GIRWARNAUTH’S UPDATE

Address: Grant 1780, Lot 4,
Crabwood Creek, Berbice, Guyana
E-Mail: andy.girwarnauth@gmail.com Website: www2.gvsu.edu/~girwarns

Andy & Kathleen founded the Association of Bible Churches (ABC) in Guyana, a national church planting organization. Their goal is to establish independent, self-supporting, national-run, Bible churches. They began in 1988 with a vision to plant 20 churches in 20 years (they have planted 18 churches so far!) through the process of evangelism and discipleship, while maintaining a high level of pastoral training in order to facilitate the great commision. They are pictured above with their children and grandchildren during their most recent visit to the States. Check out their monthly update below and visit their website if you want more information.

MAY UPDATE:

Dear Praying Friends:

It's hard to believe that our "home ministry" time is already half over! Since our arrival in Michigan on April 7, we have put a lot of miles on the car and a lot of minutes on the phone...but it's been good to get connected with supporters, friends and family once again. We are grateful for the use of a reliable vehicle, cell phone and internet access while here. It has been such an encouragement to have friends and family reach out to us in providing these necessary items. There have been only a few minor changes in our posted schedule (see our website, "events" page), If we haven't seen you yet, or had a chance to "chat", please feel free to call or visit us at one of the churches we will be sharing in...we do want to reach as many as possible during this visit.

We have enjoyed the rare opportunity to spend time with our kids and grandsons! Naomi has been in the process of packing and moving to their camp ministry, so it has been our privilege to babysit, help clean and pack as needed. As of this weekend, the Sponable family will be three hours away from our home here in Lowell, so we will miss them greatly. Jennie is busy planning her wedding, so we've been assisting her in many ways also. Sam has moved back home from college for the summer, so he and Andy are enjoying their time together as father and son...another rare treat. They are looking forward to attending the Allistar Begg Pastors Conference May 12-14 together as well. We treasure these special times with family and appreciate your prayers on their behalf.

Andy is in the process of building a few wooden "crates" for a small shipment to Guyana. We praise God for the generous gift of a large generator, some much needed vehicle parts and supplies, used clothing, hymnbooks, and shoes. He still has room for used clothing and some much needed Bibles...any donations can be mailed or dropped off to the above MI address before May 20.

Special projects update: Kathleen's pastor's wives retreat: sponsors are signing up! We're planning to go! Anyone interested in sponsoring a Guyana pastor's wife for the October retreat may send tax deductible gifts to our mission address and designate (on a separate piece of paper please) that it's for the Guyana pastors fund/wives retreat. Andy is sharing his vision for the Bath Bible Church building project: $50,000 for the church construction phase. It is our goal to be moved from Overwinning Village to the Bath Village by next year. Lord willing, as the funds come in, work teams will also come in 2009 to begin this exciting project. Again, donations of any amount must be sent through PIEI, designated "Guyana church building fund".

Here is an updated version of our schedule, (now through June 1)- it is highly unlikely that any more service times will be added:

May 7: Andy meets with accountability partner in the US, Big Rapids, MI
May 9: Final packing/moving day for Naomi and Steve, driving at night to Pleasant Valley Bible Camp, East Jordan, MI
May 11: Alton Bible Church, Lowell, MI 10-12am
May 12-14: Allistar Begg Pastor's conference, Ohio
May 17: Traverse City, MI: Meeting with interested persons concerning the Bath construction project (5pm)
May 18: Eden Bible Church, am services, Big Rapids (Pete Alley) church pm.
May 19-22: Celebrate Your Marriage conference and stopover at Pleasant Valley Bible Camp
May 22: Sam's 21st birthday!
May 24-25 Meetings in Indiana
May 29-30: family wedding responsibilities (nephew)
June 1: Living Gospel Church, am services, Lake Odessa, MI
June 4: Leave for Guyana

In between: make and send shipment, pack, family responsibilities, doctor visits, sermon preparation, etc. etc.

It is important to tell you that our mission and the US government require a yearly visit to the States. Our visit falls each year usually between April-May. Andy is the Guyana PIEI director, and must report to the board and committee once a year in person. We visit as may of our supporters as possible during our brief stays - it takes an average of about three years at this pace to see all of them. The US government requires all non-citizens holding green cards (that's Andy) to "touch the ground" every year, so to maximize our airfare we stay a few weeks so as to best utilize the time, report on the ministry, represent the national pastors under our care,and share the vision and needs that are unique to Guyana. NOTE: We have a 20 minute DVD presentation celebrating 20 years of church planting in Guyana...hopefully it will be in the mail soon for ALL our supporters to view. We appreciate YOU! !

Serving together,

Andy and Kathleen Girwarnauth