it needs it in the winter. If we are young, we need to prepare for the future in every way we can. No matter what age we are, whenever we have to do something in public, we must prepare. We have to spend our time being ready for what God has called us to do. Then when the time comes and God is tells us to begin, we will be ready. Whatever God has asked us to do, we can't take His blessings for granted-we must prepare.

What a reminder for me!!! This is the time to make myself ready for whatever is to come!!

Praise God Maggie has been accepted for her DTS through WYAM. She will now begin preparing for September-financially, spiritually, and emotionally, and physically. Please keep her in your prayers.

We are asked many times why we think we haven’t gone on the mission field. We understand the many questions as to why we haven’t gone, what we have been doing in the meantime, etc. We have asked God many questions ourselves. We want to share with you from our hearts. We have wanted from the beginning to glorify God in all we do. We don’t understand why we are still here, but we have tried to be open to meet needs whenever we are made aware of them.
In a book I (Jody) am reading now, the main characters are going through a trying time. They began to quote scripture, each adding what came to their mind. How encouraging, the words they spoke! Maybe you need to be encouraged also. “I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak His praises. I will boast only in the Lord; let all who are helpless take heart…Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt His name together…I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will darken their faces…Even young lions sometimes go hungry, but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing…The Lord is close to the broken hearted. He rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
God is so good to us. With the help of you, our family in Christ, we have had the blessing of being able to share the Gospel in Frankfort, Mexico, Brazil and Russia. We have helped others go on short term trips, and to mission camp. We have purchased Bibles, craft supplies, and food for the hungry. Don has been ordained. With your help, we have all been the hands and feet of Jesus.

If we can join together to minister to one person, we are indeed blessed. "Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. . .Matthew 25:40
Please continue to pray for us as we seek His will. We have so many ideas we are praying about, trips to Costa Rica, Mexico, Brazil, and Russia. We’ve looked into training through Youth With a Mission and into adopting orphans from Haiti. All are good things, but what is the best for us?
NEWS
• Maggie has turned in her application for Youth With a Mission. If accepted, she will begin training in September. We will keep you updated.



• On February 6 at 2:00 pm we will have our Every Tribe Coffee Club. Please RSVP if you will be coming, or call if you have any questions.

PRAYER
• Pray for Haiti, for healing, and for God’s glory to be shown to the Haitian people.
• Pray for Amanda Smith as she ministers in Rwanda.
• Pray for Jan and Scotty as they continue their ministry in the Amazon region of Brazil.
• Pray for Matt and Brooke McClain and their children as their ministry changes and grows in Costa Rica.

trip update

Until June 11, we had been moving forward with our plans for our trip
to Brazil. Actually it felt as if we were moving one step forward and
two steps back. We began planning back in the fall, and had a huge
response. Thirty people were interested in going. This leveled out to
about 11 and stayed that way until around the first of the year. Then
it dropped down to 4-all family members. Our cost per person rose at
this point. We continued planning. For some reason, the money wasn’t
available as usual. I’ve seen God work miracles before, so I waited.
I longed to be in Brazil, to see people I hadn’t seen since 2005, to
feel the heat, the rocking of the boat, see the eyes of the children,
to share the gospel with them and to meet physical needs.
But the “problems” continued. Flooding caused questions of whether or
not the fast boat from Manaus to Santarem would be available. Chicago
seemed to be very reluctant to issue visas, and so we were going to
try going through a Florida travel agency to the consulate in New
York, which would add to the cost. I didn’t feel joy at the idea of
going, just a heaviness not knowing how we would be able to do it. I
just prayed, “God, we’ve done everything humanly possible (support
letters, fundraisers, odd jobs, etc.), now you are going to have to
take over.” As if He needed my permission.
The trip we went on to Mexico last year was being planned for the same
time as our Brazil trip. We were told by a friend that if we couldn’t
get visas for Brazil, they had a spot open and Jacob could go with
them. Of course I knew the cost of this trip. The entire trip cost
was the same as our plane tickets to Brazil. Could they use all of us
on the trip? Last year we ended with a disagreement. Actually we
agreed to disagree on an issue. Would they even want us to go? It is
a construction trip, which Jacob would love. They speak Spanish in
Mexico, so I could interpret. And guess what? The ladies who usually
do their VBS aren’t going this year. They also were in charge of the
boarder runs for food and water for the group. Not only could my mom,
Maggie and I do that, but we already had plans and supplies for VBS
and a women’s Bible study. Coincidence?
I contacted the agency we used to get our tickets. No refunds. I
called the number about our trip insurance. No refunds if we couldn’t
get visas, only if they were lost or stolen. Also, the tickets to
Mexico, at this point had gone up, increasing that cost by $300 each.
We’re back to praying for a miracle.
I next received an email from the same agency saying that our flight
out from Manaus was no longer offered on the day we had booked it for,
so the airlines switched it. This caused us to miss our connecting
flight in Atlanta. Because of this they were going to refund our
money. We could get online and find new tickets (costing how much
now?) for the day before or the day after, or take a full refund. No
penalties because it was involuntary. I thought, “OK, God. If this
is how you choose to work it out...“
But there is more. Overnight the flights to Mexico had gone up $800
each! We were told to pray. I was busy and thought, “You know God, I
can’t do anything about this and I don’t even have time to worry.”
For once, I didn’t try to fix it. Within a couple of hours, I got a
call. Guess what? We’ve got tickets, at the original price, making
the entire trip cost, almost to the dollar, the same amount as the
refund for the plane tickets to Brazil. (Money that was raised for
special projects for Brazil will still be sent to Brazil.)
“Therefore the Lord will wait, that He might be gracious to you; and
therefore He may be exalted, that He may have mercy on you. For the
Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him. For
the people shall dwell in Zion in Jerusalem. You shall weep no more.
He will be very gracious to you at the sound of your cry. When He
hears it He will answer you. And though the Lord gives you the bread
of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not
be moved into a corner anymore. But your eyes shall see your
teachers. Your ears shall hear a word behind you saying, “This is the
way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you
turn to the left.” Isaiah 30:18-21
When we are in the dry, dusty border town of Miguel Aleman, with its
drug cartels, as I purchase, cook and serve food to the people working
construction, a job which is not quite hands on enough for me, when we
do VBS for children hardened by the streets or Bible study with women
who don’t seem as open as the Brazilians, I will have no doubt in my
mind that this is where God sent me. No matter how I tried to arrange
my trip to Brazil, He wants me in this border town, at this time.
Please be praying for this trip.

