Ministry Web Site of Jim and Phyllis Null

Newsletter August 2012

// August 7th, 2012 // eNewsletters

Downtown Mission

Last month, in our newsletter, we shared with you about our effort to collect adult bicycles for the homeless in downtown Louisville.  Downtown Mission is a local project where volunteers have the opportunity to serve Louisville’s homeless population.  Our church here in Louisville, www.naobc.org,  has adoped the first Sunday of every month. NAOBC provides a meal at Waterfront Park to nearly 100 individuals.  The meal is followed by an evangelistic worship service.

Several folks responded and we have collected 4 adult bicycles (two ladies and two men)!  This past Sunday we delivered our first ladies bike to the mission.  This bike was perfect – a Schwin cruiser – in that it had baskets attached to the back of it.  In checking in with the leaders of the mission they directed us to Karen. Karen is about 50 years old.  She walks 3-4 miles to the riverfront for the worship services there.  And then, after, the services, walks another 3-4 miles to attend her church.   She had a bike but it broke down several weeks ago. She was delighted to receive this new set of wheels.  While I delivered the bike Phyllis took time to chat and share with Karen.

We also met a fella named Skully who knows two other folks whose bikes have died.  We’ll be syncing up with Skully as soon as I have the two other bikes ready to roll!  If you have an adult bike that is in riding condition – just needs some cleanup and TLC – let us know as we can find a new home for it and get it back on the road.  This is such a great opportunity to open the door for sharing the Good News by meeting a simple and important need!

CrossRoads Missions

We are very excited about a new staff member coming on board with CrossRoads Missions in our Mexico field.  Judy Lopez is a resident of Piedras Negras, Mexico.  She is married to Carlos Lopez.  They’ve been partners with CrossRoads Missions from the very beginning where Judy has been serving as a missionary in the Piedras Negras community.  You see, Judy is CrossRoads Missions director’s (Rob) older sister!  She is fluent in Spanish, knows the turf, and knows CrossRoads Missions.  Later this summer, or early fall, Judy plans to come on board with CrossRoads Missions.

Her taking the reigns of leadership over this field will re-invigorate our efforts there as we’ll have a director on the field who is fully experienced in all respects.  That, along with her presence already known in the community, should open many doors for meaningful and extended ministry!

Personal News

Financial

Year to date we are $3,000.00 under our need for ministry support.  We are very grateful for our faithful financial support team, who, month after month share their resources with us so that we can serve in full time mission work with CrossRoads Missions!  Thank you to each and every one of you for the years you have been faithful in taking care of this need for our ministry.

Anyone desiring to become part of our team may contact us, and we’ll provide you with full details of how you can engage in ministry with us through CrossRoads Missions towards making opportunities to share, and live out, the Gospel in Appalachia, New Orleans, Piedras Negras (Mexico), Inner City (Louisville) and many other cities through our Help Build Hope program.

Phyllis Surgery

Last month’s newsletter shared about Phyllis upcoming shoulder surgery.  The surgery was undertaken on July 3rd.  It was more extensive than we thought as they did find that she had a torn rotater.  Thus, they sawed off the bone (as planned) and repaired the tear (as unplanned).  It’s now been a month since that surgery.  Phyllis is now into the second phase of rehab therapy to begin in another week – aggressive therapy.  She’s mentally preparing for this stage – the fun part!

She had some struggles with the pain medication.  There for about two weeks it was not pretty!  It seemed like the medication was almost worse than the surgery.  It did manage the pain – but it created its own series of complications and painful issues, to a degree that she discontinued using it.

We try to get her out and about daily, for a walk as far as she can go, or an outing like the one pictured here where we are able to go to a local minor league baseball game – the Bats.  (By the way Cincinnati Reds fans – the Bats are the farm team for the Reds!). We have another ball game planned this week, too!  She loves baseball – and is quite entertaining to watch, too, if she is in cheering mode!

Thank you for praying for her these past weeks.  And a special thank you to those of you who have had this surgery and have been there to help us deal with all the surprises that it brings!  You have certainly made it easier in expecting the unexpected.

We are especially grateful that this surgery took us over her annual deductible leaving us with  only have $3,000.00 remaining in medical costs to cover as a result.

Phyllis left shoulder is next on the schedule for the same surgery — when to be decided later!

Serving with you because of Him – Jim and Phyllis