India Final, Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Dearest Friends,


INDIA

I have not finished telling you all of the wonderful things that God did on our trip to India. Some of you will remember that we had to come home early because my sweet mother-in-law went to be with Jesus. God has the sweetest way of working out all the details in our ministry and in our lives. The state of Tamil Nadu cancelled school for all of the remaining days that we were to be in India, thus cancelling our shows. None of us could have known that Mom was going to go to be with the Lord. Because these shows cancelled I felt the freedom to leave India early and go home, except for one problem.
I did not want to leave until all of our work was finished. I wanted to keep all of our promises. We had already trained and equipped our new team, but we still needed to train and equip 25 Sunday school teachers. God was so kind to us. Through the hard work of our dear friend Hanson, we rescheduled the Sunday school training. I wish you could have been with us that night and seen the enthusiasm of these dear ladies who volunteered to teach Sunday school. They are willing to walk long distances to reach village children with the hope of Jesus. Please hold these sisters in your prayers and ask God to bless their ministries.
I am especially grateful to our good friends at Hephzibah Baptist Church who caught a vision for how equipping these ladies could make a difference in the lives of many children. They sacrificially made 75 robes (important storytelling props) so that I could give them the tools they needed. They even bought the fabric for the project. I praise God for their faithfulness.
We finished training the Sunday school teachers and left to drive to the airport about two hours later. Again I saw the Father's care for us as He enabled us to make our flight. I have often been in unbelievable traffic, but the traffic jam that night was epic. The other side of the highway had experienced a traffic jam, so they just decidecd to start driving down our side of the highway. You can imagine as the two groups of traffic met that it became quite congested. There was absolutely nowhere to go. I am still amazed that God enabled our driver and dear friend Steven to find a way to get us to the airport. They were closing the flight as we checked in. If I had missed that flight I would not have made it home for Mom's funeral.
While at home, I have had the greatest adventures telling children about Jesus. I have done many chapel shows and some street puppet shows, but my favorite was for my little grandaughter's school. It made me so happy that she could point to me and say, "That's my grandma!" We also had an especially dear time working with our friends at Shiloh Baptist in Tennessee. Though their church is way out in the country, they still had 600 people at their Fall Festival! Their church was full of visitors. I loved the way one little child prayed out loud, asking Jesus to be their Savior.
This fall I spoke at many churches, in Sunday schools and small groups. I shared at Wednesday night dinners and brought mission reports on Sunday mornings. Everywhere I went, I tried to tell people about the wonderful things that we have seen God do this year. I am so in awe of our Father. It is difficult to find the words I need to communicate how awesome He is, but I sincerely tried to share the wonders we had seen.
Sometimes, I have the opportunity to speak at women's conferences. The ladies at Chestnut Mountain PCA invited me to be their fall retreat speaker. They did such a beautiful job organizing this event. As always when I am teaching, I feel like I am the one who is the most convicted and learns the most. As I studied Scripture, I was reminded of my own failings in so many areas. I was challenged to trust God more and let Him change my heart. Please pray for me to consistently heed the Father's instruction. The ladies made for me 120 storytelling bags that I can give away around the world. It was one of the nicest thank you gifts I have ever received. It gives me great joy for children to hear about God's rescue plan for them and the ladies saw my heart. I can place these tools in the hands of teachers all over the world and more children will have an opportunity to hear God's wonderful stories because of their gift.
Last Saturday, friends from several churches gathered together with a group of orphans for a Christmas puppet show. Because of exams at their universities, only one of my puppeteers could go with me to do this show. You would have really laughed to see me wearing the big bear suit and dancing during the puppet song. This experience reminded Mykayla and I that our strength is in the Lord and not in us. We were exhausted and full of joy as we drove home.
CHRISTMAS
During December I always open my home for Christmas tours. I will have almost 400 children, mostly from public schools come and see the Christmas trees. I do this so that I will have an opportuntiy to share with them the real meaning of Christmas. At each tour, I have seen God do the sweetest things as He opened the children's hearts to the love of the Baby in the manger. The other day, a little boy raised his hand and asked me a question in front of 50 children. He said, "Please Mrs. Summer, where is your husband?" The children had seen all the beautiful wooden toys that Mike had made for me and they wanted to meet the toymaker. I smiled and answered his question. I told all of them how Mike was with Jesus and shared with them how he discovered the hope of heaven. At every tour, I have been getting questions like this.
Children are constantly asking me to be their grandma or mom. They ask me to adopt them. They want to live with me. I have been doing these tours for over 25 years, but I have never seen so many, many children asking me to give them a home. I believe that this speaks to the breakdown that's happening in our families in America. I beg you to pray for all the children this Christmas. Please ask God to draw their parents to faith in Jesus Christ. It breaks my heart to see the sadness and pain in these little ones as I look into their eyes. I have hope for them because I know that God sees and God knows. I am confident that He will take care of them and I know your prayers will make a difference.
The Middle East
In January, I will be traveling to the Middle East to work with refugee children. This is a sweet and wonderful opportunity to share Jesus with Muslim children. I will be working with Pastor Shadday, a national pastor who is heroic for the Gospel. Together we expect to have great adventures as we follow God together. Please begin to pray for this trip and for the children that we will be speaking with about the Gospel.
In Jesus,
Linda

