Metropolitan Missionaries

Thank you for praying for us. We arrived yesterday in Sarajevo, and after a delay of several hours, all of our luggage reached us (23 checked bags). There were no customs charges and the luggage was delivered to our door. Kirsten (4) and Daniel (4 mos.) did well on the flights.  We were very tired when we arrived but have had a good night of sleep and are doing well and everyone is healthy.  Our teammate, Joy, has been such a great help in having everything ready for us, feeding us, and helping us by running errands.

Thank you for your prayer.

Todd for all of us

Hello from Tom and Lynn,

Greetings in the name of our great God and Savior Jesus.  As we abide in Him, we trust him to bear fruit in and through us.

It’s been a busy couple of months:

We were in Pennsylvania for meetings with the LifeQuality leadership team in May. Several things happened there that moved us away from that ministry. We are disappointed, but we trust that God will open another door for us.

We vacationed in Utah (Zion National Park), Arizona (north rim of the Grand Canyon), and Colorado (a cabin near Durango).  We both experienced renewal as we were active in God’s great creation.

We were discussion leaders for a 6 week marriage seminar at our church.  We are grateful for the relationship we have, and the opportunity to assist others in their relational issues.
Lynn continues her job- which really is a ministry- with children and teens on the psychiatric unit at Children’s Memorial Hospital.   She is also active with the “The Sibling Support Project”, a national effort dedicated to the life-long concerns of brothers and sisters of people who have special health, developmental, or mental health concerns.  You can see details about at- http://www.siblingsupport.org/

Tom is active in leader development efforts with Greater Europe Mission.  The latest Leader Coaching group has their final conference call next week, and another group is forming for the fall.

As we look to the weeks ahead, we ask you to pray for us in these areas:

Tom as he moves toward completing his PhD dissertation, doing research into the leader development process in the lives of emerging leaders in GEM who went through a 2-year leader development process that Tom helped facilitate.  He hopes to finish by the end of the year.

The two of us in our desire to be used in ministry together

Financial support.  This month, the ministry account went to the negative side. We trust that our Great Provider will supply the finances we need to continue.

In closing, I’m musing about leadership and poison ivy. What else am I going to do to keep my mind off the terrible itch? Leaders tend to have terrible itches, especially the ones who start movements. And just like the stuff I am fighting on one leg and both arms, not much is effective in soothing the discomfort. Certainly not the recommended oatmeal bath (is that with or without raisins?).

Rejoicing in God’s goodness,

Tom and Lynn

Dear Praying Friends, July 21, 2008

In 1978 Paula and I had a wonderful honeymoon in Shangri la…now 30 years later we
found ourselves celebrating our wedding anniversary in another paradise - Honolulu! (Did
I mention that Shangri la was a small resort near Afton, Oklahoma?) We spent one week in
the guest room of a retired minister’s wife on the north shore of Oauhu (Tim and Lydia
had honeymooned in the same guest room in August 2007…also the price was right –
only $95!).

When we arrived at the north shore we had some time to kill and decided to get a snack.
We stopped at a nondescript bakery and I went inside to order sandwiches. Meanwhile,
Paula went to find a table outside. As I emerged from the bakery I found Paula sitting with
four high school girls in bikinis…I thought “Oh boy, I get to sit with five hot babes.”
(notice I said five babes). What followed was a wonderful opportunity to share our
testimonies and gospel with these young ladies. As we talked, Paula asked about local
foods and added, “Our neighbor in Pasadena is from this area and told us to make sure
and eat at a “hole in the wall” restaurant called Ted’s which may not look like much, but is
a favorite with the natives and has great burgers. One of the girls interrupted, “Lady, that
is the place you are eating at RIGHT NOW.” Up to then I thought we were doing well
relating to the younger generation…from that point they must have wondered how these
geriatrics ever made it to the north shore.

As I climbed to the top of Diamond Head I overheard what I thought was a family
speaking Thai (turned out to be Lao). They turned out to be a older Lao grandpa and
grandma with their daughter and grandkids. They had left from Laos in 1979 and had
moved to Hawaii with their 7 kids. The grandpa said that it was the first time he had ever
climbed Diamond Head and that a few years ago he had moved to the mainland. “Where?”
I asked. He said, “Coweta, Oklahoma.” I was amazed that anyone would leave Oaohu for
Coweta. The other thing that amazed me was that he wasn’t Buddhist…he was Jehovah
Witness. It reminded me how important it is to reach newly arrived immigrants with the
gospel. If we don’t act quickly then the cults will snatch them up. Pray that Mr. En and his
family can hear the true gospel while there is still time.

