| A | B | C | D | E | |
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1 | WELCOME PRAYING FRIENDS! | ||||
2 | Tom's Spring '15 Ministry/Study Journey | prayer request for the days: | answered prayers: thanks be to God! | ||
3 | that I may know God better and make Him known each day | ||||
4 | dates | day | people, places and event | that everyday I would have the opportunity to exalt Jesus with one person | |
5 | May 9-10 | Sat - Sun | to London overnight, then overnight (again) to Johanesburg | for restful sleep on two consecutive overnight flights, for funding provision of $7083.00 (airfare, lodging, meals, trains and busses); for smooth connections and rest as possible | funds are in place! All flights were smooth with good seats with leg room that allowed me to rest. |
6 | 11 | Mon | from Jo'burg to Kinshasa, D.R.Congo | for quick and smooth connection to and entry into D. R. Congo, and for protection from disease while there and beyond | Time through Jo'burg was fast and smooth with no delays! Was able to sleep to Konshasa and arrived rested and ready to go. |
7 | 12th-14th | Tue - Thurs | with ministry partners in Kinshasa | for an encouraging visit with partners who serve in relative isolation, may I have God's words for them | Prayers again have been answered, mutually encouraging conversations and enjoyable visits gave me insights for suggestions, bonus was conversations with school leaders with whom discussions may continue about future partnership collaboration. Added bonus was getting to teach a high school class on C. S. Lewis! Thanks be to God for this visit |
8 | 15th | Fri | flight to Jo'burg | for uneventful travel from Congo to South Africa and smooth entry to S. A. For a quiet trip in which I may recharge through solitude, prayer and study. | the trip south was both unevenful and it was recharging, thankful for prayers of God's people and for the provision of the Lord |
9 | 16th | Sat | fly to Mossel Bay | for a fruitful time with our ministry partners | a smooth time of travel and a great beginning to my visit to our partners in Mossel Bay |
10 | 17-20 | Sun - Wed | with ministry partners in Mossel Bay | for a fruitful time with our ministry partners, PLEASE PRAY for the sermon I'll be sharing Wednesday night on prayer | The visit to our partners in South Africa was very profitable for us all. It was refreshing for me, the were good, sometimes hard, conversations, and ministry in the church twice. I told Josh that after all the preparation I had done with Phil. 1:9-11, I was looking forward to seeing what God would do with the sermon. I was not disappointed! God really opened peoples hearts to the teaching about knowing Him better and using scripture as a language for prayer. I left South Africa with gladness about what I saw and experienced and thankful for the ministry going on there. |
11 | 21 | Thurs | to London via Jo'burg | for smooth connections to London and sleep on the overnight flight | I must admit that this long journey was tiring but we arrived early, I had time to get cleaned up and have a good breakfast before the fight to Croatia. |
12 | 22 | Fri | to Zagreb, train to Orahovica | for ontime arrival in Zagreb to catch the train, for an encouraging visit with our ministry partners | My dear colleague Jeremy drove all the way to Zagreb (3 hrs) to pick me up and that was a blessing from God for sure for this wearly traveler. We had lunch and drove to Orahovica and my brief visit was well worth it. Though it was a short visit I think our conversations were profitable about family and his church. |
13 | 23 | Sat | train to Zagreb, to Tel Aviv via Belgrade | UPDATED: I am a bit tired today and ask you to pray for strength for the Journey today. I take a train back to Zagreb, then to the airport, for good connections to and from train, bus and plane. I will make one connection through Belgrade arriving in Tel Aviv at 4am tomorrow. | Travel was smooth and uneventful. Connections were made without problem. |
14 | 24 | Sun | land TelAviv, transport to Bethlehem via Jerusalem | For wisdom in ths NEW PLACE, for good connection to Bethlehem that is arranged by the Bible College guest house. | Arrival and transport went off witout a hitch! |
15 | 25-31 | Mon - Sun | Bethleham - doctoral studies residency | for a greater understanding of how to engage people, especially Muslims in conversation about the Grace that Jesus offers | Am growing in my understanding of the Palestinial culture and how that impacts gospel conversations. |
16 | June 1-5 | Mon - Fri | fly to Belgrade, Serbia, then over ground to Osijek, Croatia, Osijek & Vukovar, Croatia; Sarajevo & Mostar, Bosnia and Hertzigovina ending with a drive to Dubrovnik, Croatia | for continuation of study and travel in the Balkans, that I would learn more of our Heavenly Father so as to make Him known to those who do not know Him. | thankful for smooth and safe travel and good conversations to facilitate learning about the region so many of CEO's ministry partners serve in. |
17 | 6 | Sat | quiet morning, fly to Belgrade, to Kula | for travel connections to go smoothly | a much needed quiet evening and morning and travel to Serbia, arrived for a two hour ride, then ministry conversations |
18 | 6/7/2015 | Sun | preach in Backa Topolla, preach in Kula | for travel to churches to be uneventful and that my preaching would glorify God and call people to know Him better | teachings were well received and good conversations were had during this brief visit to Serbia, I was blessed to get to family of 7 better, this pastor supports his family through his labor as a stone mason and carpenter, he shepherds a church of about 25 in a building on thier property, faithful servants. |
19 | 8 | Mon | train to Szeged | for encouraging conversations and uneventful travel to Hungary, that this day will be restful from the journey so far. | an impromtu conversation with a leader before my train surprised me with ministry fruit and maturity that I had not heard about, God's faithful hand is evident; then another honest and vulnerable conversation with another leader both showed me the importance of our work of encouraging leaders |
20 | 9 | Tues | train to Budapest Kőbánya-Kispest, to Matrakerestes | for a fruitful retreat with leaders that is also restful | a restful retreat with two leaders was much needed to catch my breath after the last few weeks |
21 | 10 | Wed | Matra to Budapest, dinner w/ ministry partners L / sleep P | for mutualy encouraging conversations with leaders | good conversations throughout this day with leaders was encouraging as ministry was described and family updates received |
22 | 11 | Thurs | train to Vac, lunch w/ leader and visit to sports ministry, to Bp Dinner w/ partners G / sleep P | for mutualy encouraging conversations with leaders | a good visit to Vac and other conversations with leaders through the day was a good final day of visiting with folks, I'm leaving the field encouraged by many stories and informed on how to pray for others |
23 | 12 | Fri | to Home via London | for an uneventful trip home | after a longish and reletavely hard five weeks, the trip home was uneventful arriving late Friday night, I look forward to a few days off with family |