The LORD provides!

I've been wanting to chronicle this story for some weeks now, but I couldn't (for reasons I'll not get into here).

Now I'm finally at liberty to say that ...

I am officially the Children/Family Pastor at the church we began attending last year!

I can't begin to express how excited and energized I am by all of this. As time permits, I'll fill you in with more of the details. For the moment, please continue to pray for me...

My two primary prayer concerns:

My position is part-time, with the hope of becoming full-time. For now, I need to continue to find other sources of income. I'm doing some substitute teaching, some work at the chainsaw shop, and some building trades/construction stuff too! As you can likely guess, I'm really enjoying the diversity of my schedule these days. But the fact remains that I need to stay organized and I need to continue to find ways each week to meet our family's budgetary needs.

Also, I have tons of names and faces to connect, and perhaps just as many ideas and notions to consider. There's a lot of positive momentum building there, and a great many very concerned parents. In short, it feels like the perfect spot to join in. But having said that, I still must successfully navigate the challenges of this new position.

If I can impose upon you to pray for these two issues, I'll be indebted to you.

Hatushili

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Wrestling...

I need you folk to pray for me, please. I'm really struggling right now to stay patient and peaceful. In some ways, this new year has been a serious challenge for me and I'm not sure I'm always handling it very well.

Please pray for the welfare of my family, for patience, for wisdom and for grace. If you interested in the details, read on...

As many of you know, my once full-time job became a part-time job in December. Now it's become a Saturday-only job. I'm in the process of getting my substitute teacher's license, but am currently at the mercy of the State's timing. So ... I have virtually no income right now.

This past week my truck died at an intersection. Despite my best efforts, I could not get it restarted. I finally had to tow it to our local mechanic who informed me that I need a new timing belt and a whole slew of other (individually inexpensive) repairs that add up to over $600.

This past weekend I discovered we've had (for who knows how long) a slow leak in our half-bathroom. The shower stall leaked water into the surrounding floor. Long story short: I've ripped out the entire floor and will need to replace it all before the bathroom will be usable again (even the toilet is out right now).

Last night we lost all water pressure. This morning the well company informed us that our 34 year old well has at last given up the ghost. We need a new one: $3,600 and the loss of some of my favourite landscaping in the front yard, and we're currently water-less (trust me, you take it for granted when you have it).

On to the encouraging news:

I think I can fix my truck myself for less than $200.

I think I can fix the bathroom for less than $300.

Since my mother-in-law just sold her house (closed today) and is now living with us, we will be able to pay for the new well and it should be in working order by Friday.

Since no one else wanted to work the local trade show this week, I'm able to pick up nearly full-time hours this week instead of just Saturday.

Rumor has it that my local public school is desperate for substitute teachers, so as soon as the State processes my license I should have no trouble finding work.

I have a very promising lead on pastoral work that (should it work out) will allow our family to stay in the area.

The earth is still under my feet, the sky is still above me, and the LORD is still on His throne.

Hatushili

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Praises and Prayers

First, thanks to those that prayed for my recent trip to Nebraska to candidate for a pastoral position. It went extremely well. If you'd like the details, shoot me an email.

Also, I have two specific prayer requests for your concern:

First, Bill - he works at the business next door to mine and has been undergoing dialysis for about a year now. He need a kidney transplant but has had no success in finding one. He looked really weak today, and I had a chance to pray with him (yes, you can pray out loud at a Shell gas station!). Pray for Bill; for strength, encouragement, healing.

Second, Leo - I met him in Nebraska this past weekend. His wife (Diane) felt poorly and went to see about it, only to find out that she has AML, a form of leukemia that has required her to immediately begin chemotherapy. I was honored to be part of a large group of Christ followers praying for them Sunday, and I ask you to do so also.

Hatushili

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Togo update

As most of you likely know, I've been very concerned about the plight of sub-Saharan Africa in the last few months. Massive flooding has finally receded, only to be replaced by great concern over water-borne diseases, lack of shelter, and spoiled food stores.

As a result, I asked you all to help my family contribute to a fund to send money specifically to a local church in northern Togo. [More of the details can be found in this post and the posts it references.]

I'm happy to report that through your efforts, we were recently able to wire-transfer $285 to Christ's followers in Togo. I don't know that we'll ever hear precisely how those funds get used, but that's not really the point. They know how best to use it - pray for their wisdom, not some specific goal you might have in mind.

Again, my thanks to those who gave. I ask that you continue to pray.

Hatushili

Type rest of the post here

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Pray for wisdom

As some of you might already know, Carmen and I are flying out to visit a church in Nebraska this weekend. We'll be spending a lot of time with the pastor in charge of (potentially) hiring me.

Please pray that God would give all parties involved tremendous wisdom to know clearly whether this will be a good "fit" for both the local church and its leaders, and for my family and I.

