July 2016 Update

Dear Family & Friends,

Listening to the word of God as we contemplate and prepare for our return to Peru.

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2Co 5:14-15)

It has been a delight to be a family once again this summer here in Minnesota. We have laughed, prayed, played games, looked at God’s Word, rehearsed the past, thought about the future, worshiped, enjoyed many good meals together. It has truly been a gift. We are thankful for the love of Christ … a love that sets us free to no longer live for ourselves but for this one who died and was raised for us.

And so Anna returns to Georgia for her last year of college at Covenant. Mitchell builds on his already established community in Grand Rapids, MI while beginning his new  engineering job. Benjamin continues to influence here in Minneapolis and work as a flight instructor. Seth & D’Evan return to Senegal to teach at Dakar Academy. And Laurie, Lyndi and I return to the work of Scalpel At The Cross in Peru. We are all set free by Jesus to no longer live for ourselves in our various jobs and opportunities but to live for the one who loves us best.

At Scalpel At The Cross we proclaim this same understanding in our faith statement that says:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable (1 Peter 1:3-4). Because we believe this to be true, we live no longer for ourselves, but by the power of his Spirit, we invest God’s gift of wisdom and expertise in orthopaedic medical ministry for the healing of others. We believe God’s Word as it proclaims boldly that all have sinned, and all will fall under the judgment of God. Therefore, we use the means given to us through orthopaedic medicine to point one another and those who have never heard this gospel to the mercy and treasure of salvation found in Jesus Christ who is LORD of all … and who will one day return for all who love and follow him.

If we no longer live to make a name for ourselves or for the organization but for the name of Jesus, we work diligently to build relationships in the grace and power of this gospel we have come to know. In Pucallpa that involves working alongside an established hospital as fellow learners and contributors. With the local churches the gospel ignites partnership that recognizes the wisdom of God working and resourcing all for the accomplishment of this gospel vision. In the mission community it encourages mutual strengthening to the end that the Lord’s kingdom may come and his will might be done through the varied facets of each ministry in Peru.

The mercy and treasure of salvation found in Jesus is a moment by moment pursuit in which YOU ALL help us through your prayers. We press into this salvation daily for our family and for all those whom our lives will touch on a day to day basis both here in the US and in Peru.

I want to give you a brief view of lives being touched through the ministry of Scalpel At The Cross. The following link will take you to a 3.5 minute video, all in Spanish but with English subtitles, created this Spring by Silent Images. I hope it will spur you on to prayer for this ministry in Pucallpa that continues even after each medical team returns to work in the USA. I think you will see this clearly portrayed in the video. https://scalpelatthecross.org/news-publications/

Stay in touch with us … we love hearing from you! And as always, if you would like to partner with us at Scalpel At The Cross financially, we would love to have you join with us. The information is in one of the boxes below!

Also, pray with us as we seek a family who needs and can rent this home of ours for 10 months or so. Because it is our home, we don’t really want to simply put it on the market as a rental. We trust the Lord knows of a family in need so that we don’t carry the mortgage payments alone. He is able!

Thankful for each of you.

Dan, for the Porch Clan

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If the Lord puts it on your heart to do so … you
can send financial gifts to:
Scalpel At The Cross,
P.O. Box 558436, Miami, FL 33255
Or use the following link:
https://e-giving.org/egivinglogin.asp?id=4072