From Daryl @ The HM Update,

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Khrystos narodyvsya/Христос народився! 

(Christ is born!)

The HM Update edition #014

Here's the latest HM Update. Read it online or download it... your choice. Enjoy.
The HM Update Newsletter

The HM Update Edition #014 Out Soon!

Printer is working and fired up. Had some issues with running out of ink and then getting the printer to work. But all issues aside now, the #014 edition of The HM Update will be out before I leave this Saturday. If you have any interest in receiving it, feel free to message me your address or e-mail, and I'll get it to you ASAP.

- Daryl J. Howard

Another Q&A

So I've been having some more fun conversations with people that include a lot of new questions. With my travels to Georgia ahead of me, I've decided to do another Q&A. Feel free to post them in the comment section or by e-mailing, Facebook, etc. They can be about the ministry, what I'll be doing at Victory, what I have been doing in PA, life, activities, etc. Be creative, have fun. Question away.

- Daryl

Little Bits of Encouragement

Lately, God has been showering me with a plethora ("Hefe, do you even know what a plethora is?") of verses pertaining to the path He has set me on. What is even scarier is that my fortune cookies from my last few visits to my frequented Chinese restaurant say the same. For example:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT
I fear calling strangers. So when my plans started to shift and I had to try a new approach of making connections, this was a huge encouragement.

"What are you waiting for? Start moving now." Fortune Cookie

The fortune cookie didn't make it any easier.

"What you will do matters. All you need is to do it." Fortune Cookie

If this wasn't a push, I don't know what was.

"Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8 NLT
To go with the first part, there has been a lot of discouragement. But it is reassuring to know that God tells us not to be discouraged. Here Joshua is getting reassured by God that the path into the promised land is laid out for them. After 40 years of wandering in the desert, God tells Joshua "Don't be afraid or discouraged." I would probably need to hear this too if I had to invade a strange land that was full of mighty nations. Then again, God did the heavy work, they just needed to follow and know His palns would work.

"You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail." Proverbs 19:21 NLT

Exactly. Have some faith in God's plans.

"Smile if you like this fortune cookie." Fortune Cookie
Ok, so I threw that last one in there just for the sake of the chuckles we got reading it. But in all seriousness, God has been sharing a lot with me. It is extremely encouraging, and it builds up my faith in His plan. God can be sharing something to you too. It can be as simple as a verse in your devotions, a radio message, a song, and yes... even a fortune cookie.

- Daryl J. Howard

A lil November Update

It’s hard to believe that Thanksgiving has passed and that Christmas is right around the corner. Looking at the date of my last post, it’s even harder to believe that it has been almost a month since my last posting. November has been full of small trips, get-togethers with family, and making new connections.

Early in the month, Warren Center Baptist Church (my home church) decided to start up a youth group. With my experience of working with youth at Victory and helping with the local youth ministry (ROCC), I was asked to help out with the group. The group is still small; and being teens, their minds aren’t always fixed on the task set for them. But they are learning and growing. When it seems like they aren’t listening, they will rattle off the answer to you. Reminds me of when I was a teen.

During the last month, a few trips have been made down to visit my grandmother in Lehighton PA. The latest trip revolved around our family getting together with her for Thanksgiving. Besides getting a meal ready, keeping ourselves entertained and texting  holiday greetings to relatives, my grandmother and I talked about the trip we are taking to Georgia for Christmas (I forgot how close that trip was).

Support raising for Victory still continues to be slow. Very little response has been seen through the contacts I have been trying to make. Continue to pray that God opens doors, and directs me as to where to share my burden and offer individuals a chance to join Victory financially, through prayer, or by serving.
I do plan on sending out another batch of letters and making many calls before I head down to Georgia on December 17th. If you want me to make contact with your church, feel free to get me some information so I can get in touch with them.

- Daryl J. Howard

Be on the look out. Hope to post some fun things during the next month. Also hope to do a little Victory update, post some more film, and share some more of what God is teaching me.

A Brief Update

Last September I flew back into the area just after the Northeast got hammered by high winds and flooding. So naturally everyone braced for the worse. Other than a few bits of downed branches, you would not be able to tell that a hurricane passed through the area. Praise God nothing sever happened at the Howard household. Even though my hilltop wasn't hit as bad, be thinking and praying for those hit hard by this storm.

On the support front, I have been making new contacts with local churches. Instead of just sending letters out, I've been handing them out in person. It is a very time consuming process, but it creates a more genuine connection than just receiving a letter from a missionary. I won't be able to get to everyone (since my basic list of churches is over 60 churches long). So, the process of creating packets and sending them out continues as well.

Continue to pray that God stir the hearts of those receiving the letters. Many people show interest in the work God is doing through Victory. And even though I personally am not seeing the results in the support end of things, I know it is planting seeds in the hearts of those I am sharing the ministry of Victory with.

Other than support raising, there are some fun plans in the future. For the first time since I was in 4th grade (about 16 years ago), I will be venturing down to Georgia for Christmas! My Grandma wants to be with family for Christmas, and since I have an open schedule, I will be accompanying her as she travels to be with family. Last year some speaking engagements hindered me from driving down. But this year, things worked out for me to venture down. I feel like a kid getting reading for Disney World or something. It's still over a month away, and I am anxious. This will be a great time of catching up, celebrating Christmas, and taking some time to get away and reflect on the support raising process.