October Prayers

Dear Brothers and Sisters, We need prayer. The last few weeks have been so strange. The Lord has blessed us with a home until Dec. 31, the day we plan to go to Ecuador, but we are really finding it hard to raise the monthly support we need. Each day Alaina and I have been praying for wisdom in how to approach our situation. So far, there is shelter over our heads, food on the table and a bed to sleep on, but we want more than to just survive. Each day we have resolved to trust him more as we just don’t know what to do next. We are $2000 away from our needed monthly support. Pray and ask the Lord what your part could be in getting us to Ecuador. Pray for us as there are some family health issues that have come up. We aren’t sure what they mean for us in the long run, but they could affect our timeline for going to Ecuador. Early in the summer we believed that God was leading us to set our feet in Jackson, Tennessee until we go to Ecuador. This is for two reasons: 1) to raise support, 2) we need a common place to call our home in the US. We have been very impressed with a particular church community’s passion to follow Christ, so what better way to choose a place to live than a church body? Because we are relatively new to the area (myself more than Alaina) pray that we can connect with people and find ways to serve. Fellowship Student Ministries (FSM) is the youth group at our church here in Jackson and we feel led to invest our time there. The youth leader has asked if I would be willing to lead the worship a few nights a month and I am looking forward to that. Through dinners, lunches and get-togethers, we have made a few friends and connections so far, but pray that we can make profound relationships with those that will hold us up in thoughts, prayers and through accountability. The Lord has granted me a passion to see people ministered to through honest conversation. Much of my mentoring came through times spent around a small table with hot beverage. The opportunity to begin a ministry like this within the Alliance Academy has come up and I am ready to pursue it. Pray for direction and clarity on what steps should be taken. Immediate needs for that ministry would be an espresso machine and miscellaneous coffee shop equipment. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Please continue praying as both Alaina and I have felt Satan against us. We really feel like God has allowed us to be where we must be completely dependant on Him. For now and always we will put our faith in His future grace. In Him Loren and Alaina Holland