One of the tasks that is exciting for me, as a Missions Mobilizer, is to be able to translate prayer letters from English into Spanish and thus be able to give Spanish-speaking Friends the opportunity to learn more about EFM and our missionaries’ ministries and needs. Besides that, my husband and I are interpreters at the monthly EFM Luke 10:2 Prayer Gatherings! We love going out to mobilize the churches, teaching and preaching about missions. It is exciting to see how interest in serving the Lord in other nations is awakening in the hearts of young people.

I am very grateful that God still gives us the opportunity to continue working hand in hand with Mexico Yearly Meeting. We are a part of their team to develop their new church planting project, Vision Mexico 32. This project’s goal is to establish a new Friends church in each of the 32 states of Mexico by the year 2032, sending two-three families of new planters per year. As we see the hand of God working on the results, my husband and I have committed to coaching the new planters that are going out into the field; we are currently coaching four of them.

We ask for your prayers in the coming months, as my husband and I are excited and preparing to lead the follow-up Luke 10 exploration trips to Mexico and Ecuador, seeking discernment and confirmation from God to know where to send new missionaries to launch new fields. We are praying and would like these teams to include future missionaries. Please pray for God to send more laborers to his harvest.

Luke 10 Exploration Trip #2 to Mexico: April 4-May 01
Luke 10 Exploration Trip #2 to Ecuador: June 5-15

I am excited to share our new ministry video. If you would like to use it and are unable to download it from YouTube, please contact Krista Alvarez.

We are enthusiastic and looking forward to these wonderful ministry opportunities. So now I would like to invite you to be part of, helping me to continue to carry out this mobilizing ministry and all the tasks and roles that God is sending us to do as we carry out the Great Commission, through your support, firstly in prayer and, also, financially. My financial support is down to 63%, I pray that God will touch more hearts of joyful givers who would want to partner with me and be a part of what he is sending us to do for his kingdom. Another need we have is to raise funds to carry out these second Luke 10 Exploration Trips. The one to Mexico will cost $1,600 per person and the one to Ecuador $2,000 per person. Some can go, others can pray, and others can support with their financial contribution. Edwin and I can go, would you please consider supporting these trips and being able to go with us through your prayers and financial giving? You can do so in one of the following ways: Make donations to our upcoming Luke 10 Exploration Trips here. Make sure to select “Projects | EFM Hispanic Friends Mobilization | Luke 10 Trips and Mobilizing”. Make recurring commitments to our ministry here. Make donations or recurring commitments over the phone at 303-421-8100. Make donations and recurring commitments by check mailed to EFM, PO Box 771139, Wichita, KS 67277. Please make sure to mark your check with “Maria Giron” or ” Giron Luke 10 Trips”. Please include a message to EFM that you are committing to recurring giving.

I am sincerely grateful for so many of you who have faithfully been praying for us, supporting us, and showing us so much love during our 16 years of service with EFM. God evidently loves me and my family and one of the wonderful ways to show it is through you! Thank you!

“And he said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go your way; behold, I am sending you out as lambs in the midst of wolves.” Luke 10:2-3 ESV

In Obedience to Him,
Maria Giron
EFM Mission Mobilizer for Hispanic Friends

The post Maria Giron April 2023 Ministry Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

A weird thing happened when I was talking about this trip. I had hesitation to say I was going “home” to California. I wasn’t sure California felt like home but I’m not sure Greystones felt like home yet either. The things I described above are not physical places except for Target . I miss people, my most beloved people and they happen to be in California. But I missed Greystones too. I missed my Nazarene church family dearly. I missed big hugs from Bev on Sunday morning, squeezing the cheeks of Riadh and Eagen as they grow before our very eyes, I missed dinner with the Stephens and Sunday school with our older kids. Home has always been people to me, not a place.

The week before I left for California, I preached about comfort and prayer. Home is a place of comfort as well, where people are warm, welcoming, and safe. Greystones has been all three of those things. God, the Father has always been a place of safety and home for me as well. Wherever he is, especially when it’s his body of believers, I feel at home. I was blessed to visit two church families while I was in California and each of them is home. Church of the Nazarene Greystones is home too.

Spending time with my Gateway Friends Small Group

Celebrating my birthday with my family in Calfirnia!

What I’ve Been Reading:

Beth Moore’s memoir: All My Knotted-Up Life

Mama Beth, as one of my favorite podcasters, calls her, is characteristically open and vulnerable while describing honestly her childhood and rise to notoriety. Highly recommend.

What I’ve Been Watching:

The Chosen

My Thursday morning Bible study ladies decided to start watching this incredibly well-done series together and discussing the Scripture each episode is based on. As a student of film, I am routinely skeptical of Christian media, but I assure this series is compelling and well-executed.

What I’ve Been Listening to:

Brandi Carlisle’s entire discography.

A dear friend played Carlisle’s The Story as her first dance song at her wedding over a decade ago. I rediscovered her catalog a few months ago. The Joke, Right On Time, and The Mother are some of my favorite tracks.

Thank you so much for holding me and my ministry up in prayer each month.

