June 13, 2018 - We are currently at our last Annual Conference for this tour.   It is our home conference where we have our membership.  Having now been to 3 this year we are excited about what God is up to.  

Normally, we are telling folks what God is doing in our work but at these meetings we get to hear what God is doing in our supporting churches.  For that we are extremely encouraged and excited.  God is not only working in the Balkans but also all over the central part of the US!

We have talked with so many people and have deepened the partnership with many of them and we now know how to pray for these folks as well.

This week pray for the church that God is building all over the world - especially in the US

Pray also for the plans for our upcoming Family Camp in Bulgaria when we get back: pray for the details, pray for the folks God is bring, pray for the teachers as they prepare for the lesson.

Praise God for His protections and provisions for us thus far on our Partnership Building travels.   (2 months down and 1 to go.)

June 4, 2018 – It is a bit late this week (we had limited internet where we were).  This past weekend we attended the annual Conference of the North Central Conference of the Free Methodist Church.  It is held at Sky Lodge Christian Camp. 

(Our display is at the top in the back)

It is always a trip down memory lane when we are at Sky Lodge.  That (as some of you know) is where Diane and I worked, met, were married.  Our first son, Brad was born while living there so it has many, many, many memories.

But our time there was not about reliving the memories but connecting and sharing what God is doing in the Balkan region of Europe.  The more we share the more in awe of God we become as we think about what He is doing.  It was not that many years ago we went there not sure what we would be doing, but trusting God to use us to impact the kingdom and Praise the Lord it is happening.

Thanks to all who pray and support the work, without you we could not do what we do!

This week pray for the ongoing details of Family Camp coming up when we get back in July in Bulgaria.

Pray also for our travels we will be heading to Fargo, North Dakota and then on to Wessington Springs, South Dakota.

Pray too for the plans for the Church Planting cohort launching in Serbia in the fall.  Pray for the leaders and the people they will reach out to with the Good News of Jesus.

Upcoming Schedule:

June 6, 2018 – Wednesday – Fargo FMC, Fargo, ND -

June 10, 2018 – Sunday –  FMC, Wessington Springs SD

June 11, 2018 – Beloit FMC, - (Meeting in Janesville, WI)

June 13, 2018 – Wednesday – Hillside FMC, Evanston, IL

June 14-15, 2018 – SMC Annual Conference – Dearborn, MI

June 17, 2018 – Sunday – 1208 Greenwood Church, Jackson, MI

            PM – Spring Arbor FMC, Spring Arbor, MI

June 20, 2018 – Greenville FMC, Greenville, IL

June 23, 2018 – Melrose Park FMC, Melrose Park, IL

June 24, 2018 – Sunday – Woodstock FMC, Woodstock, IL

June 24 PM – 28th - Heartland Camp 2018 – Birmingham, IA

July 1, 2018 – Sunday – Kalamazoo FMC, Kalamazoo, MI

July 6 - 13, 2018 - SMC Family Camp - MI

July 15, 2018 – Sunday – Coldwater FMC, Coldwater, MI

May 24, 2018 – This week we were back in McPherson (where we lived for 8 years and served on staff at the FM Church there and taught at Central Christian College).  We saw many friends from our past and met some new ones along the way.

We have also been attending the Great Plains Conference annual meeting where we participated in the ordination of 2 new elders and a new Conference Supt.  We enjoy the tradition and the meaning of being a part of affirming new pastors and church leaders.

One of the reasons We enjoy it is because it is the same things we are working toward with our training and church planting programs in the Balkans.  Each person has the potential to impact many lives by how they live and what they teach.

Pray for the church planters in the Balkans as they continue to be trained.

Pray also for the upcoming family camp later this summer.

Pray for our ongoing travels and presentations to the churches, camps and conferences.

Our schedule for the next few weeks

May 26- 28, 2918 – Memorial Day Weekend – Chillicothe FMC, Chillicothe, MO

May 30, 2018 – Wednesday – Livingston FMC, Livingston, WI

May 31-June 2, 2018 - NCC – Annual Conference – Montello – WI

June 3, 2018 –Cedarcrest FMC - Bloomington, MN

June 6, 2018 – FMC -Fargo, ND -

June 10, 2018 –FMC - Wessington Springs, SD

June 11, 2018 –Beloit/Janesville Conference office BBQ

June 13, 2018 – Hillside FMC - Evanston, IL -

June 14-15, 2018 – SMC Annual Conference – Dearborn, MI

June 17, 2018 –1208 Greenwood FMC – Jackson, MI

            PM – Spring Arbor FMC - Spring Arbor, MI

May 18, 2018 – We have now been back a month and the time has gone by fast but we have had many great experiences.  Here is one:  We stayed with a family in Fairfield, Iowa when we were there and this week we stay with that family's Grandma in Gallatin, Tennessee.  It is a small world but we are loving meeting and seeing all our brothers and sisters in the family!

This past week we spent some time with Diane’s mom and siblings.  Mom doesn’t remember much but is still a fun and bubbly person. We were glad to have had the time to be with her on Mother’s day.

We have now arrived in McPherson and will spend a few days with my folks before Annual Conference here next weekend.

This week pray for:

Our ongoing travels - safety and strength as we travel

The plans for Family Camp happening later this summer in Bulgaria

Our livelihood groups - the sale of their products and the expansion of the number of teams we have.

Our schedule:

May 20, 2018 – McPherson FMC, McPherson, KS

May 24-25, 2018 – GPC- Annual Conference – McPherson, KS –

May 26- 28, 2918 – Memorial Day Weekend – Chillicothe FMC, Chillicothe, MO

May 30, 2018 – Wednesday – Livingston FMC, Livingston, WI

May 31-June 2, 2018 - NCC – Annual Conference – Montello – WI

June 3, 2018 –Cedarcrest FMC - Bloomington, MN

June 6, 2018 – FMC -Fargo, ND -

June 10, 2018 –FMC - Wessington Springs, SD

June 11, 2018 –Beloit/Janesville Conference office BBQ

June 13, 2018 – Hillside FMC - Evanston, IL -

June 14-15, 2018 – SMC Annual Conference – Dearborn, MI

June 17, 2018 –1208 Greenwood FMC – Jackson, MI

            PM – Spring Arbor FMC - Spring Arbor, MI

May 10, 2018 – Later this summer we are hosting our first National Family camp for our churches in Bulgaria.  We have rented out a complete hotel up the mountain and will be inviting families from our churches to attend.

We want to help the pastors come (who are already working another job) by providing some scholarships for them to come.  So as Diane and I travel around we will have with us our “Love Bulgaria” T-shirts.  Each one is $30 and will help us bring a pastor and his family to family camp for one day (our camp will run 4 days).  You can also order them online at marketplacemanna.biz (scroll down until you find it in the store).

You will have a shirt to remind you to pray and we will be able to bless our pastors and help them to come.

This week pray for – Team Balkans as we are all over the US and UK meeting with churches and supporters – Pray that we have the right meetings to get connect to the right people.

The family camp details that are being worked on right now. Also, pray for those who will be coming – pray that God would bring the right people to the camp!

Pray for the sewing livelihood group. The products that they make have been well received and so they are hustling to make more to get it to us as we travel to the churches, conferences, and camps while in the US – pray that these shipments arrive safely and on time.