Category: Prayer Blog

We live in Africa and are used to things not going to plan, but sometimes life is glitch rich. Miriam applied for a new passport the first part of May and has yet to receive her new passport. Her current passport expires this week. In addition to needing a valid passport to travel, Miriam also needs her passport to get a new re-entry pass for Kenya so she can get in and out of Kenya. The US State Department is having problems with the passport system. We can get an emergency passport but we cannot get her entry pass put into it. Please pray that her passport comes in today or tomorrow or that Kenya Immigration will put the re-entry pass in her old passport!

We are returning to Kenya at the end of December, when we booked our tickets to come to the States we also booked our tickets to return. The airlines has canceled one of our return flights. After spending almost two hours on hold, the agent asked if it was OK to fly from Dallas to Newark have a three hour layover then fly from New York to Zurich and then on to Kenya. I did not catch the difference between Newark and New York and never in my wildest imagination would I be offered a three hour layover where I had to get baggage, get a taxi and recheck in for an international flight. So I said, OK that sounds great. Then I few minutes later I received an email with the itinerary and immediately called back and said this will not work. This has turned into quite an ordeal and countless hours on the phone with the end result being the airline is unwilling to change our tickets.

On top of these two issues, Donna has been sick, I have had computer issues plus all the normal getting ready for furlough stuff. Please pray that Donna and I are gracious and kind in our dealings with people and that there are no more glitches.

I could play the background…
and You can take the lead…

You pulled my card, I’m bluffing
You know what’s in my hand.
Me, I just roll to trust You, You cause the dice to land.
I’m in control of nothing. Follow You at any cost.
Some call it sovereign will, all I know is You the boss.
And man I’m so at ease. I’m so content.
I play the background like it’s an instrument.

Lecrae

This last week I have spent some time pondering Lecrae’s song Background and if I am really willing to play the background or do I try to be in the lead. It has been said that servanthood is measured by our response when others treat us like a servant. Now I have been around the Christian block enough times to know that when treated like a servant I should be gracious; and sometimes I muster enough poise to be. But even when I am poised, the screams from my heart for center stage must sound like the tantrum of a two-year old to God. What would it be like to serve and be treated like a servant and find joy. Pray that God moves me closer to this.

Paul

At the moment Paul is in South Sudan working on a Radio Project. We had hoped to have a nice packet for you in the mail but do to some last minute minor changes it has been delayed. Hopefully you will receive this information, a prayer card with a picture of our family and more by July 1. Since we have had several request for this information I am sending out the blog without the Paul flair. All of this info is found on our website www.cox-net.com/get_involved. Once again I would like to thank you for allowing us to be in Kenya. God is doing some great things here that we cannot wait to share with you in person. Hopefully we will see you this fall!
Blessings,
Donna

We cannot do what we do here in Kenya without people like you who give financially. By giving, you are helping us to train the next generation of leaders for Africa. If you would like to give, there are a number of ways. The first is to give on-line. A link found on www.cox-net.com/get_involved will take you to International Christian Ministries (ICM) secure donation site. Available July 1, 2015

If you would prefer, you can send a check, use credit card or bank account transfer (ACH) via the post. A response card is available that you can print and use. http://www.cox-net.com/get_involved

Alternatively, checks can be mailed to:

International Christian Ministries
PO Box 129
Monument, CO, 80132

Make the check payable to ICM, leave the memo line blank and include a note that the check is for either:

“Paul and Donna Cox Personal Support MU 020090 Fund 2001” or
“Paul and Donna Cox Ministry Expenses MU 020090 Fund 2012” or
“Safe House Project MU 020091 Fund 2006”

ICM’s preference is to avoid the use of the memo line on checks. For those who use Bill Pay or just prefer to use the memo line the following, and only the following, can be put on the memo line:

“MU 020090 Fund 2001” or
“MU 020090 Fund 2012” or
“MU 020091 Fund 2006”

See above for an explanation of the MU and Fund numbers. Make the check payable to ICM, ensure that only a MU and fund number is on the memo line and mail to the above address.

