Friday, December 27, 2013

Prayer and Praise

In a miraculous answer to prayer, we were able to get a Toyota Hilux 4 wheel drive pickup! Thank you, thank you to all who generously gave and prayed to make this possible! The downside is that due to a mix up in paperwork, we are unable to drive it at this time… Pray with us that this will soon be resolved.

Paula has had a set back and is on another round of antibiotics. Pray that this one will be effective. She is having a hard time not being able to be out and about.

Phil will begin teaching his first courses on January 13. He will teach Manual and History of the Church of the Nazarene. Pray for him as he prepares for these classes.

Thank you for praying!


Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Moving in!

Thank you so much for your prayers! Paula is feeling much better and we were able to move in to our house on Monday, December 16. Although Phil is still dealing with plumbing and electrical issues, we feel so blessed to be in our own place! Here are a few pictures…
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Back yard with new water tank & pump

Front porch & door

Laundry area

Front door and living room

Master bedroom

Sunday, December 15, 2013

Special Prayer Needed

We praise the Lord for many things accomplished -- housing has been located and a truck has been ordered! However, we are also under physical and spiritual attack:

-- Paula has been fighting an infection for two weeks and is on another round of antibiotics. Please pray for her physical healing as well as spiritual strength. 

-- Phil has made a couple of trips out to visit churches and is currently dealing with getting the house livable. Pray for wisdom and strength for him as well.

-- In addition, please pray that within the next day or so, we will be able to move into our own place and that this week we will have our own transportation.

Thank you so much for your prayers. May you have a blessed Lord's Day!

Sunday, November 24, 2013

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

Sorry, I couldn't help myself… But we really are down to the final hours before we leave…

We're finishing up final details and enjoying some precious time with family. Our bags are packed (mostly!), boarding passes are printed, and we will leave the States on Monday and arrive at our final destination on Wednesday. That includes two overnight flights, two long layovers and one more short flight. 


Please pray for:

        Safety as we travel
        Some sleep on the plane
        That our luggage (6 pieces!) will arrive 
        No major problems with immigration and customs

In the meantime, this is our Oklahoma farewell -- snow!





Somehow, I don't think it's going to look like this in Angola! Thank you for your thoughts and prayers!

Friday, November 8, 2013

Visas in hand!

Wow! We have received our visas in record time! They are multi-entry and good for one year! We are praising the Lord and thank you for your prayers. 

We also have our tickets for a November 25th departure. Now on to packing our suitcases...

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Paula's Ponderings: Entry Visas


It has been a long and complicated process, but we have submitted our paperwork for entry visas into the country of our new place of service. This happened after consulting the appropriate web site that listed several different requirements and included the statement that other papers and/or information could be required. Then we made several phone calls each time receiving different information and requirements. We finally had everything we thought we might need and went to turn the paperwork in – in person as required – only to be given another list of items we did not have. We think we have finally turned in everything that is needed -- they did fingerprint us, take our money, and keep our passports…

All the confusion and uncertainty of this process got me to thinking about an “entry visa” into the Kingdom of God. In our deputation service presentation, we have been using Romans 10: 13-15: “Everyone who calls on the Name of the Lord will be saved. But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent?” Did you catch the requirements for the entry visa? It is not a long complicated list. Nor are there a bunch of hoops to jump through. The requirements do not even vary, but are always the same: believe and call on His Name. See how simple it is? And the best part? When these requirements are met, we are guaranteed entry into the Kingdom!

As for our entry visas here on earth – we wait and pray and trust they will be granted in a timely manner…

Monday, September 23, 2013

Virginia District Tour

Finished up our time on the Virginia District with a tour of Monticello thanks to Jim and Judy Thurber! Thank you to all in Virginia who so warmly welcomed and generously supported us! You are wonderful and we look forward to connecting with you as we go on to Angola! (And then returning in two years to give you an update!)





Friday, August 16, 2013

Have coffee... will travel....



Last Sunday we spoke in Bentonville, Arkansas and this Sunday we will be in Roswell, New Mexico! We are making use of the Starbucks app on Phil's phone! 

