Missionary Prayer Request

March 03 , 2008

This is the place to find information about Missionaries we support at SCC. Click on the links below to go directly to the mission you want to find out about or just scroll through all.

"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men."
Matthew 4:19 (NIV)

DWIGHTS
Dear Prayer Partners, We would appreciate your prayers for Bro. Jhun Bonganay. He was our praise and worship leader for several years at our Filipino church in Taiwan. Now he has returned to the Philippines and is applying for entrance into seminary. It is his desire to serve the Lord in church planting and perhaps missionary service. Please pray that the application process will go smoothly and that the funds for seminary will be attained.

KAREN HARLESS
Thank you for praying! I've got a lot of requests this time around, as well as praise and thanksgiving!
Dale helped me pick out a new Mac computer in Tokyo on January 24. I'm still working at transferring files over, and have lost a few things along the way. I don't have a copy of the requests I sent last month, so bear with me if I am repeating anything.
Thank you for praying for Dale and I. We continue to have wonderful communication at a heart level, and we continue to be amazed at what a gift God has given us in each other. We are very comfortable with each other and feel we have known each other for years, not merely 2 months. Dale proposed to me on January 24th, and I immediately accepted!
Dale and I live about 600 miles away from each other. In 8 weeks, we have only met in person 5 days. Initially we emailed throughout the day, as our schedules permitted. Now with my new Mac, we can "iChat" 2-3 times a day. The best thing is being able to pray WITH each other every day! Though we are not together yet, we feel like we are in ministry together, since we can be involved in each others' lives to this extent. We are very thankful to the Lord for this privilege.
Dale's sons continue to be uncomfortable with our relationship, which is understandable, and yet we see progress. I met Stephen, Dale's eldest, in Tokyo on February 19th. It was a bit scary for the both of us, but we did okay. The next day, Stephen called Dale and scolded him, saying "It's too fast." Dale pressed him, "Why?" After an hour, Stephen was able to get to the root of it: "I miss Mom." Please continue to pray for Stephen, Peter and Luke as they grieve the loss of their mother, and Dale the loss of his wife, Maude.
Peter has been the most open about hearing details about our relationship. He recently commented to Dale, "It seems you and Karen are a better match than you and Mom were." Dale was able to reaffirm his love for Maude, and yet acknowledge that what Peter said was true at this point in his life. Dale comes into this relationship with 30 years of experience in marriage, and we both know a lot more about ourselves and about life.
For Dale and I, please pray for: 1) the set-up of pre-marital counseling; 2) good guidance as we figure out what needs to happen for me to switch missions; 3) wisdom about Dale's summer (mid-June to mid-August) home assignment in South Africa, and when I should visit (for 2 weeks during my vacation); 4) a good visit with Luke as I visit their home in Sapporo from March 19-24.
Many have asked when and where we will marry. We plan to marry in Stockton, California, but we are not sure of the timing yet. The timing depends on mission requirements and somewhat on Dale's boys' acceptance of our marriage.
One of the hardest things lately has been to concentrate on my work! But actually, with Dale in my life, ministry is going better. I may not be putting quite as much time into prep work, but the Lord is enabling me to share truth about Him in meaningful, practical ways. His Spirit has graciously given me the right words at the right time.
Pastor and Mrs. Harada, of the cooperating church, have been pressing me to make some class changes. I'm in agreement with the changes, and yet feel unsure about making them for the missionary I am covering for. So please pray for wisdom and unity of spirit. I will be writing a letter about the proposed changes to Mike Yaney this week. Please pray for good communication and a united focus on the work here. And pray for open hearts and minds to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

THIELS
Nina has two performances of Always the Women March 5,6 in Baltimore. I am working on the the succession to the new regional director with several area leaders who are worried about the future. We need prayer for the team building aspects of our ministry. Also for follow up for the students from my class who attending Jesus Justice and Poverty.

SORENSONS
Pray for the faculty, as many have to make quick adjustments to the fact that their textbooks have not arrived in time for the spring semester.
2. Pray for Karyn as she begins her first-time teaching Micronesians on the college level.
3. Pray for our 16-year-old son who just started a new college-prep school that is very demanding.
4. Pray that God would send new teachers here and to our remote campus in Chuuk (Truk Lagoon).
5. Pray that our family will gain new partners to support us in ministry as we haven't fully closed the gap in our funding.

