Tom’s Update on the Gila River Reservation

Greetings to each of you.
 
The first item is I am calling for anyone who believes in prayer to keep or put us on your list. I will be saying more at another time or you may detect what we need as we begin doing more online.

The Lord is doing some exciting things at Siloam, and I want to give you a taste.

Instantly, you might envision an addition being constructed but not yet. The church people and members of work teams have made much needed changes of sanctuary lights, a new wood floor, bigger bathroom doors, new vanities, and a lot of good relationship building.

The new lights have given a better overall coverage, the new wood floor makes walking more comfortable for everyone, the bigger doors have made it so much better for people who have a hard time getting around, and the vanities give support to lean on.

Relationships are hard to explain but to watch what happens between people when they come on one of the teams is so exciting. Some people talk about when two worlds collide only when it is a bad thing, but when true friendships are built from the same experience, it is a God thing.

Until the next time, we covet and thank you for your prayers, financial support, trust, and friendship.
Tom 

P.S. Steve and Debbie Cartwright have more exciting news to share about Siloam below.

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March 2020 Cartwright Chronicle: Opportunity

The word of the year 2020 so far is OPPORTUNITY-we can sense that God is doing something BIG.
     
Why? Because of exciting possibilities and seemingly impossible odds - the perfect situation for God's glory to be seen!

Opportunity #1-an invitation to live on the Gila River Indian Community.
     
We've been ministering at Siloam Church, on the Gila River Indian Community, for 20 of our 21 years on the American Indian Field but always traveling from off-reservation to be part of those ministries. That's because a reservation is a sovereign nation. We can't move there just because we want to. The land belongs to the Community and is allotted to Native families and other entities, like churches. People who are not Native generally only live on the reservation if they marry a Native person, work for the tribe and have housing provided to them, or if invited to put a mobile home on someone's allotted land.

In recent discussions about us hoping to rent a home nearer to the reservation, the church members said they would prefer us to live at the church property and voted to make the invitation official. This would provide extra security during the church remodeling project as well as open up a number of ministry possibilities for the church (men's and women's small groups, music ministries, community health initiatives and counseling/grief ministries, to name a few). 

We've made contact with the District 6 representative to tribal council and he has been very supportive of the idea. And financially, actually buying a mobile home would pay for itself in 4-5 years, considering the costs of rentals in the area and the fact that we are looking for longer-term.
     
That's where a miracle becomes a necessity. The American Indian Field has a project   account called "AIF Housing replacement or purchase" (310-31718), but no funds in that account right now. Estimates of the cost range from $50,000 to $80,000. WILL YOU PRAY as we seek God's miraculous provision for us?
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Here is the location on the church property

Opportunity #2-a chance to see God's provision for us through His people.

In four months it will be our regular time for Homeland Ministry Assignment. However, we won't be able to relocate to Ohio for additional support raising for another year. The house where we stay during Ohio HMA is also the "home away from home" for another missionary couple staying there until July 2021.

Over the past year, we've had a number of supporters who have discontinued giving for various reasons. Additionally, increases in medical insurance premiums, housing costs and utilities make the monthly support needs even higher. We've calculated that another $1000 in monthly support would meet all monthly expenses. We're asking God to provide 20 people who would pledge new monthly support of $50 per month (or increase their current support by that much.) It sounds big to us, but we know it's easy for God. He knows who He wants to partner with us to make another 16 months on the field possible. We ask that you pray with us for this need-which is truly an opportunity to see God's glory revealed in marvelous ways. 
     
Write or call us if you want to help. You can also donate or pledge online at www.wgm.org/missionary/cartwright

Donate Online

Also pray for a short (3 week) trip to Ohio and Indiana this April/May. Steve will be visiting supporters and sharing in some churches from April 22 to May 10; Debbie will join him during that last week, shortly after completing her fiscal year-end procedures as treasurer. Here is the schedule as it stands right now (come see us if you're in the area):
 

• April 22-6 pm, coffee & dessert at Denny's (West Baden, IN) with folks from Hillham CCCU (Steve)
• April 26-10:30 AM Xenia (OH) Grace Chapel; 6:30 pm Circleville (OH) Crossroads (Steve)
• May 3-10:30 am Walnut Hill CCCU (OH) ; 6 pm Urbana CCCU (Steve)
• May 6-7 pm Peebles (OH) CCCU (Steve & Debbie)
• May 10-10:30 AM West Baden (IN) Baptist, (Steve & Debbie)

Prayer requests

•  Pray for Debbie as she approaches her first fiscal year closing on her own, which will happen the end of March and the month of April.
•  Pray for the ministries at Siloam Church (preaching and Bible studies, SOAR, children's reading nights & youth coffee shop).
•  Several at our church are going through challenging times. Keep their unspoken requests in your prayers.
•  Pray for our funding needs and the opportunity to live beside the church.

Thank you for your prayers,
Steve and Debbie Cartwright
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