Pray for Immigration Process...again!

Well, it's that time again...to renew another Canadian visa so I can remain here. My current work visa expires at the end of September. I still feel led to stay here and the convention staff isn't tired of me yet (HA!), so I must send in my extention application. Without going into all the details and what that entails, just pray for this process and that all will go smoothly.

I continue to feel that God would have me here. God continues to show me that in a number of ways. If you had told me in August of 2001 that I would still be in Canada, I would not have believed you. It's completely God! A couple of months ago, I finally sent in my permanent residency application. Now, before some of you gasp, let me clarify that this does not mean I will not come back to the US. I'm here until God says otherwise. I just know this was a huge step I needed to take. I should have started it earlier...I know my application has been received, so it is being reviewed. There's a number of steps before it is final. I am praying that it will be a quick and easy process.

I ask your prayers for both of these things. It's nerve-wracking having to do all this, but it must be done. Pray for the ones reviewing my PR application and for the ones who will review the work visa extension application. Pray that I can trust God completely.

Thanks for your continued love, support, and prayers!

Convention Video 2010 now online

Convention 2010 meeting in Toronto is now online! Click here to see what we as a convention of churches are all about and how our annual meeting it's not just 'another yearly meeting'. If you want to get a peek into what part of my position with the CNBC consists of, check out the Thursday evening Global Missions Celebration. I still need to blog about our wonderful time in Toronto and how God showed up. Enjoy!

I Love Calls Like This

I often answer our phone at work and never know who will be on the other end. Will it be for me? Will it be a pastor needing to speak to someone specific in our office? Will it be someone I know and I get to catch up with them before transfering the call? Will it be someone calling about missions related things? Well, today I got a call from my mom! I love calls like this! That was exciting as I was away for almost a week on a mission trip and didn't get to talk with my parents. But I would have to say that the highlight (sorry, Mom!) was when I answered a call about missions related things in Canada. I love calls like this!

When our Partnership and Volunteers Ministry Leader is not in the office, I will often talk with the person to see what info I can give them and then pass the information along. Today's call was from a missions leader in northern Arkansas. Their committee had recently met and felt led to contact our office to see how they could be on missions up here. I love calls like this!

I could hear the excitment and passion in this gentleman's voice as he shared with me what he and others would like to see happen over 3-5 years. They would hope the partnership could be reciprocal. This is what we are aiming for in all partnerships. I told him that we could definitely make a partnership happen in some way and in some area of Canada. I was able to share with him a bit of my journey. He didn't know about our seminary up here. I love calls like this!

What I was most surprised about was when the call was coming to an end and this gentleman said, "Let me pray for you"! Wow!!! I usually expect to be the one to minister to others in some way, but God sent this man my way. He said the sweetest prayer for me...
I love how God does things like this when least expected...especially from someone I don't even know. Like he said in his prayer, "I look forward to when we can meet face to face." I can't wait to see what God is going to do as a result of the phone call today.
God is good and I thank Him for smiling down on me like that today.