SWENSONS
As far as prayer requests, our big one right now would be for our trip to Cameroon to be with the entire Africa team during a retreat. We leave on March 25 and I return to the US on March 31. Bax and Walter Contreras will be going to Equatorial Guinea and arrive back a week later in April. Pray for health and safety as we travel. Pray that we will have the Spirit s guidance as we think about next steps and plans for the work in Africa. Pray for good fellowship and learning from each other. We are excited about the trip.
One other prayer request is for our sons Josh and Joey who are missionaries with International Teams. They are working on a soccer evangelism plan for Ecuador, which may be something that could be used throughout Latin America. Pray for support to come in and for the guys as they seek wisdom in preparing for this new, exciting ministry. Joey
(26) is already in Ecuador (where he has served for 4 years) and Josh
(34) will be leaving sometime soon, as soon as support is raised.
God bless all of you as you continue to do mission close by and around the world!

BROWNS
1) Please pray for the necessary document from the Bulgarian Dept. of Religious Affairs to arrive here in Stara Zagora by 3:00PM, March 14. We need this in order to apply for our permanent residency.
2) We'd appreciate prayer that all the necessary documents necessary that we must gather are accepted & easily obtained.
3) Pray for additional funding for the school breakfast & lunch program out at Yasaterobovo with Gopay's Kids Program. All of the costs actually doubled about a week ago. Pray that additional funding is found soon.
4) Please pray for a safe journey for Margie & Marissa to and from the SHARE educational conference for MKs. They well be gone from 2/28-3/9. The US Embassy has strongly advised us not to travel via Serbia, so they will be driving w/ friends from Sofia via Romania.
5) Pray that the Father give us people with character & wisdom for us to listen to his voice to choose the servants He wants on the Bulgarian Roma ministry team.
6) Pray for the Lord to make it clear who the new pastor is to be at Yasterobovo.
7) We'd appreciate prayer for Toshko's family at Yasterobovo. They are unable to pay their rent & will be evicted on March 1 unless they can come up with this money. Pray for either the Lord to supply this need or a temporary new place to live rent free.
8) Pray the IT Europe selects the right person to be the director of the Roma ministry for Europe as a whole.
9) We'd ask that you pray for us as we are dealing w/ sharply increasing prices of fuel, electricity, gas, and food.
10) Pray that the Community Concert that Vuzrazhdane Church is sponsoring in April bring many interested inquires to learn more about Jesus.
11) We'd appreciate your prayers for physical health as both Marissa & Keith are sick with a virus that Margie so graciously blessed us with...

JUNE HATHERSMITH (2/14)
I'm "on my honeymoon"! I thought that would get your attention! Smiles... I'm quoting my surgeon, by the way. It was Dr Richie Gillespie who coined the phrase to describe the next stage in the battle with the cancer. It sounds alright to me!
A week ago Brian drove Val and me to Fort Worth to see the surgeon who operated on my arm. She was very pleased with how well everything had healed and decided to remove all fifty staples. I think body piercing is vastly over rated, by the way. The scabs we had been concerned about all fell off with the staples, revealing beautifully-clean healed tissue underneath. Thank you God! Dr Richie Gillespie said that the best treatment for now was to give just a few more doses of radiation to the operation site, and then....Go and enjoy the honeymoon period and do all I would like to do with the precious, illness free days God gives me. My surgeon couldn't say when, where, or how Sammy Sarcoma's offspring might return, but she did imply that they probably will pop up somewhere, some day.
In the afternoon we met with the radiation oncologist. Over the next month she needs to do more X-ray and MRI type studies of my arm, to measure up and position things, so that as soon as I am about eight weeks post surgery, I can have just a little more treatment. The plan is to give a few more doses of radiation, and hopefully kill off those few live cells that may have been left behind. Dr Henderson said the healing and function I still have in my right arm is truly a miracle from God. Indeed, the Lord has answered your prayers with a glorious "yes" beyond our dreams. Just like God, isn't it? He is able to do so much more than we ask or think. Thank you for praying.
Since I last wrote, Marcia Heineman, the Wycliffe friend who worked in Papua New Guinea, has visited regularly and developed a series of exercises for my arm and hand. She is enabling me think of ways to accomplish the everyday tasks I used to do without thinking. I only realize what I can't do when I try to do it! Marcia has been a huge encouragement helping me think through ways to tackle challenges. I now wear a brace on my wrist which prevents it being pushed back too far when I'm driving. Yes! You'd better pull to the side of the road when you see me coming! Seriously, I've driven short distances safely, and that's a huge step forward on the road to normal living. I'm celebrating.
Today I visited my third wonderful doctor, the oncologist, Dr Juarez. She was thrilled to see how good my arm and hand look, and assured me that she will be watching me like a hawk with regular scans, once all the radiation treatment is over. I am very thankful that there will be no more chemotherapy for now.
It was good to be able to attend Brian and Val's daughter Becky's wedding at the weekend. We had a lovely day. I have really appreciated Brian being here the last six weeks and helping in my care along with Val. It'll be sad to see him leave on Saturday to return to England. I hope to be fully independent by March 5th when Val will fly back to England to join him. The Hodgkin family has given me a huge gift these last few months and I am deeply grateful to them and to God for His provision through them.
I believe that over the next few months the main task I face is to fully recuperate from these many weeks of illness. I plan to make the most of every day, and enjoy the advent of Spring with all the beautiful flowers and birds and, of course, the start of the baseball season.
Thank you for adventuring with me during this phase of life, for your prayers and love. You are lifting my spirit constantly. Thank you. I do pray for God's loving kindness to flood your days too. I'd love to hear your news, if you have opportunity.

