Prayer letter - September 20, 2009

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Dear friends,

Thank you so much for your prayers for us! Here’s an update from the Palmers…


Preparation for teaching at Urbana, this Monday – Wednesday

Please pray for me as I travel to St. Louis tomorrow (Monday) morning for a training in preparation for the upcoming Urbana missions convention. I have been asked to lead a morning manuscript study in the Gospel of John for the International Poverty Track, which will have up to 1,000 participants. I’ve never led a Bible study remotely that large before! Please pray for my preparations, and also for Mini, Lily, and Emily as I am away for the next three days.


Lots of teaching this past month

In my last prayer letter (August 10), I asked you to pray for several upcoming speaking engagements that I had in the past month. Thank you for praying for me; each one went really well. Mini and I had the opportunity to present our ministry to one of our supporting churches at their annual camp, which was a fabulous time and a lot of fun. I also gave a message at our church in Long Beach on forgiveness, from the example of Joseph in Genesis 45. And, I taught at our Commissioning Service for seven new Servant Partners missionaries. As they are about to embark on their lives and ministries among the poor, I shared about on Jesus’ example of incarnation and his identification with society’s poor and vulnerable.

One thing I really love about our annual Commissioning Service is the sharing that each new missionary does of how God has led them to this point of committing their lives to serving the urban poor. It brings tears to my eyes to hear them share their stories and to see their dedication to God and his Kingdom. I praise God for these seven new workers that he has raised up, and thank him that he has graciously allowed me to work with and influence them at this stage of their preparation. Please pray for our missionaries on the field in Servant Partners, as they work in very difficult and demanding places, the urban slums of the developing world.


Long Beach update

We’ve been in our “new” home for a month and a half and are enjoying it very much. We hosted our first small group Bible study at our house this past week, and we plan to continue hosting them weekly. Please pray with us that as we follow Jesus in this community, and as God’s Word is taught, God would make us and our home a beacon of light for our neighbors.


Family update

Lily started pre-school this past week! It’s just a morning program, but quite a milestone nonetheless for our little girl who is growing up fast. Lily loves going to school. She cried when school let out because she didn’t want to go back home! Check out the attached picture of Lily and Emily if you’d like.

We are so grateful for your prayers for our family and are always happy to hear from you!

For the joy set before us,

Dave, Mini, Lily, and Emily

Lily starts preschool.

Here are a few pictures from Lily's very first day of preschool, September 15. Lily loves preschool so much that she cries when it is time to go home!

Here's a cute picture of Lily and Emily together, taken September 15. Lily is 3 years 3 months in this picture, and Emily is 1 year, 1 month.

Emily at 13 months

Here is a very cute picture of Emily at 13 and a half months