Praise:

• A most excellent vacation in California, with uneventful travel and almost constant time with my family.
• A few ladies stayed in my house while I was away and I’m grateful for their care of my home.

Requests:

• Inevitable homesickness as I came back to Greystones after having all access to my family for three weeks.
• The driver’s license journey continues, please pray for endurance, and focus as I take driver’s lessons and tests.
• Our upcoming Holy Week events at the Naz, that God would be glorified.
• Our continuing efforts to build a youth program.

All my love and prayers,

Molly

The post Molly Morton’s April 2023 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Dear Prayer Partners,

Two weeks ago, I turned 40. It’s a big milestone birthday, unfortunately everyone I could celebrate with here in Ireland seemed to be quarantined for COVID-19 close contact or isolating to ensure safety for travel. It’s a strange thing to celebrate a big birthday in a new town and country, thousands of miles and time zones away from those I would have normally been celebrating with.

As I sat looking out at the sunset over the Wicklow mountains the night I turned 40, I felt a little lonely. I sat with that feeling for a moment (my therapist would be so proud) and I eventually gave myself some grace while remembering that I am blessed with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Now the comfort of the presence of the Holy Spirit did not negate the feelings of loneliness but I did find it easier to hold that loneliness in the presence of the Holy Spirit. As I sit here writing this, I want to give thanks for all the ways I was celebrated, albeit a few days later thanks to COVID-19. I usually celebrate for a few weeks anyway

• As I began setting up for our home group last week, a dear friend of mine, Rhoda arrived with her husband. Now they usually attend separately so one of them can stay home with their three small children, so it was a little strange that they were there together. It turns out that they were there to help throw a surprise belated birthday party for me along with the rest of our homegroup and some other church members! I was legitimately surprised and so blessed by these new friendships.
• On the topic of surprises, I received a package from my small group at Gateway Friends in Southern California. It was full of thoughtful and random things, just like my small group. I am blessed by their friendship and intentional interaction through the time zones.
• My dad gifted me with a spa trip away in the Wicklow Mountains where I ate delicious food, got a massage, sat in a field with the three cutest alpacas, took long walks, and read an entire book. It was glorious!
• Several new and old friends took time to send me a card, buy me cake, and cook me dinner.

I am so blessed with all of my friendships, new and old. I am blessed by your friendship and support of my work in Ireland. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Blessings,
Molly

            < View from my birthday trip to Powerscourt

I’m Watching…

The Way We Were on RTE: The public television station RTE has done a great documentary series about the history of Ireland focusing on different topics like how they lived, played, and dressed. It’s helpful and interesting to look back at my new country’s past through this type of lens.

The Simpler Life: Last summer, 24 volunteers agreed to live a simpler life on a farm outside of Devon for research. They were tested on different areas including health, mental wellness and stress. The researchers are determining if a simpler life patterned after the Amish lifestyle improves those measurements of well-being. It’s fascinating plus it’s Amish and I am fascinated by the Amish.

I’m Reading…

Wild by Kristin Hannah. Hannah is one of my favorite authors and if you’ve been reading these updates for any length of time, you’ll recognize her. This book is about a disgraced psychologist that comes back to her hometown to care for a recently discovered feral child.

Educated by Tara Westover: WARNING: this book is a tough hang but very well written. Tara was raised as far off the grid as possible. The first time she entered a classroom was when she entered university at 17 years old. Since her family rarely recorded anything and were of course not recorded with the government, it was fascinating to read about how herself and her family members remembered their lives, memory is a strange and varied thing

I’m Listening To…

I’ve had a steady playlist of Dermot Kennedy, Chris Stapleton, Harry Styles and The Popcast Podcast; that’s all!

Praises:

• I am one step closer to getting my PPS number. I’ve become registered with a local medical practice and have sent a letter into the department handling my PPS registration. I’ve also been able to get a booster shot finally. Thank you for continuing to pray for patience during this process.
• My EFM team and I were blessed to welcome Dan Cammack, EFM Field Director and Rich Miller at the end of February. It was nice to show them around and welcome them into my home.
• My friend from our Ecumenical Prayer group invited me to join her weekly ladies Bible study and I am loving it!

Requests:

• I feel like COVID-19 is closing in on me. Please pray against that, and if I do get it, that it would be mild and easily recovered from.
• We at Greystones Nazarene Community Church have a busy Easter season coming up. Please pray for myself, Luke, and Tim as we guide our congregation during this special time.
• Please keep praying for my ability to be present here in Ireland. I am missing home, my family, and silly things like Target lately. Pray for times like the ones described above where I can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit with me.

The post Molly Morton’s April 2022 Ministry Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

It’s been 25 months… but on Tuesday the Little Friends Parent and Baby Group started up again! A lot has changed (including the venue!). My baby toys are trapped in my shed (because the door is broken!). BUT there was coffee and tea, lemon bars, duvets on the floor for the babies, and three new mums and their babies today. It was a good start, and I am thankful.

When I posted on Facebook that the group would be starting again I was touched at the response of some mums from years ago. One said, “Ah. Such happy memories of this lovely group. Can’t believe it was ten years ago.” Another responded, “Me too!” A third wrote, “So many happy memories Where many great friendships were formed.”

