Italian Souls for Christ

For over a year Sandy and I lived with only one car between us. The engine in my Monte Carlo had locked up the summer of ’07 so we had to make do with only our Olds Intrigue. It was an adjustment but we learned to manage. When Sandy needed the car during the day, I would catch a ride to the office with a coworker. When I needed the car for a business trip she was stuck at home. This was tolerable until the autumn of ’08…

Sandy found out she was with child (our little Pearl) in August and we would start part-time deputation in October. The demands on our time increased… I was traveling more around the State due to additional job responsibilities, Isaiah was involved with home-school group activities, Sandy had prenatal doctor appointments, and there would be weekends when I had to visit churches alone for one reason or another. We needed another car to meet the increased demands in our lives that would be escalating in October.

We began praying in August for another car; we didn’t have money to purchase one so we prayed that the Lord would provide. It was nearly the last week of September before the Lord answered our prayer. A man approached me at church and said that he and his wife would like to give us a car. He said it was nothing special to look at but it had been reliable. It was a ’95 Chevy Corsica with close to 150,000 miles on it and a large dent on the driver’s side door. Various warnings signals would randomly light up the dashboard when the ignition was started… “Check Engine Soon,” “Brake,” “ABS,” “Low Oil.” I found out over time that all the warnings seemed to be false (at least I hoped). The fuel gauge was not accurate below ¼ of a tank (I found that out the hard way… twice). It wasn’t exactly my dream car, but it was an answer to prayer. In fact, that little car has been a tremendous blessing. I have put nearly 30,000 mile on it in ten months and it has not had any serious mechanical problems. It was not exactly the car that I would have chosen but it is what the Lord used to meet our need. We can claim Philippians 4:19 as a promise that the Lord will supply all of our needs but how many times do we try to dictate to the Lord how those needs are to be met?

I needed to be free of mortgage payments in order to begin full-time deputation (see last month’s entry). We had prayed fervently for many months that our house would sell, however the Lord took care of our mortgage payments in a way that I did not expect. Recently I was approached by another brother in Christ who offered to take care of our mortgage payments for a few months so that I could quit my job and begin deputation full-time. It wasn’t what I expected but it is the method the Lord has used to provide our need… we begin full-time deputation the last week of July. The Lord may not show up in the way we anticipate or meet our need exactly the way we expect Him to, but He is never late and He never fails.

“My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.” – Psalm 62:5

Back on July 15th Sandy sent an e-mail to those on her personal address book requesting prayer. I have copied her e-mail below that you might pray for us as well. I was touched by her openness…

“FYI for those interested…

We, as a family, are planning taking off on the road within 1 to 1-1/2 weeks.  Headed first for meetings in New York State then the New England states. 

We will have internet access when staying at a campground with WIFI.  Not always at a campground… sometimes will be parking trailer at church facilities.

Our home phone of 299-0299 will be cancelled.  If you need to reach us by phone, you can call Stetson’s cell phone.  If you do not have his number and would like it, please e-mail us within this next week. 

Stetson put his 2 week notice into his employer on Monday.  Please pray for us as we take this big step of faith as he leaves a secure job at only 12% of our deputation support.  Pray the Lord will supply our every need.

Please pray for us as we will be traveling a lot on the road.  Pray for our safety and good health.  Pray the Lord will watch over us. 

Pray that the Lord will bring much joy, happiness and friends into Isaiah’s and Pearl’s lives as they leave friends and family.  That travel, however long, will be enjoyable and adjustable.

Pray that home-school for Isaiah will continue to be enjoyable and successful.

Pray for our extended family and friends.  That deputation travel and eventually moving to Italy will bring family and friends closer and not further apart.

Pray that travel will be easy on my precious little Pearl.

Pray for spiritual encouragement and protection for the whole family while on deputation. 

Please pray that churches will be burdened and will start supporting us and those that stated they would support us, will do so soon. 

Pray that souls will be saved and lives will be changed by the preaching and witnessing while on the road. 

Pray we will arrive in Italy as soon as possible, in the Lord’s timing, that we may win Italian souls for Christ.

We will miss all our family and friends dearly.

Love In Christ,

Stetson, Sandy, Isaiah and Pearl Planck

p.s. Don’t forget to check the website for journal updates and church meetings. ”

“Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” – 1 Peter 5:7