We are continuing to raise the support we need to begin this ministry with Village Missions. Currently we have about $525 in monthly pledges (37.5% of our support goal). This includes monthly, quarterly and annually reoccurring gifts - one-time donations are not counted in our monthly support. We still need to meet the minimum of $700 in pledges per month before we can begin our internship, while our goal for a long-term and sustainable ministry is $1400 in monthly pledges.
We are continuing to speak with family, friends, and churches in order to share our heart for the work of Village Missions and our calling to serve in rural church ministry. Ronae is due with our second child around May 11, and it is our hope that we will be able to transition to beginning our internship with VM sometime in June if we have the ideal support raised. Please continue praying that God will produce supporters who are excited about the work of VM and have the willing sacrifice to make a pledge toward supporting this sort of work.
Meet the Mentors
This past weekend we had the privilege of visiting Waynetown, IN, and staying with Allen and Diane Sparks - the Village Missionaries who will be our mentors during our year-long internship. They have served Liberty Chapel and its surrounding communities for about thirty years. Below are some pictures from our weekend visiting the community.
Diane, Ronae, Chris, Josiah, Allen at Liberty Chapel
Diane and Allen
Josiah playing piano with some other kids after church Sunday
Josiah and Diane
Chris and Josiah
Family Update
Our weekend with the Sparks was a great time of fellowship and learning about the community. On our way back to Fort Wayne, we were able to stop and visit Ronae's sister Rachel who is a student at Purdue, which was nice since they don't get to see each other very much.
Within an hour of us returning home from our trip away, Ronae started feeling pretty ill. She ended up with a nasty stomach virus that kept her from keeping down any solids or liquids for almost twenty-four hours. I stayed home with her on Monday to help keep an eye on Josiah while she rested. Unfortunately her fever rose dramatically that evening and we went to Dupont Hospital (Fort Wayne) where she was given Tylenol and hooked up to an IV because she was severely dehydrated. We were released from the hospital around midnight, once the doctors were satisfied with the improved heart rates of both Ronae and Baby Girl. The next day Ronae's mom stayed home with her and Josiah while I returned to work, and today my mom was able to take Josiah for a few hours so Ronae could continue to recuperate. The stomach virus seems to have run its course, but Ronae is continuing to deal with tiredness and an itchy rash. Thank you to all who have prayed and continue to pray for her recovery!
How You Can Pray for Us
- As we thank God for the many generous supporters who have pledged to partner with us in this work, continue to ask Him to produce more people who are willing and able to make a sacrifice to support this ministry on an ongoing basis.
- As we thank God for the wonderful mentors and community we have become acquainted with we are awaiting the birth of our daughter before seeking to transition into this new ministry. Please pray for the timing, safety and birth of our daughter in May and for the time we have to prepare for this newborn before we begin the internship.
- We also are praying for the recuperation of Ronae's health from the virus and her overall energy as the pregnancy comes to an end.
We are so thankful to our readers, friends, family and those who share the same interest of sharing the Gospel.
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