Dear Friends,


As you know Jill and I have been traveling around the country raising support so that we can return to Congo. Folks have been very generous and we have pledges for about two thirds of our monthly support. We are doing even better with the Matching Gift Fund.

It's starting to look like we will make it back to Congo! We are excited to see what God is going to do.


This whole fund raising thing has been good for our faith and good for our relationship with God and His church. We're seeing the promises of Romans 8:28 fulfilled in new ways each week !

It's been a strange year on Home Assignment. It seems like life is throwing a lot of lemons our way. Our oldest son, Taylor, was hit by a car while walking in a crosswalk. Jill was hit by a car while driving. Our youngest son, Matthew, dislocated his knee and had to have surgery. Then he dislocated his other knee! These things combined with other less serious trials have made this year a difficult one.

Jill said,"It's a good thing that we have God in our lives because otherwise this year would seem like a disaster." I told a friend that things seemed safer in Congo where we only have wars, disease and crime to deal with. Lots of lemons...

But it hasn't been all bad. We have been able to visit family after the long separations of living overseas. We've re-connected with our friends and our church. There have been lots of sweet moments with our family living under one roof again. Sweetness and lemons...

One of the sweetest things that has happened to us was just this weekend. Gracie and Sophie, age six and five, heard that the missionaries needed to raise their support in order to return to Africa. They decided to make a lemonade stand and give the proceeds to the Lowerys. They carried the heavy table and chairs outside. Made the lemonade and set up shop. After a while they decided to advertise and went door to door recruiting customers to buy their lemonade. Gracie said, "We're raising money for the Lowerys and for Jesus." When they told me about it later, it brought tears to my eyes.

They sold quite a bit of Lemonade that day and made $16.00 towards our support. That's a lot of money for a five and six year old! Gracie's dad was really impressed with their efforts and suggested that the girls keep half the money they raised to buy something for themselves. But the girls refused. They wanted to give all that they made to support the missionaries.

I have to say that I was very touched by Gracie and Sophie. I was a little bit overwhelmed by their love for us and for Jesus. I was really overwhelmed by the Love of God and how He used these girls (and their parents) to encourage us. God keeps showing us over and over that He can meet our needs. Sometimes it comes from the most unexpected places.

We've had similar experiences as we have visited churches this year. Many folks have been very generous and are making big sacrifices to support us and our work in Congo. So many of our friends are praying and have said we're supporting you in obedience to God. Churches have stretched their budgets to give toward our support. It's amazing! We started fund raising with a lot of fear and sour feelings. But God has turned it into sweetness.

We believe Romans 8:28 - God causes lemons to turn into lemonade to those who love Him and are called according to his purpose...(my paraphrase). Sweet!

Thank you for your prayers and support. Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to share our story in churches and work to raise our monthly support. We're in the home stretch now! Pray that God will touch people's hearts for the Congo and His work there.

See more about the Lowerys at www.melandjel.org