October 17, 2008
PRAISE
1. The missions conference ended with 95% of the student body either making a new commitment to missions or confirming a previous commitment. It was such a blessing to participate in this conference and see the students so involved in promoting missions. We have also had a great time with Rick and Kim this past week. (Gary's brother)
2. Our campus preview weekend went very well and we already have 10 young people who have applied to come study next year.
3. We had a great time as a family participating in our kid's school's annual Field Day sporting events on friday. We were especially thankful to be able to see Josh participating in all the events after the scare we had with the snake bite a few weeks ago.
PRAY
1. Saturday we are expecting 1,000 kids from local public schools on campus for what we call Children's Day. Since the event takes place on our campus we are free to present the Gospel with an invitation to both the kids and the teachers. Please pray that God will use His Word in the lives of these kids.
2. Since the river is so low at this time of year, we are unable to visit the communities and the missionaries that are working there. Please pray that the believers in the communities will continue to grow and that the missionaries in the communities will not become discouraged during this time.
3. Our daughter, Mackenzie, needs to get braces on her teeth. Pray that we will be able to make a wise decision on a good orthodontist and be able to fit this into our family budget.
Thank you for your prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
October 10, 2008,
PRAISE
1. Last weekend our son Joshua was bitten by a poisonous snake. Praise the Lord that we were able to get him to the emergency room very quickly, the hospital had the anti-venem on hand, and he is almost fully recovered. The snake was young and apparently did not get a full strike and the bite was on his toe so circulation was fairly slow. This could have been so much more devastating, so please praise the Lord with us for His provision.
2. Over the last few weeks we have had three, highly qualified and experienced missionary families express their interest in coming to work on our staff. Both families already have their support, have excellent training and seem like they will be fantastic additions to the team. This is so encouraging in light of several families who have moved, or will be moving soon, to other ministries.
3. Last weekend our staff held its annual strategic planning meetings and we made huge strides at making plans for the next five years of the ministry.
PRAY
1. This weekend we are holding our annual Vocational Retreat (like a campus preview weekend). We are praying for a good group of interested, prospective students for next years class, as well as a great spiritual impact on the lives of the young people who come.
2. Next week is our annual missions conference on campus. This is always a special time of our school year and a great opportunity for the staff and students to renew their passion for spreading the fame of Christ where He is not known. Rick and Kim will be with us for this week, so we are really looking forward to a great week.
3. Gary and the other local leaders on our staff have a very difficult decision to make over the next week. Due to the sensitivity of this issue I am not at liberty to share any details in this context but we covet your prayers for wisdom and discernment.
Thank you for your faithful prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
September 27, 2008
PRAISE
1. The Pastor's conference from last week went very well with over 60 participating which is more than double what we had in our first conference of this type a year ago. We got great feedback from the group and many requests for us to continue this ministry to pastors
2. Thanks for your prayers for my schedule this last week. I was able to get all of my grading done, have several key meetings as well as get the dismissal of the guards taken care of besides the normal teaching and administrative tasks.
3. We have had several potential staff members get in contact with us over the last week. None have committed to coming yet, but in light of the staff that are leaving, it is a blessing to know that there may be help on the way.
PRAY
1. Saturday Gary will be finishing up his class on Biblical counseling at our leadership training course here on campus. This involves about eight straight hours of teaching, so pray for a strong voice besides a clear understanding on the part of the students. Then on Sunday he is speaking at two different churches.
2. Please pray for several of our students that have family members who have recently either died or gone through major surgeries. Most of these students have come to us from southern Brazil so it is very hard for them to be so far away from home during these times.
3. Pray for Gary's dad who is on the last week of a five week trip on the river. He started the trip off not feeling well and a five week trip in and of itself is exhausting, so please pray for strength to minister in the lives of these last communities and for a safe return to the base.
Thank you for upholding this ministry and our family before our Lord,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
September 15, 2008
PRAISE
1. Today we are praising the Lord for electricity. Friday part of the sub-station in our town exploded and we prepared to be without electricity for several days. Praise the Lord partial energy was restored in a few hours and as of Sunday night we are back up to full strength.
2. Our leadership training classes in both Macapa and here on the campus have been going very well. Gary taught counseling all day Saturday (very thankful for being able to use a microphone and power point), and the weekend before last we had a great first session in Macapa with over 50 in attendance.
3. Sandy has had a good couple of weeks and seems to have stabilized with the small dose of medication that she has started.
PRAY
1. This week we are partnering with Athletes in Action who are running a sports ministry training seminar on our campus during the week. Some of our students will be able to participate as well. Pray that all involved will be challenged and able to use sports as a means for communicating the Gospel.
2. One of our first year students, who has had a lot of problems with depression and anxiety, has asked Gary to counsel him. Pray that God will use His Word and Spirit in both of our lives as we seek to become more like Christ.
3. Wednesday of this week Gary will be spending the day with the key leaders on the staff in order to start our strategic planning process for the next five years. This will be a very important meeting as we seek to deal with an expanding ministry and a shrinking staff. Pray for us to have wisdom.
Thank you for your prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
August 30, 2008
PRAISE
1. Greg and Anne are now enjoying their first week of marriage. Gary had a great time going to the wedding which was in a river community way up the Amazon. It was such an encouragement to see so many believers at the ceremony and the wedding was a tremendous testimony to all who were there.
2. Our student with malaria is doing much better and has returned to class. Thankfully no other students have come down with it.
3. Last weekends ministry with our music group was a great blessing. We are so thankful for the students that the Lord has entrusted to us and the impact that they have through their various ministries.
PRAY
1. Sandy's health continues to be a concern for us. She has had a couple of bad spells where she needed to use an inhaler and has continued to have to limit her activity in order to keep things under control. That is hard to do in this very active ministry, so please pray for wisdom and strength as we adjust to this new reality.
2. This last week one of our key staff members informed us that they are planning to change ministry directions after this year. We have lost a significant number of staff members for a variety of reasons, but no matter what the reasons are it is still hard to adjust to. Please pray for us to make the necessary adjustments as well as for the Lord to send us additional staff.
3. This weekend we are holding leadership training classes here in Belem as well as starting a new location in Macapa, the capitol of a neighboring state. Gary is teaching counseling to about 50 students. Pray for strength of voice and energy as well as for these leaders in training to have a great impact on their places of ministry.
Thank you for your prayers,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie
August 10, 2008
PRAISE
1. The Parker family is back in Brazil. We are thankful for a safe trip and to find things in order upon our return. We appreciate all of your prayers during our time in the US. It was great to see some of you and we are sorry that we were not able to see more of you during this short visit. Sandy continues to be off all medication for her asthma.
2. Our students have returned to campus after their summer internships and are excited about a new semester. The students on survival training are excited about having hunted a 12 foot alligator as well as a 400 lb. taper. (They didn't starve this year!)
3. Our summer camps, both on the campus and on the river, were a great success with many decisions for Christ having been made.
PRAY
1. Our main prayer request is that Sandy's asthma will remain under control even with our return to the Brazilian tropical climate. Pray that we will have wisdom in taking the right precautions to help her remain healthy.
2. Pray for Gary as he prepares to teach classes this week as well as get on top of all that is going on administratively.
3. Pray for our children as they start back to school on Monday. Mishaela will be a senior, Joshua will be a freshman and Mackenzie is now in Jr. High - 7th grade. Pray that God will use this year to mold them to Christ's image.
Thank you for praying for our family,
Gary, Sandy, Mishaela, Joshua and Mackenzie