Here we go! Just finished up the newsletter, new Information Packets and getting ready to send out the Prayer update in the morning.

I’m going to be trying to make regular updates here to keep everyone informed of how the trip is progressing. Maybe it’s a little egotistical, but I need to try and get into a better habit of updating here.

Later,
Richard

Dear friends,

We would like you to lift Greg Pruett, president of Pioneer Bible Translators, and his family up in prayer. His sister died suddenly—we do not have the details at this time. Greg is heading down to San Antonio with his family.

Pray for safe travel for them and pray for Greg’s parents as they struggle with this development. Also pray for wisdom and discernment for Greg as he has a trip scheduled to several places in Africa on Wednesday.

Our hearts are wrenched when we get news like this from close friends and co-workers. We are much like a family here in Dallas, and this hurts.

Prayerfully,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Josi and I are making arrangements for our Partnership Development trip April 9-27. We will be traveling to Phoenix, Southern California, Las Vegas, and Albuquerque. During the twelve days we aren’t on the road we will be doing “Dessert Nights” at various homes. These are casual get-togethers where we can meet new friends and develop new partners who can prayerfully and financially stand alongside us as we work to transform the lives of the Bible-less people of the world. We are excited for this trip and are already planning the next trip to Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and North Carolina to meet more friends.

Here are some things you can lift in your prayers to the Lord:

1. Praise! We have received notification that Southwest Christian Church will be supporting us, beginning in April. This is the church we are attending in Fort Worth.
2. Pray for our meeting with the group of ministers we meet with on April 16. We are sharing the ministry of Pioneer Bible Translators and our work to fulfill the Great Commission.
   
3. Seth, the son of a friend of Josi’s has been going through some serious emotional stresses and physical problems recently. He has recovered some through new medications, but is still battling several issues. Pray for God’s healing and peace.
   
4. Richard has been making a lot of contacts with old high school and college friends recently. Pray that old relationships can be renewed and strengthened.
5. Pray for continued healing for Andrea, more work for Joe, wisdom and discernment for Bill.
6. Pray for continued guidance for Richard’s sister Sharon as she makes life-changing health decisions.
7. The groundbreaking for PBT’s new offices was a huge success. Pray that construction begins soon and that God bless the work so we can be in our new offices by the end of this year.
   

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Josi and I have begun a class in association with our work for Pioneer Bible Translators-Perspectives on the World Christian Movement.

We’re in week 4 of 15 and it is proving most fascinating and informative. We’re learning more of God’s work and His Plan for the peoples of the world.

Working with PBT has been a blessing, as well. Both of us are growing in the Lord, getting more involved with our church, getting more involved supporting the ministry of bible translation.

Here are some things you can lift in your prayers to the Lord:

1. Josi is traveling as I write this update. She is on the road to St. Louis, where she and two other co-workers are speaking at St. Louis Christian College. They will also be traveling to Memphis, speaking at churches there. Pray for God to speak through them and for those who hear their message be receptive to PBT’s work.
2. We are planning a trip in April to find new friends who will stand with us in prayerful and financial partnership. We would also like to spend time with current partners and keep them updated on our ministry.
3. Pray for our finances. There is a great difference in the costs of living here in Dallas from what we were used to in Globe. Our annual budget increased over 20%.
4. Walter, a friend from my youth, was diagnosed with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, a blood/skin cancer of the lymph system. Pray for healing, that the doctors have wisdom and discernment, and strength for Walter and Diana as they go through this trial.
5. Pray for continued healing for Andrea, Laura, Amy, Jean, and other friends recovering from health issues.
6. Pray for Dave as he deals with the death of his father and all of the family issues that need to be worked out. May God’s peace be on him and his family.

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Praise and all Glory to God! We began moving into our new home today. We will finish moving this weekend and will have our dogs with us once again.

Some prayer concerns:

1. Friends who need to keep properties rented and sell or rent an empty building.
2. Wisdom and discernment as we work on our budget for 2009.
3. Praise as the final portions of a West African Bible come to completion.

