Prayer

Freshman year the night before spring break we started a tradition.  Five of us gathered in our RA's dorm room and prayed over two of our friends traveling to Russia on a mission trip.  Every year since then, Amber and I have taken turns praying over each other the night before mission trips.

In March, as we sat on the stairs in our school's chapel, Amber prayed over me and my trip to Nicaragua.  Then she playfully hit me in the leg, "Next time," she said, "We'll both be going!  Who's going to pray?"

Will you join us on this journey by supporting us in prayer?

Both now and while we're in China?

Definitely pray as God leads you to pray, but here are some of our suggestions and concerns:

• Thank the Lord on our behalf.  In March, just four months ago, we threw caution into the wind, obeyed the tugging of the Holy Spirit, and applied to go to China.  We had no idea how we were going to raise $6,000.  God provided and our trip is paid for!  We can't take credit for that.  Donors, We thank you for your obedience to the Lord.
• Team Unity: Mike, Juanita, Jori, Curt, Vernon, Amber, Katie, and Ann.  Pray that we work together as a team even though we've never met. May we serve and encourage each other while being willing to be used by God even when it's uncomfortable. 
• Students.  Pray that the Holy Spirit opens the hearts of our students (primarily middle school teachers) to hear the gospel (and learn English, of course).
• Focus.  There's a lot of pressure to look at life after China.  For me that means the job hunt.  For Amber, student teaching.  May the Lord teach us to put aside these concerns and allow us to focus on the serving Him in China.
• Trials.  May any and all trials we face in regards to this trip be used to grows us closer to Him, to reveal His power and faithfulness.
• Safety.  It's last for a reason.  Of course, we want to be safe to and from China as well as while we're there.  We're not going to be reckless and drink the water or anything.  Having seen foreign hospitals I don't ever want to be a patient in one.  But safety is not our priority: being obedient to the Lord is.

Thank you!  Knowing you all are reading this blog and lifting us up in prayer is incredibly encouraging!  Know also that we're praying and thanking God for you all.

I'll leave you with this well-known scripture that I've leaned on many times:
"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understand, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

Ping An,

<>< Katie
("Ping An" means "peace" and it's how Chinese Christians greet one another)