July Newsletter 09

Africa to Asia

July 2009

An insight into the ministry of LCMS missionary Megan Birney serving Christ in Hong Kong

Experiencing goodness It is somewhat unbelievable to realize that summer is coming to an end! I knew that my time at home would be short but now that our leave date is closing in, it feels like it has flown by! All of my fundraising events/efforts during the month of July were a success! The Lord has greatly blessed all efforts towards my ministry in Hong Kong and I am excited to be leaving for the field on August 17th! The month began with my fundraiser at the Flagler Fabulous Fourth Festivities. Starbucks donated 20 gallons of iced coffee and I raised over $500 over the weekend (with help from a lot of friends!). The first few weeks of July I was blessed to have friends host different fundraising shows that helped raise money. Between all of these fundraisers, which Thrivent matched up the 50%!, I raised approximately $3600 towards my missionary service! While I was unsure of how I was going to raise all of my funding within the three months in between Togo and Hong Kong, the Lord has paved the way! Along with the money raised from my events and matched by Thirvent, I am fully funded for a year of service in Hong Kong! In other July news, my brother John and I celebrated our birthdays on the 17th. We went to Disney World (since it’s free on your birthday!) and saw our favorite band, The Avett Brothers on the 16th & 17th as they toured through Florida! It was a blessing to be home for my birthday and to be able to spend the day with my family, friends, and favorite musicians! Two weeks ago, Shepherd of the Coast hosted our annual summer vacation bible school program. Crocodile Dock was a huge

success with over 120 kids in attendance! We had five nights full of fun learning about how the Lord cares for us and His powerful presence is always with us. It was so uplifting to be surrounded by all of these children singing praises to the Lord and asking questions about Jesus and what they were learning. On the 31st, I left Florida on a 24 hour 15 passenger van ride to chaperone my church’s youth summer mission trip in Pottersville, NY. Camp Sonrise hosted us as we participated in acts of service around the camp including building a jungle gym, transporting firewood, helping a pastor move, and “I pray also that hosting a carnival for Sonrise’s day the eyes of your campers. Thank you for all your heart may be prayers during the youth trip! ;) God shined His light through these youth enlightened in orand helped them give back to a min- der that you may istry that gives to so many! On the know the hope to 17th, I will be meeting my teamwhich he has mates, Andrea and Lynette, in San called you, the Francisco in the afternoon, and after our almost 14 hour flight, we’ll arrive riches of his gloriin Hong Kong at 6pm on the 18th! ous inheritance in Thank you for your continued the saints” prayers during this time of travel and Ephesians 1:18 transition! Blessings to you! :)

“...could it be that my worth should defend by the crimson stained grace on a hand? and like a lamp on a hill Lord I pray in Your will to reveal all of You that I can...”

July 2009

LCMS World Mission 800-433-3954 www.lcmsworldmission.org

Marytrs & Thieves — Jennifer Knapp

[email protected] Learn more about the work of LCMS World Mission in Asia: www.lcmsworldmission.org/asia

Thank you for your continued support in prayer and financial commitments! The cost for my year of service in Hong Kong has been updated and is now approximately $14,647; I am fully funded for a year of service! I am still looking for prayer commitments for the upcoming year! If you would like more information please don’t hesitate to contact me! Thanks for your prayers!

Prayer Requests

Contact Info Miss Megan Birney

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c/o Mr Ken Cheung Concordia English Center (Tuen Mun) Tsang Shing Siu Leun Lutheran School P.S. No. 5 Butterfly Estate, Tuen Mun, N.T. Hong Kong

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Email me: [email protected] Check out my blog: acrossanoceansizedlove.blogspot.com Visit my project page: • www.lcms.org?13343 Download my prayer card: www.lcmsworldmission.org/prayercards • Access my photo albums: picasaweb.google.com/megaroonski • Newsletter Archive: http://www.pdfcoke.com/share/upload/ 12705346/u8nry0prmzuo0jsrb2k •

Please take these to the Lord in prayer... That God would begin to open eyes and ears and pave the way for the new EFL ministry beginning in Hong Kong this fall. Me, as I continue raising prayer support for my service and preparing to leave for Hong Kong, along with my teammates Andrea & Lynette. Our international travel! (8/17-8/18) My CUNE Family Life Ministry graduate classes that begin in September. Praise for SOTC’s youth mission trip to Pottersville, NY. (7/31-8/9) That the Lord would continue to be prevalent in the lives of the Fluegge family; for a smooth transition from their 10 years ministry at the CLET in Togo to their new ministry at the Lutheran Theological Seminary in Pretoria, South Africa this November; for their support raising efforts over the next few months. The students at the CLET; that God would steady their hearts to pursue their calls to leadership training in serving the Lutheran Churches in West Africa; continued praise for the June graduation! The CLET professors; give them strength and affirmation in their calls to teaching and strength to lead the CLET; especially the director, Dr. Dongo. My fellow LCMS long-term missionaries serving internationally; for the opportunity & strength to live out Christ’s love on the mission field. For the hearts of those needing to know the grace of our great God

If you would like to receive this newsletter electronically, please e-mail me at [email protected]!