Being in the broadcast industry, downtime is a word with very negative connotations. Along with this, there is the ever annoying “I am away” autoresponse that we all receive at the most inconvenient times. However, for us humans, downtime and away time is a needed necessity. Starting on Friday afternoon and running through Sunday morning, Donna and I took some downtime and away time. We went to a nearby lodge, without computers or Internet to sleep, reflect, rest, read and pray. It was great to have some downtime and away time. Praise God with us for this time.

My significant struggle this month has been this nagging feeling that I am neither leaving TWR well nor starting at ICM well. Switching organizations is never an easy task. This task is complicated for those of us who raise support. It is not just us who switch. Lord willing, it is also supporters who switch. Pray that I would continue to trust God with this issue.

Last weekend was mid-term break at RVA and we had our three teenagers plus six friends for a long weekend. It was a busy, but great time. Below is a photo of the whole gang.

Lastly, in a few days I will go to South Sudan to do a technical evaluation of a FM station. My nephew and his family are involved with this station and other projects. Pray that I can be a real encouragement to the team who is working in South Sudan, help them with the technical aspects of the FM station and not be too much of a drain on the limited resources of housing, food and water.

Paul

As I have pondered over the last month, one of the recurring themes in my prayer and thought life has been how do I trust God with this. I mean really trust God; not just lip service that says “I trust God” then continues in the stress of life’s circumstances and everything that needs to be done. What does real dependence and faith in a God who loves me and wants the best for me look like in the middle of everything that is going on in my life? For a missionary switching organizations, getting ready to send his first born to university, having dealt with a post surgery infection, dealing with sick pets, having a car battery die, along with the normal living as a missionary overseas things; there was a lot of stuff in May with which to trust God. (Yes I know I switched to third person and you counseling types can interpret it as you wish.)

I could tell you how much I trusted God and about a fountain of joy overflowing from my heart in the midst of everything last month, but that would be a lie. I often found myself redoubling my efforts to get more “stuff” done, believing that more hours worked and more things checked off the to-do list would bring peace. It didn’t.

God was gracious and dropped me gentle reminders from time to time. Reminders that aided me to stop. Stop and simply pray: “You know God, I could really use some help here.” Help in believing that You really have this under control. Help in believing that You really are faithful. Help in really trusting You with all this stuff.

Praise God with me that He is faithful. Pray that I would not be stubborn and ask for His help more often.

Paul

This weekend Nehemiah, a couple of his friends and I went to see the new Avengers movie. It was a great guy bonding time watching and discussing an action film. Then Nehemiah and his friends spent the rest of the weekend with Donna and I. It was really good to have this time with Nehemiah and his friends, especially in light of Nehemiah leaving soon for university.

Drunk Cat Disease. Well there really is no such thing as Drunk Cat Disease, but that is what we are calling it. Late last week our cat, Asa, could not walk in a straight line, staggered while walking and would fall over while standing. For lack of a better description, Asa looked like he was drunk. The Vet said it could be a number of things from a simple fluid imbalance to a tumor. Given that there are no other symptoms, we are hoping for simple. Asa was given to Miriam when he was a small kitten by some Peace Corps friends when she was in Benin after her friends left Benin to return to their home countries and Nehemiah and Micah Joy both had left for RVA. Needless to say, Asa is a special cat to Miriam and the rest of the family is also pretty attached.

Praise God for the good “boy weekend” and pray for grace with the situation with Asa.

Paul

Praise be to God that Micah Joy is out of the hospital and heading home. She is feeling well and glad to be out of the hospital. (The food at the RVA cafeteria does not seem as bad after the puréed hospital food.) She will spend some time with us in Naivasha recovering before heading back to school. Thanks for all your prayers and continue to pray for her recovery and return to school.

Nehemiah continues to recover nicely and will get his stitches out on Thursday.

Donna and I had hoped for a relaxing and restful weekend, but the Lord had other plans for us. Pray that we will find rest in Him.