Ireland #1 August 13, 2011

Dearest Friends,

ANNALONG

We spent today doing puppets in front of a Viking boat. I stared at the carved dragon's head as I told the children stories about Jesus.In between shows, I watched sword fights. Let me explain.

Today, Saturday, we arrived safely in Dublin, Ireland with all of our luggage. Praise God! We left the airport, drove north, and enjoyed lunch with dear friends at Murlough House near Newcastle, Northern Ireland. Then we quickly traveled to the village of Annalong, a small fishing village that traces its history back to the time of the Vikings.

Today was a big festival there and we were invited to work with a local church. We did 3 street shows over the afternoon, setting up in front of a Viking boat that was on display. Every show was a blessing! I was very surprised at the size of the crowds. The shows were very well attended, with families from many different backgrounds.

Once, it seemed that there was no way we would be able to share with the children. The rain poured, but Sam insisted that the sun would come out. He was right. I was more than surprised when the  big conversationssky cleared and the sun began to shine. Our friends were surprised that so many attended. The big draw was a drinking contest at the pub. We were asked to come and offer the families a good option for their children. A man watched our program and asked  Sam about coming to another town's festival. This was wonderful!

In between shows, we tied balloons for the children and talked with them about God's love for them. I told so many that they could put their trust in Jesus. I love how the Father uses simple things like balloons to open doors for important conversations. God is very kind to us!

PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for all who heard about Jesus Christ today. Ask God to give them deep faith. Please pray for the children that we will share with at a church in Bangor on Sunday morning. I am telling a new story and nervous.Please pray for the afternoon street shows and ask God to move in many people's hearts. We are in Ireland, so please pray continually for no rain.

In Jesus, Linda for Mykayla Kelley, Meg Abbott, Billy Salinas, Seth Barrett. and Sam and Silva Shaw

2011 AMERICA and IRELAND

Dearest Friends,

A PARK IN PHILADELPHIA

We saw so many wonders this summer! Presently, I am sitting in the airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, waiting for a flight to Dublin, Ireland. However, my thoughts are far from this place. I am remembering a park in downtown Philadelphia. More than 200 children and teenagers were sitting on the ground on a very hot summer day. They listened better than the children at many church shows that I have done. They were hungry to hear about Jesus.

Where they live, there is gang activity, drugs, and prostitution. It is a dark place, but on that day, the Father flooded the park with His light. The children and teenagers prayed loudly, asking Jesus to rescue them. I left that dark place full of joy and confident that the Lord would take care of the children.

We worked with a precious pastor from 8th Street Community Church. The church was very small, but their hearts were big. Please pray for this place and for all of the children who came to faith that wonderful day! Please pray for our ministry in Ireland!

