Celebrating Bonus Years

Ten years ago I nearly lost my dad. He had come home (after what would turn out to be his final day of work) and collapsed on the floor, having what appeared to be a heart attack. My mom rushed to call 911. He had only a faint pulse when the paramedics arrived to take him to the hospital, where he would stay for 10 days. The doctor told my mom, “If you had waited five more minutes to call, he would have not had made it.”

I could have lost my dad then, but I didn’t. Instead, I have been blessed with what my family calls “bonus years” with my dad. This month we celebrated him as he turned 61! Life is precious, and no one knows how long they have. In James 4:14 it says,

“yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.”

We can’t always count on tomorrow, but we can always count on Christ! I’m incredibly grateful for these “bonus years” with my dad and hope for many more!

After my official appointment as a career missionary with ABWE, I hit the ground running with pre-field ministry! I completed the "Kingdom Come" Training which prepares and helps me with partnership development. It have started setting up meetings with potential partners to share about what God is doing in my heart and in Togo. This month I went from 2% of my monthly financial support need to 24%! My next goal is to be at 50% by the end of September. Could you help me with this goal? I would love to share with you about helping to build God’s kingdom in Togo!

I've been looking for ways to practice sign language, to build my skill level, and opportunities for involvement in the Deaf community. This month I signed up for StartASL.com, an online sign language program. Not only does it offer a curriculum, but also provides ASL tutors and opportunities to practice in the real world. I have attended 5 video conference calls to practice signing with others. It felt great to practice sign and build my skill level! I started with the level 1 course as a refresher. I’m proud to say I finished level 1 and have started level 2!

It has been a good and busy month starting pre-field ministry! I also started working full time at a school again. I am a para pro in an autistic elementary classroom. We are doing in person instruction. Please pray for protection from Covid for myself, the students, and staff that I work with, along with my family. Also, please pray for wisdom as I balance working full time and pre-field ministry.

Liz Ortiz

Praises:

Praise God that I’m officially going back to Togo as an ABWE career missionary!
Praise God for an opportunity to take an online ASL class and complete level 1!
Praise God for the Kingdom Come Training that I completed and was a HUGE encouragement for pre-field ministry!
Praise God for the 10 “bonus years” (and hopefully many more) with my dad!
Praise God that Jonas is home, safe with his family!

Prayer Requests:

Pray for wisdom on balancing my job and pre-field ministry
Pray for health and safety for my family during the pandemic. Especially for my dad because he is in the high risk group.
Pray for an ASL interpreter for Togo – big opportunity for one!
Pray for more opportunities for me to practice signing