meyer misson news Oct

Dear Christian Friends,

Delano and Linda will be traveling to Uganda in Mid November, so
another newsletter will probably not be sent out until after
Christmas. Also, please let us know when you change your e-mail
address so you can continue to receive their newsletter. Until next
time - God's blessings! Joan

MEYER MISSION NEWS
The Harvest Takes Priority
October 2009
Dear Friends:
Today October 17, 2009, is normally harvest time in the Midwest of
the USA. In a good year farmers would be done with soybean harvest
and pressing on to complete corn harvest before November.

Sadly we have learned that due to "Global Warming" the summer was so
cool that crops did not mature as normal and the harvest is delayed.
We learned of a 2-inch snowfall in Minnesota on the 10th of October
with rain and snow continuing for the following week. I do recall
the anxiety I felt as a farmer when these things happened, and the
pressure of finances made the delays an even more tremendous drain on
my temperamental, harvest time personality; poor Linda, Laura and Brian.

By God's grace when you receive this newsletter, those who are
rolling the harvest machinery will be happily at it; and their loving
spouses will be delighted to have the grouch out of the house.

The urgency of the crop harvest and the present situation in the Mid-
West is a great back-drop to help us understand better the urgency
our Lord feels as he compares the harvest of souls for eternity with
harvesting the crop. "I tell you open your eyes and look at the
fields! They are ripe for harvest. Even now the reaper draws his
wages, even now he harvests the crops for eternal life, so that the
sower and the reaper may be glad together." John 4: 35 & 36

Harvesting the fall crops for me was a high priority, and we as a
family focused on getting the crop harvested and stored before winter
set in. I confess that during times when harvest was delayed by rain
and immature crops, I often lost sight of the real reason for being
alive and being a Christian. The harvest seemed to consume me. I do
not want to talk about times when the John Deere 6600 combine broke
down when there was snow in the weather forecast. I am thankful our
Lord understands human beings and farming. Isn't God's grace a
wonderful thing?

Still the harvest of souls - including your own - is the main thing.
You, who witness about Jesus in a positive way, are the sower.
Blessed by the Holy Spirit bringing repentance and faith, you are
even now harvesting the crops - the souls of men, women and children
for eternal life! What joy we will have eternally being part of our
Lord's harvest brigade, as we ourselves are gathered to the Lord and
as our Lord uses us to gather the crop of souls for eternity.

In the harvest in West Africa the church is bringing souls to Jesus
and thus eternal salvation. It is heartening for Linda and me to be
in a small way part of His great commission. We are blessed to
work with and encourage others who sow and reap crops for eternal
life. In Sierra Leone Rev. James Yasseh and Rev. John Bundor have
worked with other Lutheran leaders to help the rural farmers with
improved rice and groundnut (peanut) seed through a seed
multiplication project LCMS WR&HC sponsored in 2008. Not only did
they give out improved seed that yielded well, but the way in which
they worked with communities and individuals generated enthusiasm for
the church and an outpouring of seed returned to the project at
harvest in 2008. This year without any additional funding from LCMS
WR&HC, seed has been distributed to new places and multiplied again
in two districts.

Our leaders' example of Christian love for the people they serve is
reflected in how they administered the seed multiplication project.
The people seeing Christian integrity, honesty and openness are
responding! Even the Ministry of Agriculture has taken note of the
success and asked our leaders to be part of a governmental meeting
where they share insights on how they have conducted the project.
Sad fact, a government official told our leaders, that the government
has not been able to conduct a successful seed multiplication project
in the years since the war. What a joy when our guys are getting it
right!!

It all starts with motivation to serve our Lord in Christian love as
expressed in 1 John 4: 9-12 "This is how God showed His love among
us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live
through Him. This is love: not that we love God, but that He loves
us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear
Friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us
and his love is made complete in us."

At Christmas we will again celebrate how God showed us His love by
sending His Son into the world to be our Savior from sin. May we all
rejoice in His love and share it with one another.

PRAYER REQUESTS
Thank God for positive Christian outreach being done among Lutheran
leaders and members.

Pray for safety, strength and health during our trip to Uganda in mid
November. Pray for guidance as the Lutheran Church Mission Uganda
(LCMU) and LCMS Missionaries guide us to 7 locations where we plan to
teach 2 days at each location.

Pray for peace and good governance for Guinea and safety for LCMS
missionaries serving there.

Pray for health for our family and friends, as several are suffering
from illness.

We uphold friends in prayer who are struggling to harvest their fall
crops.

FINANCIAL SUPPPORT
Thank you to all who have contributed gifts "for the support of
Delano and Linda Meyer." Address (without our name on envelope) to:
LCMS World Mission, 1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295.
Inside the envelope designate your gift for us on the check or in a
note.

To contribute to our LCMS World Relief & Human Care project,
"Agricultural Training in West Africa", designate & send checks to
LCMS World Relief and Human Care, 1333 S. Kirkwood Rd, St. Louis, MO
63122-7295.

Due to our upcoming travel, we extend early wishes to you for a very
Blessed Christmas!
Delano and Linda Meyer

C/O Travis Torblaa, LCMS World Mission
1333 S. Kirkwood Road, St. Louis, MO 63122-7295