In training...I'm tired!

We started mission training on Wednesday, June 1, and though Orlando is reputed to be beautiful, we've not seen much of the city. Being in class every day from 8:30 to 5 keeps us from doing a lot, because we are absolutely exhausted at the end of the day.

Missionary Ventures is a phenomenal place, and the staff are wonderful. It's been two days so far, and my brain is so crammed full of information that I can't think anymore. Every single day is stuffed with speakers, and we sit and absorb as much as we can. We'll be here until the 11th.  We have specialized team leader training for people who will guide short-term mission trips on Saturday, and Monday we meet with the personnel committee, who will give us the final stamp of approval. Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's expectations.

Our other battle is monthly support.  We are trusting that God will lead mission-minded people to provide our monthly support. We need to be at 90% of our budget per month before we can leave. We're scheduled to leave August 4th, and we're only at 15-20% of what we need. Please pray that people will step up and commit to providing what they can per month. God can provide miracles, and we're believing our funding will be one!

The mission house will be our primary focus, and we're determined to provide a restful, serene place for the mission teams that come in to serve in Guatemala. We will be under the supervision of our country directors, Randy and Brenda Purcell. Our goal is to make the mission house productive, and allow Randy and Brenda to spend more time working on their ministry (which is huge!).  There are three lots at the mission house, and we will care for all of them. There is the lot with the mission house on it, an empty lot, and a lot with a vacant house. We'd like to make the mission more self-sufficient by adding to the garden and raising chickens. The housekeeper, Blanca, comes in every other day and has a small garden there for herself and her family. Hopefully she'll teach me to grow native plants, and also how to cook native dishes. The food she served us in November was delightful!

Please pray that we meet the personnel committee's approval, and that people will commit to providing support for us as we prepare to move to Guatemala and serve the Lord.

God Bless y'all!

Lisa