If you have specific questions, feel free to email me.

Thanks,
Hatushili

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of Funerals and Friends

As you may have read here, Dan's step-father (Bill) was diagnosed with terminal cancer about a month ago. He passed away this last Sunday.

If you read the original post, you'll know that Bill came to know the Son of God a few weeks before he died. Having spent some time around him, I can say with certainty that there were definite marks of Christ's grace within him. I don't believe this to have been an insincere profession on Bill's part. I rejoice that he's now with the LORD.

Also, as some of you know, I was given the great honour of presiding over Bill's funeral services. We held a memorial service this past Tuesday at his widow's home. Many friends and family spoke, including at least four who clearly follow Jesus...

I shared briefly from Psalm 23 and the service concluded with a carry-in dinner.

The next day (Wednesday) we held a graveside ceremony for the interment of Bill's now-cremated remains. It too was a moving experience. The LORD prompted me to share from 1 Thessalonians 4, especially on Paul's admonishment to "encourage one another with these words". As yellow was Bill's favourite colour, his widow asked that all who were willing might drop a yellow flower into his grave. Yellow petals were outnumbered only by tears.

In between the services, a good friend let me stay with him and his family overnight. We had a great time, remembering the good old days and thinking about the days to come. His is also a larger than normal family (they have five beautiful children), so I felt right at home. His children - especially one of the little twins - really made me feel loved.

After the graveside service, one of Bill's children and I had a long and refreshing conversation. This young man led a life full of sin, but only a few years ago came to know and follow Christ. The change in his life is undeniable and almost unbelievable!

Thank the LORD for the opportunity to mourn when "there is a time for mourning", and for good, encouraging friends.

I appreciate all of you who knew about the situation and prayed. I can't share much of the details, but believe me when I say that it was obvious and clear that the LORD was at work throughout this entire situation.

Please continue to pray for the extensive family that Bill left behind. They need His grace and His leading. Pray especially for the few that I know to be Christ followers: Billy, Diana and Dan.

Hatushili

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re: Africa updated 9-29-07

UPDATE: In the interest of saving some space on the original post, I'm doing the present Africa update on this post. You can still find the original (older) updates here.

Togo is reporting that the start of school is being delayed as a result of the recent flooding. Though it sounds like they weren't ready to start anyway, these kinds of changes in schedule can really disrupt local families.

Also, since Togo is one of the poorest of all African nations, it came as no surprise that they issued an international call for help recently. There are estimated to be at least 20,000 homeless. As I mentioned earlier, I believe we'll have an opportunity to directly aid a church in Togo in the near future...

Here's another general update news report I stumbled across, mentioning a number of African nations.

Finally, at long last there are some pictures of the flooding circulating the internet.

More to come...

Hatushili

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More African hardships (updated 9-22-07)

As if the continent of Africa hasn't had enough trouble in the last ... basically, forever, here's more bad news.

It seems that most of sub-Saharan Africa has been absolutely hammered by rain in recent days, leading to unparalleled flooding and a whole host of other problems.

...The rains and floods inflicted extensive damage on a northern region that was traditionally Ghana's major food basket, growing rice, maize, millet and sorghum. "This flood is unprecedented; thousands of acres of farmland have been destroyed, including livestock," Amoo [of Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization] said. Barns and silos ... stored food ... Infrastructure like bridges and roads have all been destroyed," he added.

Please pray for these desperate people.

Hatushili

click below to read updates as they become available...


update 9-18-07: I've discovered a new website of some use in tracking this catastrophe: AllAfrica.com. There are two links from that site that provide updated information on the situation.

For the area around Ghana (Western), click here.

For the area around Uganda (Eastern), click here.

The BBC also has a good update here.

Please pray specifically for protection from disease, a major concern in the coming weeks. Consider this:

He [the Ugandan State Minister for Disaster Preparedness] said the humanitarian situation in the areas is unimaginably unbearable adding that although there is no outbreak of disease yet, six to eight weeks after the floods have recessed, will be the "most critical" and "troublesome period in terms of health."

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update 9-19-07:

Benin - the tiny little country next to Togo (not exactly a large country itself) has joined the growing group of nations declaring their need for help.

Also, whereas reports from the day before had 600,000 displaced people, the UN is now reporting in excess of one million...

On a more positive note, here's a list of work that Christian Aid is doing, sorted by country.

Please continue to pray.

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update 9-22-07

Apparently I'm not the only one that thinks this disaster is getting too little attention. A blogger working with Reuters contends here that the British newspapers are largely ignoring it, too.

In more bad news, the UN has now increased the estimate of displaced people to 1.5 million.

Some good news - apparently relief is starting to arrive, especially in Ghana (which has arguably been the worst-hit).

I've been in contacts with a friend who knows people in Togo. If it works out, I may well be asking you to help me contribute funds to help these people. Stay tuned...