This list is created weekly (usually) but not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Even though Thanksgiving has just passed by, there are many things for us to be thankful for:

1. The dogs are behaving at the Graves home, even tho’ they are in the presence of children (one very small). They are running the house, and the house’s dog, but they are as gentle as can be with all the kids-and that is a miracle for Corgis!
2. The way we have been welcomed here at PBT and Southwest Christian Church; less like new people, and more like people they have been waiting for! It has been such a blessing. For old friends who have been brought back to us in surprising ways and new friends who have made us “part of the gang” right away! Both are precious and a constant delight!
3. That God continues to call us to new and interesting things as we get older, even tho’ we may think we are comfortable and settled. It is very exciting to step out of our comfort zone and follow God on a new adventure!
4. That we have a roof over our heads. As we continue to look for the roof we want, and a permanent one, we are so grateful to have a place to stay that is safe, warm and dry (kind of a big deal here).
5. Just being here! We waited a long time (9 months) to move here to Texas, and we are so glad to be here! Yes, we miss “home” and family and friends, but this is where God has brought us, and it is so wonderful to be where you know God wants you!
6. For our families who let us go with grace, but who still hold on to us in love!
7. For our partners who have followed us with their support of prayers, finances, notes, calls, and love! Each one of you is a very special gift to us from our Lord, and we can’t do without you!
8. The way we can look back and see how God has been working all thru’ our lives to bring us to this place. And for the faith and strength that gives us to know that He is still working in us for all He has planned for our future.
9. For each other. Thirty-one years of marriage have gone by, and we pray there will be many more. We are so comfy together, but we still have so much fun!
10. Most of all, for our Father who gave His Son, Himself, to pay the cost for our sins, and make us His own spotless child and heir to eternity in Him. All praise to You, Lord. If You did nothing else, that would be more than enough! Thank You!

Prayers and praises:

1. We are applying today for a rental house. We finally found one that has what we need to bring the dogs home for Christmas.
2. Praise that Amy Carter was able to come home last week. We got to see her at church and she spent time with her family on Thanksgiving. She still has a long road ahead of her.
3. Josi’s niece Andrea has health issues that are plaguing her with pain and fatigue.
4. Richard’s sister Sharon is the doctor this week regarding her kidney transplant options
5. We still need more partners to come alongside us.
6. We need wisdom and discernment while working on our budget for 2009.

This list is created weekly (usually) but not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Boy, once you get off track, it’s hard to get going again. We’ve missed several weeks this time. Pray for me to have better consistency.

Since our last update, several things have happened:

• Richard attended a Men’s Retreat and was blessed
• Richard was sick twice with the flu
• The Pioneer Bible Translators Second Annual Banquet went spectacularly well
• Financing for the house we were trying to buy fell through
• We are now searching for an appropriate rental home
• We’re once again living in the Guest House on campus

As we look back at our adventures trying to buy a house, we are disappointed. However, we praise God for the blessings He has given us and know that His timing and His plans are always better than ours.

As this is being written, we’re attending the National Missionary Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This is an anniversary for us! A year ago we attended the Convention in Cincinnati and began our relationship with Pioneer Bible Translators. Now we are attending as representatives of PBT! God has brought us a long way.

Here are some prayer concerns for you:

1. Richard’s sister Sharon was in the hospital and had some surgery done. She did not react well to the anasthesia and spent several days there. She is recovering now, but it has been no picnic. Her doctors are looking at a kidney transplant for her in the next year.
2. Josi’s niece Andrea has been having some serious health issues. Please lift her up in your prayers for healing and God’s will in her life.
3. We are working on our new budget for 2009. Please keep us in prayer for wisdom and discernment. Also pray for God to bring us more partners in our ministry.
4. We are seeking rental housing. Please pray for God to lead us to the appropriate home.
5. We will be traveling home from Tulsa on Sunday, November 23. Pray for safe travel for us and all of the others who will be traveling home from the convention.
6. Praise! Pioneer Bible Translators signed the papers for the new property. Interior walls for the new office were constructed last night by teens at the National Missionary Convention. They will be transported tomorrow to Dallas. We’ll let you know when ground breaking and construction begins.
7. Praise! The Second Annual PBT Banquet went off without a hitch. Many people stepped up to the plate to support PBT.

Keep in mind our mailing address here in Texas:

445 E. FM 1382
Suite 3 PMB 204
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

This list is created weekly (usually) but not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram

Good grief! I’ve missed a week, somehow… Things have been moving on.

The trip to Galveston was good. Philip and Heather (the couple Richard helped) lost a lot of stuff, but their house was not destroyed. Pray for them to recover. They are in an apartment while they wait for their house to be repaired and continue med school in Galveston.

Praise the Lord! Our search for a house has come to a conclusion! We sign papers today on a new home. It’s a great looking house, priced lower than what we paid for our house in Globe! Pray now for a good inspection. We are looking forward to doing the little bit of fix-up (painting, carpeting, and the like) and moving. This home will be dedicated to the Lord’s service. This is His house and He has given it to us to the caretakers.

