Prayer Update #7

Greetings, Dear Prayer Partners!

Thank you so much for your prayers over the last several weeks. Leah and I (Elsie Anne) spoke in church this past Sunday and were blessed by the generosity of the congregation. We now have roughly $1,000 left to raise before leaving next Thursday (June 7th). God is so good! Reading in Romans 8 today has been a much-needed reminder of the sure promises of God through Christ. As we near our departure date we become more and more excited, but at the same time more nervous to finally be going. These words a comfort to us all in times like these, where it becomes even more necessary to lean upon God.

Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spiritintercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he alsojustified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? -Romans 8:26-35a

Here are our prayer requests for the following week, but please pray as the Spirit leads, because we do not even really know what to ask you all to pray for. 

• Peace that passes all understanding in these last days of packing, praying, and praising before we leave.
• The love of Christ for each other, as well as the rest of our team.
• The unity that Christ prayed for us in John 17, without which our team cannot be effective for the Kingdom.
• Good health until we leave and throughout the trip.
• Teachable spirits, joyful attitudes, and patient servant's hearts. 

Thank you all once again for your faithful prayers; they are appreciated more than you know. 

Prayer Update #6

Dear Prayer Partners,

           

            Thank you for praying for Elsie’s safe travel home, she indeed arrived safely and even a little ahead of schedule. Now that Elsie is here, we will begin to gather together what we need to take for our trip. We will continue to raise support up until the time we leave for Boot Camp. On May 27^th we will be speaking at our church about what we are going to be doing over in Cambodia. God willing, we will receive the last donations we need to be fully funded before we leave.

Over the next week you can pray that:

·      Our presentation at church would go smoothly and be characterized by joy in Christ and humility before the King of kings.

·      As we gather together practical things to take with us that we would not forget anything important.

·      Our team leaders and fellow team members would be strengthened as they too are preparing for Boot Camp.

·      We would be diligent in praying for our team members daily for the next three weeks.

           

Thank you so much for continuing to pray for the specific needs we send out each week!

In Christ Alone,

Elsie Anne & Leah

“My heart overflows with a pleasing theme; I address my verses to the king; my tongue is like the pen of a ready scribe.” –Psalm 45:1

Prayer Update #5

Dearest Prayer Partners,

It is now only one month until Boot Camp begins! I (Elsie Anne) have been reading Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret this week. I found this truth he spoke about prayer most encouraging as we petition the Lord for the final $3,000 of our project expense.

"It is a wonderful thing to be really one with a risen and exalted Saviour, to be a member of Christ! Think what it involved. Can Christ be rich and I poor? Can your right hand be rich and your left poor? or your head by well fed while your body starves? Again. think of its bearing on prayer. Could a bank clerk say to a customer, "It was only your hand, not you that wrote that check"; or "I cannot pay this sum to your hand, but only to yourself"? No more can your prayers or mine be discredited if offered in the name of Jesus (i.e., not for the sake of Jesus merely, but on the ground that we are His, His members) so long as we keep within the limits of Christ's credit - a tolerably wide limit! If we ask for anything unscriptural, or not in accordance with the will of God, Christ Himself could not do that. But 'if we ask anything according to His will ... we know that we have the petition we desired of Him.'" -Hudson Taylor

I have full assurance that each of you can be counted as "members of Christ", and so I ask you to leverage your position before the King of Kings on behalf of Leah and I. We rest in the promises of God, that He who has begun a good work in us will complete it. This week please pray for the following:

• That I (Elsie Anne) would have safe travel back home on Monday (May 14th).
• That I would easily fit back into home life for the few weeks I will be there, and that I will be a help to my dear Mother.
• That Leah and I would both be faithful in praying together as we prepare for boot camp.
• That Leah and I (and our entire family) would faithfully trust God to provide every last penny we need.
• That we would remain healthy in these last weeks before boot camp.
• And that the eight other members of our team (6 girls, 2 boys) would be strengthened and encouraged as they too prepare for the summer.

Thank you, once again for all the time you have spent in the throne room for us; it has not been in vain!

Blessings in Christ,
Elsie Anne & Leah
"And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You." -Psalm 39:7

Prayer Update #4

Dear Prayer Supporters,

            I (Leah) cannot believe that it is barely one month until Elsie Anne and I will be on an airplane to Florida. There is still much we have to accomplish before then, but with your prayers and the Lord’s guidance we will get there. I (Leah) just came off a very busy week of finals and my last speech and debate tournament of the season. I am thankful the week is behind me and that I got through my finals with flying colors - I hope. J

            We are slowly but surely creeping up on our financial deadline of 10,000. We must have half of the total amount in by May 15^th. We are so very grateful to our church family who is making that half way deadline possible. Please continue to pray that the Lord will keep providing for our mission trip up until the day we leave, as we will still be in need of a little over $3,000.

            This past weekend Elsie Anne and I received our specific team fact sheets for our trip to Cambodia. They gave a few prayer requests specific to the Kingdom of Cambodia:

1.     Pray for courage and boldness for the believers in Cambodia as they resist the powers of darkness.

2.     Pray for a workable and lasting peace for this troubled country, with full political and religious freedom, and a government that seeks the good of all.

3.     Pray for the people as they rebuild their lives following years of war and destructive leadership (during the Khmer Rouge regime).

4.     Pray for Godly, mature leadership in the churches; solid Biblical training desperately needs to be provided.

In Christ Alone,

Elsie Anne & Leah

P.S. Elsie Anne here! I am just about finished with classes, assignments, and finals, but have to stay here in Chicago for another two weeks because Chorale is singing at Commencement. I will be flying

back home on May 14^th, and cannot wait to get there. The following Amy Carmichael poem has been a blessing and encouragement to me this past week, and I hope it will be to you as well.

“He who hath led will lead

            All through the wilderness,

He who hath fed will surely feed…

He who hath heard thy cry

            Will never close His ear,

He who hath marked thy faintest sigh

            Will not forget thy tear.

He loveth always, faileth never,

So rest on Him today – forever.”