Tomorrow...

I leave the house at 7AM tomorrow to pick up two other co-workers and head for the conference center. I'm scheduled to work registration from 9AM to 8PM (with needed breaks). Saturday and Sunday I'll be able to spend most of my time in the sessions, absorbing the stories and challenges from the many leaders who will be sharing. I'm also looking forward to getting to know and pray with the many donors who are here for the conference.

Today in the office was a little quiet. About half of the staff was already at the conference center setting up. Helpdesk was quiet - I think we got about 3 phone calls during the afternoon and maybe 3 emails. It was the eerie point between "we can't plan any more, but we can't start working yet."

I also got news that my family in KS had a rough day. The main tractor is broken down and will require 7k+ to fix it. "I love you, Daddy!"

Recently, someone asked me about life in a farming family. I said that growing up in a farming family, you really had a jump start in understanding what it means to depend on the Lord. You can plant the wheat, but you sure can't control the rain or the growing conditions. You just have to wait on Him and trust Him.

Praying and trusting...for the family and for the conference.

1 day to go...

The office has been continually humming, but my phone started ringing this afternoon a little more insistently. "Helpdesk, can you help me put this power point together?" "Helpdesk, I forgot my password to the photo library." "Helpdesk, I need to download these 15 pictures and assemble them in a slide show. I told Steve I've give it to him in... 5 minutes." The conference gets closer...

Several young people were invited to hear one of our leaders from Asia share about the mission field in Nepal. He shared about Nepal 50 years ago when it was illegal to be a Christian and they estimate there were maybe 10-15 Christians in Nepal at the time. He talked traveling through Kathmandu (Nepal's capital city) in 1979 and being unable to find a single church with a cross. And he spoke about how today's Nepali church is growing so quickly, especially since the "world's only Hindu kingdom" became a secular state less than three months ago.

Pray -- for the conference and for Nepal.

3 days...

Thank so much for all your prayers. I spent some time in prayer last Friday evening and Saturday morning--mostly dejected over situations that I couldn't fix myself. The Lord gave much grace and has given me the ability to rejoice in what He is doing, although I cannot see the final result yet. Thank you so much for your prayers!

Three days until the RYP Conference starts! Most of the speakers arrive tomorrow afternoon. Please pray for more people to come -- especially people in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. And pray that the people who attend will see Jesus in us. We don't want to put on a show or a performance; we simply want to serve and bless them and encourage them in their walk with the Lord. (You can come too...www.gfa.org/conference)

7 days...

Next Friday is the start of the Renewing Your Passion Conference. Most of the office is frantically busy with last minute details and arrangements. Meanwhile, helpdesk has been fairly quiet, so I've been making myself available to help the others in our department who are busier than I.

The IT department has had its share of excitement this week. Rick's laptop started freezing up 3-4 times a day. He's an IT member who is the master schedule coordinator for the conference, so his laptop not working was a major blow. Bigger was Tuesday afternoon when the air conditioner in the data center/server room (where we keep all the master computers) got a plugged drain and started leaking/dripping water onto the servers. They say it will take two weeks for the parts to get here to fix it, so we're praying fervently for things to keep working.

Meanwhile, I've been learning lessons about faith and trusting in the Lord. I'm afraid I keep failing - you can pray for me in this. :)

Another example of faithfulness

I was at my church this evening for a special prayer meeting. Afterwards, the pastor's wife came up to me and asked, "Dorinda! Remember those bunk beds we talked about last year? Well, they're available now - we can keep them until August for you if you still need them."

What an answer to an unprayed prayer! The girls intern house is moving to a smaller house for the next internship year. And we'll be needing bunk beds (but we won't have a place for them until August).

Praise the Lord!

The faithfulness of God

I was praying frequently in the last two days about a concern and found myself today in the middle of the prayed-about conversation. I stumbled through it (for better or for worse) and the house phone rang, creating my graceful exit.

I randomly checked my cell phone a few minutes later and found a text message from a co-worker. It simply said that they were praying for me. They had sent it while I was in the middle of the conversation. They were miles away and had no clue that I was in the middle of a conversation that needed prayer.

Praise God for reminders of His faithfulness.

Birthdays and more

One of my cousins that I work with at GFA had his birthday today - he's an ancient 26. I tease him about being old, but he keep reminding me that I'm older. Well, so much for insults. I did enjoy celebrating with him and his family this evening-- ScottyP's... the best hamburgers in Frisco.

Today's Thursday IT Training was on using Outlook calendar software to reserve a room for a meeting. Hopefully, this will help keep two meetings from being scheduled in the same room at the same time. :)

We also are praising the Lord for a new full time staff person in IT. Ray arrived today to work in the software development side of the computers. His family is still in Florida, waiting for their home to sell. Would you join me in prayer for the sale of their home? Thanks!

Forgiveness

We've been learning a lot about this at our house. Thanks for all your prayers. Paraphrased quote I stumbled across today:

Regardless of how wrong the other person might have been or how many times they didn't ask forgiveness, refusing to forgive is reaping corruption which ultimately affects our relationship with God.

Upcoming Friday Night Prayer

Highlights of this weekend:
* Friday Night Prayer tomorrow night. Should last until 3:30 or 4 in the morning.
* Digging up Auntie Candy's poison ivy on Friday.
* Worshipping with my church on Sunday AM and visiting my college roommate briefly on Sunday afternoon

Today's Thursday IT Training about about the open-source pdf creator that we have installed on everyone's computers. This allows them to save calendars, newsletters, contracts, and more as pdf files for better tracking and emailing.

Again, I was greatly encouraged when one staff member spoke up and said this program had saved him hours of time as he worked with the missions leaders on the field. It's such a blessing when I get to see how my work at the office enables the leaders and missionaries to work more effectively.

And your prayers and support are a part of it! Thank you!