In Jesus, Linda for the Team

THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS AND BALTIMORE,

Dearest Friends,

WONDERFUL STORIES

I still have so many amazing stories to share with you about what we saw the Lord do in Baltimore, Maryland and in many cities in the Smoky mountains of Tennesee. You are going to love these stories and have more reasons to thank God for His love toward so many children and adults. Praise God!

HOMELESS GENTLEMEN

Yes, we did a show for 50 homeless men and 25 other men who were learning to live a different way. Okay, I can guess that you are thinking the same thing that the men who came were thinking. I heard them complaining that they were being forced to watch a puppet show just so they could eat and sleep for the night. As I was listening to the grumbling before the show, I began to pray, asking God to make me wise.
After talking with the Father, I decided that the best way to deal with this problem was not to ignore it, but admit to the men that I had heard their complaints. I said, “Gentlemen, I know that you are unhappy, but I beg you please to listen for just 5 minutes and see if God might use us to speak to you.” Then, I began to tell them stories about the children that we serve. It is an unbelievably tough man that can resist the suffering of children. Though these men had experienced very rough lives, some had even been in prison, I watched as their attitude changed. First, they smiled, then laughed, and finally some prayed in soft whispers, calling on Jesus to save them. Awesome!
All of the men were very encouraging to the young people as they shared their testimonies. More, they all clapped at the finish and gave us a standing ovation. What a change God had made in their attitudes. Who would believe that God could use such simple, foolish things for His purposes?
One man pressed a handmade cross into my hands as he thanked me. He said, “Your face is full of light. Thank you for coming.” We all felt that we left that place with the men giving more to us than we could give to them. The Father had blessed all of us!
Please pray for the men at the Helping Up Mission and their Director in Baltimore. This is a very hard place and God is faithfully calling many to faith. I have all hope for these men because I see in my own life how God does not give up on me and deals with my sin. Pray!

The Christian Community Center

This is another very special ministry in Baltimore. For so very many years, The Christian Community Center has loved the families in this very hard part of Baltimore. I always love doing a show for these children as they are always grateful. One little girl especially blessed my heart as she came and told me that she remembered the story that we had told last year. I had given her the pictures and she had them all on the walls of her room. More, she was excited to get a new story to add to her collection. Her enthusiasm for God’s stories made my heart sing.

TENNESSEE

Each year, 20 million people make this area of Tennessee in the Smoky Mountains their vacation destination. Why would we go there to do shows? Well, we were not there for a vacation, though our friends did treat us to a free game of PuttPtt golf and go cart rides. I really loved the go cart rides though I was going so slow that people were pointing at me and laughing. More, I was the only white haired old lady on the track. We were also treated to a special time enjoying God’s creation on the river as we tubed thanks to the kindness of a prayer partner.

Yes, this area is full of tourist attractions, but it also has so many children that are not a part of this world. Many are from broken homes and too many are being raised by their grandparents. We shared with hundreds and hundreds of children. Sometimes, when we were allowed to pray, we heard children softly praying. Others told us that they had prayed.

One little boy touched my heart. I was talking to the children about how God loves them and cares for them. He raised his hand and said, ”My Grammy loves me.” He could understand God’s love because his grandmother loved him.

So many children welcomed us and told us that they remembered us from last year. More, they remembered the stories that they had heard. Children said, “You told me about Jesus!” I can not think of a better way to be remembered! Gofd is so good to me!

PRAYER REQUESTS

1. Please begin to pray for our time in Ireland as we leave on the 14th of August. September will find us in Uganda.
2. After receiving so many notices from friends and churches that are cancelling their support or greatly reducing it due to our current economy, you probably think that this request would be devoted to that problem, but no. I am completely sincere in asking you for a more important request that supersedes economic concerns. I have felt a real urging from the Father to ask that our prayer support be doubled. Presently, 1341 people receive our letters and it is because of their faithful prayers that so many children all over the world hear about Jesus. I beg you to contact your family and friends and ask them to pray for us. Prayer is the key to everything. I want to see this list doubled in the next 12 months. You can help! Please, with your friend’s permission, send me their email addresses. Talk with them about the children that we serve. Think about all that we have seen this past year. What will God do as we increase our prayers for the children?

