Praise and Prayer for November 24, 2011

As these packed weeks continue, today we are driving the 600 miles from PA to Grand Rapids, MI where we will be, Lord willing, for the next few weeks.  We are looking forward to Thanksgiving with our families tomorrow at Cherith’s parents’ home in Allendale, MI.  We will be missing my Mother, however.  However, we are reminded at this very special time of year that we truly do have much for which to be thankful.  God’s faithful care for us over these past few weeks are only one of those blessings.

The funeral/celebration services for my Mother’s life, service and promotion to Glory were held in Grand Rapids, MI and in Springville, PA.  The Lord gave travelling mercies to us (and to my brothers and their families) as each of us made the round-trip between the two places.  For us, that included safety despite a flat tire when we picked up a nail on the highway near Imlay City, MI.  Celebrating Mother’s life was truly a joy (despite the tears), and it was a blessing to share with all who were present at the two services, most who had a close tie with Mother.

The Lord has blessed our travels and our meetings in PA, and only our final scheduled meeting remains on December 4 in Marne, MI.  We praise the Lord for the help and strength He has given, and for the good fellowship and all of the gracious hospitality that has been shown to our family. 

  Praise for:

- another year the Lord has given Cherith which we celebrated Sunday.  Praise for God’s gift to our family of a wonderful wife and mother to our children.

- safety in travelling, for precious times honoring God in celebration of Mother’s amazing life, and for God’s comfort and healing for our hurting hearts.

- the opportunity we’ve had to be in our home church in PA for several services, and that Cherith could participate in the Ladies’ Craft Day outreach, with 166 women in attendance.

- all the progress we made in going through our belongings in storage in PA.  The Lord gave extra strength and wisdom, which we so desperately needed for all the sorting, moving, packing, etc.  Praise for help with watching our kids so we could work.

Pray for:

- for our final meeting Dec. 4, for our time with family, and for the time with our Grand Rapids church family.

- continued healing and comfort for our hearts (and my brothers and their families), and for the Lord’s help as we work through Mother’s things and her affairs.

- the Lord’s guidance as we look for housing in Merignac (near Bordeaux, France), and for all the arrangements to be made in these final weeks here in the US.

- God’s blessing on our ministry partners and that God would raise up new churches and individuals who share our burden to partner with us through prayer and financial support.

Happy Thanksgiving Day!

Praise and Prayer for October 31, 2011

After praying for my Mother through all of the suffering she has faced these past months and years, she entered the gates of her heavenly Home on Monday, October 24 into the presence of her Lord and Savior whom she loved and served throughout her earthly lifetime.  Our hearts are filled with emotion, both of grief for our loss and of joy for her gain as we move through these days.  Your prayers for my brothers and me, for our families and for all of those who knew and loved Mother during this time are much appreciated.  As I type, we are travelling back to Michigan to help with some of the arrangements and for the funeral service there Thursday evening.  Lord willing, we will return to northeast PA on Friday for a funeral service and the burial there on Saturday.  Her body will be buried beside my Father’s not far from Springville, PA. 

While my Mother’s promotion and this trip comes as a surprise to us, we are comforted by the knowledge that these events do not come as a surprise to our loving Lord.  We know that He has known the number of Mother’s days since before she was born (Psalm 139; Job 14).  In His wisdom and love, He had arranged for us to receive the word of Mother’s promotion while in the home of long-time friends of our family, at a church that has partnered with my family in ministry for more than 50 years!  God surrounded us with His love in tangible ways.  He continues to give us the comfort and healing that we need.  Mother has been a major partner in our ministry through her interest, prayer and financial support since the beginning.  While her input into our lives cannot be replaced, we pray the Lord will use her example to raise up many who will pray, give and go in response to God’s love and claims on their lives, just as Mother did.

  Praise for:

- the generous special gifts that have been given to cover extra expenses that we are having.

- protection in our travels between PA and NY.

- the good preaching and spiritual refreshment at the Couples’ Prayer Advance in Lancaster, PA.

- Mother’s life and fine example, and for God’s answer to prayer for her healing.

- the evidence of God’s love and care during these days of sorrowing (Ps. 23:4).

Pray for:

- travelling this week to and from MI and for the services that will be held in MI and PA celebrating Mother’s life, her service for the Lord and her promotion to Glory.

- continued healing and comfort for our hearts (and my brothers and their families), and for guidance in the days ahead.

