We are so excited to report that because of the Lord’s blessings, your faithful prayers and faithful support it is our desire, by faith, to leave for the field on August 10, 2010. We only need about 36 more supporting churches until we are on our way to preach the Gospel and plant churches in the largest nation on Earth!
We ask that you will be in prayer with us, about the following, as we make our final preparations here in the States:
-My ordination – February 18, 2010
-Natasha’s pregnancy & a healthy new baby – Due June 27, 2010
-We are currently at 60% of our support and we only need about 36 more churches to partner with us financially to reach our final goal by August 2010. If your church does not currently support us, would you prayerfully consider being one of these 36 churches?
Also, we are now raising funds for our “Setup Fund.” There are many specific things that we need to have funds in hand for prior to arriving and once we arrive on the field. We have had several generous donations made but are still in need of the following items to help us relocate and get started (all cost are approximated based on our survey trip):
1) Four Airplane Tickets: $5,600 – Around $1,400 total per person.
2) Rent for a Year: $6,000 – Our rent for the entire year has to be paid up front.
3) Hotel Cost: $420 – We will rent a hotel until we can find an apartment to rent.
4) Visas: $630 – This is $210 per person to get our Visas.
5) Customs: $2,000 – Miscellaneous custom expense.
6) Basic Furniture: $1,500 – Beds, couches, Table, chairs, etc.
7) Visit our website, www.projectchina.org for more items and details!
Feel free to give for these specifically or just a general gift of any amount. Send all gifts to Vision Baptist Missions, P.O. Box 442, Alpharetta, GA 30009 with “Tolson Setup Fund” as the subject. Also, please note if you are giving for a specific expense. All gifts are tax deductible.
We will keep you informed of all items provided for on our website (www.projectchina.org) and in future prayer letters. Everything is underway, and we can’t wait until we are on the field making His Name known!
Thank you for being a part of our team, Project China, with your prayer and financial support!
In Christ,
Mark, Natasha, & Ava Tolson
December in Review
-December was our 12th month on full-time deputation.
-We were able to be in 5 churches.
-We added 3 new supporters!
-We are currently at 60% of our support!
-We drove 2,107.6 miles and were in 4 states: OH, TN, WV, & VA.
Charles W. Gardner went to heaven tonight from his home in Harriman, Tennessee. I will get more info to you on austingardner.net. Right now I don’t have much to say
Betty and I will still be in Tennessee tomorrow. We are at the hospital with my dad, Charles Gardner.
I will not be able to be at church on Thursday evening nor in my class on Friday morning. I appreciate your understanding that I need to be with my family at this moment.
Lord willing, we will take Dad home to hospice care. We will try to make him comfortable until the Lord takes him home. Thank you for your prayers.
Hello Everyone,
My pastor for over 20 years, Bro. Alfred Willis is back in the hospital again with heart problems. As many of you know. Bro. Alfred had open heart surgery 9 years ago. On January 31st he had another heart attack. They put in two stints released him from the hospital. He was home 15 minutes and had another heart attack. They took him back to the hospital and put in two more stints. He has been very weak and resting trying to regain his strength, but has had pains in his chest almost everyday since he was released from the hospital. Yesterday it got so severe that he want back to the ER and was admitted for a third time.
I just got off the phone with Marci, his daughter and she requested that I ask as many people as possible, if they could fast 1 meal for Bro. Alfred Willis. So that the doctors could find out what the problem is with his heart. Pray, yes but please go without just one meal one day and pray for him.
I am 5000 miles away and can do nothing to help my pastor of 20 years. But I can do one of the most powerful things this side of heaven. That is fast and pray. Would you please do this for this dear man of God? Thank you for your time.
Dean Hamby has been my friend for over 20 years. His entire family has been a blessing to our family. He serves as the Assistant Director of Macedonia World Baptist Missions. Betty and I served with this great board for 20 years and we now have two sons that are missionaries with Macedonia.
Dr. Hamby’s dad went to Heaven last night at about 1 am. He was a godly man. He and his wife had been married 59 years. They raised a godly family. Two of the sons at least are preachers.
Jason Hamby, grandson, is a missionary with Macedonia and will be coming from Canada to do the funeral.
I love this family. I am in Peru and there isn’t much that I can do to say that I love them except write this little piece but I do highly love and respect this family.
God bless all you, Hambys for what you do and are doing in His service. We love you and thank God for you. From all the way down in South America we extend our love.
Please pray for Hugh Watson. He just called to inform me and wanted you all to know the following: They will not put in a stint right now because he only has a 50% blockage in one part. He is still bleeding internally but it must be from some problem in the gastrointestinal area. Please continue to pray for him.
Also remember Katie Gardner as they believe that what she now has is Hashimoto’s disease. she is doing much better but could really use your prayers.
Thanks for the way you express love for each other and for the Lord.
We have gone through a lot of this recently but here comes one more.
Lindsey Fredman’s grandmother died. I have very few details but she will be buried somewhere in New York. I think the funeral is tomorrow night. I will give you more details the moment I am able to get them. Lindsey’s grandmother was in her 80’s.
Today they are burying Stephanie Velke’s dad. This is a very difficult time for her so please pray for her as well.
As you know Trent Cornwell buried his grandfather last week.
It is just like the verse from the message on Sunday. We all have an appointment with death. I hope you know that you are ready for that day. Hebrews 9:27
CRAVEN, Edward Mr. Edward Eugene Craven, Sr., 47, of Charleston, entered into eternal rest Sunday, March 1, 2009, at the Hospice Center of Charleston.
Funeral services will be held 3 PM, Wednesday, March 4, 2009, at The Brice W. Herndon and Sons Funeral Home, Walterboro Chapel. Interment will follow in Glendale Memorial Cemetery.
Mr. Craven was born May 1, 1961 in Walterboro and was a son of the late Murdaugh Craven and Margaret Ann Phillip Craven. He was a painter and enjoyed watching all kinds of sports, especially the Clemson Tigers, and loved going to the mountains.
Surviving are: his children, Stephanie Velke of Atlanta, Georgia, Jessica Ann Trstenjak of Charleston and Edward Eugene Craven, Jr. of North Charleston; foster parents, Jack and Mona Belcher of Goose Creek; brothers, Rudy Preston Craven of Walterboro, Roy Craven of Walterboro, Randy Murdaugh Craven of Walterboro and Johnny Ray Craven of Charleston; foster sister, Jackie Crosby of James Island; a grandson, Noah Brewster; and his best friend and business partner, Bobby Petrizzo.
Flowers will be accepted or memorials may be made to: Hospice of Charleston, 3870 Leeds Avenue, Suite 101, North Charleston, South Carolina 29405. Memorial messages and thoughts may be made to the family at: www.briceherndonfuneralhome.com. Family and friends may call Tuesday evening from 6 until 8 at THE BRICE W. HERNDON AND SONS FUNERAL HOME, WALTERBORO CHAPEL, 1193 Bells Highway, Walterboro. 843.538.5408. Visit our guestbook at www.charleston.net/deaths.
Please pray for Stephanie Velke. We got a call last night a little after 2 am saying that her dad had just died. He was born again so we trust that He is in Heaven. These next few days are going to be very hard for Stephanie so please pray for her. David and Stephanie are students in the Our Generation Training Center and plan to be missionaries in the future.
