Serving at Northwest Baptist and New Newsletter

I wanted to give one more update before we leave on our first series of meetings since Jonas's birth. We are excited about the prospects of working with Grace Bible Church in Colorado Springs, CO, as they put on a vacation Bible school for the children in their community. Our work there will begin 12 July; we will leave Friday, Lord willing.

While Jenny has been recovering, I have been glad for the opportunity to teach at Northwest Baptist Church. They were very receptive as I taught through a three-part summary series of 1 Timothy. They also allowed Jenny and me to take on junior church responsibilities during these weeks that we couldn't be away on meetings. I have been so glad for these opportunities to serve.


We've produced the summer edition of our newsletter. It's available for download here.


Praise Report:

• Great time of teaching and serving at Northwest Baptist
• Northwest Baptist has agreed to take us on for financial support
• Jonas and Jenny's continued health

Prayer Requests:

• Mutual encouragement of faith through missionary presentations
• Health and safety
• More meetings to present our work in 2010
• God's provision and timing for our departure to Kenya

Reaching Toward the New Normal

We are so thankful to God for answering all of your prayers and ours from the last few months! Baby Jonas Liam (LEE-um) Pittsley came into the world at 9:42pm on 2-Jun! Based on Josiah's size (8 lbs 8 oz at birth), Jenny's doctor decided to induce labor on Jenny's due date this time around. We're glad she did because Jonas was 8 lbs and 15oz, 20 inches! Mom and Baby are both recovering nicely as we reach the two week mark. Other than marginally quick breathing, which calmed down while we were still at the hospital, Jonas gave the doctors and nurses no cause for concern. His first doctor's appointment last Friday went well too. Praise the Lord!

Lately, I've switched to the night shift, covering for Jenny while she sleeps. My aim has been to use the quiet night hours to prepare messages for upcoming meetings. Jonas hasn't been entirely cooperative with me here. (What was I thinking, "Quiet hours"?) Babies have a tendency of interrupting plans and wrecking thought trains; it's good preparation for the mission field!
Jonas is particularly interested in cuddling up and making a pillow out of my shoulder. And, of course, I find it hard to say no. Nevertheless, I have been able to continue making calls and set up meetings during the day, and progress continues to unfold on that front.

Pray for us as we try to establish a new normal with the baby around. I've meetings scheduled through the end of this year, but I would like to have at least Jan-Mar of next year done before our return to regular meetings and travel on 10-Jul. I would also like to complete a series on the sermons in Acts by that point and make significant progress on a Hebrew research project that needs to be ready for this autumn.
Now that Jonas is two weeks old, we will be transitioning to a more disciplined schedule with him. Pray that the schedule takes easily, and pray too that he is able to travel well with the new structure we're trying to build into his life. This is going to be an adventure, and at every point we are reminded of our need for God's help.

Still Waiting

There's not really much new to report from the last couple of weeks. Everything may be summarized in a few bullets.

• Jonas has not come yet. At Jenny's appointment today they told her that they would discuss induction at her Monday appointment if the baby has not yet come. Pray for a safe delivery and healthy baby.
• I am preparing to set up meetings for this year and next. Pray for God's timing in getting us to the field. We would still like to make it before the end of next year.
  
• I have the opportunity to teach adult Sunday school and junior church while we're here in Albuquerque waiting for Jonas. I'm very happy about the opportunity to serve.

I'll be sure to update everyone with Jonas news when there is something new to report.

Calling Contacts and Email Subscription

The last couple of weeks have been generally uneventful as Jenny continues her weekly doctor visits, and I continue to make calls to set up meetings with pastors. All of Jenny's check-ups have been normal. It's hard to imagine we'll have a baby around in three weeks or so! I may get one or two more meetings squeezed in for this year, but now I'm working mostly on next year's meetings. It has been good for me to see God provide in these ways.

I was able to attend a regional pastors' conference here in Albuquerque early last week. The pastor I grew up under at Sun Valley Baptist introduced me to a number of new contacts there. I am now working through all of the churches in that fellowship and contacting many of their pastors. I think of it as a hunt for those churches that God has planned for us to partner with. I always have to remember that, though God uses means to accomplish his wise plan, our trust should not be in the means, but in the God whose plan can never fail.

In other news, I have finally set up an email subscription form. If you are interested in partnering with us in prayer, please type your email into the form here on the right sidebar of my blog under "Subscriptions and Your Email." You will receive by email these blog posts and the quarterly newsletter; I will not use your email address for any other purpose. If you have already contacted me with this request, you will have received a verification email from Google's Feedburner today. Simply verify your email address to begin receiving email updates from me. We have already seen the grace of God in our lives as he works on behalf of those who call on him for our sake; thank you for partnering with us in that way.