PRAISE:
I had been invited to be
part of the final training segment of the “Fusion” program at Midwestern College .
This school year more than 50 students are engaged in one semester of intense
preparation for missions service and one semester of overseas assignment in an
outreach ministry. Some of the countries where these students will be going are
some of the most challenging locations around the world. You can read more
about this program by clicking on this link.
The days I spent with
the students provided them with the experience of many simulations such as
flying into a foreign country, dealing with immigration and customs, having weapons
and drugs found in their luggage that were planted by someone else, and being
detained for several hours by the police in this foreign country and
interrogated several times.
In another simulation, they
found themselves in the middle of a war zone and having to flee through the
wooded countryside to an escape point while being hunted by armed soldiers from
an invading country (we were using blank ammunition). While fleeing the war, they
experienced being captured by a criminal gang and held for ransom and then
being held by a terrorist gang with very different motives. This and much more
filled those days and very late nights. It is our desire that the lessons they
have been taught in dealing with security and crisis events and the experiences
of these simulations will serve them well in the days ahead.
Through the various roles I played and the interactions I
had with many of these students, I developed a deep appreciation for the
dedication, effort, discipline and endurance they demonstrated as they prepared
to carry the gospel of Jesus Christ to some very difficult places early next
year. As they celebrated their well-earned success in completing this training,
I said goodbye and told them I will be praying for them as they go and will look
forward to hearing more as they set out on their journeys around the world. I know they would appreciate your prayers as well.
PRAYER:
OUR
FAMILY – Since Jeremy and
Jillian’s divorce earlier this year, life changed dramatically for us, for our
kids, and for our grandkids. Holidays and family gatherings will never be the
same and that makes our hearts ache. Please pray for God to work in all of our
hearts - individually and as a family - and draw us closer to Himself. We need
His strength, peace and wisdom for the days ahead.