Cara Ann Houser

Cara Ann arrived at 10:19 PM, Monday, June 8th. She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. Everyone is doing fine!!

Every Tribe

Every Tribe

Revelation 5:9 says, And they sang a new song: "You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.”

Our vision for Every Tribe is to increase awareness of, and prayer and financial assistance for, missions around the world. We desire to see Christians united, focusing on the great commission.

There are several ways we can do that. First we need to learn about what is going on in the world of missions. We need to be aware of the needs we can pray for. We hope to focus on one country each month. We will learn about the country and “meet” missionaries who are serving there. We will join together to pray for them.

We will enjoy coffee grown in the country we are focusing on. The same coffee will be available for you to order. The company we purchase the coffee from is Kerusso and here is a little information about them:

We are concerned for human beings to have true freedom. We believe people are of great value because they are uniquely created in the image of God. We think all human beings should be free to worship God. More than 40 countries around the world do not share our belief and, so, persecute people of faith. We say that is wrong, and we are trying to help. We originally became interested in coffee because we realized that coffee grows primarily in the areas where persecution flourishes. Join us in the battle to help our fellow human beings live freely.

By supporting Kerusso, we will be supporting people from every tribe who need our help. See www.kerussocoffee.com. Also a portion of the sales will go directly to support missions in Brazil.

We hope you will be a part of this ministry!!

First meeting is June 11th, at 6:30, at our house. RSVP to fields.jody@gmail.com

May 2009 Newsletter

And so it was that while they conversed and reasoned that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him…Now it came to pass, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they knew Him; and He vanished before their sight. And they said to one another “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:15, 16, 30-32

How often do we talk and reason, blinded by our desires and disappointments, and miss the fact that Jesus is walking with us? Like the men on the road to Emmaus, things don’t turn out as we thought they would, so we can’t see God working out His will. We have to take time to fellowship with Him and look into His word so that we will remember that He is with us, He is working out His good and perfect will even when we don’t understand.
Pray for us as we wait on God and His perfect timing and will.

Jacob’s Russia trip update:
We flew into Moscow and then we got on a twenty hour train to Perm. When we got to Perm one of the missionaries there picked us up in a van and took us to the mission base where we would sleep and work. We worked on one of the many rooms they have. We put linoleum down and painted and we also helped with a kids’ club which they have once a week. Then we got back on the train to Moscow and walked to Red Square and saw St. Basil’s Cathedral and the Tomb of Lenin and the Kremlin Palace. The missionaries we worked with were there through Youth With a Mission. Our church hopes to go again next year and work in the orphanages, at the mission base and in an unreached village. Jacob

