Praying our Way to Bolivia

It's hard to believe, but September is here! We are now in our target departure month. It's hard to believe. And we are still well on track to hit the target of leaving by the end of the month. We have chosen today (Friday, September 1, 2017) as a prayer emphasis day to really focus on praying for some of the needs we have as we wrap up our time in the States and to ensure a September departure. Of course, we welcome all prayers at any time. Would you agree with us in the following areas?

God is already answering prayer!

Actually, before I start, I need to share something exciting!! We have been asking people to pray about decisions regarding Genevieve's schooling in Bolivia. I even included in our our prayer post from the other day. Today I was planning to post a more specific prayer about a school we have been looking at and hoping that they would have room and accept her late. We have been praying about it and even prayed about it this morning. Well, we heard this morning that the school is accepting Genevieve!!! This is phenomenal news for us and we want to express a big thank you to God for His goodness in this!

Now let's agree together that God will similarly move in other areas.

Prayer needs in preparation for departure

Please agree with us in prayer regarding:

Visas/Residency Docs

• That the kids will have no issues with the necessary immunizations required (and otherwise necessary) so we can submit their visa applications
• That God will already be moving in the hearts of the workers at the consulate to receive and approve the kids' applications without any issues
• That our remaining documents will arrive in a timely manner so we can get them certified
• That God will already be moving in the hearts of the workers at the consulate to legalize all our residency documents with no issues
• That we will find favor throughout this entire process

Budget

• That the remaining 10% of our budget will come in through new partnering churches and individuals so we can hit the 100% mark we'll need prior to departure
• For the remaining services and meetings we already have scheduled to share our hearts and an opportunity for partnership
• That God would put us on the hearts of those who have already considered partnering with us financially and make a way
• That God would put us on the hearts of those who haven't already considered partnering with us financially and make a way
• That God would supernaturally put us on the hearts of those who don't even know us yet and make a way
• That God would give us favor in any board/leadership meetings where churches are discussing partnership with us
• That God would give us other services or meetings as our schedule allows

Personal

• That God would help us navigate through the emotions of preparing to say goodbye to life as we know it and leave for Bolivia (for all of us but especially for the kids who are still learning how to better navigate emotions
• That God would help us as we pack for Bolivia - that we would know what to take and what to leave (sell, give away, pack away, throw away)
• For traveling mercies as I (Mike) go to Florida for just about a week (Sept 2-6)
• For traveling mercies for all our remaining travels prior to departure
• For favor as we go through medical, dental and eye exams
• For us to get all the paperwork done correctly for Genevieve to go to school
• For strength as we seek to tie up any other loose ends
• That God would help us not to be anxious as we go through this process

Honestly, there are so many other specifics I could offer, but these are the ones that come to mind as I write this. Hopefully this is at least a starter for some ways you can be agreeing with us. We have no doubt that God is able! He has always been faithful to us and we have confidence that He will remain faithful.

Thank you so much for your prayers! Please let us know how we can be praying with you (mikeandpollybrown@gmail.com). May God go with you always!!

Taking Aim at the Target

[UPDATED 08/31/17 09:43am]

Well, September is almost here. Our target has been to leave for Bolivia in September for quite some time. One big question looms: Will we hit the target?

We believe that the answer to that question is, "Yes!" That answer is based on the fact that we believe that God is able! We also believe that we need to bring our needs and desires to the Lord in prayer. This is why we are sharing this prayer guide with you, so that you can agree with us for God to move in some specific areas as we take aim at the target. We ask you to agree regularly as God leads us through these areas. We are also specifically focusing on prayer this Friday, September 1st as it is the first day of our target month. Perhaps you may consider taking a little extra time to focus on prayer for us and these needs on that day.

Clearance

We must receive clearance in a number of areas prior to departure for Bolivia. Of those, these prayers are focused on 2: visa clearance and financial clearance.

1. Visa

Polly and I already have our temporary visas necessary to arrive in Bolivia. The kids still need theirs, however. We also need to have all necessary documentation for temporary residency legalized by the Bolivian consulate in New York City prior to departure. Please pray for:

• [UPDATED] Favor as we send in applications for Genevieve and Jonah's visa to the Bolivian consulate in New York City
• All the documents we need to apply for temporary residency to arrive quickly
• Favor as these documents are certified
• The officials at the Bolivian consulate to accept and legalize all the documents (there is one in particular that could be an issue, though we are believing it won't be; thankfully a new plan B option would not affect our time frame)

2. Financial

Praise God that we have reached 90% of our monthly budget raised which allows us to deal with our visas and, upon their approval, purchase our plane tickets. Please pray for:

• The remaining 10% of our monthly budget to come in as we cannot leave until we are at 100%
• Blessings upon those who have partnered with us already
• God to speak to the hearts of the church leaders and individuals who will become a part of our sending team through finances moving forward
• Favor in all remaining itineration services, meetings and conversations