Paul

Below is a picture of Micah Joy having tea just before she left the hospital.

Saturday (2 May) afternoon we met with the maxillofacial surgeon and reviewed a CT scan. The scan showed a pocket of infection where an incision had been made during Micah Joy’s previous surgery. Late Saturday afternoon the surgeon did a minor surgery to clean out the infection. Given how advanced the infection was, the doctor wants Micah Joy to get another 24 hours of antibiotic via IV before leaving the hospital. We are meeting with the doctor later today. Lord willing, Micah Joy can leave the hospital Monday morning. Thank you for your prayers. Please continue to pray for Micah Joy’s complete healing.

Micah Joy was admitted to the hospital today in Nairobi. About a week ago her jaw became sore and swollen where they operated. She took a number of oral antibiotics with no progress. Yesterday (May 1) she saw a maxillofacial surgeon who admitted her to the hospital and started her on antibiotics via IV. The plan is to see how she responds to these antibiotics and go from there. Pray for her healing and recovery

Both Donna and I are in Nairobi with her. Fortunately our favorite Nairobi guess house is within walking distance of the hospital. Yea Mayfield Guest House (aimabs.org/ministries/mayfield-guesthouse/)!

Nehemiah is back to normal after having his wisdom teeth out. Praise God that his recovery has gone without incident.

Thank you very much for all the prayers and emails. Micah Joy’s jaw surgery and recovery has gone very well. The one setback has been an upset stomach from the change in diet (no chewing). Praise God for her recovery, pray that her stomach settles down and that we can find the right diet combination.

On Wednesday (April 22) Nehemiah will have his wisdom teeth removed, two of which are impacted. Pray that this goes well. Also pray that he recovers quickly as the kids return to RVA on Saturday (yes their schools starts on a Saturday).

Thanks for all your prayers and support.

Thank you for your prayers and emails over the last month. Concurrent to the restructuring in TWR, the Lord was working and opened the door for Donna and I to teach, research and write at Africa Theological Seminary (ATS – www.atseminary.ac.ke), which is based in Kenya. After much prayer and reflection Donna and I have made the decision to leave TWR to join the faculty of ATS as missionaries (i.e. we will still be raising prayer and financial support). Praise God with us for this clear new direction.

This decision is bitter sweet. It is sad to be leaving TWR after 10 years of service and we have many dear TWR friends and colleagues. As I said in my February 3rd blog, the restructuring of TWR in Africa positions TWR’s ministry to move forward powerfully. We are sad that we will no longer be a part of what the Lord will do with TWR in Africa.

At the same time, we are excited about the opportunities at ATS. For those of you who know me well, you know that I love teaching and helping people understand the Scriptures and sound theology. Also, part of my duties at ATS will be research and writing, another area that I enjoy. In addition, ATS has a Children’s Ministry Program in which Donna will be able to develop curriculum and teach. Donna is passionate about both of these. She is looking forward to being part of equipping others to minister to children as I equip a new generation of pastors and leaders. We see this opportunity with ATS as the Lord opening the doors for both of us to minister in areas where God has given us a passion along with the ability to stay close to our kids.

We will be with TWR until June 30. Between now and June 30, I will be working on some FM radio projects here in Kenya to extend TWR’s reach. For those of you who financially support us, please continue to do so as normal through June 30.

Starting on July 1, we will be transitioning to ATS which is a ministry of International Christian Ministries (ICM – www.icmusa.org). Around mid July we will head to the USA for furlough. This will give us a chance to connect with people to share about what God has done through TWR in the last three years and to share about the new ministry with ATS.

For those who wish to financially support us in this new endeavor starting on July 1, you will be able to give through ICM. More will be said on this latter along with information for those who would want to support another TWR missionary after June 30.

Undoubtedly this short blog leaves many questions unanswered. Lord willing in the near future we will have an FAQ which will help answer questions. Until then, please feel free to email.

Please pray that we can finish well with TWR and then transition well to ATS and ICM.