Ripe for the Harvest

Many of us are familiar with this illustration: if it takes ten times of hearing the Truth before a person believes, it is necessary that nine people are seemingly unsuccessful before person number ten is able to see the harvest of that soul. This week, Autumn and I had the privilege of sharing the news with some of our friends who had never heard our news at all. It was amazing to see the father working in our situations, even though some friends were not as receptive as others. Our concern now is that we must leave this city, and our girls, in two weeks. Last night on the way home, Autumn observed, "It was 20-25 years before these girls heard the name we've rejoiced in for nearly our whole life. Who's to say it won't be 25 more before they here it again?" We are learning to trust in the sovereignty of our Creator to send persons 3 and 4 and even 10, until the hearts of these people are softened.

Please join us in the prayer of Luke 10:2. 
Please pray for an increase in laborers to surround with love the friends we've met this summer. 
Also, please pray the same for the 5 million other people in this city who have lived their entire lives without our hope.

---Julie and Autumn

Growing the Family

As we continue our summer, we focus on reaching the people here who have never heard. But just as important are the brothers and sisters who HAVE heard, who know the culture, the language, and the people, because they are able to pierce the darkness much more effectively than we can in just two short months.

Please pray that the Father will give strength the his faithful children who are here for a lifetime, that he will give them wisdom, boldness, and opportunities. 

Pray that He will continue to grow His family here, despite the fact that doing so means that many must leave their own families.

---Julie and Autumn

Cost of Following

The cost of following is much greater than back home. On her birthday, one of our local sisters blew out the candles on her cake and said that her one wish is that her mother and father would also believe, and she wished we would pray for this. Many fellow followers are the only ones in their family, and they face strong opposition, even isolation, because of their decisions. But they are confident in the love of the Father, and continue to trust what they know to be true. Here, joining one family many times means that you leave another.

Please pray for this sister, that she would stay encouraged and continue to be a light to others in her family.

-Autumn & Julie

Thank you for coming to my country!

After our English club this past Saturday, we met for lunch and then coffee with a few followers, and we all shared our testimonies. Some of these followers are very new believers, and it was incredible to hear how the Father has been working in their lives for a long time, sometimes years before they finally committed. Their stories are inspiring, but they would tell us that they did not know how to share it in an effective way. So in this coffee shop, we spent a couple of hours discussing with them the most important parts of their story, the most important parts of HIS story, and how they could explain it to one who has never heard. 

Autumn and I are blessed to have had much training in telling these truths, and we also have access to tools to help us share with visual aid, which we also showed them. As we stood to leave, one of the girls grabbed my hand, saying "Julie!" I turned, and she said simply, "Thank you for coming to my country."

-Autumn & Julie

Family

"Hello, Sister Julie! Sister Autumn!"

These are familiar words to our team, and they are usually accompanied by the grasp of two eager hands. We have met so many people, young and old, lost and found. Last week we were happy to be able to travel to a nearby city to meet some fellow followers and attend their Sunday service. Although completely in a different language, the tunes of familiar worship songs along with the sound of many voices singing thanks to a Faithful Creator were enough to rejuvenate and refresh our team. We shared our story through and translator and encouraged our brothers and sisters to continue to allow the Father to use them to reach their people in a way that we, as foreigners, could not. We were encouraged ourselves by the many blessings and prayers spoken on our behalf throughout the congregation.

-Autumn & Julie

Seek Peace

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

Pray for team members to seek the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts and lives as they continue to serve Him. Pray also for the unsaved to recognize this peace as the answer to the conflict waging in their hearts.

Team of the Day

Nurse 2 Nurse

Country of the Day

Southeast Asia

The Most Important Thing

What is the most important thing in your life?

That is one of the questions we ask students to help them "practice English." This past week we have been very busy tutoring English to local university students in our city. Many of them enjoy answering this question because it allows them to tell them more about themselves. For most students, the answer is family. They will talk about how their family loves them and supports them. For others, they will answer happiness. They want to work hard, finish school, earn money, and try to be as happy as possible throughout their life. Then, of course, they will turn the question and ask Julie and I (Autumn) what the most important thing in our life is. 

We can answer our relationship with Jesus is the most important thing in our lives. Julie will say that her relationship with God is real, that He loves her like a Father loves a daughter... That He loves her so much more than any earthly family can. I share about how my relationship with God gives me peace, hope, and I do not have to worry about the future. These answers have peaked their interest. We have already had the opportunity to share the gospel with two different groups of students on two different campuses. 

This is just an example of how we "practice English," get to know students, and bridge into sharing the Gospel with students who are searching and grasping for things that do not satisfy. Please continue to pray for us, we are tutoring English with three different groups of students on five days out of the week. Pray that we will be able to build relationships with them outside of English class. Pray that we would make the most of every opportunity, and share with wisdom and boldness.

Much love from SE Asia,

Autumn and Julie

"Nurse 2 Nurse Team"

Making New Friends

Hello from the Nurse 2 Nurse Team in SE Asia! This week has been a busy one for us as we acclimate ourselves to a new culture and climate, and also as we meet many new friends!

As nursing students, one of the first places we visited was the medical university here in the city. We have met with an educational coordinator here who has asked us to visit frequently so that we can help national students develop their English skills.  We are very hopeful that we can develop meaningful relationships with these students as the summer progresses, having already had lunch with a few of them.

This week, we also met students and teachers from other universities around the city and have been asked to spend time with the students, helping them learn English. We are grateful for so many opportunities and we are looking forward to next week as we get into the meat of our summer, when we will be introduced to many more students.

Pr-- for us as we continue to meet students and make connections here in SE Asia. P that the Father would give us wisdom and boldness to proclaim Him in a place where followers are few and sometimes persecuted.

--Julie and Autumn

Physical Strength & Health

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

Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.  3 JOHN 2

Pray that team members would maintain physical strength and health as God provides rest and nourishment to meet their needs. Pray that appropriate medical treatment may be found should the need arise.

TEAM of the DAY

Nurse 2 Nurse

COUNTRY of the DAY 

Southeast Asia

Meet the Team: Nurse 2 Nurse

Hello! The Nurse 2 Nurse team is headed to Southeast Asia for the summer. Composed of 2 nursing students, we will be spending time around a local medical university seeking to build relationships, tutor English, & ultimately share the Gospel! 

The team is comprised of Julie, a junior from Auburn University at Montgomery. She has felt led to do mission work since she was young & is exciting to be joining this team for the summer.

Autumn, the team leader, attending the University of Memphis, and will be a senior in the fall. Autumn is looking forward to returning to Southeast Asia after going on a previous trip with her church.

Both girls have enjoyed getting to know each other during orientation & are excited to see what the Lord will do this summer!