Hatushili

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More prayer for Dan - updated 9-7-07

My thanks to those that prayed for Dan and his family as they struggled with the death of his wife's mother last week. By all accounts, everyone is doing as well as can be expected in the wake of such an experience.

I just got a call from Dan ... it appears his step-father is about to die of lung cancer. They've given him but a few days. I understand that they're checking him out of the hospital soon and taking home ... to die.

Pray for Dan. This, more than the last death, is a spiritual war. And I can't even imagine the emotional toll of losing a mother-in-law and step-father in a span of two weeks.

LORD, thank you for your tender provision in Dan's life. Thank you for all the times in the past You've mercifully loved him, because we need times like those in our past to give us hope for the future. Guide him and direct him, LORD. When he should speak, move his very lips. When he should be silent, grip his very tongue. Most of all, may You be glorified in Dan and in this very painful situation. Amen.

Hatushili

read on for updates...



update: Here are the details directly from Dan:

"The tumultuous week continues. Today I got a call letting me know that my step father, who we recently found out was terminally ill and would pass away in 1-2 years, is going to die in the next few days. Please pray for our family as we both seek what to do and how to deal with the situation. My step father, to the best of my knowledge, is not a believer and has rejected God on several occasions. This is particularly hard for me as there are very strong memories of my mother passing away as a non-believer and all the events that surrounded it that will certainly be unearthed over the next week. I pray that I would have the fortitude of both character and emotion to respond as God would direct me and that I may have the opportunity once more to share His word with my step father. His name is Bill. He is the father to 5 children, 4 step children, and many grandchildren including our son. Thank you as always for your support."

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update: 9-7-07 - As some of you have heard, Bill accepted Christ about a week ago! From a human perspective, it was 20 years of prayer and the witness of two sons. In reality, of course, it's a miracle of grace! Praise God!

On a more personal note, I've been asked to preside over his funeral. I spent a few hours with him and his wife a few days ago. It was a very tender time, to be honest. He's come to grips with his soon-to-be passing, but wants to get things in order, as it were. I'm honoured to be able to help in this time of need. Continue to pray for Dan, Bill, and for me.

Hatushili

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Another prayer request

A very good friend of mine (and daily reader here) is facing a very difficult situation and would covet our prayers. Here's the email I got from him last night [edited]:

Most of you know that Larissa's [Dan's wife] mother, Judy, has been very ill. She passed away sometime around 6:30 this evening [August 19]. She was a believer and while our pain is great with our loss, we are thankful that her suffering here on earth has ended.

It appears we will be going to East Jordan (by Traverse City) MI later this week for the funeral. We truly appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Dan

Dan and Larissa have a four year old son who will be struggling through this time, too. Please pray for them all.

Hatushili

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Forgiveness

Like you, I know that forgiveness is a good thing. A healthy thing. A necessary and commanded thing. I, perhaps like you, know all of that intellectually.

But sometimes experience doesn't line up with knowledge.

Without wanting to get into any of the details, let me just say that there was a person in my life that I needed to forgive. Badly. And the worse part is that it didn't even occur to me that I needed to forgive this person until recently. The LORD brought it to my attention during a time of prayer.

As you may have guessed from my use of the past tense above, I have recently chosen to forgive this individual, and I'm better for it. I almost literally feel as if a weight has been lifted from me - a weight it hardly even realized I was bearing.

Whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven will also forgive you your sins. Mark 11:25

Hatushili

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Pray for Mary

One of my former students and current friends, Mary in Maryland, passed along this prayer request to me and gave me permission to invite all of ya'll to pray as well:

Dear Nathan,

I hope that you receive this message. I have been praying, but I feel better when I am not the only one.
Please, pray for our 4-day club next week. Pray that the children will come, and that there will not be any distractions.
Also, I have a new acquaintance, Sandy. I am not sure of her salvation. Please, pray that I will do a good job of witnessing to her.
Take care.

Your friend,
Mary


I trust that as we pray, the LORD will be honored and glorified and that He may in His wisdom and timing use Mary's willing heart and home for His purposes.

Hatushili

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A Prayer for the Broken

LORD, we live in a broken world, a world full of brokenness:

Broken relationships;
Broken hearts;
Broken families;
Broken lives.

I hurt for the broken.
I myself am one of them.
I long for the brokenness to be healed.

My power fails me;
I cannot change this mess around and about me.
Sometimes I long for the days when I was too immature
in my faith to so quickly see it all.

Ignorance was once bliss.

You alone can change this, LORD.
You alone have the power to create real healing;
You are even now at work in the world to do just that.

Help me to see where I can come alongside Your work, LORD.
Help me to be a part of bringing healing to all this brokenness.
Dry my tears, but use them to make me fit for the work.

Amen.

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