Surrounded by evergreen curtains, 100 feet tall, I desire light. Yet, there is life; wet air, busy birds, slow slugs, yellow buttercups, cedar and pine fill the air. The cottonwood squalls have finished, warmth blows in drying out the cool Northwest. Now the sun fills our days, and blackberries gather sweet with promise.
In a few weeks we will be uprooting again, first to Redmond
and then transitioning and preparing to return to Southern Africa. At the MTI (Missionary Training International) debriefing we learned our
children were settled and doing well, we learned how to better process and walk
through moving in and out of cultures.
Like a plant that is dug up and brought to a new place, we leave some roots
behind, and it takes time for the plant to grow, sprout new leaves or
flower. I pray for more wisdom from God
and His strength to see and trust and enable my children to walk through these
big changes.
I will miss this landscape of wet trees, but will welcome
the wide and dry skies of Southern Africa.
God has blessed us with wonderful memories to put in our treasure box
(as my Lauren loves to collect stones or shells and pretend gems), to take with
us. We have made new friends, renewed
old friendships, family times, Grandparents, and received much encouragement
from God’s precious church here. Please
continue to pray for us, we do not take your partnership for granted, but thank
God for each of you.
With all our love in Christ, Laura
SPECIAL PRAYER REQUEST: After 12 years of teaching in a
western-style educational institution in Africa, the Lord is leading us to help strengthen
the African Church by teaching a
Christ-centered ‘Kingdom Biblical Theology’ by using the stories of the Bible
in the ‘Local Church’. St. Paul’s
Evangelical Church has called us to start an International Church
targeting African students from various African countries attending the
University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. Dear friends from Evergreen Presbyterian Church in Beaverton, Oregon have organized a fundraiser to help us raise the money for our plane tickets. In addition, a generous supporter has offered to match the funds raised at this Saturday’s event. Please pray about this event and come join us if possible (see poster attached).
Rev Jay, Laura, Clara, Katherine
and Lauren Stoms
Contact:
jaystoms@hotmail.comBefriend us (Jay and or Laura Stoms) on FACEBOOK
PLEASE SEND MONTHLY SUPPORT TO:
Africa Christian Training Institute (Jay Stoms Ministry Fund).
P O Box 15621; Panama City FL 32406-5621.
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