Everything has to start somewhere, so here goes Prayer Letter #1!

I will use this first prayer letter to talk a bit about my survey trip (and leading up to it) and then get into my deputation activity, simply because this has been awhile in the making. Future updates will be more traditional—and shorter.

For two years, the Lord tapped on my shoulder to become a missionary to the Middle East. Even in the beginning, my responses to His prompting were very spiritual, such as, “I’m sorry, Lord. You want me to do what?!” But, of course, He prevailed. At the age of 45, I quietly surrendered at the altar during a Sunday evening service on November 6, 2022, and completed Candidate School at FBMI in July 2023. I began deputation just a few months ago. So, what happened in the “in between”?

A lot—but I promise to keep this letter relatively brief and relevant to its purpose.

I spent a lot of time knowing things I didn’t actually know. I wonder if my brothers and sisters in Christ who have walked a path of surrender to God’s calling can relate to this struggle. Maybe for some, the path is a straight line from surrender at the altar to fruition of the calling. As for me, the struggle has been very real to live out what is written in multiple verses of Hebrews 11. It has taken a lot of falling on my face, whether it be on purpose . . . or tripping and landing there.

In the beginning of this path as a single, female missionary, I thought I knew what this was supposed to look like based on what I had seen from those who had gone before me in recent years, I was looking for a template to follow. God patiently waited through my stubbornness of trying to sort this path out in my own “wisdom” in the realm of the things I could see. Then during the last service of the March 2024 Servants’ Conference at the F___ B___ Church of H___, God made it clear that I didn’t need to see long distance down the path before I was to obey the next step. I only needed to see Him, and He would take my hand and lead me (Proverbs 3:5-6). Obedience takes faith, and it was time to exercise mine.

Determined to walk by faith and not by sight, I went home from that conference and swallowed hard as I bought survey-trip plane tickets (nonrefundable) for November. I also enrolled in an online language/culture class that was taught by people native to the location I was headed to. It was a good “get my feet wet” experience before I left and gave me an abundance of study material to use until I get to the field and begin language school full-time. There was a missionary family I was able to make contact with that helped tremendously with vital information I used in preparation for my trip. Of course, God is faithful; as I took steps of obedience, He would open a door or drop a blessing (or both!).

In November of 2024, I took a four-week survey trip to a location in the Middle East, where God confirmed His call on my life and where I would land on the field. I went on my trip knowing one missionary family and came home with several more contacts, a language school, and more clarity and drive behind His call. I still don’t know all of the details, but I’m content in the not knowing and ready to get moving. Walking by faith isn’t always easy, but it’s the only way to live in service to the King! The closer you are to Him, the richer the peace and joy become. There is nothing on earth to compare it to, and I praise Him for it! Now on to the deputation update!

Just as a side note, I am my home church’s full-time secretary until the Lord flips the switch and I am able go on full-time deputation. In January, I kicked off my deputation at the Missions Conference at F___ B___ Church of H___, I___. This was a wonderful experience with an enormous amount of love and care shown by Pastor and Mrs. W___, the staff at FBMI, and the church family. It was such an encouragement! I was given the privilege of speaking in a ladies’ Sunday school class and an elementary school class, as well as taking part in a radio interview. Then, at the end of January, I was invited to V___ in G___ B___ Church in C___ R___, I___, with Pastor K___, where I spent a great Wednesday evening service sharing my heart and talking with this sweet church family. My January meetings were on the calendar (or had been discussed) before I left on my trip.

I spent a good part of February building my deputation materials and began making contacts.

In March, I had a meeting at F___ B___ Church of W___, I___. Pastor M___ P___ and the congregation were very kind. I had the opportunity to teach their children’s church and spend time with Associate Pastor B___, his wife, and their family, a sweet time of fellowship!

In April, I finally was able to figure out what was wrong with my Jeep and get it fixed! I came home from my survey trip to find a lake in the hatch of my Jeep! After getting some serious cleanup help from a gentleman in my church and several calls and trips to the dealership, all of the sunroof drains were cleaned out. I am grateful to have it fixed, clean, and dry! The last few days of April, I traveled to H___, T___, to be a part of the Missions Conference of C___ B___ Church with Pastor and Mrs. S___ and their wonderful church family. They were such a blessing to me. I very much enjoyed the fellowship with the church family and the other missionaries!

Prayer Requests

Please pray for me as the Lord transitions my life from church secretary to missionary. I need wisdom as to how to continue to balance the responsibilities and keep the transition moving forward, as the Lord wills. Please pray for protection, provision, and most importantly, a full schedule of meetings as the year progresses. It has been a bit of a slow start, but I believe that has been by design as well, since a transition such as this affects all areas of life. There is a lot of tracking and recordkeeping that goes along with this in order to be a good steward, and I have been working much on that as well.

With the current conflict between Israel and Iran, please PRAY for those who are in the region, for those doing God’s work, and for those who will come to Christ in these days. Pray that God would use these hard things to the furtherance of His kingdom . . . for such a time as this!

Thank you for your financial support and your prayerful support as I continue to press toward the mark.

Joyful in the service of the King!

Missionary #217