WONGS
Intro to Leadership Day (3/2)- we are beginning our annual leadership recruitment process with a meeting that will describe who Jesus is looking for (e.g. Peter, Andrew, Levi, etc...), what the application process will be like, and what God might be inviting them into for next year. This is obviously very important for us since our senior class (which is very big this year) is graduating. Please pray that many will come and hear the Lord’s call to follow them into leadership at PCF!
Connections (3/8-14)- Our Spring Break conference where we intensively study the book of Mark together. I fear that we will have a low turnout this year (so far on 17 of the projected 40 have signed up). Also, I’m trying to find free/cheap parking for our cars because otherwise we would have to pay 72 bucks a car to park at the harbor. Please also pray for me as I work on the material that we are planning to teach.
MJ, baby, and work- as we prepare for baby’s launch into the real world, we’ve been talking and praying about MJ’s role for next year. Will she stay at home full time? Will she work part time? It is especially difficult since my missionary income will not sustain us. We’ve ruled out her working full time, but the option of job-sharing has opened up to us, and we’re quite excited about it. Do also pray that we can keep MJ’s health benefits if she can/will get the job-share.

YOUTH FOR CHRIST
YFC Prayer Requests:
Praise God for the new interests in ministry through our Point Break Adolescent Resources
Manteca Unified has included us in on a grant proposal that would give us more impact on the campuses in Manteca
Tracy Unified now has Gino Avila on their campuses for Gang Intervention.
Jack, Gino and Ernie diffused a potentially violent issue between two groups of middle student at Veritas Elementary, with students now eating lunch together, etc.
Pray for Efrain (his real name), a young man we are helping to stay out of juvenile hall, get back in school, and come to know Jesus.

CHERYLL CLARK
We found out about 10 days ago that Moises has his interview with Immigration on March 10 (thank you, God!). Our request would be that he be calm and remember all he's reviewed so that the interview go well and that he gets approved for US citizenship. That's the big personal request. I hope to be in the US, God willing, from March 6 to April 4 (hoping that his swearing-in ceremony will be during that time).
2. Because I will be in the US, I am missing VBS and Easter week at church here in Guayaquil. Please pray for the Board and for the church that God will be glorified in this time.
3. This past weekend the Covenant Church of Ecuador celebrated 60 years and had its annual meeting. Praise that everyone who attended was able to arrive and return home safely. We have a new president of the Covenent here -- Pastor Carlos Montenegro. Please pray that God guide him as he leads the Church.
4. There has been major rain and consequently major flooding in Ecuador over the past few weeks. So far, I think 15 people have died, many are sleeping in schools and along the side of the roads because there houses are under water (as are crops all over the place). Along with a volcano eruption three weeks ago, Ecuador really needs prayer.