This weekend we had a couple of great meetings on the Lord's Day.  We had the pleasure to join Pastor Moore of Cherry Grove Baptist Church for the evening service.  When we arrived we were so excited to find that Missionary Keith Shumaker to Burkina Faso, Africa was preaching and bringing an update report.  We were so encouraged by the testimony of veteren missionaries like the Shumakers and the love of a pastor for missionaries like Pastor Moore.  After Brittany and I testified of the Lord's work in England they voted to support us monthly right there

We had such a wonderful time with the Prescott family and the people of Cornerstone Baptist Church.  This was a World Mission Conference on "Global Warning." On Saturday we got to help in the local annual Pumpkin Festival.  The church sets up a booth of fun and games for the kids and we were able to invite the community to church and speak to them about the Lord Jesus Christ.  Being with Pastor Prescott and his family was such an encouragement to us.  We were touched by their genuine spirit to serve the Lord in Manchester, NH.

This past Sunday we had the privilege to be with Pastor John Ludka in Groton, CT.  We joined them on a special Missions Sunday along with the Lockhart family in Brazil.  Brittany and I were able to present God's work in the United Kingdom in the morning service.  After the morning services we had a massive international dinner.  It was quite delicious and very authentic.  After dinner we had a great question and answer time with the church.

Monday we went to Mystic Seaport in Mystic, CT with Pastor Ludka and the Foreman family.  It was like going back in time seeing all these really old sail boats.  Thank you, Pastor Ludka, for a great time.

We attended a couple of days with Pastor Todd Bell of Calvary Baptist Church for their missions conference.  We had such a wonderful welcome from all the school children telling us that they were praying for us.  Last month we became Calvary Baptist Church's school first missionary and they even made a special bulletin board just for us.  On Tuesday afternoon Pastor Bell took all the missionaries and bought us new shoes.  Thank you for being such a blessing!

We had an amazing time with Pastor Erick Ness and his family.  They were such an encouragement to us.  Last Thursday Pastor Ness and I were able to have a great time of fellowship while building a back porch on the church.  Sunday night Pastor Ness informed Brittany and I that they were taking us on for monthly support.  Praise the Lord for friends like the Ness family.

We had the privilege to drop in on one of our supporting churches on our way to our evening meeting.  During the morning service Pastor Gaston gave me an opportunity to update everyone on our progress and we shared our prayer request about the expenses of moving.  After our testimony Pastor Gaston approached the pulpit and the church decided to give us $1,000 towards our moving expenses.  AMEN!!!  After the service a 3 year old girl came up to me and said with the sweetest voice,  "Offering for the missionary."  She handed me a check for $200 and her mom said for her birthday she gives a gift to a missionary and we wanted to give it to you.   Our hearts melted as we were blessed by God through the people of South Shore Baptist Church.  A few loaded handshakes later we left for Crystal River, FL for the evening service.

We have looked forward to this meeting with much anticipation because our pastor, Jody Jenkins, has preached at this church many times.   We were so encouraged how the people received our burden for the people of the United Kingdom.  We were also encouraged to hear so many people comment on how they love our pastor and his family.  Thank you Bible Baptist Church of Crystal River, FL and we can only agree that God has blessed Brittany and I with a great home church.

During our time in Florida we contacted Gulf Coast Baptist Church. They are one of our supporting churches and we found out about a very special ladies conference going on there.  Brittany was able to attend the conference and was tremendously encouraged.  Thank you to pastor's wives like Nancy Sexton that have a burden to encourage ladies in the work of the ministry. 

We joined West Gate Baptist Church, home of Florida Baptist College on Thursday for their mid-week service.  Pastor Pirt and his family were such an encouragement.  They had a deaf ministry at the church and Brittany was thrilled to be a part of that.  We were touched by the burden this church has to reach all people with the Gospel.  There was such a sweet spirit in this place and we know it was the Spirit of the Living God!

It was a such a blessing to be a part of Dry Run Baptist Church's mission conference in Duncansville, Pennsylvania.  This church had such a heart to give and a desire to be a blessing.  We were overwhelmed by their gifts and hospitality.  We left after the Thursday evening service and for our 18 hour drive to south Florida.  

This weekend completed a powerful missions conference at First Baptist Church of Southwest Broward.  Pastor Tom Odom and his family were such an encouragement to us.  We praise the Lord for the prayer and financial support of this church.  It has been encouraging to revisit a church that has been supporting us since the beginning of our deputation.  God has knit our hearts with so many people here and we are thrilled to be missionaries supported by them.

We just finished an amazing missions conference last night at Dry Run Independent Baptist Church and miraculously we have experienced "missionary deputation teleportation". As many laid their heads down while we were in PA, you now awake as we have arrived in south Florida. Thank you for your continued prayers!

The Lord has truly blessed the past week.  We spent our Wednesday with Calvary Baptist Church in Sanford, ME.  Pastor Todd Bell preached a great message on overcoming discouragement.  God moved in a mighty way while sharing God's work in the UK.  After the service we were surprised with a mighty blessing when Pastor Bell's dad offered to fix the massive dent in our car from Florida last year.  (See Blog Post: "Thank you for your prayers" Archive: November 2012)  We are so thankful for a family like this to show us the love of Christ in a special way.

On Friday, we came back to Sanford, ME and I had the privilege to preach in morning chapel at Sanford Christian Academy.  At the end of the service Pastor Bell announced that the school was going to begin supporting us monthly.  Praise the Lord, we are the academy's first missionaries!  After lunch Pastor Bell took Brittany and me on an airplane ride.  It is amazing to see the opportunity that God has given them through a "Wings Ministry".

As the weekend continued we had the privilege to catch up with some friends, Jimmy and Angela Noreau.  Jimmy and I worked together at Beeches Road Baptist Chapel in Birmingham, England in 2008.  God is now using them in a mighty way as they work with the youth at Westbrook Baptist Church and prepare to start a church in northern New York.

On the Lord's day we were so excited to see what God was doing at Westbrook Baptist Church.  Pastor Jason Stoeber and his family were such an encouragement to us as we shared our burden for souls around the world.  Please pray that God will continue to bless as this church is active in church planting ministries and reaching their community for the cause of Christ.

For the evening service on the Lord's day we traveled to Standish Baptist Church in Standish, ME.  There we were encouraged to find people excited about serving God.  Pastor Gary Wilkins and his family were sweet people.  After the service we had a "Pie Pallooza" with all the church members.  We have never eaten so much pie in our lives!