These past 6 weeks have at the same time flown by and felt like many months!  It’s been busy, exciting, stretching, and challenging.  I’m overjoyed though, as I’m finally doing exactly what I’ve wanted to be doing for over 3 years.  I’m still in awe of the Lord’s plan, timing, and provision that has allowed this.  I’m always encouraged as I get to tell what the Lord has done and is doing, and I hope you’re encouraged to read/hear!!

Here are some exciting answers to prayer since the beginning of April:

• As we celebrated Easter all over Whatcom County, we’ve seen the Lord move mightily.  As our staff team reported the number of people who accepted Christ for the first time in the churches we attended (about 8 churches), we came up with over 250!!  There are upwards of 180 churches in Watcom County, so we know that this number is really much much higher!!  Praise the Lord that many came into a saving relationship with Christ that weekend!!  We have the privilege to now pray for these ones, and to continue to pray that the Lord of the Harvest sends out laborers to continue to work this field.
• We have, for the most part, been rested and healthy.  A few weeks ago the LOWPC staff went on a 3 day retreat, which was restful, rejuvenating, encouraging, and a great time of family and fellowship.  My favorite part of the time was spending a few hours the first evening telling stories from the past 6 years of ministry.  The good times, and the “I can’t believe we tried/did that” stories.  🙂
• I’m settling into a schedule that’s working fairly well.  There’s no lack of work to be done.
• I’m beyond thankful for the provision of a laptop (see featured image) that makes it possible to get my needed work done during normal daytime hours without having to drive back and forth between work and home.
• Every day I’m more aware of my desperate need for the Lord’s nearness, strength, wisdom, and provision to do what He’s called me to do in this season.  What a great place to be!
• I’m enjoying pressing deeper into relationship with the staff/family at LOWPC and with my music students – it’s a privilege and a joy to get to pour into each one!!
• I got to speak at Newsong Fellowship (our evening gathering at LOWPC) this past week, which was a first for me!!  This was a HUGE step for me – talking in front of people has been one of my LEAST favorite things to do.  I shared some of my story and spoke about identity.  I wasn’t nervous but actually had fun!  I got to pray for people afterward, and everyone was very encouraging.  I think I’m  willing to and even looking forward speaking again!  🙂

There’s so much to look forward to as we move into this summer!  Front and center and just around the corner is our 7 week internship, Fire on the Altar!  We are making great progress with the planning and logistics, and we have applications coming in!  Check out our promo video here to see the vision for the internship and testimonies from some of our staff!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbkOGEAmvuw

Here are a few prayer requests!!

• The internship is almost exactly 6 weeks away and we still have a lot of work to do to prepare!  Please pray that the Lord would be drawing people to participate, especially men – the young and the young at heart!
• This weekend LOWPC is partnering with a local church to do a 3 evening conference.  Our director Jason Hubbard is doing most of the teaching and my team and I will be leading worship.  Please pray for strength for this event, that we would work well as a team with each other and the Holy Spirit, and that the people who attend would deeply encounter the Lord.
• Please continue to pray for a good rhythm of work and rest.  I’m completely re-learning how to live life and do work with a single job and focus, and I haven’t been sleeping well.  I’m believing that with time and regular routine this will even out, but in the meantime, please join me in claiming this promise – “The Lord gives his beloved sleep!” Psalm 127:2b
• I have all of the music students that I can realistically teach right now (praise the Lord for these 5!!), but I could use another $200-300 in monthly income.  I’m thankful for the Lord’s faithful provision thus far!  Thank you for joining me in prayer for this!  Here’s how you can support me!

There’s so much more to share but this is already quite long.  🙂  I’m loving living as a missionary here in Bellingham.  Thank you for sowing into this harvest field with prayer and finances!  I couldn’t do this without your partnership!  I echo Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1 – “thanking my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”  Amen!!