In Jesus,

Linda for all of us who have the delight of sharing with the children, teenagers, and adults in the world

Baltimore, MD, USA, July 17th, 2009

DEAREST FRIENDS,

PLEASE, CAN I LIVE WITH YOU?

We have been doing many shows in this area, mostly with children in difficult places. A little 10 year old girl sat on the front row at a program. She listened so sweetly and called on Jesus to be her King, asking God to forgive her. Then, she came and asked me, "Please, can I live with you?" My heart broke for her and all that she suffers. How desperarate she must be to ask a complete stranger to taker her home!

This little one lives in one of the worst places in Baltimore. When, I opened the door to get out for the show, there was an empty whiskey bottle on the ground. In this area, there are more liquor stores and drug dealers than anything else. Prostitution is also a big problem. It is not a safe place for children. However, God is kind to these children in that they are hungry for the Gospel. More, they get so excited when they hear a Bible story.

As I began to tell the story of Jesus calmimg the storm, they listened. When Jesus spoke and the storm calmed, they began to clap and cheer. Three times they loudly cheered as Jesus did miracles. I think that these children can teach us many lessons. Why don't we who claim to be God's people become excited as we listen to Bible stories? I want to have this kind of enthuiasm for God's word. I want these children to grow up with hope!

Please pray for all of these little ones to fall deeply in love with Jesus. Ask the Father to keep them safe and to protect their hearts from the evil one' attacks. They live in a place that you would not be comfortable driving through. They need your prayers. They need Jesus!

PROBLEMS

As always, we are having difficulties as equipment breaks that should work fine. More, we have had our car in the shop for 3 days as we lost the transmission the other day. This was a very expensive, unexpected expense for the puppet ministry. A supporting church helped us with part of the cost, but I would ask you to pray for the difference.

Worse, we had no way to do shows. God blessed us through the sacrificial kindness of friends who voulunteered their car. They loaned us the very same car that I normally pull the trailer with and it had the same light plug and trailer hitch. Praise God!Though they wish to remain nameless, I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Without their kindness, we could not have shared with so many children and would have missed 6 shows. Please ask the Father to bless them as they have blessed us!

In Jesus,Linda for Malachi, Naiomi, and Lindsey

PLEASE, CAN I LIVE WITH YOU?

We have been doing many shows in this area, mostly with children in difficult places. A little 10 year old girl sat on the front row at a program. She listened so sweetly and called on Jesus to be her King, asking God to forgive her. Then, she came and asked me, "Please, can I live with you?" My heart broke for her and all that she suffers. How desperarate she must be to ask a complete stranger to taker her home!

This little one lives in one of the worst places in Baltimore. When, I opened the door to get out for the show, there was an empty whiskey bottle on the ground. In this area, there are more liquor stores and drug dealers than anything else. Prostitution is also a big problem. It is not a safe place for children. However, God is kind to these children in that they are hungry for the Gospel. More, they get so excited when they hear a Bible story.

As I began to tell the story of Jesus calmimg the storm, they listened. When Jesus spoke and the storm calmed, they began to clap and cheer. Three times they loudly cheered as Jesus did miracles. I think that these children can teach us many lessons. Why don't we who claim to be God's people become excited as we listen to Bible stories? I want to have this kind of enthuiasm for God's word. I want these children to grow up with hope!

Please pray for all of these little ones to fall deeply in love with Jesus. Ask the Father to keep them safe and to protect their hearts from the evil one' attacks. They live in a place that you would not be comfortable driving through. They need your prayers. They need Jesus!

PROBLEMS

As always, we are having difficulties as equipment breaks that should work fine. More, we have had our car in the shop for 3 days as we lost the transmission the other day. This was a very expensive, unexpected expense for the puppet ministry. A supporting church helped us with part of the cost, but I would ask you to pray for the difference.

Worse, we had no way to do shows. God blessed us through the sacrificial kindness of friends who volunteered their car. They loaned us the very same car that I normally pull the trailer with and it had the same light plug and trailer hitch. Praise God!Though they wish to remain nameless, I am eternally grateful for their sacrifice. Without their kindness, we could not have shared with so many children and would have missed 6 shows. Please ask the Father to bless them as they have blessed us!

