At Olive Branch Baptist Church, we found our names on the marqee sign to let us know that we had found the right place. Pastor Kemp's hospitality was greatly appreciated. The meals, lodging at his house, and the fellowship was an encouragement to our family.
We were able to find lodging at Jon's high school principal's house in IL. This brought back many fond memories with the pictures and conversations. We're thankful for Mrs. Adams willingness to take our family to Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry. This provided a chance for our children to take an educational field trip.
Our children thank all those who gave them time to play with their pet dogs. Cody in Florida, Monica in Indiana, and Lucie in Illinois each provided entertainment for our family.
We ended our travels in March by presenting in two smaller churches in IL but with big hearts in many ways. It's the small community churches that many times provide a family atmosphere with unity and love for God. Phelan Acres Bible Church encouraged us by the acceptance of our ministry and the showing of their compassion.
We are taking the week of Easter to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord back in Michigan with our family and home church. We are looking to be able to regain our strength and overcome sickness before traveling to our next group of churches out east.
We thank all of those who take the time to read our post and pray for us. We hope that as you get acquainted with us you will see how good our God has been to us and share our joys.

Visiting with Family in Memphis, TN

Jon's sister Renee and family recently moved to Memphis, TN and were able to provide lodging for us before our next meeting up north. Our children get excited when they have time to spend with their cousins, especially when taken to the Incredible Pizza Inc., a pizza buffet and arcade extravaganza. The night ended with a soccer game at the Christian School where Jon's brother-in-law teaches.

Alabama meetings and March Madness Basketball

We found ourselves in Dixon Mills, AL where we were allowed to present our ministry and worship. We are grateful for the lodging made available to us between meetings. Although the mission house didn't have a TV or an internet signal for our family to keep up with the March Madness Basketball Tournament, the pastor made it available at the church fellowship hall for us to connect to the church's wireless and watch some basketball by the use of our computer and projector on the big screen. It was interesting to find out that the Pastor and Jon grew up in Michigan together and played sports against each others Christian Schools.
We traveled over to Community Baptist in Brady, AL. to be a part of the mission conference where we discovered that the special speaker was another Harris Family. It was encouraging for us to be able to build new friendships and connect with those in the church in such a short amount of time. The pastor gave us the option of staying in a hotel, or staying in a trailer across the street and keeping the money meant for the hotel. The decision was a no-brainer when Nisha discovered a dead mouse in the mouse trap in the trailer. We ended up traveling to our next destination for a bit and staying in a hotel, even though Jon was looking to have another one of those adventures of camping out in the trailer.

Signs that you are in Florida and not in Michigan in March

We left Michigan at the beginning of March with its snow plowing, shoveling, playing, and thrills. We arrived in Florida to present our ministry in churches, but found the weather and atmosphere different from Michigan. There were palm trees, pelicans, coats packed away, air conditioning needed, and opportunities to walk on the beach and even cool off in the water.

From Illinois to Florida in March

We began our travels in March by attending the mission conference in Danvers Baptist IL. We enjoyed the opportunity to be around other missionaries like the Herrell Family going to Lima, Peru. The MK's enjoyed sharing their Peru stories with each other. It was a delight to have four people get saved during the conference.We found lodging and fellowship at Hardison Baptist in Georgia before making it to our next mission conference at Lighthouse Baptist in Port Charlotte, FL.

We had the tremendous blessing of staying with our host Curtis Gidden's during the conference. He tried his best to get us northern people to adjust to southern living by cooking his famous "grits". Jon found himself using the Magic Bullet to make fruit smoothies throughout the week. Brother Curtis was such a blessing to us and a tenderhearted man of God. Jon enjoyed time in prayer at the church each morning. Our children were given special treatment during the week with karate lessons, mini-golf, and shark teeth hunting at the beach.We ended one conference only to enter another at Central Baptist in Panama City, FL. We soon found out that this mission conference was during spring break time in Panama City. Our hotel was just a few miles from the beach. Jon saw many opportunities to invite others to church throughout the week. One lady, who was staying at our hotel with her three daughters, came to the service. It was a delight to see her walk forward during the invitation as a sign of God working in her heart. This conference reminded us of the number of souls who die each day without the Saviour as a calculator counted up two souls for each second. It was started at the beginning of the conference on Sunday and reached over 600,000 by Wednesday night. Our daughter, Katie, became burdened to win souls to Christ and began praying for God to allow her to win one soul by herself.

February 2010 Prayer Letter

Dear Fellow Laborers of the Gospel, February 2010

Luke 6:48 says, “He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock.”

