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This will be my last post. We have a late night tonight, and tomorrow does not look promising as regards posting. So far, today we attempted to go to some seminaries. We got kicked out. Well, at least one group got to talk to one of the teachers for about an hour. We also attempted to visit some classes at the Institute of Religion. The kids got kicked out. The leader there knows me and Russ, so our kids did not get in. We passed out a bunch of flyers inviting people to come for dinner and broomball tonight. So, that's what we're going to do tonight. We got back from a couple hours of sledding. We all had a wonderful time in the snow. Please pray for our interactions tonight. Derek is going to give a short gospel presentation at halftime. Please also pray for our travels tomorrow. Thanks!
Michael
First of all, thank you so much for the prayer! Your encouragement and assurance really are much appreciated. We began our day with the beautiful snow again. We washed it down with a great devotion led by three returning students (Jackson, Derek, and Maryanne). Their devotion on team unity and speaking the truth in love was right on target and exactly what the team needed.
Today's ministy was devoted primarily to the Blue House, to help out Russ East's ministry here. We cleaned the whole house, renovated some rooms, groomed the backyard and front yard, and decorated the main room with some hand-drawn paintings. We then wrote up some flyers and distributed them in the surrounding area, inviting people to come and eat dinner with us. In fact, as I write, we have two Mormon visitors playing cards with the kids. Lord willing, we will have an opportunity to share in word the love and grace of God and of his Son. So, I gotta go. We all miss you and are so appreciative of your loving support. It is such a blessing to be part of the body of Christ, the best family ever!
Michael
We woke up today with fresh snow on the ground. Brittney, having not seen snow since she was 2, thoroughly enjoyed it!
We are going to have a very long day and night today, so I think this is the only time I can get on. I shall tell you all what we have planned for today. First, we are going back to Temple Square to continue our touring around and engaging in conversation. Some teams are also going to attempt to visit a seminary (Mormon high school). Pray they will be allowed to enter and that they will challenge the Mormons with thought-provoking and piercing questions and and bold statements of the gospel.
Then we are going to visit a Christian's home for dinner. His wife is an ex-Mormon, so it will be good to hear her testimony and be encouraged. Then we are headed to Shawn McCraney's TV show "Heart of the Matter." McCraney is a former Mormon who has a TV show every week, explaining Mormonism, comparing it with Christianity, and then fielding questions from callers on the air. After the program, we are going to go to Denny's with Shawn, to spend some more time with him. We met him last year, and that experience was invaluable. May it be so again. Thank you all for your continued prayers. God bless!
Michael
Oh my, oh my! What a spiritually challenging day again. The enemy knew we were coming, because his opposition has been super obvious from the inception of this trip. We have more sick kids, but more importantly, some of our kids specifically are being attacked very much. The enemy does not want the Lord to use his vessels to spread his word...; but we are! Pray that we will continue to be faithful to God's work.
Today we went to Sandra Tanner's ministry. She is the great grandaughter of Brigham Young. She spent almost 3 hours with us. It was phenomenal. Then we broke into teams and interacted with various sister missionaries at Temple Square. Such great stories from the kids. The Lord is working mightily in these kids' lives. The silent ones are speaking boldly, the talkative ones are being vessels for God's gospel, and the leaders are serving as good examples of ministry. Oh, this trip is so amazing! To paraphrase Josh Dunn today, "I am so glad it's only Monday, because it means we have so much more time to do God's work." Praise the Lord. Please, please, please, keep on praying, especially for our team members and the strength they need and God's grace they need, in order to boldly preach God's word in gentleness and love.
Michael
What an emotional day! Today all of our groups went to church, to worship our Lord with a community of believers. We broke into two groups. My group helped out with a children's church servive, and the other group went to a Calvary church. We loved worshiping the Lord. Immediately after attending church, we then went to two different wards. The times there were fruitful. Each group spent about 4 hours, talking, asking questions, boldly defending the word of God, and preaching Christ. I had conversation with one Mormon, Matt, for about an hour. Of all the Mormons with whom I have ever interacted, he was the most receptive and open. Let's just say that he has some very important questions to answer. Pray that the Lord will impress upon him and all those we talked to today the need to answer questions, recognize their need for the only Savior, and to turn to Christ. We also worshiped in song tonight and had a beautiful time. Among the team, we are developing much unity. These last two days have been very tough for some of the members in particular. Some are dealing with severe family issues. One student either rededicated her life to the Lord, or she accepted Christ for the first time! Praise the Lord! It's only day 2 and God is doing mighty things! Keep on praying. We are seeing the fruit of your prayers!
Michael
We made it safely. Praise the Lord! When we arrived in SLC, we ate some lunch and then did some prayer walking around downtown. We then arrived at the Blue House (where we will be staying this week). We sat around togethe. Russ East, our host, had a Mormon come by and talk with us. He fielded some questions. Our team asked some really good questions! I am so proud of them. About 45 minutes into this, we learn that the Mormon is NOT a Mormon! Russ brought this person (Ryan) to help us practice. Ryan encouraged us, telling us we did well. Tomorrow we worship with believers and then visit some Mormon wards (churches). Please keep on praying. We need it! Thanks!
Michael
Alright, you guys. We are about to leave for the trip. Just a few more days. Thank you everyone for praying for us. Please continue to pray for those with whom we will be interacting, as well as our kiddos. Pray that hearts will be opened, the gospel received, the students' lives changed, and that we will all be kept safe. Keep checking on us!
Michael
Welcome to the Salt Lake City Missions Trip blog! We are praying for a very fruitful mission trip this year. A small group of about 20 high school students and three leaders will be leaving the warm weather of Arizona to head for the mountains of Utah. The trip will take place the last week of February. The mission is to reach the hearts of the people that are following the Mormon faith. These students will be challenged to stand up for their own faith. They will be challenged to understand what makes the Mormon faith contrary to the Bible. This is an exciting trip as it takes our young people into deeper parts of their faith.
Our prayer for our students, leaders and those they will witness to comes directly from scripture. Ephesians 1:16-20 (Amplified Bible)
I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers. (For I always pray to) the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation (of insight into mysteries and secrets) in the (deep and intimate) knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in the saints (His set-apart ones), And (so that you can know and understand) what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His (own) right hand in the heavenly (places).
Now that is a promise that I want to see fulfilled in everyone involved in this mission trip!
Tomorrow is the first day of training for our students. Please be in prayer that their hearts would be open to what God reveals to each of them.
In Him,
Tammy Pfeifer
SLC Co-Prayer Coordinator
Alright, you guys. We are about to leave for the trip. Just a few more days. Thank you everyone for praying for us. Please continue to pray for those with whom we will be interacting, as well as our kiddos. Pray that hearts will be opened, the gospel received, the students' lives changed, and that we will all be kept safe. Keep checking on us!
Michael
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Posts: Almost on our way! Day 1: We Have Arrived, et al. Day 2: Church and Wards Day 3: Temple Square, Part 1 Day 4: Temple Sqaure, Part 2 Day 5: Blue House Ministry Day 6: Ministry and Fun Stuff |
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