That’s the best advertising, and I feel really glad I get to be part of their lives.

Please pray for this beginning, and these young families. Thank you.

Kathi

Ready (minus my box of baby toys!) and Waiting…

The post Kathi Perry April 2022 Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

The following story is shared by our Friends in India and shows how one relationship was changed from your support.

Rekha was a good believer in Christ. Rekha, her husband, and her daughter accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior. She was suffering from cancer and a big tumor in her stomach. However, these diseases did not take away her faith in Jesus. She continued to tell her two sons and other relatives about Jesus. The people whom she used to talk to about Jesus, did not respond to her well. But she was not disappointed. In September 2021, she passed away and a miracle happened after her death. Her two sons and two other relatives decided to follow Jesus. Four people in that area gave their lives to Jesus and many more have shown interest. A new house church has been started. There is an evangelist who is taking care of the fellowship. The four relatives and few others have made a public testimony of baptism. Praise God for his use of Rekha’s life!

If you would like to help make a difference in the lives of people like Rekha, here’s how:

The post A Story of Transformation from India first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

EFM Future Missionary Training Trip | Rwanda

Having recently retired from a university teaching career I am praying about how and where God might use me next. It has been a delight to join EFM’s future missionary training trips that provide cultural immersion and opportunities to learn from local leaders and missionaries on the front lines.

In January I was able to spend three weeks on the future missionary trip to Rwanda, Africa. I enjoyed getting to know our current missionaries, the Carpenter family, learn culture, make friends, and get firsthand training exposure to the whole life discipleship method being used there called Discipling for Development (D4D). It was especially meaningful for me to witness how people are coming to Christ and experiencing the abundant life promised as they learn through the D4D program how to wholly walk with God.

It was a privilege to be part of the joint meetings between EFM leadership and Rwandan church leaders to discuss partnering with them to reach unreached people in surrounding African countries.

My experience in Rwanda has spurred me to continue pursuing options for future missionary service and especially prompted me to get further training in Discipling for Development. Regardless of where he leads me, I’m excited to see that God is working in central Africa, and so happy to explore how I can further be a part of it.  Thank you, EFM, for this opportunity.

Jan Cammack

EFM Future Missionary

Click here to download the full prayer letter…

The post April 2022 Prayer Letter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

We have been receiving requests for help from our missionaries and national leaders, and we are anticipating more requests. So far they mostly focus on food.

Would you prayerfully consider giving to EFM’s Emergency Fund to help with food and other needs that arise? The options for how to make a contribution are listed below.

Thank you for the way you responded last year when we asked for this kind of assistance. Your generous response allowed us to help 12 of our mission fields, most of them more than once.

Your fellow servant in Christ,

Dan Cammack

Executive Director

• Give online here. Please make sure to note that you would like your gift designated to the COVID-19 Emergency Aid.
• Give by credit card over the phone at 303-421-8100.
• Mailing a check marked with COVID-19 Emergency Aid designation to EFM, PO Box 771139, Wichita KS 67277.

The post Invitation to EFM’s Constituency to Give to the COVID-19 Emergency Fund first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

As many of you are hearing the news about India’s COVID-19 situation we want to let you know that we both are safe and our staff are doing alright. Some of our Home girls living in their home towns and their family members have had mild symptoms of COVID-19. Among the general public many are infected severely and dying. The numbers quoted on TV or by our government are comparatively very, very less. There is a shortage of medicines, oxygen, ventilators and beds in the hospitals. There is a lot of extortion at the hospitals and even in the crematoriums. In North India, especially it is a very bad situation.

In Shobha’s family five were COVID-19 positive. By God’s grace all are now healed. Thank God. They got timely help and now they are back in their own homes. My parents are still very weak. Not able to eat food. Today my mother is admitted in the hospital as she is not able to eat anything. My sister has no fever but she has cough and very weak. Kindly pray for my parents and my sister. Thank you. In my home town, there are many COVID-19 cases. Some neighbours of my parents are affected and are hospitalised. Every day I hear of someone that I know is dying of COVID-19. Very sad situation.

At this time, we are reminded of 2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land”.

In our last prayer letter, we sought help for our daughter Melissa who had no summer vacation plans.  We are so thankful for the response we got from many. Several of you have opened your houses for her. Thank you so much.

We are very thankful for Pastor Roy Mack for suggesting a summer camp in Florida.  He introduced us to his friend who is the Director of this camp. Melissa applied and got accepted to work in this place. She will have the opportunity to work all summer. She is in Kansas till 4^th May and then she will drive to Dallas where she will get her driver’s license renewed. After that she will go to Florida.  We are so thankful for your suggestions and many of you opened your doors for our daughter. Our hearts are truly touched by your kindness.

We are again in lockdown for two weeks. Please continue to pray for safety. We are mostly working through our phones, praying and counselling and encouraging those in need. Thank you for your prayers for us and for India.

Yours in His Grace,

A. and S. M.

The post April 2021 A. and S. M. Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

Bangladesh Newsletter

April 2021

The post April 2021 Bangladesh Newsletter first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.

The post April 2021 B. and D. A. Update first appeared on FRIENDSMISSION.COM.