Jones Journal e-Mailer for 2007-09

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Dear Friends,

Greetings in Jesus! If you'd like to read past issues, click on Newsletters. This monthly e-Mailer includes updates on ministry, family, praise and prayer.

You may have seen Panama exploding on the news Monday (9/3/08). No worries! It was just ground-breaking ceremonies for the new expansion of the Panama Canal locks to accommodate even larger ships. With all the foreign dignitaries in town, and the fact that our kids' schools are located right near the Canal, the government cancelled classes. So in a way we celebrated Labor Day with you all, for a change!

We had scheduled a follow up Crusade after last year's visit to the Darién province, in Metetí. Due to a scheduling conflict the new Pastor would not be able to host us in September. So, on short notice, we were able to go to the little country church in Chilibre with its new pastor, our team member, Dallis Quiñones.

I invite you to see the four minute video report on our website Media page, where you'll find a special greeting from our host pastor, Dallis, and Yvonne leading games (both seen here).

Even though it's only about 30 minutes outside of Panama City, this community only gets drinkable water once a week delivered by cistern trucks. There is tap water, but it's not potable. There's only outhouses for bathrooms.

After the three days of Crusades, which attracted and packed just under 200 children into the tiny church building, leaders told us that they had never seen anything like this before. We're believing this will spark new growth in the church both in children and adult ministries. Please pray for Dallis and her small congregation.

The Panamanian government recently passed a law declaring September "Month of the Bible." In support of that effort we focused this month's Children's Ministries Leaders seminar on the importance of children and the Bible. Local churches will be hosting events such as Bible memorization, poetry compositions, dramatic presentations of Bible stories, and murals and artistic efforts highlighting the Word of God.

Our next KidsQuest Crusade will be 22 & 23 September in Bocas del Toro with presbyter and longtime ministry supporter Frank Miranda at his church in El Silencio, Changuinola. Please pray for safe travel (it's a 10 hour drive) and smooth merging of new team members.

As mentioned last issue, our family is all back to school. Chloe and her fellow National Honor Society officers organized a very successful food drive benefiting the poverty-stricken Wounan Indians, which you can see here on her school's website.

Tony, now a Freshman, is on the high school basketball team, shown here (#23, CCA Eagles in blue) taking a free throw at Friday's game, first of the season, against Chloe's school. You can view a clip on You Tube.

Celina is again back in the Middle School worship band for Crossfire youth group as one of the backup singers. She keeps busy in her spare time doing sewing projects.

Gracie just started CrossWalk, special classes on Monday nights to learn more about the Bible. She's really excited about it. A couple days ago she surprised us and asked if she could start a book club at home with some classmates. At school they've been reading Frank Peretti's youth series and want to keep it up on their own.

We are looking forward to sharing with many of you during our upcoming itineration July 08 - July 09. Thanks to the pastors and their staff that have contacted us already! We invite you to let us know when you'd like to schedule a visit too. Feel free to use our Itineration page.

Thank you for giving to the Lord on our behalf! That's the main message we look forward to sharing during next year's itineration. Without so many of you supporting us in prayer and finance we couldn't do what we're doing.

I'll give you a new heart. I'll put a new spirit in you.

I'll cut out your stone heart and replace it with a red-blooded, firm-muscled heart.

Then you'll obey my statutes and be careful to obey my commands.

You'll be my people! I'll be your God!

Ezk. 11.19-20, The Message

Yours for Them,

Kirk for all