As some of you know I send out prayer letters periodically to keep people that are praying for me up to date on what God has been doing in my life. I'd like to thank those I've sent letters to in the past for your prayer. It's very felt and appreciated.
This letter is going out to a bunch more people, as I have some exciting stuff coming up I'd like to tell you all about.
As some of you have heard, I'm going to the Philippines for the first 2 weeks of June. Here's a bit of background.
Since I was a kid, I've been thinking about "being a missionary when I grow up". Over the years, God has provided me with various opportunities to get involved in a number of different things, through which I have been able to serve, and also learn a bunch. For a while now, I've been feeling that God has more exciting things for me. I've been asking Him to be preparing me for what ever those are, and am excited to tell you that He has been. By the way, be careful before praying like that -- sometimes the things God does to prepare us aren't all that easy to take! That said, it's been really exciting to see Him work.
In addition to His preparing me for what ever is coming next, I've been trying to seek God in what that next is. I've had the privilege to serve in a number of different areas of ministry here in Canada, and have heard about many things God is doing in other areas of the world. For a while, I've been thinking that seeing some things first hand would be very beneficial to me in beginning to figure out where God might be taking me. As a result, I've been on the look-out for an opportunity to go somewhere to see things first-hand, while at the same time doing something that's of use to Him.
A few years ago, some good friends of mine in Waterloo came on staff with International Teams (IT). Over the last while, they have developed IT's "Encounter Teams" program. In this program, "Team members will travel, live and learn together for 8 months, solely focusing on Encountering God, Encountering Themselves, Encountering Ministries throughout the World, and Encountering their Future." The team travels to several established IT ministries around the world in the 8 months of the program, and team members have the opportunity to get involved in those ministries. It's a great program to develop young people, and give them a great opportunity to really experience a number of types of Missions work, and learn & grow a whole bunch along the way.
When the first team launched in January, my friends, Craig and Leilani asked me if I would be interested in visiting them some time during their time away. What a great opportunity to not only be able to get involved in what God is doing elsewhere in the world, but also be able to help out and be a blessing to my friends. After thinking and praying about this opportunity, I decided that it was something that would be great for me to do, so I said yes.
So, the plan is to spend the first 2 weeks in June in the Philippines, working with the Encounter Teams group, helping them out however I'm able, and making myself available to learn what ever God wants to teach me while I'm there.
If you would be willing to pray for me in this, I'd really appreciate it. Here are some things to be praying about:
- That all the details would come together
- For health and safety in travel, and while I'm there
- That I would truly be open to what God has to teach me
- That I would be a help and a blessing to the team, and that God would use me for His glory
While my expenses for this trip are covered, for anyone that would like to get involved financially, I'm sure that the people in the Encounter Teams program would feel greatly blessed with any help you'd like to provide. Tax receiptable donations for Encounter Teams can be sent to: International Teams, 1 Union St, Elmira, ON, Canada, N3B 3J9.
Thanks so much for taking the time to read about what God has been up to in my life. I'll look forward to telling you what He's done when I get back. If you'd like to know more about Encounter Teams, or what I'll be doing, feel free to ask.
Have a great week, and God Bless!
Your Friend,
Steve.
