Monday, May 22, 2017

Al & Mickey Williams' May Prayer and Praise Bulletin

PRAISE ITEMS:
1.   MISSIONS CONFERENCE IN MICHIGAN - Thanks for your prayers for Al as he was part of the misisons conference at one of our supporting churches in Michigan in April. God blessed him with safety on the trip, great times interacting with the folks at the church, and even the chance to spend some time with family and friends in other parts of the state.
2.   MORE STAMINA FOR MICKEY – I praise God for the increased stamina He’s given me this past month! For a while (after the bladder tumor surgery), I was needing afternoon naps and feeling run down. Although I still have some periods of fatigue they are fewer than they were. Praise God!
3.   MICKEY’S DAD – Thanks so much to all of you who have asked about my father and prayed for him. He got over his respiratory illness in time to visit his 94 year-old sister the day before she died! He had been too ill to visit her when she was first hospitalized two and a half weeks earlier.  He has also seen some improvement in his hands since the carpal tunnel surgery was done and has been trying to play his guitar again.

PRAYER ITEMS:
1.   REMOTE PARTICIPATION IN THE THAILAND MEETINGS – Al felt it best to cancel his trip to Thailand for the SIL leadership meetings (May 21-26) because of my (Mickey’s) recent health concerns as well as extended family needs (see below). If the folks in Thailand can get a good Internet connection with him, he will make a presentation remotely to the group.
2.   EXTENDED FAMILY NEEDS – Al and I have spent a lot of time during the past two months seeking to help our older son Jeremy as he and Jillian go through the process of divorce. Our hearts ache and we have cried and prayed as we have seen the toll this has taken on him and the kids (ages 9, 8, 6 and 5).
Since Jeremy and Jillian are sharing custody of the children, Al and I are often called in to help Jeremy with childcare. Sometimes we’ve stayed overnight or gone early in the morning to Jeremy’s, so he can get off to work by 4 AM. At other times it’s meant going in the afternoon to get them off the bus or from pre-school because Jeremy was not able to get home in time to do so. Jeremy lives about 45 minutes away from us.
Al has also been helping Jeremy get his house ready to sell by making needed repairs and cleaning carpets. I help in other ways - laundry, cleaning, meals and childcare. Please pray we can all stay healthy physically as well as emotionally and spiritually.  And pray that God would provide a buyer for Jeremy’s house and a place for Jeremy to rent in the same school district (Dillsburg, PA) so the kids won’t have to change schools. 
3.   VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL IN MARYLAND –  Friends of ours invited Al and me to be part of the VBS at their church on June 19 and 20. Please pray for strength physically for us and wisdom to know what to share with the kids that will help them understand what Bible translation is all about and to excite them to the possiblity of them being part of the process as they grow up.  
4.   COUPLES IN CRISIS – Thanks for your continued prayers for these couples we’re seeking to help. Pray they would focus on the Lord and be drawn closer to Him and to each other.  
SUPPORT TEAM – If you would like to make a difference for eternity, we’d love to have you join our team as we work to see God’s Word translated into the heart languages of people in Asia. You have a Bible – probably more than one – but many people around the world do not. How will they hear the good news of Christ or have an opportunity to go to Heaven? If you would like to be part of our team – by praying for us and/or giving financially, please let us know.