EAST ASIA BOUND?

Many of you know that two of our own Pioneer Trailblazers have been called into full time missions in East Asia. Almost one year ago they were certain that they were going to be leaving the US for their destination and then boom, they hit a God-sized roadblock. After what has been a frustrating and challenging year, it seems they are getting very very close to leaving in January.

Being a full-time missionary in the foreign harvest fields is not as easy as one may expect. These guys have to raise enough money each month from believers and churches to cover all expenses while they are there. This process is a bit daunting when you realize that they have to raise around $3500 per month to survive where they are going. On top of that they have to pack and store all of their own personal things, find short-term places to live, and get rid of cars, pets or other items that just can't go with them to the field.

Certainly the life of a missionary is the life filled with sacrifice. I'm thankful for my two friends that have led the way and example in making it all about Christ and nothing about them. I've seen them live in a small metal, one-room shed for several months as they were going through the down-sizing process. They live humble lifestyles that I know are honoring to the Lord and they don't do it for attention or fame, but they do it for the love of Christ; they do it for the lost people in their target area; they do it all out of LOVE!

Americans always want to look to the Michael Jordan's of the world for their heroes but I look to our two trailblazers (who must remain nameless for security reasons). In my mind they are the heroes we should be cheering on loudly as they "go" and as they serve the Lord. Our cheers should come through our checkbooks in the matter of financial support and our cheers should come through our prayer closets as we lay them at the Lord's feet.

John and Jane Trailblazer will be traveling this weekend to another church where they will be speaking and asking for support. I implore you keep them in your prayers as Sunday night from 6 to 8 pm they will be speaking. Ask the Lord to allow them to find favor among the ears that hear and that enough will be given so that they may finally go! After a year of hardly any movement in the fundraising department, in just one month God has released almost $2000 a month from people all along the East Coast that are helping them "go." They are down to a minimum of needing only $150 more per month (that's just 10 people giving $15 per month). If they get this amount it will be the bare minimum they need to go. They will not be able to take taxi's in the city or eat out or have any discretionary income, but at least they can go. The thing about these guys is I know that they don't care if they have to ride a bike or walk if it means that they can simply be in the field doing the Lord's work.

Thanks for your prayers so far in this process and I beg you to continue lifting them up before the Lord over the next two weeks. You may look for continuing updates through this missions blog as information comes available. By the way they are represented graphically on the side of this blog with the red flag. The red flag is there to represent the area known as Eastern Asia and is in no way an indication of the exact location of their ministry.