By-the-way, we moved this past weekend from the one-room Guest House accommodations to some friend’s house while they are away for three weeks. (Yes, they know we are here.)

There was one scare we had yesterday. We were notified that there had been a fire in the building where one of our storage units is located. Turned out to be no danger to our stuff (smells a little smoky, but will be fine), but eight other units were totally destroyed by the fire that was determined to be arson. Pray for the people who lost everything in the fire.

We are keeping the PO Box address:

Richard and Josi Ingram
445 E. FM 1382 Ste 3 PMB 204
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

This is a long-term address. Please send all correspondence to us here.

Here are some other prayer concerns:

1. Richard’s sister Sharon begins the process for a possible kidney transplant. Pray for the right donor-Richard and her children are the most likely candidates.
2. Amy Carter has been moved to Kindred Hospital for therapy and continued radiation treatments for the brain tumor. She is recovering, but it is very slow.
3. Our friend Vickie in Albuquerque had surgery yesterday to recover the joint in her hip. She will require four months of healing before therapy can begin.
4. Now that we are here, our finances will be taking a hard hit preparing a new home. Pray for more partners to come alongside us to help us with our monthly expenses and support us in prayer.
5. Josi’s niece Andre is having serious health concerns. Doctors are working out treatments.

This list is created weekly, not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.

In Christ’s Service
Richard and Josi Ingram
Pioneer Bible Translators

Keeping this short because I’m (Richard) heading for bed at 4:30 in the afternoon. Keep a group of us from the office in prayer tonight and tomorrow. We are leaving at 11:00 pm this evening for Galveston to be there in time for the lifting of curfew at 6:00 am. We are helping a newlywed couple who are med students there to try and salvage some of their belongings off Galveston Island. We have one day to get as much stuff as we can. The wife of the couple is the daughter of Josi’s boss, Marsha.

Also, the house we made an offer on went to a higher bidder. We will continue to wait on God’s will for a new house here in Dallas and keep looking.

We are both adjusting to our new jobs here at Pioneer Bible Translators and having a great time!

Like I said, keeping this short.

In Christ’s Service,
Richard and Josi Ingram
Pioneer Bible Translators

445 E. FM 1382 Ste 3 PMB 204
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

Well, Hurricane Ike was a no-show for us. If you were worried and praying for our safety, thanks. Your prayers worked. Ike flew by to the east of Dallas and dropped only a little rain and brought minor winds. We’ve had worse in the monsoons in Arizona. However, your prayers for those who were struck by Hurricane Ike are greatly appreciated. There were some families of some of the people who work with us at Pioneer Bible Translators that were seriously affected by the storm.

We are settling into our room in the dormitories on campus and still looking for a house. The house last week was sold to a higher bidder, but we have made an offer on another home yesterday. Pray for God’s will in this house-it’s great, but if it’s not God’s will for us to buy it, then so be it. We waited many months for our house to sell in Arizona, we can wait awhile for the right house to come along.

In the meantime, we have gotten a post office box for our mail, instead of using the office address. This will get mail to us faster. The new address is:

Richard and Josi Ingram
445 E. FM 1382 Ste 3 PMB 204
Cedar Hill, TX 75104

This is a long-term address. Please send all correspondence to us here.

In the meantime, here are some prayer concerns:

1. Amy Carter is still in the hospital. They are beginning other treatments for the remainder of the growth. Pray for the doctors to have skill and knowledge through the Holy Spirit to bring her back to health.
2. Our friend Vickie in Albuquerque is having a lot of pain in her hip and is looking at having a resurfacing job or hip replacement. Pray for her healing and the doctors to be quick in deciding what to do.
3. Jean, who helped us move to Dallas, is having knee surgery tomorrow. Pray for her quick recovery and, again, God’s healing hand with the doctors.
4. Praise! Richard’s niece passed her board exams! She is still dealing with a splinted wrist, but at least some of the worry is gone!
5. Pray for God’s favor on the house we have made an offer for. It is in great shape and at a really good price. May this be the home He has chosen for us.
6. Now that we are here, our finances will be taking a hard hit preparing a new home. Pray for more partners to come alongside us to help us with our monthly expenses and support us in prayer.
7. We are adjusting to being back at work. Praise to God for His blessings on us here. We are having a great time getting to know everyone and looking forward to using the talents He has given us in our work..

This list is created weekly, not necessarily on the same day. If you would like us to pray for any of your concerns, please send us a note.

In Christ’s Service
Richard and Josi Ingram
Pioneer Bible Translators