Summer Update - July 2012

Time for another ministry and life update!

God is faithful...I must say it again and again...God is Faithful, True, and He never lets go of us.

Often, our minds drift from our Anchor...worry and anxiety usually follow. How grateful I am that He remains Faithful - even when my faith is weak or fails.

The first week of July was difficult. My family and I had to work thru the still lingering grief over the passing of Joyce 5 years ago on July 5, 2007. Two days later was our wedding anniversary - July 7th.
This year would have been 39 years. Again, I am so thankful for the comfort of the Holy Spirit and the wisdom of the Word (Proverbs 9:10) to see us thru, and keeping us on course.

My new wife, Pamela, has been so kind and understanding thru this season. We've been married two years now and what a blessing and joy she is in my life! In a couple of weeks, she will be retiring from the US Navy after 20 years of service. We are looking forward to yet another transition as we move back to San Diego from Bremerton, WA - and Pam starts a new life chapter as a civilian.

I continue to work from our hotel room on the Navy base for Shepherd's Staff Mission Facilitators and Poimen Ministries.

Though most of my contact with other pastors, new and existing missionaries and their home churches is by email, phone and Skype - I deeply love and enjoy what I do. Hopefully, when we are back in SoCal, the face to face meetings will increase.

We would appreciate prayer in the following areas:

1. A safe road trip back home.
2. A new post Navy job for Pam
3. Our 160 missionaries in the field and the 20 or so in various stages of preparation.
4. My health. I am still dealing with pain and discomfort from my past surgeries and bowel obstructions are a constant threat due to the mess of scar tissue from those surgeries.
5. Continued opening of opportunities for ministry
6. The quick sale of my house in Escondido

Thanks to all of you who continually love, pray and support us - you indeed are vessels of our Lord's Great Faithfulness!

"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
1 Corinthians 1:9

In His Arm's,  Pat and Pam

Request

Hi My Friends, I have a request for you to prayerfully consider. I am needing to raise more support for my ongoing ministries with Shepherds Staff and Poimen. I lost half of my support this month due to financial constraints at Shepherds Staff. The ministry is going well and presently serving over 160 missionaries, but good stewardship led our board to decide their regional missions pastors would need to raise 100% of their support. That is not uncommon in the missions world these days. If you would like to include me in your charitable giving, please email me at escorev@gmail.com or go to my link on the Shep Staff website:
http://www.shepsstaff.org/kenney.aspx

Also, Our family is rejoicing for the arrival of my daughter Noelle's first child! A beautiful little girl - Natalie Joyce Berry!



Thanks so much! Pat

Pacific NW adventure begins

Hi Folks,

Today I head out to Seattle to meet up with Pam as her ship dry docks this afternoon. Pam emailed me to say it was snowing. I'd like to say I'm ready for this - but that wouldn't be quite the truth. I was reading in The Daily Bread yesterday about Divine Interuptions. It concluded with this comment:

"The psalmist reminds us that the Lord can make “the plans of the peoples of no effect” (Ps. 33:10). Yet all too often we respond to the interruptions of our well-ordered lives with attitudes like frustration, irritation, fear, and doubt. God’s surprises in our day are full of opportunities. Let’s welcome them as a new “to-do list” from Him."

As I thought about that, my first reaction was, "Oh great - that stuff is right up my alley!". Then the Lord began to speak to my heart. He was reminding me of His faithfulness to not only see me thru changes/interruptions, but also to use me as I face my fears and doubts. He reminded me of His Faithfulness to work out all things in my life for His glory.

I wish I could learn this lesson, pass these tests, graduate to a place where I no longer struggle with my flesh and my fears. Yet I'm learning, very slowly, that these Interuptions are just part of life, and I can choose to be overwhelmed or choose to be excited about what God is going to do next. I'll take the latter. He who began a good work in me, is faithful to complete it. So it's up, up, and away again!

Hope your day is blessed as you learn along with me to trust in the Lord with allllll your heart and lean NOT on your own plans and understanding!

In His Arms, Pat