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We are blessed to add the prayer letter of Joy and Paul Mueller to our site.

Thanks to members Del and Dorleen for sharing this with us.

Mueller Email Prayer Letter – January 2009

Volume 5, No. 1

“Apologies to all for sending this late.” I figured I would not break a great streak I have going here!!! J

But this is Christmas – or should I say epiphany – and as I promised (to some of you), I would eventually get to writing our Christmas (albeit Epiphany) prayer letter. Much has happened – much is still in the Lord’s hands and mind – He will reveal it along the way, we are certain.

As many of you now know, both Paul and Joy are back in the states. Joy was not able to find any career work in Africa after LCMS WR-HC released her, so Paul and Joy were left with the option of staying in Africa where Paul would continue as Regional Director – Africa, LCMS World Mission and hope that Joy would find career work or return to the states where Joy’s leave of absence was soon to lapse. The choice was “return.”Joy resumed work in ISD 622 as Middle School Instructional Specialist for three middle schools and 120 middle school teachers, and Paul finished his transition role in his position through January 1^st. Presently, Paul is job hunting and doing odd jobs for the church – teaching a graduate course at Concordia University where he taught for 12 years, pulpit vacancies for pastors on vacation or leave, teaching mission Bible classes, and has even applied at Menards (like a HomeDepot), Mills Fleet Farm, TCF Bank, and NorthStar bank. Seems he is a bit overqualified for some of those places.

However, the work in Africa continues. There are some GREAT people we leave behind on that continent – LCMS missionaries, but also the leadership of all the National churches we worked alongside. Their vision is mission minded and outreach oriented. They have a desire to see heaven populated. They work to develop their leadership for that missionary task while continuing the day-to-day operations any church body has in the offices and hallways of the church structure. It is always a pleasure to visit leadership and churches in Africa – they have their priorities straight: sharing the Christ of the manger with souls who walk alone without Him. Africa churches have much to teach us about our own activities in our congregations in the states. With the little they have, they continue to share Christ, focusing on those living without Christ regardless of the building or budget or comforts we seem to require before we can apply most of our energy in the same task.

This will be our last prayer letter to all of you. But we cannot end our prayer letter relationship without first thanking all of you for your prayers and support and kindnesses and best wishes and words as we travelled the many miles (literally) these last few years. Paul flew nearly 500,000 miles these last 3+ years. And each time we landed, we were engaged in His mission in some form or fashion – supporting the work of the National church, helping set-up a new missionary, moving missionaries from one place to another to maximize the mission endeavors, developing partnerships with new Lutheran churches interested in a missionary focus with a solid theological backbone, and a host of other missional activities. And each time we did any of those things, you were there with us in spirit and prayer. None of what was accomplished through our hands was done by us alone – for you all were just as important, if not more important, than two people on the ground on the enormously large continent of Africa. Your prayers paved the way. Your financial support gave us the means. Your words of encouragement gave us the mental and physical strength to keep going. Believe us, without you behind us, just like the Verizon team, we could not have accomplished the things done in His kingdom for His glory alone. Thank you all for your partnership in the missionary task given to us by our Lord and King.

And the work continues. If you still wish to support the work of missionaries in Africa, please consider transferring your support to some GREAT people on the field (or soon to be there): Mike and Cindy Rodewald in S. Africa, Jake and Michelle Gillard in Uganda, Jack and Cathy Carlos in Guinea, Shauen and Krista Trump in Uganda, and Coral Rose in S. Africa. These folks need your prayers, but also your financial support. They are truly some of the best missionaries I have seen come to the field in years. If God leads you to continue your support of missionaries in Africa – please consider these families.

But again, this is Christmas. And by now, the manger is empty, and only the cross looms before Him. Our small gifts to Him are surpassed by His gracious, undeserved gift to us – leaving the manger, walking the road of life, and giving that life for you and me and all who look for the salvation answer – it is found in Him, Jesus Christ – once baby, now King of all.

Prayers:

1. Praise God for the years we were able to serve in Africa.

2. Praise God for the faithful prayer and financial supporters that have stood by us these last years.

3. Praise God for the new missionaries coming to or just recently arrived on the field: Gillards, Trumps, Rodewalds, Rose, and Carloses.

4. Pray for Joy as she gets back into the swing of things – the fast-paced hustle and bustle of the American work-a-day world.

5. Pray for Paul as he waits God’s guidance regarding future employment in His mission fields.

Thanks again for the prayers and support we have received. Please keep in touch with us. Joy’s email: JoyAnnMueller(atsymbol)yahoo.com. Paul’s email: PMueller.LCMSWM(atsymbol)yahoo.com (THIS IS A CHANGE!). Our snail mail address is: 1820 Onacrest Court, Maplewood, MN., 55117. If you wish to support the ministry of the missionaries listed above or projects of National Churches, please send your gifts to: LCMS World Mission, 1333 South Kirkwood, St. Louis, MO., 63122-7295. If for missionaries, write – ATTN: Missionary Support and indicate the missionary by name. To find LCMS World Mission projects visit: http://www.lcms.org/pages/internal.asp?NavID=5878.

St. Paul Lutheran Church and School, 1025 Lake Street, Melrose Park, Illinois 60160; Church: 708‑343‑1000, School: 708‑343‑5000

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