“Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness.” (II Corinthians 9:10)
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God has been gently massaging my tired heart back to life with truth....bringing me alive with a new passion....and it all has to do with the very reason I came to eastern Europe. Back when Amy and I were at Moody we were stirred deeply during our annual mission conference by a message passionately spoken through George Verwer. We knew, in that moment, that God was calling us to lay down our lives for the Gospel....He was inviting us to join Him in the harvest.
These past months I’ve realized that the pressures of the everyday fieldwork had cluttered over our ” hope of a plentiful increase” in these ripe harvest fields. And to be honest, I have failed to sow the seed of God’s Word ....indiscriminately...passionately...and with abandon. But, thankfully, God has been faithful to renew that vision in me. He has promised to supply seed if we would but sow.
“...a planting of the Lord, oaks of righteousness for the display of His splendor.”
Yesterday was a big day for us!....Seven new believers from our church plant were baptized, along with our own daughter. One of these was a young husband, and the other six were gypsy children....each life a beautiful testimony to the transforming power of Christ. What a joy to see these seedlings taking root.....
Our little church plant is taking root as well. We have officially begun to meet every week as an independent station. The Sunday before last we, as a church, stood in a circle facing outward as we held 
hands. In the authority we’ve been given in Christ, we prayed blessing on the town of Karvina. The kids who come every week, are eager to be in a community of believers. They are hungry for love, and are challenging the rest of us as they grow.
“... born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.”
In our own children, seeds planted years ago are taking root.
Our Hayley will be traveling to Africa in November. Hayley has been hesitant to step into places of challenge. She likes security. 
We’ve followed that “lead” in the past, and have tried to shelter her sensitive spirit. But after watching her in the States this summer, we saw a girl who is capable of things she doesn’t realize. We believe Hayley is stepping into a crossroads where she will be challenged to live out her faith in new places and challenging situations.
Hannah chose to be baptized along with a group from our new church plant. As one of the students chosen to share her testimony, she felt like her testimony wasn’t very special compared to the other new 
believers. It was so sweet for us to hear her tearfully give glory to her Lord for the way He has proven Himself to her during a year of loss, transition, and loneliness.
“...but if a kernel of wheat falls in to the earth and dies....it will bear much fruit.”
This month we also gathered for our annual Fall Conference. What thrills our hearts at conferences like this, is having the privilege of hearing firsthand, stories of how seeds of faith are taking root and bearing fruit. Many throughout JV are giving their lives to bear fruit as Jesus lives out His life through them to bring hope to people in their countries. Read about them in the photo album marked "Fall Conference".
Please pray for us as we ask the Lord where He wants us to sow seed...how He wants us to sow it. We want to boldly and faithfully scatter the word of God in this field to which He's appointed us.
with deep love,
Mel and Amy
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