Marshall and Babs Mullinax

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Prayer Letter/Ministry Update

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY
We have officially been in Israel for one year. We have felt very nostalgic this month due to such a unique anniversary. Besides starting with absolutely no Hebrew to being conversational (to a point), there are other changes that we've been noticing. Russell has become very fond of explaining procedures and his imagination is positively fascinating. We recently ordered cable TV, and several of his favorite cartoons from the States are here also. He said to Babs, "Mommy! They learned how to speak Hebrew, too!" He is still going through transition phases every couple months, which make his behavior in a Hebrew context, um, rough.

Marshall loves being in an Israeli context where our teacher actually used him as an example of being tall. Babs is becoming more acquainted with ingredients in the supermarket and is less anxious when the time comes to make a trip to the store.

Looking Forward
We need a car. Last year we really focused on the language and managed marvelously on buses. While we have another year of language study before we begin ministry, we must begin researching around the country to determine what shape our ministry will take. Our field director has asked that we have an initial report ready by December of this year.

With that in mind, it was written here concerning our urgent need for a car and the remaining $16,000 we need to raise (after the significant tourist discount). Just before hitting "send" we received a phone call with the opportunity to use a car for the next year for only the cost of insurance and registration while the owners are in America (costing us around $2,000). At the end of the year we will give the car back. After spending several days in prayer and counsel, we came to the conclusion that this will relieve some of the urgency in our need. So, in faith, we are accepting the provision of this car for this year. Please don't let that impede your practical participation in our ministry by donating to our vehicle fund so that we can have a car when this one is no longer available to us (details for giving are on the back).

A TALE OF TWO BIRTHDAYS
Marshall, July 26
It started with a phone call. "We're sorry to say that Peter Wells, the chairman for the Garden Tomb Association, lost his fight to cancer tonight." When Peter was diagnosed with cancer earlier, he had requested to be buried in the C&MA cemetery. In true family unison, the whole team agreed to help Roger, our field director, improve the grounds of the cemetery prior to the burial of such a high-visibility man in Jerusalem's Christian community. The work day happened to be on Marshall's birthday. So, bright and early we gathered in the cemetery to level paths, weed the tombs, sweep between the cracks in the flagstone paths. Marshall was in good spirits, though. As we ate our pizza picnic with everyone, he shared about an earlier birthday that we celebrated at a gas station somewhere between Indiana and South Carolina on our way to his grandmother's funeral.

Babs, August 7
Russell was anything but charming the night before Babs' birthday. He oscillated between throwing tantrums and sleeping as Babs tried to navigate the bus system to have iced cafe with a friend for her birthday. Finally Babs decided that no iced cafe was worth that kind of hassle and returned home with Russell. The next morning, on her birthday, he woke up with the flu. Praise God he was better by the time we needed to make the 8 hour trip to our field retreat the next morning at 5 a.m.!

FIELD RETREAT IN JORDAN
This was our second field retreat to attend, the first one being shortly after we landed in Israel. This year it was very nice to truly retreat. Our Israel family joins other families in Middle East that aren't found on the Alliance's online map for security reasons. It is a chance to share the struggles of ministry in this part of the world and rejoice in the victories with one another. We also had several long afternoons to do with as we choose - take naps, swim, go walking, socialize...

Besides staying at a nice hotel and not having to cook or do laundry for a week, there were a few other things that made the retreat relaxing. One was couple that came from America, Carl and Patty McGarvy, to serve in the pastoral care role (including volunteering to watch 24 kids while the parents went out for a date night). Another key factor was a small group that came from a church in Wisconsin to provide VBS for all of our kids while the adults were in seminars and meetings.

Fields all over the world have retreats like this. Have you ever thought about coming for one week to help make it wonderful retreat for your hard-working international workers? Contact the C&MA if you are interested (www.cmalliance.org)!

OUR ISRAEL FAMILY
Half of us are American, and the rest of the team is from all over the world. When we talk about Russell's Israel cousins and his aunts and uncles, this is the family we are talking about. We enjoy getting together, eating Aunt Ellen's meals, drinking coffee, and laughing a lot. The Great Commission Fund (the GCF) keeps us here to work, so we really appreciate when you donate to it (details for giving on the back).

Prayer Requests/Answers to Prayer

OUR PRAYER FOR YOU
Dear Jesus,
Searching. It seems like so many of us are searching for something - purpose, provision, people. Lord, we ask that our friends and family seek You out first and foremost, and that in their pursuit of You, they will find everything they seek.
Amen.

TAKE IT TO THE THRONE
Praises
• Marshall's back pain has gone away
• Creative childcare options for Russell this summer
• The unity on our international team of workers
• Thoughtful questions from Marshall's football team

Prayer Requests
• Continued perseverance in language study
• Russell's transition into another year of Hebrew school
• God's clear leading in our future ministry here

Israel

Approved Specials

If you wish to contribute to one of our specials (vehicle funds, building projects, etc.) you may select it from the Approved Specials List.

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