- a new wave of those who would respond to God’s call to pray, to give, or to go, and that Mother’s life would continue to bear fruit through the lives of those whose hearts have been touched by her testimony.

- God’s blessing on our ministry partners and that God would raise up others who share our burden to partner with us through prayer and financial support.

Praise and Prayer for October 19, 2010

God has brought us through another week, and safely over another 1200 miles since last Tuesday.  We are grateful for His protection and for His help for us, especially for the children as we face the many challenges that our travelling schedule brings.  They have been a part of our ministry presentation in almost every church where we have ministered, giving greetings, quoting verses and singing.  The constant changes do bring special challenges, however, and we would ask for special prayer for extra grace for each of them. 

Last Wednesday evening, my Mother’s oxygen levels dropped toward the end of her dialysis session and she needed to be taken to the ER.  She was in the hospital through today, when she was discharged and returned home. They drained 1.25 liters from around her lungs (thoracentesis) on Friday and adjusted some of her medicines.  We are thankful for brother Don and Ramona and my Aunt Mary Lee who are there and able to help and visit during this time when we are so far away.  Cherith’s Mom has been a real help to my Mother as well, and has been able to visit her several times. 

It is good to be back here in northeast PA.  We are nicely settled into a single wide home on the Dale Grosvenor farm, nestled in the beautiful Endless Mountains near Montrose, PA.  This week we have a special opportunity to join Pastor and Mrs. Rosenau and several other couples from Springville Baptist Church in attending a Couples Prayer Advance (Christ Life Ministries) in Lancaster, PA.  We look forward to the special time of studying and applying Biblical principles to strengthening our marriage relationship.  Our children are excited about spending time with Jessica Leslie who has taken extra time off work to be able to watch them for us.  We will be leaving the Advance early on Friday evening in order to retrieve our children and then on Saturday travel up to Parishville, NY for meetings on Sunday.

  Praise for:

- protection on our travels this week from NC to VA to DE to PA to NY, and back to PA.

- His help for the children, and for their participation in our home ministry.

- Josiah’s life, and for his second Birthday last Wednesday (October 12) in DE, and for the fun time celebrating with some of our ministry partners.

- God’s undertaking for Jonathan’s Mother this past week, for some improvement with her breathing, and that she has now returned home again.

- the time we have here in northeast PA connecting with our church family here and with partners in ministry.

Pray for:

- protection in our travels to Lancaster, PA and Parishville, NY.

- our children, for extra grace for the challenges that they are facing, for adequate rest and for good progress in school.  Pray for them as we leave them with Jessica on Thursday and Friday to attend the Prayer Advance.

- Jonathan’s Mother, for increased strength and that she’ll be able to breath well and rest well at night.

- God’s blessing on our ministry partners and that God would raise up others who share our burden to partner with us through prayer and financial support.

Praise and Prayer for October 11, 2010

The color of the leaves is changing as we head north through Virginia toward Delaware, continuing on a seven-week trip of connecting with ministry partners and seeking to establish new partnerships.  This past week in West Virginia and North Carolina included a special opportunity to speak in two of the chapel services at a Bible College in Winston-Salem, participating in one church’s missions’ conference, and ministering in four supporting churches.  The miles stretch on before us, but the prospect of good fellowship and encouragement and the opportunity to share our burden for France with others drive us onward!  We appreciate so much the hospitality and generosity of all of those who have been so gracious to us over these past several weeks.

Thank you for your prayers for us throughout this time, even without news.  While other responsibilities over these past several weeks have threatened to overwhelm us, updating our blog has been impossible though it has weighed heavily on our minds and hearts.  Cherith spoke in two ladies’ fellowships in Grand Rapids, our first year of homeschooling began, we continued to help my Mother, hosted an open house to celebrate her 80^th Birthday, and joined our church family at Wealth Park Baptist Church in celebrating 125 years of outreach and God’s faithfulness.  As this trip approached, we became very concerned that we not leave my Mother without having some practical solutions worked out.  She had been in rehab for 7 weeks, then with us for nearly two weeks, preparing to return to her apartment on Bridge Street.  From our house, she returned home, but soon realized that a move to an apartment with more assistance available would be not only desirable but also necessary.  The Lord intervened through leading and opening doors and prior to our departure on this trip we had not only found a beautiful facility with meals provided and assistance available but had also gotten Mother moved out of her two bedroom apartment (keys turned in) into her new one, a studio apartment at Lincoln Square, just 1.5 miles away.  The Lord provided family members to watch our children throughout the week, others to help with cleaning and moving, and even a truck and trailer for the move (complete with Cherith’s cousin Luke to drive and help with moving).  We left Mother on October 1 heading south on this 7 week trip, and though she still had a lot of adjustment and settling in to do, she was enjoying her new home, the home-cooked meals provided and the assistance available.   

