Financial Update May 24

Time to Celebrate!

Praise God for His provision through His children.  Recently another gift came in that brought my support to completion!  I am incredibly grateful to all of you who have prayer and given.

More good news- the personal support for my teammates is also in!  Ain't it awesome?  I think so!

There is, however, still a need for about $1,500 more to have the full amount needed to pay for the Choose Life Conference we're doing in Yogyakarta.  Pray with me about this.  My church, Grace Life Community Church, has been trusting God to bring in the amount needed to cover this expense through regular missions giving.  There's still time before we leave, and the same God who helped us raise $4K in a little more than a month can raise the remaining $1,500.  

Just so you know.  Any gifts that come in for any of the team members will be applied to the $1,500.  If you'd like to give a gift of any amount, we welcome you to throw your hat into the ring!

Click Here to make a secure, online contribution now.

In Other News

We have been busy planning our schedule and organizing accommodation, transportation, translators and so on.  Kris and Asri have been SUPER busy with their ongoing ministry, their kids, serious illness in their family and other things, but they are still working hard to prepare for our coming.  Please keep them in your prayers!  Pray for clarity of communication between me and them.  We do most of that on Facebook Chat and email.  It's easy to misunderstand one another, especially when we're working in a second language in which I'm quite rusty and a twelve hour time difference.  Early in the morning here, is late at night in Bali- 12 hours difference.  So as I'm writing this on Friday at 3:30pm in the US, it is Saturday at 3:30am on Bali.

Schedule Highlights

• June 29- Depart Washington
• July 1 @ 7pm- Arrive in Denpasar
• July 2 @ 10am- Depart for Yogyakarta
• July 3 - Choose Life Conference Begins
• July 5 - Choose Life Conference Ends
• July 6 - R & R + Sat. Evening Ministry Opportunity
• July 7 @ 7:25am- Depart Yogya
• July 7 - Preaching at ROCK Church on Bali
• July 8 - Preparation for Marriage Conference
• July 9 - Full Day- Life Choices in Marriage Conference (ROCK Church, Bali)
• July 10-11 - CLI Encouragement & Training
• July 11 - Rectors Depart for US
• July 12 - Bob Leaves for India
• July 14 - John Departs for US
• July 15 - John Arrives in US

Financial Update - May 7

Good Afternoon,

I've had a few rough days recently.  Feeling misunderstood, confused by changes in circumstances, forays into the flesh, embarrassment, etc.  They all challenge my ability to focus on truth and the truth's power to lead me to joy (and keep me there).  So I show up at my desk this morning in desperate need of reassurance and encouragement, and what do you know... God speaks.  Here's the word I received for today.... 

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." ~ 1 Thes. 5:16-18

Dang!  That's hard!  Rejoice ALWAYS?  "Lord, you're being insensitive!  Don't you see what I'm going through?"  Suddenly I'm reminded of what Garvisa and I have been learning from the wonderful little book entitled "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.  Eucharisteo- thanksgiving is the precursor/predecessor of JOY!  If I want to rejoice, I must choose to give thanks. Paul doesn't let me off the hook, here.  My sorry circumstances don't justify a sour, ungrateful disposition.

I am SO blessed!  I have so many reasons to be grateful!  Here are just a few....

1. I am a dearly loved child of the God of Creation.  In Him I have significance, security, acceptance, love, courage, hope, joy and peace.
2. I am married to my hero and dearest friend.  She speaks truth to me when my emotions make me feel derailed.  She loves me unconditionally, even when I .... (fill in the blank).
3. I have a wonderful son of whom I am very proud who is about to graduate from high school and continue his journey into adulthood.  He's funny, handsome, intelligent and very interesting!  :)
4. I work with some of the greatest people on the planet doing a job I LOVE to do, even on the hard days.
5. I am surrounded by a plethora of amazing friends who bring so much color and fragrance to my life.
6. I have siblings who love and care about me.
7. I have a comfortable home to live in (for the time being). :)
8. I am part of a fantastic church filled with wonderful people who know and care about me.
9. I get to go to Indonesia this summer with Bob, Tom and Debbie!  I get to see Asri, Kris, Suhenes, Nining, Theo, Susi, Sumbut, Marmi, Dewa, Putu & Julie and all their kids: Kheny, Sasha, Gloria, Jeffenex, Bobby, Esi, Dio, Danny, David and Rachel along with a whole bunch of other friends. 
10. God has use wonderful friends and family to raise up 75% of my personal support need so far!  Only $950 to reach my goal of $4k! 

See, just going through that little list of 10 things, I'm feeling more joyful already!  To do that, I had to agree with God that He has blessed me.  By enumerating those blessings, I'm declaring my agreement with God.  The outcome is JOY!

This weekend is our "Cafe Bali" Fundraiser at Grace Life Community Church.   We will offer a wide variety of fresh baked goods including donuts, muffins, breads, pastries and fruit for breakfast along with 3 delicious blends of freshly-roasted Indonesian coffee.  The Cafe will be open from 10:30am until Noon.  All food and drinks will be offered on a donation basis.  Come and enjoy the refreshments and leave a generous donation to help offset the expenses of the mission.   To make a secure, online contribution for the mission trip, click here.

Thanks for reading,

John

Financial Update- May 1

Wow!  

That's how I feel!  It seems like just a couple weeks ago I was really wondering if I was asking a little too much of my friends and family, but God... two of our favorite words, huh?  God steps in and blows our mind with His grace and provision.  

So far He has provided 66% of my personal goal for "Encourage Indonesia 2013", and I believe that the rest is on the way. 

Thank you SO much for your generous contributions.  Pray with me for the money being raised by Bob Perdue for his personal support and for the $4,000 being raised by our church to sponsor the Choose Life Conference in Central Java.  

On May 12, we will be holding a "Cafe Bali" fundraiser at Grace Life Community Church to help raise awareness about the trip and funds to help meet our expenses.  We'll be selling wonderful, freshly roasted coffee from Sumatra and Bali as well as donuts, pastries, muffins and cookies.  The Cafe will be decorated using Indonesian artifacts and colors.  All are welcome.  Food and drinks will be free for the taking for a donation of any amount.  Please join us!

If you'd like to help with the "Cafe Bali" Fundraiser on Mother's Day, let me know!

If you'd like to make a secure, tax-deductible contribution to "Encourage Indonesia 2013", please CLICK HERE.

Terima kasih!

Pak John