July 2009 Trip to Brazil
We are working on our plans for July 2-13. We plan to fly to Manaus and spend the day with our interpreter/friend, Nill, and then fly on to Santarem. Here we will stay at the house of our missionary friends, Jan and Scotty. If Amanda Smith has her visa renewed and is back in the country, she will travel on with us from there. We will go by boat to Obidos (the home of our hearts!) and do ministry in this area. We will save the details for when we return. Pray that the believers in the area will be encouraged, and many new souls will be added to the kingdom.
Nill at VBS in 2003.
Nill is studying and working in Manaus. We will be paying all of his travel costs while he interprets for us. He has volunteered to interpret without pay. (“It would be an honor for me to interpret for you.”) We know though that he supports his mom and younger brother, so we want to pay him at least $500.
We also hope to spend a day on the river with Pastor Expedito. We will cover the expenses for his boat, and would like to reimburse him for his time also. We have a vision to set up a fund for the upkeep of the boat and also for the fuel as he continues his ministry on the river. The boat was donated to him by a church that Jan and Scotty work with.

Pastor Expedito is in the black shirt, Nill is in the white.

MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOU
If you feel led to help with the expenses, and to be a blessing to Nill and Pastor Expedito, we have several ways you can help.
We are selling coffee. (Please check out this ministry at www.kerussocoffee.com.) Contact me for an order form. We are planning to start a coffee club, “Every Tribe” which will meet once a month to discuss and pray for missions around the world. We will taste coffee from the featured area, and it will be available to purchase also. Proceeds will go to the boat fund. Our first meeting will be June 11 at 6:00 PM.

On May 22 and 23 will be having a yard sale, at our house. You can help by donating items to sale, or by purchasing items. Proceeds will go to pay Nill, our interpreter.

On June 2nd at 6:00PM we are having a Pampered Chef party, again, at our house. You may also order online at www.pamperedchef.biz/DitchenInTheKitchen.

If you have any questions, or would like to help, our contact info is included below.
Phone: 765-242-2684 Email: fields.jody@gmail.com
Mailing address: 1355 Burlington Ave.
Frankfort, IN 46041

Random thoughts...

I've been hearing a lot lately about faith. Sermons, songs, conversations. Maggie and Brittani Howell wrote a song for Amanda Smith based on Jeremiah 29:11, her life verse. Amanda is in the States renewing her visa and support. It is so exciting to hear of how God is using her, but a little bittersweet thinking, what if...We do have faith that God is in control of our lives.

Jacob will be leaving for Russia March 17th, the day after his 15th birthday. He will return March 25th. Things are a bit unstable there with the economy as it is. He may actually go into the sewers to minister to the street children who go there to keep warm. We have faith that God will keep him safe on this trip.

Emily and Ben are having a girl! We believe already that God has a plan for her life.

Curt is hoping that the foot he hurt while moshing at a youth concert will heal quickly so he can continue playing basketball. We are hearing, unexpectedly from others that he has patience and that he has the "heart of a missionary." We have faith that soon, Curt will realize this.

Treyton is growing by leaps and bounds. He really is "a big boy." We have faith that God has plans for his life. He has done such miracles for him already.

Maggie, Jacob, my mom and I will be in Brazil from July 2 through the 13th. We will be traveling with Nill and Amanda. We have faith that God will use us to meet needs.

Jacob's update

Dear friends and family,

I want to give you an update on the two mission trips I hope to go on this year.

In March I am planning on going to Russia with some men from my church. It looks like we might leave on my birthday, March 16th. We plan on flying into Moscow and then taking a train to Perm. I will need heavy winter clothes for this trip! We will minister in orphanages and take health care packages.

Also in July my family and I are planning on going to Brazil. Missionary Amanda Smith is back in the country working on renewing her visa and raising support. We are talking with her about ways to lower the coast of this trip. This trip will require summer clothes! We will minister on the river.

So far I have raised about $300 of the $3,000 (estimate) that I need. Please pray for me as I raise support. I am willing to do odd jobs (pet care, snow removal, minor repairs, lawn care as the weather improves, etc) to earn the money.

If you have information on work, fund raisers, or would like to contribute, please contact me at fields.jody@gmail.com, or 765-242-2684.


Serving Him,
Jacob Fields

update and thanks

This is to update and thank everyone!!
The concert/coffee house to raise money for the summer missions trip went off very well. Over $500 was raised. This will be split among the 5 team members who worked. Many thanks to Rock Cry, Sense of Reverence, the McMains, Tim Thomas, Don Fields and anyone else who helped. Maggie stepped up to handle the details since I wasn't able to help.

