Mission Partners Update
Peace in the Storms of Life
You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Isaiah 26:3: (NLT)
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Isaiah 26:3 (ESV)
It’s comforting to know that he is with us in times of quarantine. It can be challenging however to keep our minds on him when so much around us is different, unusual and unsettling. I’ve found myself asking the Lord, “Okay what do you want me to learn during this time?” Not much of my life has changed really, I am still working, it’s just from a different location, home but I work overseas on a regular basis, not always in my church office. It is nice to work in my comfy sweat pants and occasionally have a nice warm kitty on my lap. Yet, there are some growing pains, trying to stay connected virtually to everyone. However, for the most part, I am at peace, leaning into the Lord and prayerfully seeking his best, praying for our world, our nation, our church, our mission partners and for you.
Well many of you are asking how are our mission partners doing so I wanted to take some time in this note to give you some brief updates as I receive them. This morning I had a lovely virtual coffee meeting with Tom and Tisha Phillips who serve in the UK with World Horizons. They are well, the UK is on lockdown, and they are allowed to go out once a day. If all goes as planned they are hoping to visit Third in August.
Adam, Mary and family are doing well in Asia (for security purposes I am not including their last name and exact location). They said they are wearing their masks when they go outside, Adam is able to go to the office, and home schooling is in full swing in their small but cozy apartment.
Chris, Leah and family (again not including last names for security purposes) have returned to Virginia and are staying at a Third members condo, self-quarantining and adjusting to life on the move. They are happy to be home near family.
Our sister-church in Cairo, El Sharabia, is also streaming their church services. Please keep them in prayer as they return to fostering new relationships with those who came to the medical clinic.
Karen Carr was scheduled for an interview during our services this Sunday (3/29) but had to cancel. She is serving on a crisis management team of her sending organization Barnabas International. The team is trying to get several missionary families home as well as to assist getting care to those showing signs of COVID 19. She is a trained clinical psychologist serving missionaries around the world especially those in crisis.
Several of our local partners are updating us as well. Many of them are seeking ways to reach out to their communities and constituents to help with needs during this time.
I had a lovely conversation with Myrna McLaughlin (of Least of These Ministries) one evening this week. She provided an update on how things are going in Zimbabwe and expressed her deep desire to be with them sometime soon.
These are just a few select updates. I’ll continue updating this blog weekly with information about our partners. If you would like to connect with any of them directly, please contact Rebecca Hatton (rebeccah@thirdrva.org) and she will help you connect to them.