Prayer letter, September 11

Dear friends,

We hope and pray you’ve had a great summer! Our summer has been a joy, seeing many of you again, and watching our precious Lily grow.

Lily update

Lily is three months old today! She is such a wonderful baby. She sleeps great at night (she got the sleep gene from both of her parents!), and is very good natured and delightful. She is getting more and more interactive, and is starting to play with us. We are so thankful to God for Lily. I’ve attached to this email a few pictures of her on her three month birthday! Thank you so much for your prayers for her. Please do continue to pray for wisdom from God for Mini and me for every stage of Lily’s life.

Living in Long Beach

We have moved to Long Beach! Our new home address is:

6481 Atlantic Avenue #137
Long Beach, CA 90805

We live in a large apartment complex. We’ve been meeting our neighbors and inviting them to church. Just yesterday I met a Hindu couple from India who live in our building. I spoke Hindi to them and they were astonished to hear a white man speaking their mother tongue. They invited us to come over any time. Do pray for our relationships with our neighbors and opportunities to share the gospel.

The new church plant we are a part of (Fountain of Life Covenant Church) will have its very first public church service this coming Sunday, September 17. We’ll have one “preview” service a month in September, October, and November, and then we start with weekly services in early December. We’re all very excited about what God will do in this community. Please pray for us.

Visits to Sacramento and Oregon

In July and August we traveled up to Sacramento and Oregon, visiting family and friends. Lily got to meet her great-grandparents in Oregon – that was extra special. (I wrote a tribute to my grandparents on our blog, dated August 8. Feel free to read it!) We also had a “welcome Lily” party in Sacramento that many of you attended. Mini and I talked afterward about how grateful we are to God that he has given us so many dear friends (not only in Sacramento!) who love us and care about us, and our daughter. We are blessed!

The Crossroads Conference

In my last prayer letter I asked you to pray for our teaching at the Crossroads Conference. Mini and I taught a seminar, hoping to inspire young people to devote their lives to missions for the sake of the joy set before us. After we did the seminar, it occurred to me that some of you might like to read it. So, I’ve attached it to this email too. Feel free to have a look if you are interested. If you have any comments at all (positive or negative), I would be glad to hear your feedback!

Servant Partners’ Global Urban Training School

Servant Partners’ annual Global Urban Training School (GUTS) is starting in two weeks. I will be helping to coordinate the first week of the training, which will be held here in Los Angeles from September 24 - 29. Then, the candidates go to Manila, the Philippines for exposure to an international urban poor setting, and additional training. I would appreciate your prayers for me and for all of this year’s candidates. One of my roles here in the US is to help prepare and train new missionaries who are going to the field with Servant Partners, so GUTS is an important time for me.

Upcoming church retreat

I would also appreciate your prayers on Saturday, September 30 and Sunday, October 1. I will be teaching on Romans 8 at a weekend church retreat for East West Church.

We love you, and we are always happy to hear from you! We pray for all of God’s blessings in your life, and joy and peace in our Lord Jesus.

For the joy set before us,

Dave, Mini, & Lily