Mary Cloutier

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Ministry Update

Dear Friends and Family,

I'm writing this update on my 46th birthday, which means it's about six weeks overdue!

SPRING SPEAKING TOUR: I fully enjoyed touring here in Western PA between Feb. 15 and March 18. Though it was close to home, I did stay with hosts from most of the churches, which allowed me to build friendships and meet those who have prayed for me, written to me, and sent packages over the years--thank you, all!

MISSIONARY-IN-RESIDENCE: When not on the road, I've promoting missions at Allegheny Center Alliance Church--meeting with those interested in cross-cultural ministry, speaking at small groups, and helping with a comprehensive church missions analysis. Dr. Rich Noble, our district missions mobilizer, has given us a thorough 'check-up', and has made recommendations to help us to better teach, promote and participate in worldwide ministry. Our church is extraordinarily generous with missions giving, and has several short-term trips planned each year. I'm thrilled that ACAC Youth Ministries is sending a short-term team to Gabon this summer, and I'm helping to prepare them for that. In the next year, we're sending groups to Guatemala, Kenya and Ghana, as well!

CHANGES: The day I returned from tour, I received in the mail an acceptance letter from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (Deerfield, IL), welcoming me into the Ph.D. program for Intercultural Studies. I've been hoping to do a Ph.D. ver-r-r-r-ry slowly over many years, while continuing to serve on the mission field in Africa. However, I discovered that the program required one year of study on campus, at some point in the process. After much prayer and tossing and turning, I asked permission to complete that requirement THIS year. Because I have completed my work in Gabon, and have not yet begun my ministry in Guinea, and it seems logical to complete the year of on-campus study in this interim. The decision to pursue further study was my own, and not a requirement, so I will be on 'leave-of-absence' status, and not on missionary salary, for the year--a gigantic leap of faith!

WHAT'S NEXT? At the end of May, we will have our CMA General Council meetings in Louisville, KY. The first weekend in June, my church will have an African Emphasis service, focusing on what God is doing in several African countries where our missionaries have been serving (Mali, Guinea and Kenya).
I have a few more speaking engagments in June, and will be packing up my belongings for Africa and putting them into storage for the year--! I'll be visiting family in Wisconsin in mid-July and then taking some summer courses in July and August.

PRAISE! My mother received the Lord as her Saviour in mid-March. She attends a weekly Bible study at her senior facility, led by Genny Pederson. Genny called to tell me the good news!

PRAYER REQUESTS:

For safe travel as I zig-zag here and there for all these events
Financial provision to complete this year of full-time study
For Guinea, as they anticipate presidential elections at the end of this year
For our economy--the downturn has required a reduction of our Alliance missionary personnel. Pray that this trend is reversed.

Thanks for your prayers, encouragement and support!

In Christ,

Mary

Opportunities to Give...

If you would like to give a financial gift toward my ministry, please send it to the address below. Be sure to specify CLOUTIER, WORK OF on the memo line.

The address is:
Christian and Missionary Alliance
International Accounting
P.O. Box 35000
Colorado Springs CO 80935-3500

Guinea

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