PRAYER!

Well the summer is fast approaching. I am spending a lot of time trying to pull in the last bit of funds that I need. I am also trying to finish up things for school so that I can graduate. Right now I am under a lot of stress and having trouble sleeping. Because of this and I believe the coming ministry, I am under attack by Satan. I have been feeling discouragement around every corner even though nothing discouraging has happened. I believe therefore that it is in my head. Please pray that I can find the funds I need and also pray for protection from Satan's schemes to discourage me. Thanks to all of you that read this Blog! It is good to know that I have people interested in my life and ministry.

What a blessing!

This week began off as a real bummer week. I was really tired and kind of discouraged because I did not receive any money for Slovakia last week. I had been thinking about the future and what God has in store for me and praying about my financial support for Slovakia. On Monday night I received a call from three of the leaders at The Ridge Church. They informed me that they are going to give me $2,500!!! This is so amazing and so encouraging. This was definitely the boost I needed this week. It was a real affirmation for me. God is really in this and he is really providing in amazing ways! Praise HIM! I am now at $9,000, only $2,000 to go, that's not bad at all. Please continue to pray for me and the others going! Also we have lost a church that was going to help out with one of our camps. This is a shock and a big blow to that camp. We are in dire need of more English speakers. Please pray for God's provision! Also if anyone you know any individual or group would be interested in going to Slovakia for a week to help with a camp please tell me!!!!! joshua_howard_slovakia@yahoo.com.

6,450 Dollars!

A Story from last year

Last year at a camp I met a really neat boy who was 14 and was an artist. He did not have great English but it was still enjoyable to talk with him. He was a very deep thinker and loved to talk about very deep meaning of life questions. He was a boy that camp leaders had specifically wanted to have come to camp. It was really amazing that he actually had come to a "Church" camp. As the week progressed we began to notice how much he seemed to be enjoying himself even though he was among church people. On the second to last day of camp the leader of the camp shared the gospel. There was time afterwards for people to sit down and talk. When asked what he thought about the message and the gospel. This young boy replied, "I like it, it is like dating this relationship with Jesus. I have enjoyed the first date and am interested in a second but I do not know if I am ready for a relationship." This was so impressive to me. This boy was really thinking about this decision. I think that a lot of times we make decisions in life on the basis of emotions. I wish that I could be more like this boy when I make decisions. I feel that I too often make decisions on emotion!

Continue in Prayer! I still need about $5,000.

A good Meeting

As a team we have committed to fasting and praying for the summer every Wednesday until we leave. Today was my first day fasting. I have been pretty hungry all day which only reminds me to pray, interesting how that works. My friend Andy from school is going to Slovakia with me this summer. We have decided that we are going to spend the time we would normally be eating dinner on Wednesdays in prayer and in God's word. It is so exciting to be able to do this. Tonight we met and had an amazing time. We discussed the up coming summer and what God was going to do in our hearts and the hearts of the youth in Slovakia. We also spent time lifting up everyone who is going to be a part of this summer to God in prayer. As we talked I again thought of the importance of being prepared spiritually when we serve God. I feel like I have a lot of preparation to do in my heart before I leave. Then the thought occurred to me, Well I am always supposed to serve God, therefore I should always be prepared. It is so very important that we remain obedient to God even when we do see ourselves as "serving Him." I am so thankful for my friend Andy and his willingness to serve this summer. I know that he has only received half of the funds he needs to go. I ask that you please pray for him that God would provide for Andy and guide him towards what He has to teach him this summer. Also pray for the Slovak youth , many who are in their last year of High school are taking their entrance exams into college. I have talked to many of them and they are very worried that they will not pass. Pray that they will feel God's peace and that this will lead them to a deeper longing to seek out God in their lives and find out the truth and the Good News of salvation.