It’s rainy season in the mountain and jungle regions of Peru, where we have received word of flood waters leaving thousands of Peruvians without shelter and provisions. As Christians, we are reminded of the parable told by Jesus of the wise man and the foolish man. We’ve been given the truth of building our lives on the rock of our salvation which is able to withstand the storms of life, but need to realize there are many who have built their lives on the sand because they have not heard of the dangers that will come. Our hearts yearn to go to Peru and assist in pointing them to Christ and bringing hope back to Peru where the Gospel is needed.

We began 2010 with great anticipation of what God will do this year. We found ourselves traveling and presenting in churches in Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Canada, Indiana, Illinois, and Montana in the months of January and February. We’ve seen our support raised to 85% and rejoice in those churches who have partnered with us. It has been a blessing to see evidence of the Holy Spirit working in hearts while serving in mission conferences, teaching Sunday Schools, preaching in worship services and Christian school chapels, teaching in the Christian school classes, and soulwinning. It has been a delight to see churches increase their faith promise commitments for this year. We’ve asked for prayer to see God provide our needed support for a sooner departure.

We’ve been able to witness God’s hand of protection on us this winter. While driving our car on a divided highway in Canada, we found ourselves coming over a little incline to see a semi-truck in the left lane and a car attempting to pass it in our lane. Without any time to stop, it seemed as if it would be a head-on collision. My immediate response to avoid the accident was to drive onto the shoulder of the road only to see the oncoming car decide to take my shoulder of the road before me. Their car began to fish-tale in the snow of our shoulder, leaving our only option to drive between the semi and the oncoming car for a safe passage. It all happened in a short moment and reminded us of God’s mercy. We thank those who have prayed for us as your prayers have been heard. What a compassionate God we serve!

Serving the Lord,
Jon & Nisha Harris

Winter Traveling!

In Montana, Jon was able to be given a tour of an Air-Force base. Jon was also able to see much of the beauty of the mountains while traveling on the road between churches.

Ministry in Montana

The time for Mission Conferences brings excitement for those on deputation. Being able to meet new missionaries and enjoy fellowship with churches with mission hearts has been a delight. It has been a blessing to be under the preaching of main speakers like Dr. Creed, Dr. Sisk, and others. It has been evident of the Holy Spirit working in hearts where the Gospel is proclaimed and the Word of God declared. God has blessed our traveling from meetings into Canada, Indiana, Illinois, and even for Jon flying into Montana, all within these last two months. We appreciate those ministries who have allowed us to come present our calling for Peru and are praying that God will allow even more churches to support our ministry of spreading the Gospel and planting churches in Peru.

Pastor Scare!

We stopped at First Baptist in Goodells, MI on the way to our Sunday evening meeting, only to scare the Pastor who thought he might have scheduled a missionary in unawares. We assured him of us just visiting and desiring to worship with them.

We were able to preach and present our calling for Peru at Royal City Baptist in Canada. Our children became excited when given a tour of the school portion of the building after the service where they had a gym to play in and a rabbit to feed. Our time of fellowship into the morning hours with Pastor and his wife was a blessing.

It was then time to go back home in Michigan for Jon to catch a plane to Montana and for Nisha and the children to recoop.

God brought us encouragement by hearing of a church in California that took us on for support.

Our meeting at Grace Baptist in Plymouth, IN brought back many fond memories from when I served as Youth Pastor. It was such a delight to see those who remain faithful in their walk with God over the years. I appreciated the opportunity to preach in their chapel times in the school and to give an update on our ministry. Pastor Elliott's heart for missions is evident in his life and ministry. We thank them for the use of their prophets chamber and hospitality shown on our behalf. Our children appreciated the gym in which they could play and run in. We thank God for safety while driving in the snow storm and for the meeting in Beecher City, IL where God is being worshiped and growth is visible.

D.C. to New York City to Niagra Falls in three days!

Our cup was overflowing with blessing as we departed Independent Baptist in Maryland and began to make our way to Yonkers, New York. We were able to enjoy dinner fellowship with a host family whom we met up with in Baltimore. While in Yonkers, New York, we were given a tour of New York City by Pastor Dierking. We somehow fit in one day the Natural Museum, Central Park, Times Square, and everything in between. Needless to say, that our feet were sore from all the walking but our children slept good that night. The next day was spent traveling to our next mission conference in Simcoe, ON Canada. We were given the opportunity to stop and see Niagra Falls in the Winter time as we traveled through. Jon was stopped at the border crossing for giving too much detailed information but was able to work it all out eventually.