20/10/2020
Puzzles? Before the pandemic it really wasn’t my thing. This pandemic opened up a new interest. These last few months I watched and listened to an expert puzzler put together many puzzles. She makes it look easy to put those 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle together in a weekend. There is something very satisfying in hearing and seeing each piece snap into place to form the picture that is on the box. I have learned that to do a puzzle you have to find the outside edges first, organize the other pieces by color or images then try to place each piece to find where it fits.
Ministry can be a lot like a puzzle. This missionary has seen God take different pieces of her life to mold her and change her to prepare her for a new ministry. As I left Togo last November, I didn’t know what the Lord had in mind for me. It has been exciting and sometimes terrifying seeing how each piece of this new puzzle is fitting into place. The finished puzzle will be serving in Banjul, Gambia.
In September and October I have been busy traveling to visit six new churches. I am thankful for these new contacts and how God used pieces from my past to obtain the goal to have churches and people praying for me in the Gambia. My travels took me from Binghamton to Lake Erie area then down into Pennsylvania. Each church encouraged this missionary and I pray that the Lord will allow them to be a part of my team whether it is to be through financial aid or prayer support or both!
Autumn is one of my favorite seasons and I miss it when I am in West Africa. Each weekend for the last six weeks as I traveled, I drank in the colors of fall as I drove on different highways and back roads. I had some near misses with a deer, a hawk, a flock (rafter) of wild turkeys and even a truck that was barreling into my land. My little Hyundai has gotten a work out but the Lord has been so faithful in keeping me safe. I know that you have been praying for my safety and ministry in each church. Thank you.
If you know of a church that is interested in hearing about the Gambia in November or December you can contact me at [email protected].
My teammates Patrick and Michele Reed are at 90% of their support. Pray that we can get to the Gambia to help the rest of the team as they are doing their ministry and running things in Banjul for us.
Praise the Lord as He has been adding new personal supporters this month, I am at 94.5% of my support with $200 needed per month. My Outfit and Passage account lacks only $6000 to set up a home in Banjul, Gambia. I am praying for 4 more $50 puzzle pieces of support because the last piece of this Gambia puzzle to fit is to have 100% of my support to leave for the Gambia soon. Click on the link if you are interested in being part of this puzzle!
https://www.abwe.org/work/missionaries/joan-schmitz
Blessings,
Joan Schmitz
Joan is an experienced ABWE missionary living over 25 years in West Africa. She is excited to help plant ABWE churches in the capitol city of Banjul, Gambia. Her education background will be a tool to teach and evangelize the Gambian people.
