David & Annette Dryden

It has been a long while since we have updated you, so we hope to catch you up now on the many things that have happened since we last wrote.

Last fall and winter was primarily spent here in Greenfield, IN.  We are grateful that were able to take the time we needed to grieve after losing our daughter, Samantha.  Although we still miss her greatly, God has brought about much healing and has been preparing us to return to our home across the sea.

In January, we were able to do some training that will help us in ministry.  Dave took a graduate course in SC, went to a church planting seminar, and then we both went to a conference about relational ministry in WA.  God really used these events, as well as time and reflecting while we’ve been here the States, to affirm the direction we are going with evangelism and also to give us new, specific ideas on how to pray for people and how to better share our testimony.  We look forward to going back to Ukraine and renewing the relationships we have there.

Starting in February and up until now, we have been visiting our supporting churches and spending time with friends and family, sharing about what God is doing in Ukraine among the people and also in us.

Now we are in the throes of packing and preparing to go back to the field.  We leave May 14^th and would appreciate your prayers for us during this time of transition.  We’ve been asked by many people if we’re ready to go back.  The answer to this question is a difficult one because it involves many elements.  Are we excited to pack up everything we own, say goodbye to friends and family, leave behind convenience, spend time and energy in transit and readjust to a foreign culture and language?  Maybe not so much.  Are we ready to reengage in relationships, to reconnect with people on a practical level, to have meaningful conversations that lead people closer to knowing who Jesus is?  Are we ready to share life and build memories with friends?  Are we ready to learn who God is on a deeper level while walking on that path of Spiritual Maturity with individuals who are considerably important to us?  Absolutely.

Prayer Requests:

1.       Pray for our family’s health – that we could all be well while we travel and as we prepare to leave.

2.       Pray for us, for the transition of leaving our home culture and returning to another.  Pray especially for our children as they adjust.

3.       Pray for all of us as we say goodbye.  Pray for our families too as they send us off.

4.       Pray that God will be preparing hearts – both ours and the people we’re planning to see when we return.

Praises:

1.       Thank God for the way he has provided for us while we have been living in the USA.

2.       Thank God for the surprises He gave us through friends, old and new.

3.       Praise God for the way he has chosen to work through and inspire His people.

4.       Praise God that His plans are greater than ours.

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This entry was posted by The Drydens on Tuesday, May 3rd, 2011 at 9:13 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.