But even more importantly, we are thankful for the Lord's protection as we travel and for our loving, interested and supportive Nazarene family!


Sunday, August 4, 2013

On the Road...

On The Road...

Last Sunday we traveled back to Grand Saline, Texas, the church we left to go to the field in 1989. Although there were few people from our time there, we had a good service and especially enjoyed lunch and fellowship with Pastor Randy and Brenda Larpenter. Then it was on to Irving First with pastors Keith and Beverly Bateman. The group there was interested and had lots of questions.

This week found us closer to home as we shared with the OKC Woodson Park church on Wednesday evening. Sunday morning we were with Pastor Brent Hardesty and the people of Norman Community church. Once again we had a good service with a lot of interest and support. The evening service was at Piedmont where we enjoyed the service and fellowship.

Many thanks to these five churches for the warm welcomes and generous offerings! Our prayer is that we will be able to stay "connected" as we travel on...

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Southwestern Ohio

This week we are on the Southwestern Ohio District of the Church of the Nazarene. Sunday morning we enjoyed sharing at Crossroads Church in South Lebanon, Ohio. A special thanks to Judy O'Bryant and her husband Gary for the lunch and fellowship after the service.

Then Sunday afternoon we drove out to the Higher Ground Conference Center where we were able to get in on the last service of camp meeting! What a treat to hear one of our favorite preachers, Dr. Jim Diehl!


Monday morning was quiet, so we worked on emails and paperwork and enjoyed the beauty of this area.  Then the campers started arriving along with lots of excitement and energy! We set up our display and were introduced in the evening service. The campers were given the assignment of asking questions and learning interesting facts about our missionary work. 


We have had a number of visitors by our display table and also been able to visit and answer questions at meal times. So far, the number one question has been "What's the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?" And we usually get very appropriate "yuck" comments when we answer goat liver wrapped in goat stomach and intestines! The number two question has been "What do you do when you are there?" That requires a little of a detailed answer... 

Looking forward to the rest of the week here at camp and being at the Monroe, Ohio church on Sunday morning... Not looking forward to the 860+ mile drive back to Oklahoma....


P.S. Don't forget to look at our Prayer Calendar and let us know if you commit to praying for us on a certain day of the week.

Monday, July 8, 2013

Paula's Ponderings: Everlasting God

PAULA'S PONDERINGS....

As of July 1 we are once again "official" Nazarene missionaries! Our contracts have been signed and I (Paula) have left my job at Southern Nazarene University. So, it seemed like a good time to get started on the sorting and packing of EVERYTHING in the house -- our own belongings as well as items left behind by Phil's parents. The garage is now a disaster area... We are already weary of trying to decide whether to "keep" or "toss" or "donate"... And we are just getting started...

While taking a Facebook break, I came across the following verse someone had posted:



Have you never heard?
Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary
No one can measure the depths of His understanding
--Isaiah 40:28

I needed that reminder! I am so grateful today for a mighty Creator and an everlasting God that doesn't grow weak or weary and understands what I am going through! Now back to work...



P.S. Check out our prayer calendar. If you would like to sign up for a specific day, let me know (misnaztroutman@gmail.comand I will add your name to the calendar.

Sunday, June 30, 2013

We have just finished our second deputation service as we prepare to return to Africa! We have been graciously received,  attentively listened to, and invited to times of fellowship over potluck dinners. What a privilege  to share with our Nazarene family! 

This week we will work on our presentation, put final touches on our powerpoint, and order prayer cards as we move full speed ahead into the next three months of services...



God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Sunday, May 26, 2013

After years of hoping, waiting, and praying, we will be returning to missionary service as Global missionaries with the Church of the Nazarene! Plans are for three months of sharing with local churches before our arrival on the field in October 2013. We will be serving on the Africa Lusophone field in the areas of pastoral training/education and literature.

The road stretches out before us... we are looking forward to seeing what lies around the bend and invite you to journey with us as we return to Africa....