Monday, July 2, 2012

Road to Russia Update #3

June Update:

Miles Traveled: 11,000
# of Churches Visited: 18
Total Support: 22%

Happy 4th of July to everyone!
This year seems to be flying by. The month of June was a slower month for us. Many churches have a ton of things going on in the summer so it was hard to book meetings the end of June and beginning of July. But that didn't stop the Lord from blessing us! We had four churches call us to tell us they were taking us on for support! Praise the Lord! It is always an encouragement when we get these phone calls. One step closer to being in Russia!


We had a great visit with James' parents, Jim and Laura Pranger. They are missionaries to Budapest, Hungary and were in the states for a few months. We were very thankful for the time we had with them! Just when we were getting used to having them around, we said our goodbyes as they boarded a plane back to Budapest. We were sad on this end, but know the Lord is using them there!

Since we have had a few weeks off, we have had time to get some things organized and in order which has been a blessing. We have officially transferred to a new midwife in Cleveland from our previous doctor in Youngstown. (So now we don't have to drive 68 miles when I am in labor!) We have the hospital all picked out as well. It is a nice feeling to have those things settled. We are still praying for a place to live when we come back to Cleveland at the end of October through November to have the baby. We would appreciate your prayers that the Lord will work that out for us! (And prayerfully, we won't have the baby on the road!)

We have had a couple doctor's appointments, and baby Jacob and mommy are doing great! There was only one minor thing, common in boys, that the doctor was concerned about. It has to do with his kidneys, and Lord willing, it will work itself out by the time he is born.

We were also able to help out with our home church's, Cleveland Baptist Church, Vacation Bible School. James drove the bus, while I helped out on the route, and in the crafts department. It was a great week! With a total of 505 kids and workers, $816 raised by the kids for a building fund in Africa, 27 souls saved and 2 assurance of salvations! We were so blessed to be a part of it all! Praise the Lord for all that was accomplished!

We are looking forward to hosting another Vacation Bible School at Lake Milton Baptist Temple in August. James is busy preparing for that as well. (That is the church we used to be on staff at.) We are blessed to help out in the weeks we have off from traveling. We are antsy to get back on the road again! Our next meeting will be at Southwest Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on July 15. And we are thankful to be booked in meetings all the way until the end of October when our son is due to be born! We look forward to seeing our friends and family along the way as well!

A special prayer request for our nephew Gabriel Michael Pranger, born June 10, 2012, to Amos and Liberty Pranger. After a traumatic delivery, Gabriel was diagnosed with NKH, the same disorder his oldest sister has. He is now breathing on his own and has opened his eyes! Currently, he has a blood clot on his brain that we are praying will go away on it's own. Please keep this little guy and his family in prayer as they trust the Lord to take care of him each step of the way. Everyone is doing well right now but eager to get him home! We praise the Lord for the progress that has been made so far.