  Praise for:

- God’s protection over the long miles, for His help for the children, and for the fellowship and encouragement as we connect with our ministry partners.

- healing for Cherith for a sprained finger, and healing for our family from some nasty colds.

- God’s answer to prayer in providing for Mother’s move before we left MI for this extended trip.

- some good news and continued contact with friends in France.

- God’s provision for extra expenses through some special love gifts.

Pray for:

- protection and grace for our travels, this week connecting with partners in NC, VA, DE, PA and NY.

- Jonathan’s Mother, continuing to adjust and settle into new surroundings and dealing with numerous health issues.

- God’s blessing on our ministry partners and that God would raise up others to partner with us through prayer and financial support.

Praise and Prayer for September 5, 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Thank you for your prayers as we continue on this trail of reconnecting with many of our ministry partners.  While many of our friends and family out east are facing storms and power outages, we have enjoyed good weather when we have been on the road.  God has given safety over many miles driven here in Michigan and precious fellowship as we have ministered these past couple weeks in churches in Delton, Lansing, and Petoskey.  Our kids were able to be a part of the VBS program at Grandma and Grandpa Broeckert’s home church and enjoyed learning more about God and His Word in such a fun way.  Our family has been able to enjoy a few very special activities with other family members: picking blueberries, an afternoon at the Hudsonville Fair and an evening at Lake Michigan.  This past weekend, our hosts treated us to an afternoon in their boat on the beautiful Walloon Lake, and both Adrianna and Caleb went tubing for the very first time.

Monday, September 5, 2011

An unexpected (by us, though not by the Lord) turn of events this past week made it impossible to get this update posted until now.  As I was bringing my Mom home to our house to spend a few days after her discharge from Heartland last Monday, her speech suddenly became unclear and I could no longer understand her.  We turned around and headed to the ER of Butterworth Hospital.  She was admitted and watched through Wednesday when I once again brought her back to our house.  They ruled out stroke and felt the symptoms could be attributed to a bit too much fluid being taken out at dialysis in the hours preceding the occurrence.  Mother has been with us since Wednesday evening and we have been enjoying having Grandma with us during this time.  She is doing well, though she tires easily and keeping up with her busy schedule of appointments is pretty taxing on her.

  Praise for:

- God’s protection over the miles and for good weather in our traveling.

- good meetings and the encouragement and good fellowship we have been enjoying with friends around MI.

- Adrianna winning an English (!) Bible at the great DVBS she and Caleb attended – for the most points won in her age group.

- God’s protection of Mother this past week, and that she is finally out of Heartland and home from the Hospital.

- God bringing Jonathan’s brother David and his family from PA to visit with Mother and other family and friends for a few days.

- a great day yesterday with our friends in Ithaca.  Praise for each of our prayer partners that uphold us!

- God’s provision for the purchase of the kids’ homeschooling materials through the love gifts that we have received.

Pray for:

- wisdom in prioritizing, strength and time to accomplish the host of tasks that we need to do, along with spending time with Mother and other family.

- Jonathan’s Mom, for wisdom concerning her return to her own apartment, and for continued safety from fall.

- the contacts that we continue to make with our ministry partners.

- the continued contact that we are having with our friends in France.

- our support team, and that God will add to our team and bring in the remaining support that we are lacking.

Praise and Prayer for August 15, 2010

We’re thankful for God’s help as we’ve gone through the whirlwind of the past couple of weeks.  The Lord answered prayer for our family as we separated for our round trip back to France to renew our residency cards.  The children did very well with Grandma and Grandpa Broeckert, and we were able to accomplish the purpose for the trip.  A special blessing was joining the church family in Reims for prayer meeting on Tuesday evening, the only full day we were in the country.  We even got to participate in the service as I was asked to lead the singing and prayer time and Cherith was asked to accompany the service.  Two young people were present that our church has been praying for these last couple of years.  One of them received God’s gift of salvation a few weeks ago and has been attending services regularly since.  God continues to work in hearts!

