July 2008

Planning

To view letter in PDF format, click here

Praying for

for healthy pregnancy and baby. . .
Jana’s acid reflux at night . . .
Thad as he raises more One-time needs and Monthly Financial Support . . .
the Lord’s continued provision amongst a poor exchange rate . . .
preparation and details as we expand to a family of three . . .
Thad’s work on the Strategic Planning Cycle Application . . .

Praising God for

God for His provision . . .
European Christians . . .
fun times with our neighbors and recent visitors — Jana’s mom, the Dilling Family, and Thad’s parents . . .
Jana having no back pain last month . . .
Schwarzwald Torte (Black Forest Cake) . . .
Thad’s skill at making pancakes

Ministry Update

Jana plans to stop working full-time on September 1st to get ready for the baby. Please pray for her as she rests, learns, prepares, and gears up to be a new mom.

Strategic Planning Cycle Project

This past Spring, Thad was approached by Agape Europe Leadership to consider working on a Strategic Planning Cycle project. In June, he began a web proto-type that he is hoping to finish as soon as possible, which is realistically early next year.

This application will be used by all levels of leadership to walk through creating a 3 year plan for their department or country, along with a more detailed plan for "next year" that will be linked with budgeting.

The scope of the project is rather large, and depending on the proto-type he develops, our leadership will determine whether it is something to be developed ‘in-house’ (by a small team but probably just Thad) or an outside source.

Basically, what we hope for the end result is a web program that will help our ministries to coordinate their planning within their own national ministries and potentially with other ministries in Europe. There are many particular details that Thad is thinking through and hoping to integrate into future phases.

Ways that you can pray for this specific project are: wisdom for Thad as he learns a new programming language, plans and implements leaderships ideas, and balances his already full workload; also for the proto-type itself, that it will be a clear indicator of how Agape should approach the development of the program; for Agape leadership as they work through their ideas and give input on the current design and future vision.

Upcoming Needs

In light of our family expanding to three, we have a few financial support needs in the coming months:

One-time - medical costs and other non-medical

Monthly - ongoing battle with the exchange rate and supporting our growing family.

We would appreciate your consideration in helping with one or more of the above. Thad will send out a letter with details and giving information in August.

In the meantime, please pray for these needs, as at times it can be overwhelming to look ahead. But what a joy it is knowing we can have complete faith in the Lord’s provision. So in light of it all, join us in praising God for knowing all of our needs and meeting them perfectly.

Joyfully,

Thad and Jana