Dear
Friend,
Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing. In
every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)
My
heart has gushed with thankfulness and joy during the last few weeks up to a
new level. I have focused on the fact that we can be thankful in all things.
Does it mean all things going our way and no challenges at all? Does it mean
what we wish for we get? Far from the truth! It’s just through the faithfulness
and love of God. Smith Wigglesworth, well known as the apostle of faith, once
said “I
saw that God wants us so badly that He has made the condition as simple as He
possibly could-‘Only Believe’” I am so thankful to know I can trust God
in my challenges and weaknesses!
Ministry News
I
am now home in Mexico, having had a very busy schedule as I traveled from one
place to another to preach, encourage and teach in different settings with
Advancing Native Missions (ANM). It has also been such a journey of faith and
seeing God’s provision from time to time. I so much appreciate the time, love
and wisdom from all the great friends and family. I am so thankful for you!
The village ministries
Today we are sending a group to Delicias,
where I will be joining them tomorrow. The ministry continues to flourish in
every way as the word of God gets to people. ( Photo: family receiving school bags after the service.) However in the village right now
the people are going through a sad time, as Myrna my co-worker writes:
“Friends, Church!! What will
we do in the midst of this tragedy?? Tomas, a father of 4 from Nuevo Delicias,
was found dead last Saturday, leaving his family unprotected and vulnerable!!!
I am requesting your prayers and whatever help God moves your heart to provide
for this widow and her 4 children!!!! Today was the 15th birthday of their only
daughter! Say a prayer for this family please!!” By
Myrna de la Rosa.
Flying
High
(You can Trust God in the
clouds at 14,000 feet)
As
a child, I once aspired to be a pilot! Over the years as I shared the story of
how I became a missionary, the pilot part was yet to be experienced.
Two
weeks ago as I sat in the ANM office in Virginia looking at my itinerary
believing I would have the sufficient funds for my next travels, a dear lovely
sold-out servant-hearted lady, Beverly Kingsley, told me that a guy named Matt
from Iowa had just offered to pick me up in his plane and fly me there for the
weekend where I would preach and stay at his home. (Matt, Sara and their little
girl Madeline are such a passionate family.) After the weekend Matt would fly
me to Ohio, my next destination. My heart skipped a beat with the news, how the
Lord had not just provided the way for me to travel, but also to fly next to
the pilot! As people commented how great it was, I jokingly said “If I have to
grow feathers to fly, I believe they will surely pop out!”
The
great love and care received in Iowa had been so great but was over fast. On
Monday, before Matt and I boarded our flight, we got a Subway to take for
Lunch. As we rose in the clouds, we aimed to fly at 9,000ft. It was a nice and
smooth ride, the plane was in autopilot, so we got out our subways and ate. As
the cloud pillars were just too thick, Matt decided to let the air traffic
control guys know we were elevating to 14,000ft. At our new height as we talked
about God and the wonder of life, something happened.
My
side door went POP OPEN!
As
all our subway napkins vacuumed out, I immediately looked at Matt thinking-“feathers!
Time to fly!” Matt calmly gave me an assuring look waving that its
fine. While he made adjustments to lower our altitude for warmer air, I pulled
in the door tight towards me, the atmospheric pressure getting the best of my
ears. Having endured being under pressure several times in my life and
ministry, this was just a new level of experience for me, not to fret, but
trust God, and trust Matt’s years of flying experience.
We
later touched down safely after about 15 minutes with the door open. God had
proved us we could trust Him from 14,000ft!! He is faithful. I am very thankful
He not only provided a way for me to travel and be a copilot, but also the
experience of totally surrendering all of me to Him!! “Only Believe!”
Thank
you so much
I
am very grateful for all your prayers and support. I am always encouraged to
hear from you and to know how I can also pray for you. Looking at every way I
am a blessing to the people around me and the lives that are touched and
changed by the powerful loving grace of Jesus, I know and I am convinced you
play a great part in it all and you are a partaker of the Grace that the Lord
has bestowed on my life. I am so thankful to have a friend like you.
Please
Continue to Pray
1.
Pray for the people
in Nuevo Delicias. That they would continue to grow in the Lord and we would
know how best to support the family who lost a husband and a father.
2.
Please pray for my
upcoming wedding to Becky (dates to come soon), that God would continue to
prepare our hearts and that practical details would all be worked out both for
the wedding day and for serving God in Mexico as a couple.
3.
For my upcoming
talks in local schools where I will be teaching about morality, that God would
prepare the students hearts and give me wisdom in knowing what to teach.
From a Joyous and a thankful heart,
Donald
