Mid October 2011 update

Much has happened since the last blog post.  The Spirek family has passed the mid-point of Home Service.   On David’s travels he has driven through parts of Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri.  Austin and Karyn have learned more about their home culture.  The family has had several health and dental check-ups.  Below is a more detailed account of these Home Service activities.

On the weekend of September 18 David traveled to Henderson Bible Church in Louisiana.  There he was asked to teach an adult Sunday school class and to give a missionary update during the morning service.  David was excited about the church growth since his last visit.  There were many new families.  In addition, the church is in the process of a building program.  They are building a new fellowship hall and adding some classroom space.  David was able to encourage the church in their missionary outreach to Ukraine through his ministry.  After church services a group went to a restaurant named Crawfish Town.  Some of the blessings of having to raise one’s own missionary support is traveling and meeting some interesting people and eating some wonderful food such as Louisiana Cajun food.  These are some of the blessings that we experience as we follow Jesus.

David spent the week of September 25-30 at Crossworld headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri for a mission conference.  The purpose of the conference was for missionaries to reconnect with the home mission staff and to reorient themselves to stateside life, churches and ministry.   While there David attended some helpful seminar on topics such as Understanding Crossworld’s Ministry Vision, Non-Traditional Methods of Doing Missions, Successful Transitions, Connecting with Churches, Mobilization, Improving Communication, among other topics.  In addition to the seminars David was able to spend some quality time sharing stories and testimonies of God’s faithfulness with other Crossworld missionaries.  Through this conference David was encouraged and energized for future ministry.  David really appreciated an opportunity to spend some time with Crossworld coworkers serving around the world.

Shortly after returning to home base in Texas David received an invitation to speak to a small group at First Baptist Church in Allen, Texas.  This was a group of parents whose children and grandchildren are serving around the world.  David had a good opportunity to share from his heart about what it means to have support of parents while serving overseas.  David and Kim have been blessed with a supportive family back at home.  They may not fully understand the missionary call.  But, they have supported us throughout the years.  By encouraging the parents David believes that in a small way he participated in their children’s ministries in Japan, Egypt, Thailand and other places.  David would like you to pray not only for missionaries but also their family members who also sacrifice by supporting their missionary children.

One of the family goals of Home Ministry is to orient the children to their home culture.  They have spent most of their lives outside of the United States.  So, when they return for university and life beyond they need to have a basic understanding of their home culture.  This past week we had an opportunity to take our middle and high school age children to a public high school football game.  We went to a North Mesquite High School Friday night football game with a group from Lake Pointe Church.  This was our children’s first experience with public high school sports.  Karyn was impressed with the half time marching band and drill team.  Austin, being a soccer player, was impressed by the football kicking game.  Events like this may seem ordinary to you.  But, they are helping our children to one day integrate back into the culture.  We appreciate those who have ministered to our family in this way.

In closing, the Spirek family would like to ask you to continue praying for them during the last half of Home Ministry.  Pray for their upcoming ministry trips to churches in Louisiana, Colorado and Pennsylvania.  Pray for them to make final connections with family, friends, supporters and churches before they return to Ukraine.  Pray for them to mobilize believers for ministry abroad and to build their team.  Pray for our family to have good health check-ups.  Finally, pray for the Spireks to receive new visas before January.  


Thanks for being a part of our prayer and support team!