Lower Brule

The following is the newsletter I will be sending out this week.

Dear Friends,
I know it has been a very long time since you heard from us! We would like to fill you in on what has been going on.
On September 4, 2008 we were blessed with our baby twins Elijah Matthew and Adelyn Ruth. I was on bed rest for over 2 months of my pregnancy due to preterm labor! God kept His hand on us, and kept them in place until week 37! I am so thankful for my twins! Having said that, I need to say that life has drastically changed! I had planned on resuming my preaching responsibilities a few weeks after the twins were born, but that did not happen! I am only one person, and can only do so much! Baby twins are a 24/7 job! Imagine my life: Taking care of baby twins, taking care of a very lively 4 year old, and then trying to keep up with all of the housework (which only gets worked on when David is home to help watch the twins!) Needless to say, I am constantly behind in a lot of the housework!! I am not complaining. I would never ever trade my kids!! I am just trying to show you a glimpse into my world. David and I have a very unique situation in which I am a lady preacher. Pastoring would be completely different if David was the preacher! I tried to resume preaching this past March, and kept at it until the end of May. I tried, but I do not feel that God wants me in this position at this time. Finding time for sermons was very difficult. To be honest, I could not put the time nor the effort into what they should have been. Often I felt so drained even as I tried to pull from God’s strength. Late nights studying and early rising twins do not mix! I could go on because there are more reasons why we are resigning as pastors at Lower Brule. There are the personal reasons, there are mission-related reasons (which I will not go into), and then there is the main reason. The main reason is that we feel that God is behind us in this. I honestly can say that I feel a peace about it. Is it easy? No, I will miss the people. At this time I must step away and minister to my family. I am confident that God has His hand on my life. In His timing, we will step through future doors of ministry if that is His will. I realize that there are a lot of missionaries and pastors who step away from the ministry and people get disappointed. I will not apologize for doing what I feel God wants me to do right now. I am more concerned about pleasing Him compared to people. I want to thank each one who prayed for us these last 3 years as we ministered! This was so vital as we stepped onto dangerous territory and endeavored to reach souls! We also thank those of you who sent financial help! There were many times that the bills (especially the propane bills) looked impossible to pay, but we received financial help just in time! Native Americans on the Lower Brule Reservation were able to hear the Gospel because YOU were faithful in your prayer support and financial support. Thank you for making it possible for us to labor for the Kingdom!

In Christ,

Liz, David, Harmony, Adelyn, and Elijah Mills



P.S. For those of you that have faithfully sent pledge money in— We are unsure if/when someone will replace us. You do not need to send money unless you wish to support the Faith Missionary Association.