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Monday, September 29, 2008

California Churches

I arrived in Sacramento California on Wednesday, September 24th, where my sister Jody picked me up at the airport. She has allowed me to stay with her in Vacaville between meetings of churches out in the west. It is exciting to see God working in the churches whether they are new church planting ministries or veteran. I have enjoyed the fellowship with the Pastors over meals and worshiping God together in the services. I only wish that my wife and children could have come with me. They remained back in Michigan for better home-schooling conditions and was more prudent financially. I miss being with them.

Monday, September 22, 2008

Peruvian Mountain Village

September 2008 Prayer Letter

Dear Faithful Partners in Prayer,

We came across this song recently, and it had us thinking of our commitment to missions and the people of Peru.

Looking Through His Eyes

Let me see this world, dear Lord, as though I were looking through Your eyes. A world of men who don’t want You, Lord, But a world for which You died.

Let me kneel with You, in the garden, Blur my eyes with tears of agony. For if once I could see this world, the way You see, I just know I’d serve You more faithfully.

Let me see this world, dear Lord, through Your eyes, when men mock Your holy name. When they beat you and spat upon You, Lord. Let me love them as You loved them just the same.

Let me stand high above my petty problems, And weep for men hell-bound eternally. For if once I could see this world, the way You see. I just know I’d serve you more faithfully.

What keeps us from seeing this world as Christ does? Is it our Fear, selfishness, pride?????? If only we would heed the song writer’s suggestion, and look at lost souls as Christ does, what a revival we would have! When we get to Peru, this is the heart we hope to have. That we would see the Peruvian people, as Christ does, and that the urgency of seeing souls saved would so overwhelm us that we wouldn’t waste any opportunity to share the gospel!
We’re grateful for the opportunity to have shared our ministry with churches in South Carolina, Georgia, Wisconsin and Illinois the last two months. We have recently added Harvest Baptist in Hickory, NC to the list of our supporting churches and this has increased our support to 40%. We are giving God the glory for the increase and continue to pray for the day we can write to you to inform you we’ve reached 100% and are headed to Peru!
We’d like to thank those of you who have been praying for us. We’ve had to deal with our share of sickness these last few weeks and appreciate all the prayers that went out on our behalf. We are finally on the mend and getting back into the swing of things. Home school has started and we’d ask for your prayers as we once again try to juggle traveling and school, as so many other missionary families on deputation do the same. Thank you for all who were praying for our sending church and the transition of our new pastor. The church is adjusting smoothly thus far and we are grateful for God sending Pastor Estell and his family our way!

Thank you again for your prayers and support!
For His Glory,

The Harris family

Arizona in the Fall

My trip out west began by my plane arriving safely in Arizona on September 20, 2008. The cactus desert look and over 100 degree temperature for the week was clear enough evidence to me that I was no longer in Michigan. I attended a missions conference at Lakeside Baptist Church on Sunday through Tuesday. Pastor Crichton announced that fall in Arizona is where the landscape changes from brown to browner and not like the fall colors that we would see in Michigan. I have enjoyed the opportunity to share my testimony and calling into missions at the church potluck and presenting our field to Peru on Tuesday. It is a very friendly church with a love for God that is evident in their worship and service attitude. It has been good to once again be with the McCombie's (BIMI west coast representative) and Montano's (missionaries to Mexico). I am anticipating God to continue to work at this church in a mighty way. Please pray for them as they celebrate their four year anniversary next week and are currently seeking to purchase land and build a church building. They are renting space at a science center until that time. They are looking to increase their faith promise this year to be able to add more missionaries to the already twelve that they support.