Hello there everyone, I would like to update you on our summer plans.
We leave Swan River on July 8th on our way to Youngstown Alberta, we expect to arrive in Youngstown on Saturday July 9th and will be speaking in the Gospel Chapel, Sunday July 10th.
We also expect to be in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan the night of the 10th and we will be sharing with some Bible study groups near Dalmeny Saskatchewan over a B.B.Q. supper on the 12th.
Our family will be sharing in Martensville Baptist Church on Sunday July 17th in the morning service, just a side note, Mari and I were married in that church almost 22 years ago, and had been attending there until we moved to Swan River 5 years ago.
On the 17th we also head to Regina to drop Leah off at the airport as she flies off to Orange County California for a six day youth leadership conference. Please pray for a safe trip and a great experience and a challenging experience for Leah as she is challenged in her spiritual life.
Mari, Jaxon and I continue to Carman Manitoba from there as we have one speaking engagement in Lowe Farm on Sunday July 24th. We have many friends in the Carman area that we will be able to catch up with also.
We are still looking for opportunities to share in and around Saskatoon with individual families or groups of people between July 13th and 16th, so if you are interested in having our family over to watch a short dvd and talk about where God is leading our family just leave a comment at the bottom of this "summer plans" update and we would be happy to come to your home or your group to chat.
We expect to be back in Swan River on July 25th, and are looking to fill our Sundays throughout the summer with opportunities to share where God is leading us. If your church would like to have us share for a short time or take the entire Sunday morning service please contact us either through e-mail or by commenting here on our blog.
Irvin, Mari, Leah and Jaxon Penner
Bringing the saving truth of Jesus Christ to the people of Mexico through building relationships with local pastors and helping them reach their communities through, Feeding Kitchens, Vacation Bible School, House Building, Prison Ministries, Micro-financing, Celebrate Recovery and training up pastors and leaders through the Bible Training Center for Pastors.
The Penners
Friday, 17 June 2011
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Our Prayer Letter
PENNER'S PARABLES
The Penners (Irv,Mari,Leah,Jaxon)
Box 2772 Swan River M.B.
Canada, R0L 1Z0
pennersparables@gmail.com
204-734-5745
You know that fear you get when you are about to step into a job interview, you drive up to theplace of business gleaming with confidence, you step out of your comfort zone, which for the time
being was your car and some of that confidence slips away. You begin to walk up to the door and as
you pull the door open there comes a slight shiver of fear that tingles in your spine. You enter and see
three other people sitting on the couch waiting for their name to be called, and you start to doubt if you
should have come in the first place. That confidence that you had in your car as you drove up has
turned into fear and doubt and you begin to question if you are even qualified for the job any longer.
You want to just turn around and walk away, but you can't because deep down inside you know you
were meant for this position. That is how I had been feeling about being accepted as a missionary, we
filled out all the paper work, had everything in order and then, fear set in, what if I am not good enough
and I fall flat on my face.
The concept of falling flat on my face is not the attitude that shows the faith I need as God leads and
provides our needs. God is always reliable, no matter the circumstance; all I need to do is open my eyes
to what God has done in our previous mission trips to Mexico.
Our first experience in missions was going to an orphanage in Mexico, and even before we left God
exemplified His compassion for the orphans through the heart of our daughter Leah, as she organized a
coffee and dessert evening where Leah and her friends used their musical gifts to play while others ate
dessert and had coffee, no admission was charged but a love offering was taken. That evening they
raised $1,000.00 for the orphanage.
There were groceries purchased, medications purchased, and when we went to drop off all the
supplies we were told that the orphanage had emptied their shelves and were praying that God would
provide for them. Through Leah obeying the leading of the Holy Spirit their needs were supplied for
another month. Even at this time our hearts were being prepared for a return to Mexico.
Last summer when we were in Mexico helping with the church plant, teaching ways of using our
friendships to evangelize in our everyday lives, and doing the evangelistic outreach, we knew that God
was calling us to Mexico.
Like the example I used in the beginning of this letter, fear and doubt set in, but all of our thoughts
were towards Mexico, and our hearts yearned for the people of Mexico. We knew we were meant for
this task, this ministry. We have been praying for confirmation of that as we had applied to become
missionaries with YUGO Missions.
I have worked in a high school over the past few years as an educational assistant, and my
supervisor had told me that my ministry was in the high school, and that I should stay and not go to
Mexico. I will admit I was confused for a time, I was getting opportunities to teach morals and ethics to
students and that felt good. But my heart was still in Mexico. One day I was so confused that while at
work I just cried out to God, “I am willing to give up on Mexico and stay in the high school if that is
what You want, please either close the door to Mexico and open the door for the high school so I can
see it clearly.” About seven minutes after I had called out to God I received a text message from Leah
to call Mari when I had a minute. It was lunch break so I picked up the phone and called Mari, and was
told that YUGO Missions called and said we had been accepted and we can move into the prayer and
financial support raising in our preparation for going to Mexico. I hung up the phone and said “thank
you God, I will go to Mexico in obedience to You, please find the people we need for our prayer
support and for our financial support.”
The door has swung open, We are now beginning the process of raising both spiritual (prayer
support) and financial support so we can move forward into the work we believe God is calling us to.
We have been learning about ourselves more and more over the past few years, and one thing we
have learnt is God's timing is everything.