In Jesus,
Linda for
Malachi,
Naiomi,
and Lindsey

A Country with Bears, Wolves, and Caviar, May 21st, 2009

Dearest Friends,

I am so excited at all that we are seeing God do. Some doors close to us before we even have an opportunity to do a show, but others are opening. Tomorrow, we will be at a school and do 4 shows. The next week, we will return to this school and do 2 more programs. This is a miracle. We should not be allowed to go to this school and share about Jesus, but we are going.

Our friends have a heart to serve God. They are risking everything they own and even their freedom so that these children and young people can hear about Jesus Christ. You must stand with them and with us in prayer. We are in a very difficult place, but the children and young people of this nation are in a worse place. Can you imagine growing up with no knowledge of God? Most have never heard His name.

Our friend that we are working with never heard God's name until he went in the military and met a believer. He was the first to make fun of the Christian and now he is a pastor.

We desperately need you to pray and organize others to pray. We need doors to open, wisdom as we share, and protection for our friends. Please stay on your knees.

In Jesus,

Linda for the team

USA, May 17th, 2009

Dearest Friends,

EMAIL ADDRESS CHANGE:

Please note that all addresses on the website are unchanged. Please change the earthlink address if you are using it to msummer05@gmail.com The earthlink address will soon stop working. Thankyou!

ON MONDAY,WE FLY!

Sam, Silvana, and I will meet 2 team members from another country and prayerfully start a new puppet ministry in a country that I can not name. I have been advised that because of this particular country's growing hostility to Jesus Christ that I should not name it in the emails. Presently, it is open to Christians, but they are making access very difficult.

PLEASE PRAY:

1.It is our hope to share with thousands of children and encourage many new friends during this very difficult time. Ask the Father to open doors, especially to orphanages, and make us wise.

2.Customs presents a real problem. We need them not to open our suitcases or ask us any questions about our things or why we are there. God can do anything! Please pray!

I remember years ago standing in customs in Ukraine when it was difficult for Christians to visit. I was very tired and had so many big suitcases with me. Silently, I asked the Father to help me as I was alone, but in truth, never alone! Suddenly, a man came running across the airport and spoke to me in perfect English. He said, "Your face is full of light. You are a Christian! I will help you." To my amazement, he lifted every bag even though I had not spoken to him and asked him to help. When I turned to thank him, he was gone. He disappeared! I believe that he was an angel. Praise God!

This is the kind of miracle that we need.

Ask God to make them totally uninterested in our luggage. Please know that we never lie to these officials, as we trust not in our ability to be clever, but in God's great power. It is our heart's prayer that all of you who read these stories will give all praise and all glory to God alone!

TAIWAN

We returned home from Taiwan with a heart full of praise as we shared with over 10,000 children , teens, and adults the hope that we have in Christ. Many were Buddhist and many indicated that they had found the one true God! We resupplied our team in the north and were able to start a new ministry in the south. Through our friends there, we were able to place teaching tools in the hands of children's Bible teachers in Thailand, Burma, and China. I am so excited! Please pray over all of these ministries!

WE NEED YOUR HELP

Many of you who receive these emails represent churches that do not support us. Would you please speak to your churches on our behalf? Like all missionaries, we have been notified by too many churches that due to difficult financial times, they are significantly reducing all of their missionaries support. Other friends have lost their jobs and can not support us any longer. This is not a problem for me to solve, but an opportunity for us to see God move in a big way! However, I need you to ask the Father how you can help. I need you to speak for children who have no voice.

I am happy to come and present what the Father is doing in the lives of children all over the world. He is awesome! If you wish to adopt a set of equipment for a particular country, please respond to this email and let me know your heart's desire. We need your help, but I sincerely want you only to do what God tells you to do. I trust in His Providence and His faithfulness in all of our lives!

PLEASE STAY ON YOUR KNEES ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY OF THIS COMING WEEK!

With all joy,

In Jesus,

Linda for the team