Titus informed us that his eardrum (that was burst) is healing nicely. Amber is finishing
up her time working in Colorado and asks prayer as she begins to teach 3rd grade this fall.
Lydia has been diagnosed with mono and gallstones (may need an operation for the
stones). Since she is off work she has started a wonderful website…be sure to check it out
http://ladylydia.wordpress.com/ Tim and Lydia are busy with Jr. High ministry and leading
our home church. Andy is working 40 hour weeks and is trying to finish up the last
requirements for his masters.

Paula would appreciate prayer for her neuropathy in her feet. Both feet have been numb
for months but it seems to be getting worse. Also, all the travel has made her backache
much more acute. This has served as a prayer reminder for all of us.

I continue to prepare for two mission classes in the fall. The trip to Germany did not come
about as we first thought. However, I will be preaching and doing workshops throughout
August and have a very full fall schedule.

In Him,

Larry and Paula Dinkins

Click the link to read our July 2008 Update. Brewer Update July 2008

Dear Friends,

We want you to know that we pray for you.

Here is our new prayer letter for you. Perhaps you will find time to pray for us? Thank you!

Czeslaw and Helena Bassara

Proclaiming then Word!

Click the Link to Read our latest Prayer Letter. Proclaiming the Word July 2008

Requests sent July 16, 2008

1. Continue to pray for Dorthe, Sam and myself as we seek to grow together as a team and to be creative with the challenges we face, having a much smaller staff than in the past. This time of transition has been such a blessing!!! God is answering your prayers for unity and a caring atmosphere in our working with one another.

2. Pray for the 12 children here at the CEF Leadership Training Institute with their parents. Three young ladies are caring for the children: Moira, Kajsa and Pia. God is using them! Keep on praying for wisdom, stamina and great joy in these coming weeks of ministry. Pray that God do a special work in each child’s heart at this time. Happy children free the parents to concentrate on the training for which they came.

3. Please pray for healing of whatever is causing the pain in my neck – I had my last physical therapy treatment today. Armed with exercises and a better understanding of how to avoid future trouble, I am confident that it will continue to improve. Thank you sooo much for praying.

4. Monday afternoon (July 14) I will be leading the staff and student prayer afternoon. God blessed richly! It has been such a joy to make this time to focus on our Lord and to enter the ministry of intercession for one another as well we for the children of Europe

Dear,
Thank you for your faithful support and prayer, above all your special love for Madagascar, we appreciate it too much.
This bellow are some report of what we have done and want to do for the Lord including prayer requests.

This Saturday coming we will start ISO Ministries in Ambohimangakely. We have contacted under 15years old kids to come, most of the 50 contacted have confirmed to come. Not only the kids we contacted but their parents too, most of them will send their kids.They are mix of all category of social situation. Poor, semi rich (not rich of what you think !) . but most of them are from poor families.
We had ISO first General Assembly  of Board of Direction on last Saturday July 5th 2008. We are 10 motivated  people and love sport almost of them are young, the oldest is Alain he is 43, and the youngest is 20 her name is Dina,  hopefully we will function as the Lord wants us to be and to do and reap many fruits, disciples from those kids after few years.

I continue to visit the families I led to Christ once a week. One couple wants to be baptized, I must transfer them to our church, and our Pastor will give them the Baptism Training.

I continue to follow up the convert Top Players one a week too. and start training basketball christian coaches from July 29th 2008 above all in spiritual side. 3 coaches of  7 contacted will surely come.

We continue to find out house that fits to our budget too.
My family is doing well, Benaia is already well too, it is very cold in Tana now, in the morning and the evening/night.
Please Pray for the needs bellow:
-basketballs. we need 10 basketballs: 5 for kids (infalte 6.0) and five for adults (infalte7.0)
-computer
-Vehicle
-Family life, spiritual life
-New house
James 5.16c
Thank you very much !
Blessings
NJaka

Requests sent July 9, 2008

1. Continue to pray for Dorthe, Sam and myself as we seek to grow together as a team and to be creative with the challenges we face, having a much smaller staff than in the past.