We have been praying that God would direct you in the path you should take as you pray for His
guidance in deciding how to support us. I know that everyone can support us in prayer, and recognize
that our God is a wealthy God and could supply all our needs on His own, but God wants us to do the
work together, to be His hands and feet in the world as we minister together. So thank you in advance
for teaming with us in Mexico, your gifts of prayer and finances will make a difference in God's
kingdom!!
In Christ
Donations
Irv, Mari, Leah and Jaxon Penner
YUGO Ministries
PO BOX 231
St. Albert AB.
Canada T8N 1N3
yugoministries@cruzinternet.com
Our Pledge Card Information
YES! I want to partner with the Penner Family in the ministry God is calling them to.
I want to commit to the Penner’s prayer support team.
I would like to make a one-time gift of: $25 $50 $100 $__________
I want to commit to supporting the Penner Family with a monthly gift of: $__________
I would like my monthly gift to be deducted monthly from my bank account using monthly electronic funds transfers. (For this option, please attach a
voided cheque, and check below whether you would like these funds to be deducted on the 2nd or 17th of each month.)
I want my bank to pay to YUGO Ministries the amount shown above on either the
2nd
17th
This authorization is the same as if I had personally signed a cheque and will remain in effect until I notify YUGO ministries that I wish to change this
agreement.
Signed: __________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
E-mail: ____________________________________________________________
YUGO Ministries
PO Box 231
St. Albert, AB
Canada T8N 1N3
YUGOMinistries@cruzinternet.com
In compliance with CRA regulations all gifts are received as unconditional donations to YUGO ministries.
They are under the ultimate control of YUGO’s Board of Directors, which establishes policies for their use.
I want to commit to the Penner’s prayer support team.
I would like to make a one-time gift of: $25 $50 $100 $__________
I want to commit to supporting the Penner Family with a monthly gift of: $__________
I would like my monthly gift to be deducted monthly from my bank account using monthly electronic funds transfers. (For this option, please attach a
voided cheque, and check below whether you would like these funds to be deducted on the 2nd or 17th of each month.)
I want my bank to pay to YUGO Ministries the amount shown above on either the
2nd
17th
This authorization is the same as if I had personally signed a cheque and will remain in effect until I notify YUGO ministries that I wish to change this
agreement.
Signed: __________________________________________________________
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Address: __________________________________________________________
E-mail: ____________________________________________________________
YUGO Ministries
PO Box 231
St. Albert, AB
Canada T8N 1N3
YUGOMinistries@cruzinternet.com
In compliance with CRA regulations all gifts are received as unconditional donations to YUGO ministries.
They are under the ultimate control of YUGO’s Board of Directors, which establishes policies for their use.
Our Cover Letter from YUGO
From the office of the Executive Director
P.O.Box 58 • National City, CA 91951 • 619-336-9003
What an honor it is to introduce to you our newest short-term missionary appointees, Irvin and
Mari Penner. They have met the requirements as set down by the YUGO, Canada Board of
Directors for missionary service in Mexico. The Penners will play an important role in ministry
in the greater Tijuana & Ensenada Mexico. They will be serving underneath and alongside of
YUGO Missionaries Mike McDonald and Rod and Cheryl Hoople.
We are excited about the great possibilities for how their ministry will assist Mexicans in their
faith and life needs. They will do this by facilitating training of local leaders and enabling them
to serve their communities better. Serve with the YUGO Prison Ministry Team teaching and
preaching with the male inmates of the Ensenada Prison.
Be in prayer for them – that soon their total support goal can be reached, and that they soon will
be able to begin this new phase of their lives in missions ministry in Mexico. Please feel free to
contact me if you have any questions about Irvin & Mari or about our ministries throughout
Mexico.
Together In Christ With You!
Ray Schwartz
Interim Executive Director
YUGO Ministries, Inc.
ray@yugo.org
P.O.Box 58 • National City, CA 91951 • 619-336-9003
What an honor it is to introduce to you our newest short-term missionary appointees, Irvin and
Mari Penner. They have met the requirements as set down by the YUGO, Canada Board of
Directors for missionary service in Mexico. The Penners will play an important role in ministry
in the greater Tijuana & Ensenada Mexico. They will be serving underneath and alongside of
YUGO Missionaries Mike McDonald and Rod and Cheryl Hoople.
We are excited about the great possibilities for how their ministry will assist Mexicans in their
faith and life needs. They will do this by facilitating training of local leaders and enabling them
to serve their communities better. Serve with the YUGO Prison Ministry Team teaching and
preaching with the male inmates of the Ensenada Prison.
Be in prayer for them – that soon their total support goal can be reached, and that they soon will
be able to begin this new phase of their lives in missions ministry in Mexico. Please feel free to
contact me if you have any questions about Irvin & Mari or about our ministries throughout
Mexico.
Together In Christ With You!
Ray Schwartz
Interim Executive Director
YUGO Ministries, Inc.
ray@yugo.org
Thursday, 2 June 2011
The beginning
Well we are planning to go to Youngstown Alberta for July 10th and be in the Saskatoon area from July 12th to 17th. Our desire is to find brothers and sisters in Christ that are willing to commit to praying for us as we prepare to go to Mexico and when we get there also. We are also looking for people who are willing to commit to supporting us financially as we raise support to live in Mexico and do the work God has called us to.
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