Thank you!

As I look at my little countdown clock on my computer, we are just 40 days away from leaving for Zambia on August 2nd. Our time in America has been flying by, especially since Charlie has come. He’s already over a week old!

First of all, we want to thank all of you for your prayers, love, phone calls, thoughtful cards, text messages, emails and Facebook messages with the news of Charlie being born! We have felt so blessed, encouraged and loved. And we are so thankful to God for Charlie, who was born healthy and safely last Friday!

If you could pray for us about these specific prayer requests over the next 40 days, we would really appreciate your continued prayers.

-Getting all of Charlie’s documents in order. I was able to get his birth certificate yesterday. Now, we need his Social Security number/card and Passport…in less than 40 days.

-Traveling/Speaking. We will be doing some speaking and traveling in July before we leave. I (Derek) will be speaking at Oakbrook Church in De Pere, WI on July 8th. Then all three of us will be at Faith Fellowship in Marshfield, WI on July 15th and Community Church of Appleton, on July 22nd. Please pray for safety as we travel and for the Spirit’s enabling as we share about life and HIV/AIDS ministry in Zambia.

-Financial Support: We desperately need more one-time and monthly donors for our ministry budget! PLEASE PRAY! ACTION Zambia’s HIV/AIDS Ministry: The C.R.O.S.S. Project, which we coordinate, desperately needs 6 supporters @ $50, 7 supporters @ $25, 8 supporters @ $10. To give to our ministry, you can donate here. To find out more about our ministry, you can go here.

-Our (Derek, Kristin and Charlie) personal support needs are now at 95%! Thanks so much for praying and giving, we are so thankful for your prayers and financial support! Please continue to pray that we will get to 100% by the time we head back to Zambia. To get to 100% of our monthly personal budget, we need 3 supporters @ $50 a month, 3 supporters @ $25 a month, and 5 supporters @ $10 a month. To give to our personal support needs, you can give here.

It is hard to believe that we are already counting down the days for returning to Zambia. While we are excited to return to our team, ministry, and house, we are also anticipating some of the challenges of saying goodbyes (again) and bringing a 7-week old baby back with us. We value your friendship and support in ways that cannot be measured and praise God for the gift each of you is to us.