Monday, June 4, 2012

The Time Is Coming!


Time is moving quickly as the reality of moving to Uganda begins to set. I used to think of graduation as a barrier between me and my departure, and then I graduated. Then I had vacation with my family to segment my time, and that too has passed. Now what? Now I have Missionary Orientation Training in Tupelo, MS…but that is where I am currently. This week will quickly pass, and then will the reality of my leaving really set in? I guess so, because it is already beginning to! July 17th is approaching quickly.

As I mentioned, since the last letter I sent out I have successfully graduated from LeTourneau University and moved back to Elverson, Pennsylvania. I am thankful for the years that I spent at LeTourneau because I know that God used them to equip me emotionally, mentally, and spiritually for ministry. But praise God that I am done – I am so thankful to be graduated!

My time at home has been great. I am spending my time reconnecting with my community in Pennsylvania and building a strong prayer base. Part of that has been presenting about Good Shepherd’s Fold (GSF) and sharing about what my role will be like at GSF with the small groups at Community Evangelical Free Church (CEFC). I was also given the opportunity to speak to some women at CEFC during the Spring Women’s Social! It has been a blessing to share about Gods work in Uganda.

Thank you for your prayers for sweet, quality time with my friends and family, because God is definitely graciously giving me time to savor with those closest to me. Specifically, my entire family was able to spend a week together for vacation. Being together is always a sweet time, but it was especially special for me knowing that it would be at least a year until we are all together again. It is amazing how God can use family. Part of me feels like having a strong, close family makes it harder for me to leave America and live in Africa, but I have realized that it is this loving family that gives me the confidence and support to go out and serve God overseas.

God is blessing me with tangible encouragement as I feel my community spur me on towards His calling. Thank you for all of your prayers thus far. I have already had several inquiries about how to begin sponsoring a child at GSF. I also was given an awesome blessing of a family friend purchasing my ticket to Africa with frequent flyer miles. This kind of generosity is humbling and exciting as I get to witness the body of Christ at work. What a testimony of God’s love!

I am currently sitting at a Starbucks in Tupelo, Mississippi, the hometown of Global Outreach International, which is the missions organization that I am working through. Good Shepherd’s Fold requires that all missionaries coming to serve at the orphanage apply through this organization. This week will be a time of extensive training and learning “missionary stuff” (such as how to handle finances, insurance, etc.) Honestly, I do not really know the extent of the content that will be covered, but I know it is enough to fill five full days!

Looking forward, I will be speaking at Community Evangelical Free Church on the evening of July 1st – you are welcome to come!

CEFC asked me to lead the missions emphasis of Vacation Bible School (VBS) this year. What an amazing opportunity to connect these young children with the children of Good Shepherd’s Fold! Much of my excitement comes because I know how awesome of an opportunity this really is, but that level of excitement is met with my level of expectation to do well and make the most of it. I will be teaching four different age groups three evenings, and I would love each age group to grasp at least some understanding of GSF and an emotional connection with a child at GSF.

I am so thankful for your prayers and involvement with my calling to work at Good Shepherd’s Fold. Please keep praying, especially during these last six weeks before I leave! Here are some things to pray for during this time:
 
- Please pray that my time at missionary orientation training would be productive and informative. Pray that I would grow relationships with the other missionaries going through training who will be participating in missions throughout the world! Also, I will be driving from Tupelo back to Elverson on Friday (approximately a 17 hour drive). Please pray for traveling mercies!
- Please pray that my lessons for Vacation Bible School would be effective and creative, and that I would communicate in a way that catches the hearts of these children! Also pray that God would work in the hearts of the VBS children to become prayer warriors for the children of GSF.
- Please pray that God would continue to prepare me spiritually for missions, and for His protection against spiritual attack from Satan.
- I received word from the Gwartney family (missionaries at Good Shepherd’s Fold). They asked for prayer as they are feeling overwhelmed with responsibility and duties at the orphanage. Burnout is common among missionaries to GSF, so please pray for perseverance for the Gwartney family. They also said that neat new relationships are emerging with many of the children of GSF, so praise God for that!

Thank you so much for taking the time to read through this and be a part of this work that God is doing – work that is eternal and for His kingdom!

In Christ,

Corinne Stoltzfus
52S. Brick Lane, Elverson, PA 19520
Phone: 610.301.7775 


If you would like to make a financial contribution to this trip, please send or give me cash or check (address is provided above). Checks can be written out to Community Evangelical Free Church with “Good Shepherd’s Fold” written in the memo. You may also contribute to the GSF ministry by sponsoring a child at the orphanage! Email me if this interests you!