Asking for Prayers

My wife and I recently moved to a new town, in a new state, in a new (again) country. We are looking for the places and ways in which God wants us to minister here, but we are having a terribly difficult time doing so. Our schedules are crazy, and we live in a small town which is very different than what we were used to in both China and Nashville. I have been spending time with the homeless in Lexington, which is quite a trek since we live in another town near the seminary, but now that its gotten cold they have disappeared, and I dont know Lexington at all so I dont even know where to start looking. Rachel’s job provides great opportunities to minister to entire families, but it takes time for her to pick up clients and then get to know them. 

A story on the homeless note. Two weeks ago we met a man, Im sorry I forgot his name, who had a brown recluse bite on his leg. It had gotten infected and most of his lower leg was covered in one big open wound that was eating away at his flesh and would soon move on to his muscles. For most of us we could get treatment and follow up care, but he could only get the emergency care and could not afford follow up treatment, even some simple bandages and hydrogen peroxide. We were able to go to a local drugstore and buy him some bandages, antibiotic ointment, and peroxide. It cost about 14 dollars. My bud Jeremy cleaned the wound and applied the bandages. Thats all he needed. That will kill the infection and protect it while it heals. The money you and I spend on a few lattes or a half a tank of gas was enough to potentially save a man’s leg. Even more though that small amount of money and some caring hands were enough to show someone that he was human, that he was worthy of love and attention. What can you do with 14 dollars? What needs do you see around you?

Anyway, we see needs and we are blessed to be able to meet them here and there, but we are looking for a more permanent ministry where we can build relationships and share our lives. I am asking for your prayers that Rachel and I can find ministries that we can commit to and bless and be blessed. I ask that we will be willing to do something new and different. I am struggling with this because I have this stupid idea in my mind that only certain things are really ministry, such as working in the projects, but I feel like our place here might be ministry in a more “pleasant” setting like marriage ministry at the seminary. So I ask that God would open my mind and heart to do whatever He wants without trying to measure it against someone else’s calling. Following that I ask that God will give us courage and wisdom to pursue whatever it is that He has laid before us. We really covet your prayers. Thanks so much!

Also, Rachel and I had our two year anniversary today. We give praise to God for bringing us together and unleashing us on the world.

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Tags: ministry, prayer

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