Spring 2014 - Celebrating TWO Years at JAARS!

Celebrating TWO Years at JAARS!

Wow! How time flies! Praise God for allowing us to: provide tech support to missionaries around the world; move to Waxhaw; complete the Intercultural Communication Course; represent the Wycliffe IT department at events around the country; provide healthcare services; implement systems for email, help desk, and more!  We feel like He's just getting started with us!

Going Google

Phase 1 of the Google Mail rollout is complete. The documentation of “lessons learned” are helping make the next phases run smoother. The knowledge base (a Google Group) that Loren works on is a primary resource to help techies and users in multiple locations/time zones navigate this big change. With limited help desk staff, we can resolve issues and keep the translation projects going! Thank you for your prayers! God is blessing us with clarity in communicating to our local, national, and international audiences. 

Helping Butch Barkman (former JAARS president) and
Grace Townsend Goreth (Wycliffe’s founder’s daughter)

KEEP PRAYING! We have hundreds of documents that need updating with dozens more pouring in each week. We need better processes and more editors and technical writers.

Tricky Wiki

The Wycliffe wiki is growing but still has great potential, so Loren is in training to sharpen his skills. A wiki is an online space for sharing, discussing and improving information. It’s like a bookstore where people come to browse the shelves and collaborate with other users and specialists. Occasionally, the “shelves” get cluttered and that’s not good for business! After the training, Loren and his manager are going to put together training and tools for the wiki users (Wycliffe missionaries) to make the most of their resources.

JAARS Health Clinic

Michelle is doing really well in the JAARS Health Clinic and may be working more hours during home school break in the summer. The Clinic is a valuable asset to missionaries for greatly reduced cost health care. Our current two doctors are preparing to leave for Papua New Guinea. 

PLEASE PRAY for God to send us doctors, nurses and a receptionist/ medical coder. Is God calling you or someone you know to volunteer at the clinic? Ask us how!

Go West Young Man

Loren visited his father at his home in Cambria, CA for ten days. It was a great opportunity for them to reconnect and for Loren to help him with some projects around the house. While there, his dad’s church, Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria, asked Loren to give an introduction to JAARS and his role in Bible translation. They were very welcoming and very interested in what we do. Pray that the Lord leads them and many others to get involved!

Dad and I helping at the Cambria Pres church thrift shop sale

We love telling people what God is doing in Bible translation and our ministry! Let us know if we can visit your church or Sunday School to share our experience of God's faithfulness.

JAARS DAYS 2014

Mark your calendars to come experience JAARS on this open house day: JAARS Day! (jaars.org/events/jaars-day)

• June 14
• August 9
• October 11

JAARS Youth – Mini Missions Trip

Matthew serving at Charlotte Homeless Shelter

Loren and the boys spent a weekend with JAARS Youth reaching out in the community. They served breakfast at the Charlotte homeless shelter, and then helped Habitat for Humanity sort recyclables that they sell to help build houses. We served in the children's Sunday School at a Spanish-speaking church and then sang and gave testimonies at a nursing home in Pineville, NC. The JAARS Youth staff did an amazing job coordinating this! It really made a difference in our boys' lives to understand how Jesus wants us to serve others.

Chapel in the Mountains

In April we traveled to Lake Junaluska, NC to visit the YES Link ladies – a missions circle at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church. We enjoyed updating them on what is going on in Bible Translation and our ministry at JAARS. For over two years, this group and church have encouraged, supported and prayed for us faithfully! 

YES Link ladies encourage us on our journey in missions

We are so thankful for the many groups and churches that support us in prayer and finances! We couldn't do what we do without them!

Zack Attack

After turning 14 years old on May 9, Zack started a mentorship with the Construction and Maintenance Department (CAM) at JAARS. He is working with two great men in the HVAC and appliance repair department and learning a great deal. (In fact, he’s already helped repair our microwave!) More than anything we pray that the Lord uses this opportunity to grow Zack in maturity and encourage a serving spirit in him. Although he really likes the work, it doesn't hurt that they receive baked goods as tips. What can we say... he’s a growing boy! 

Zack's new bosses

JAARS occasionally has service opportunities for youth and youth groups. Let us know if you would like more information.

Thrifty Blessings!

Here are some of the blessings that God has given us to cut our expenses - significantly! Hope they help you too.

• Eric and Barbara Parks can help you save a LOT on your cell phone bill. www.Genius-Wireless.com
• Cut cable! We get 30 channels with an attic antenna from www.SolidSignal.com.
• Exercise, save gas, and support a great cause; buy a high-quality used bike from Trips for Kids (www.tripsforkidscharlotte.org).
• Need glasses? www.zenni.com provides for most prescriptions at a FRACTION of the price.
• Google Apps free multi-user video chat, free word processor and office productivity apps, free phone calls and texting, compatible with PCs and most devices.

Prayer and Praise

Thank you for joining with us in prayer and praise! We pray for you also and are always blessed to lift up any specific prayer requests you send us. God is so faithful!

• We are thankful that Michelle recovered quickly (9 days) from shingles.
• This month, we celebrate God's grace giving us 17 years of joy-filled marriage!
  

  

  17 years and so blessed!

• Pray for the Bible study Loren started with our Chinese neighbors/friends. One is considering starting a relationship with Christ.
• Pray for those who support us in prayer and finances. Also pray for new ministry partners as we travel to churches and groups and tell them about what God is doing at Wycliffe!
• Loren will be representing the JAARS IT department at the EAA AirVenture event (www.airventure.org) in Oshkosh, WI for 2 weeks in July/August
• We are so thankful for the godly influence of our Scout Troop. Zack is now a Life Scout and will soon start his Eagle project. Matthew is very close to completing his Life Scout rank.

Thank you so much for your involvement in our ministry! 

Serving Christ with you,

Loren, Michelle, Matthew and Zack

PS: Thanks for sharing our updates with others! Let us know if you would like to subscribe to our email list.

Phone/Text: Loren: 704/451-1596   Michelle: 704/806-4039

Address: 6111 Davis Rd, Waxhaw, NC 28173

Email: lorenandmichelle@gmail.com

Giving info: www.EveryTongueAndNation.com

Wycliffe Acct#: 227068   Wycliffe USA: 800-992-5433