Dear friends, family, and supporters,

            It’s been about 3 months since our first Prayer letter, so it’s about time for an update. From our day-to-day vantage point it seems that there would be not much to report. However, when we take a look at the big picture we can really see the Lord’s hand guiding us along and making all the necessary provisions, as we prepare to go to the Republic of Congo. As is usually the case, they are just in the nick of time!

            The first news that we should probably mention is that we are signed up to attend a 3-week seminar at MTI (Missionary Training International) in September in Colorado. The Harvey’s requested that we get this training, so that we can relay it to the team once we arrive in

          On the home front, we are getting very close to being ready to go to Congo. Our house is on the market. Most of the furniture in it has already been sold. The Lord has brought buyers to help us unload so many things, including both of the vehicles that we needed to get rid of. Even the car that we have now has two interested potential buyers waiting for us to sell it before we leave. He has been leading and providing every step of the way, and it’s amazing to see how much He really has been doing to pave the way to our destination! Once the house sells, we have living arrangements to cover us until we expect to leave for

            Praise the Lord! Our passports arrived in the mail just the other day! (We were getting nervous, but He is faithful!) Still needed are our visas (once we have our plane tickets) and the final round of vaccinations, which are scheduled for the first week in November. Aside from those events, we only need to finish raising support! I don’t mean to understate that; raising support is without a doubt the most difficult part of the whole preparation.

            If you’re looking for things to pray for with us, you’re in luck. Here is a short listing. Of course, we’re praying that the house would sell at the correct time. One of our biggest struggles has been with communication. Many people who have pledged support have not yet sent in their reply cards to Global Outreach Mission. Others have been impossible to get a hold of. Even churches who have extended an invitation for us to come and give a presentation have not returned calls to firm up plans. Please pray with us that God would break down these walls put up by the enemy to get in our way and frustrate us. If you happen to be one of these people mentioned, please take the time to respond to what you have previously committed to. As a side note to this, it would be helpful to us if those who have committed to be prayer partners would remember to fill out and return their reply cards so that we can count you and keep you on our mailing list! We also would love prayer just that the Lord would continue to lead us and to strengthen us for the tests and trials that we are certain await us, as well as give us the wisdom to learn the lessons that these things are put there for.

          Thank you all for your prayers and support. We look forward to the things that God is working through in our lives, that we can tell you about next time!  We can be reached at dmralston@rochester.rr.com . 

God bless,

Art, Danielle, and Michael Ralston