 

Cherith enjoyed a special opportunity to attend a Ladies’ Retreat with her aunt and a cousin where they were blessed by the ministry of Nancy Leigh DeMoss and Gracia Burnam.  God protected our family as we made a road trip to WI and Michigan’s Upper Penninsula.  We spent some time with my Grandma Teachout and my uncle’s family (Clifford Teachout), including a cousin and his wife that drove from Minneapolis for the weekend, and ministered at Grandma’s church in DePere,WI. This past week was the Broeckert family camping trip in Ontonagon, MI where 19 of us gathered for several days of fellowship, hiking, swimming in Lake Superior, and various outings.  We were missing Cherith’s brother Davar and his family and her sister Hadessah.  It was good to get home Friday evening just in time to prepare for a full day of ministry with our dear friends and partners in Fremont, MI.  Our meeting schedule has begun in earnest and we depend on the Lord for health, strength and protection in the days ahead.

  Praise for:

- the Lord’s answers to prayer for our family as we were separated for four days for our trip back to France.

- God’s answers to prayer concerning the two young people that we saw in prayer meeting in Reims.

- the Ladies’ Retreat Cherith was able to attend.

- the family reunions that we have been able to be a part of.

- God’s blessings in the meetings that we have had and for the blessing and encouragement that we have received.

- the progress that Jonathan’s Mom continues to make at Heartland Healthcare.

Pray for:

- wisdom and strength to accomplish all we need to do along with our heavy meeting schedule.

- our children with all of the challenges and changes that come with the schedule that we are having.

- the church in Reims, and for the new believers.

- wisdom for the doctors treating Jonathan’s Mom as they deal with the breathing problems caused by the buildup of fluid in her lungs and abdomen.  The Plavix she is taking for the stents that were inserted recently is keeping them from doing the procedure to drain the fluid.

- God to provide for the purchase of homeschooling materials for Adrianna and Caleb’s school year.

Praise and Prayer for July 25, 2010

Time marches on as we struggle to keep ahead of the demands and responsibilities of each day.  How thankful we are for all the Lord has done for us and allowed us to accomplish and be involved in these past two weeks.  It was good that Jonathan was here to move his Mother to Heartland Health Care Center for rehab from the Hospital before we left for Cleveland, OH for Baptist Mid-Missions’ Annual Conference July 11-14.  The conference based on the theme “Redeeming the Time” was a blessing in so many ways as we enjoyed the fellowship of friends and loved ones we hadn’t seen for several years and enjoyed the spiritual refreshment of the preaching sessions, the special music, ministry presentations and the useful workshops.  Adrianna and Caleb had much fun with the friends they made as well as in various activities organized according to their age including a day trip to the Cleveland Zoo.  We are so thankful too that Jessica Leslie was able to fly to Cleveland for the Conference to help with our kids and to profit from the sessions.  It was great to introduce her to the wonderful team that works in our Home Office.

Since we got back to our home here in Marne, our time and efforts have been split between preparing for our home ministry (messages, DVD presentation and display) and visiting and helping Jonathan’s Mother.  His brother Don put in many long hours with us as he used his talent in graphic design to put together our display.  After several very late nights, thank the Lord that we were ready for our very first speaking engagement Sunday night at Wealthy Park Baptist Church.

  Praise for:

- the great Annual Conference with good fellowship, much spiritual refreshment and fun for our children.

- the good care and progress that Jonathan’s Mother has been making in rehab, and for the opportunity to be near enough to be a help and encouragement to her.

- the Lord’s help in getting all of the details prepared for our first speaking engagement Sunday night, and that many family members were present, including Jonathan’s Mom.

- the generosity of our church family shown through a love offering last evening which covers half of the cost of our plane fare back to France this coming Sunday.

- the time we have been able to spend with our families, including a special Birthday party for Adrianna on Saturday when she turned 8.

Pray for:

- Jonathan’s Mother who fell last night at Heartland and was taken to the ER at Butterworth Hospital for a CT scan and 5 staples in a laceration to her scalp.  She is rather bruised, but is back at Heartland.

- us to be able to catch up with communication and other projects after having so much put on hold these past several weeks.

- safety as we travel back to Reims, France on Sunday for three days to renew our temporary resident cards.  Pray that our one-year cards will be available for us to pick up by Tuesday (otherwise, we will have to make another trip back to France within three months).

- Adrianna, Caleb and Josiah as we leave them with Grandma and Grandpa Broeckert for the time that we are gone to France, and for Mama and Papa too.

- the Lord’s provision of finances to fund some major expenses we have: complete funding for this trip back to France ($1800 still needed) and funds to purchase home schooling materials for Adrianna and Caleb for this school year.