one graphic designers journey to change a generation

My good friend Beth (shes laying down in the middle) at her going away party.

Just the facts maam

I started writing this newsletter by updating the prayer request section, (which is usually in the bottom right corner) But this section kept getting bigger and bigger, until like a blob it took over the entire front page of this newsletter. It was then that I realized I could make this whole newsletter one giant, elaborate bullet point of what the past couple months have entailed. So here are the entries for the just the facts maam newsletter (in order of memory, not importance or chronological.)

asked GFA for staff that needs the most supporta category I hope someday to get out of. The pastor had a vision of each of his churchs home groups adopting one of these needy home staff missionary (someone like me) to pray for and possible financially support. I wasnt sure what to think of this whole arrangement (sometimes the pastor can have a vision for things and the congregation just goes along begrudgingly.) But meeting the people in my new small group was one of the best support meeting Ive ever had. They were very curious and have such a passion for Christ we couldnt help but click. A humorous antidote for the evening: While I was showing the group the Christmas catalog, one woman reading the caption for the camel said, $345 for a desert truck, thats not a bad price . . . at least it wouldnt poop out in the desert. Not realizing what she had said she didnt understand why we were all laughing. Finally someone mentioned that it probably would poop out in the desert but it would still keep going sorry if its tacky of me to tell that story, but it was so funny and now every time I see a camel I think of her. Oh, the other thing to mention about my new small group is that one couple in particular said they would be interested in financially supporting me, but they currently are unemployed! Pray the Lord will provide for above and beyond their financial needs. One more thing. . . GFA was able to have a meeting during a Sunday morning service at the aforementioned church, where they asked for support for home-team missionaries. 30 of my personal brochures where taken! Pray that some of the people who took them would agree to support me financially. Also lets pray more church small groups think of doing something this.
Stephanie Thomas is serving Christ through the ministry of Gospel for Asia.

praises
I asked you to pray that my rent will not increase greatly. Praise the Lord it only went up $20! The apartment complex also offered me another 18 month lease (even though they claim they dont do that anymore). This is nice because every lease renewal comes with an increase, so the longer I go inbetween signing a lease the cheaper my rent is.

support opportunities
I was adopted! This pretty amazing church right down the street from the ministry decided they would like to adopt some of the home-team missionaries. This church has been a dear friend to GFA over the years doing things like rasing enough money for over 40 Jesus Wells! Because the pastor is so involved with the ministry, he began to understand how vital the home-team staff is to the work going on in Asia and how difficult it is for the home team staff to raise support. He
9.23.11

I took this picture the day before Bartles passed away. After I took it I remember years ago I took a similar picture. Having the two pictures to compare side by side, you can easily see how much weight the poor thing had lost.

Bart when he was once nicknamed the Fur Whale

Support rasing opportunity number two is a referral from a staff couple. This couple (very close friends of mine) feels called away from the ministry. They have made a suggestion to those on their mailing list to continue to support the work Gospel for Asia is doing through me. I dont know if this sort of referral works, but with our prayers it certainly can!

the past 15 years. The Lord has done a lot in my life over all those years so reminiscing over them equals rejoicing for me. Oh and then there is death. Seeing it there lying on your living room rug, is yes a little disturbing, but also I got to rejoice there to, because for me, as a believer in Christ I will never taste death. Not everyone can say that, for most everyone else its a normal fact of life but for me, no matter what consequence of sin or the fall there might be, death will never touch methats an Amen!

change
Did you catch onto the above subtle mention of my world being turned upside down? My very good friends are leaving! In-fact, two very good friends of mine are moving onto other areas in the kingdom. So sad, over the past six years I have grown quite close with these families and I will sorely miss them. Beth has been my dollar theater, jazz under the stars, free hockey ticket buddy for years now, introducing me to chocolate covered oreo cookies and making sure I always had a home for the holidays. She will be moving to Colorado and so Im guessing I will miss her the most.

alone and sick of it

My co-worker left me! For the past 6 weeks Ive been in the graphics department all by myself (this is partially why you havent received a newsletter update from me.) It just so happened that this years Christmas Catalog needed to be produced over those exact 6 weeks. I have to tell you Im a little surprised everything got done. But it did, and you should soon see the new 2011 Christmas Catalog in your mail box (dont buy something out of it though, just marvel at its beauty, support me instead because I dont poop out in the desert either.) So while I was alone I also got sick. I was crazy sick for a record 13 days straight. I totally lost my voice for four of themI cant remember the last time I completely lost my voice. Maybe it was the mint chocolate chip ice cream I was living on, probably it was the strength of the Lord but I actually made it into work most days and like I said above, all the work got done. Well there you go, thats been the highlights from the past couple months. As always I thank you so much for allowing me to be here serving at Gospel for Asia!

celebrations
In the past couple months I got older . . . . . . and for my birthday this year, my cat died. No, Im not exactly happy that he died, so why is this under the celebration category? Well for one, Bartles was nice enough to die and save me the vet bill of having to put him to sleep. I know that might sound cold and calloused but Bart was old and I knew he was dieing, I worried about if he was suffering or not, so in my heart I was ready for him to leave. Bart was somewhere between 12-15 years old. He was my pet before I was walking with the Lord, he lived in every home I lived in as a adult. As usually happens when a child of God looks back over their life, there is much to rejoice over. Barts passing gave me the opportunity to reflect back on

God Bless You, Stephanie

Joining my Support team iS eaSy and fun

Follow Along at newblueline.blogspot.com see projects

Im working on, news from the mission field and get to hear a little about life according to me. and prayers are and we can lift each other up to the Lord.

EmAil mE at stephaniethomas@gfa.org. Let me know what your needs

Praise the lord! 43%

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