Preparation

Clearances are critical, but they are not the only thing requiring our attention. We have other things to focus on in preparation for our impending departure to Bolivia. Please pray for:

• God to give us wisdom and guidance with what to pack and what to leave behind, sell, give away, throw away, etc.
• Us to be able to acquire things we still need
• Decisions regarding Genevieve's schooling in Bolivia
• Strength through all the impending goodbyes
• Favor in upcoming medical, dental and eye exams
• Favor and wisdom as we prepare to purchase plane tickets
• Traveling mercies as we travel a lot during our final month here
• Strength to work through a busy schedule
• God to help us navigate the emotions that come with transition
• Any loose ends that need to be tied up
• Favor and wisdom as friends help us look for housing in Bolivia

Of course, you can pray for us in any other area as you feel impressed on your heart by the Holy Spirit. Especially considering that these are items prior to our departure. There will be many prayers needed when we arrive and while we serve there as well. Thank you for praying with us. Please feel free to Facebook message us (facebook.com/mikeandpollybrown) or email us (mikeandpollybrown@gmail.com with anything that we can be praying for you about or with anything you feel the Lord puts on your heart regarding us as you pray. Thank you!

This is going to be epic!

"Are we there yet?"

That's a question we expect to hear a lot over the next month and a half. Why? Because we are heading out on a nearly 7 week road trip.

During this trip we will either pass through or stop in each of the following 20 states:

Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, West Virginia

That's 40% of the states in the U.S. during one trip over just under 7 weeks.

This is going to be epic!

During this trip we will see family and old friends, meet with pastors/church leaders, preach, share about our mission, see new places, have fun adventures, witness some friends get married (Polly is actually in the wedding), go through security training, missionary training and missionary renewal, be commissioned as appointed missionaries with the Assemblies of God World Missions and even attend a district council.

This is going to be epic!

During this trip we will travel dozens of hours over thousands of miles. We will sleep in at least 12 different places, meaning 12 different beds. We will pass three holidays - Memorial Day, Father's Day and Independence Day.

This is going to be epic!

But in order for this trip to be epic, it needs one more very critical thing: prayer. That's why I'm writing this blog. We desire your prayers covering numerous things as we embark on this epic road trip. Will you pray with us?

Below are some of the specifics areas about which you can be praying for us, but also please feel free to pray for other areas as the Spirit leads you. I have broken down the list into sections to better organize it:

1. Spiritually

• That during a crazy, busy schedule we would make time to spend in prayer and Bible reading
• That we would be sensitive to the Holy Spirit for opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ with people on our journey
• That we would look more like Jesus at the end of the trip than the beginning

2. Physically

• For health - we will be traveling so much and interacting with so many people; also, we will have to work harder to find/create time to exercise and will be eating out more than usual; we need self-control
• For rest - we will be sleeping in different places and running on a different schedule than the norm and driving a lot of miles
• For safety in travel - we will be traveling a lot of miles with a lot of other motorists; we are driving an older van with nearly 200,000 miles on it so prayers for the van to experience no mechanical issues would be great too
• For good weather - for travel and personal protection and enjoyment

3. Relationally/Socially

• Interpersonal family relationships - we will be traveling a lot of miles and spending a lot of hours together
• Family - we will be seeing family we don't often see and even meeting family we've never met, including our 1-year-old niece
• Friends - we will be seeing old friends and making new ones
• Those left behind - we won't be seeing my Massachusetts family during the trip and will only see Polly's Pennsylvania family near the beginning and end; the kids will also be leaving behind their close friends they've made here for the duration of the trip
• The right connections with the right people for the right reasons
• That we would be a blessing to others and be willing to be blessed by others

4. Emotionally

• Spending lots of time together, especially in a car, lends itself to a range of emotions; we must be careful how we deal with and express those emotions
• The flip side of seeing old friends and making new ones and all that excitement is the inevitable "see you later"
• Patience, patience, patience - we will need lots of patience

5. Mentally

• To stay awake and alert as we drive
• To grow and learn so much from others and especially in our trainings
• Clarity in mind and thought as we make travel and other decisions

6. Financially

• For great gas mileage and great deals at hotels (thankfully, we will be spending very little time in hotels)
• For God's blessing over those who generously give to our budget which covers the travel and training expenses
• That the offerings/donations we receive on the road would cover the travel expenses
• For God's blessing over those who have graciously offered housing and/or meals during this journey

7. Ministerially

• For great services when we have the opportunity to preach/share
• For great meetings with pastors/church leaders
• For favor as we learn things that will help us in our ministry here and in Bolivia

Thank you so much for your prayers! We're so excited for this trip but also a little overwhelmed and stressed. But we know that God goes with us and we trust Him to bring us through. This is going to be great. With God, this is going to be epic!