Dear Friends and Family,

 

It finally happened!  My visa (one year residency permit) was approved today!  I am so happy that it is all finished.  I will be able to leave in about two weeks.  There was some more paperwork to do today, and I got the okay.  Praise God!  It has been a long road, but I am sure that God had His reasons.  Many good things have happened in the time that I have been waiting for all of this to go through.

 

When I answered the call of God to go to the nations I asked Him what He wanted me to do.  His answer was so clear in my spirit, "Go where I say go, and stay till I say go."  The going has never been a problem for me.  I love to go new places and see new cultures, BUT staying when I don't understand is the real challenge.  When I start out with a plan my mind is sort of geared to that plan, and then I have to be flexible as the Lord develops His plan.  I certainly don't understand it every time my plan doesn't work out, but I have to trust that God has a more excellent plan.  In the end I usually can see what God was doing, but in the time between learning that the plan has changed, and the time that I understand I have to stand in faith that everything works out for good for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.  A couple of days ago I think I got a glimpse of why God has delayed my going home so much.  I will let you know more about it when I feel free to do so.

 

I would like to challenge all of you to let God disrupt your plans and trust Him.  It will certainly take you out of your comfort zone, but the end result can be amazing.  God is looking for people--not just vocational ministry people--who will let Him disrupt their lives for His purposes.  We have all been called to be His ministers of grace in the world, and every believer has the opportunity to make a difference for Christ if they are willing to let God rearrange their plans and lives for His purposes.  We are called to walk by faith and not by sight.  Not easy, sometimes frustrating, but certainly exciting!

 

I will write again when I have my travel plans made.  If any of you would like to have me come to your church and speak while I am in the States, please contact me, and I would love to make those arrangements.  Again thank you for your faithful prayers and financial support.  If you would like to make a financial contribution you can send your tax exempt donation to Obedient Life Ministries, P.O. Box 267, Clarion, PA 16214, or you can donate by credit card through our secure PayPal link from our website, www.obedientlife.org.

 

Be blessed in Jesus' Name,

 

Martin