2. Pray for the 12 children here at the CEF Leadership Training Institute with their parents. We have three young ladies caring for them. The children are settling in very well - especially considering the language challenge. (One of the young ladies is helping only this first week – God supplied a 3rd helper for the rest of the first 6 weeks – Pia is from Sweden and is taking her school holidays to help us with the children – Do pray for God’s continued work in her life and blessing in her ministry to the families here)  Pray that those caring for the children have wisdom in coming up with a  creative and diverse program for these children: ages 6 months to 11 years. Mostly active boys! (Markus is the 11 year-old and got to help pick cherries today! He really enjoyed it)

3. Please pray for healing of whatever is causing the pain in my neck – praise God for continued improvement! I am learning how to sit properly & need to learn to change my positions every 10 minutes or so – God did not design our bodies to sit cramped in one position before a computer the entire day. (C:  (Computer work with bifocals (C: does not help)  Pray for stamina for these beginning weeks of this training.

4. Monday afternoon (July 14) I will be leading the staff and student prayer afternoon. Please pray for my preparations in choosing Scripture and spiritual songs to lead us into times of intercession.

Thank you for praying with me.

Martha G Heidinger

Dear Friends who pray:

Time is nearly done for my two weeks in precious India….

I have been to many sites during these 15 days,  but mostly with my CP workshops here in JAIPUR (site of last month’s Al Queda terrorist bombing here in town of  desert Jaipur!) (Ouch!)…

The  42 “Trainers of trainers” are not pastors, but overseers from various Indian states (coming from far away places like the Himalayas in the north and TAMIL NADU in the south…and other exotic places …

And I am a different man here… you would not know me to be the person you have known all these years….  joy abounds. An   Irish/Texan/Honduran   heart  become one with others here.

Near the end of this week I will be home  with  Debbie and Kathryn in Honduras.  Please pray for safe travels.

Themes this week for CP workshops:

——————————
Reproducible Pastoral Training   CP Workshop concepts here for INDIA …

Pray out more workers from within existing flocks..
SHARE authority with your apprentices.
Commission new workers & send them out in teams.
Keep instructions simple.
USE  only  imitable methods.
Help workers plan their work.
Have  workers start house flocks  — so as to reach whole families.
Encouraging workers to  bond with the people & adopt their customs.
Anticipate persecution.
Proclaim the correct  Good News.
Permit God’s  miracles.
Listen to workers (as they bring reports).

——————————

Thanks for being with us in spirit, and for remembeinr us to the Lord.

Isaiah 40:29 — He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Patrick O’Connor

Dear Praying Friends, July 5, 2008

We witness a lot of fireworks on the 4th, but on this 4th of July Titus saw fireworks of a
different kind. It started off with a early morning robbery at our home in Pasadena.
Someone broke in and stole Titus’ cell phone and some money. The robber took a number
of items that Andy was planning to take on a flight to Quebec he had planned for the
morning of the 4th. If that wasn’t enough, Titus was tubing behind a boat on a lake in the
afternoon. When he fell off the tube, he hit wrong and water was forced into his left ear.
The force of the water burst his eardrum. He was taken to ER who told him to wait for 10
days to see if it will heal on its own. If not, an operation might be needed. He has been in
some pain and can’t hear out of his left ear. He also is unable to do the pilot training he
had planned for next week. Do pray for protection and healing for Titus as well as
protection for our home.

Another prayer request is for Lydia (Tim’s wife). She has been diagnosed with mono, yet
the doctor feels there are other factors as well and would like to do more tests. The doctor
has directed her to take a month off to recuperate. Do pray that Lydia will be restored to
full health so that she can continue to work, study and support Tim in their Jr. High
ministry.

We will be returning from a wonderful vacation in Lake City, Colorado tomorrow. We’ve
been able to spend time with Amber who is working here as well as a special time with my
sister and her husband. Lake City has only 400 or so inhabitants during the winter, but
swells by many more hundred in the summer. The scenery is breathtaking and we are
taking in all lovely vistas, mountains and foliage. We’ve had almost daily encounters with
some of the many deer that roam the town. There is a strong Christian presence here and
we’ve enjoyed fellowship with many different groups.

When we return home I will be teaching on Buddhism to some young people at the USCWM
and preparing for two courses in the fall: Kairos (a condensed mission class) and a Cross-
cultural Communication class for a Chinese seminary. There might even be an
opportunity to teach the Walk Thru the Bible course in Germany. All of these teaching
opportunities need to be covered in prayer.

In Him,

Larry and Paula Dinkins
1612 N. Hill Ave.
Pasadena, CA 91104
larrydinkins@usa.net
626 296 3397