I wasn't able to help because I really didn't have a good week! On Sunday I went to the emergency room, and on Monday I had surgery to repair and incisional hernia. My intestines were looped through the hernia. On Wednesday I came home for a few hours, had some complications and then went back to the hospital. I finally came home on Friday. Praise God things are feeling much better now. I get my staples out Thursday. Thanks to everyone who has prayed,called, sent cards, brought food, etc. We've been well taken care off!!!

Concert/coffee house

Happy New Year!
Sense of Reverence will be doing a concert Friday, Jan. 9th at 8PM in the youth house at Faith Family Ministries. Rock Cry will be opening for them. Tickets are $5. A coffee shop will also be open. All proceeds go the the July 2009 South America mission trip. Hope to see you there!!

Fundraiser

Dear Friend of LOVEM Ministries CASA1631:

I am writing to let you know about a very important and exciting funding partnership opportunity for LOVEM Ministries CASA1631 . We have joined Preferred Toner Solutions, LLC in a long-term funding program.

For every PrecisePrint™ laser cartridge purchased by our referral network, Preferred Toner Solutions will make a donation of $10 to LOVEM Ministries CASA1631. And not just for this year, but for the life of the account!

Plus, you or your company will save 30%-50% off name-brand retail prices when you make the switch to PrecisePrint. Shipping is FREE.

Currently, PrecisePrint laser compatibles are being used by clients like University of Michigan Hospital, Ohio State University, Michigan State University, SoftPro (Raleigh, NC), Dodge City Public Schools (KS), plus hundreds of law firms, school districts, hospitals, colleges, banks, automobile dealerships, and corporate offices across the country.

Please visit www.TonerFundraisers.org or call 734-751-4180 to find product information, company credentials, and discounted pricing.

Thank you for considering this business opportunity. You or your company can save money, and LOVEM Ministries CASA1631 will receive $10 per cartridge that you purchase.

Sincerely,

Don and Jody Fields



PLANNING TO GO, WILLING TO STAY!

Forgot to post before Christmas...

Merry Christmas to you all! Jesus is the reason for the season.

We just want to thank you all, and give some updates. You are such an encouragement to us. Prayers, donations, emails...thank you. Never has anyone questioned whether we have made a mistake in our plans to go to Brazil. "In God's timing." There's always a reason." "Maybe you were just to be obedient no matter what." These are the things we hear. One day we'll know, right!!! I think of Jan and Scotty who tried for quite a while before they were able to go to Brazil permanently,and then they went as retirees. We also just heard from someone whose work visas were just authorized after 3 years! As my signature says, we are "planning to go, willing to stay."

In the meantime your support has made it possible for us to minister, literally to the ends of the earth. We would like to share what you have (whether you know it or not!) been involved in. In 2008 we personally have been to Brazil and Mexico on short term trips. That is possible because tourist visas are different than the volunteer visas we need to live in Brazil. We have helped with a mission camp-both with our time and by making it possible financially for others to attend. We have provided new believers with Bibles. Money was sent to help missionaries in Brazil. We helped send missionaries to Europe, and the Middle East. We helped a small church put on a VBS. We have given English lessons to Hispanics. All of these things were possible because of your prayers, encouragement and financial support. Praise God.

Our family has had quite a year. We have experienced many things for the first time. Some have been wonderful. Some, I hope we never experience again. Through it all, God has been faithful. He has been us through it all. More training for the ministry? Don has a job he enjoys. Jody is still translating. Maggie (20) is almost done with her associates degree and is considering working in a children's home. Emily (19) has a new husband, Ben Houser, and they will be having our first grandchild in June. Jacob (14) is interested in cars, a Mustang in particular. Curt (13) is still sports crazy. Treyton (4) is attending the developmental preschool 3 mornings a week and can't wait for Santa to bring him a big, red fire truck. We just had to say goodbye to Renan, our exchange student who was with us for 6 1/2 months. While I look out the window at the snow, he is in Brazil, in the 90 degree heat!

We're looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2009. We would like you to pray about a trip we are planning to Brazil in July. We hope to take a group ( 4 youth and 4 adults) on a river trip, working with missionaries Amanda Smith and Jan and Paul Scott. Prices for everything have gone up so much. We are praying and know that if God wants us to go on this trip, he will provide all we need. If he doesn't, we, as a group, are open to ministering in another area.

Have a blessed Christmas!

Emily and Ben's Wedding

Wedding arrangements...

Dear Friends and Family,
I plan on starting calls tomorrow, but I hope this will help keep everyone informed. Ben and Emily's wedding will now take place in the fellowship hall of Faith Family Ministries, 508 W. Green Street, Frankfort. They decided the weather wouldn't make it very enjoyable! That's 6 PM Thursday the 13th.

Last call...

for the Brazil trip applications. If you have plans to go, I need the application by Wednesday.