As most of my readers know, I joined my husband Joe in full time missionary work since my retirement from AT&T five years ago. My website is priority as I can maintain it from the road, and as you’ll see from the newsletter, a book I wrote is in presale on Amazon right now. Thank you to those faithful supporters that allow us to do this! Here’s the latest news of the ministry and please email your address or send your email address if you would like to be on our mailing list. PM

October and cooler weather greetings to you. God is faithful!

 

Here is the Joe McDonald Ministry October newsletter. Please take two minutes and catch up with us.

You can see it here: “The Evangelism Trail” for October 2023.

It is attached to this email in PDF format, too.

 

Lots of ministry and family things happening and many of you are a part of all we do.

 

Remember. Normal isn’t coming back, Jesus is!

 

Blessings,

 

Joe and Patti

We all face disappointment in our lives. Sooner or later, someone, something or our own actions will disappoint. I’m not talking about disappointment that our team lost a game, although that does bother us, I’m talking about disappointment in a person, sadness or loss, a life event, or a physical challenge that can’t be changed.

So, disappointment in a person. I’ve faced it. I remember a friend of my girls. She lived with us for a while as a teen when her mother moved to a nearby city. She fit right in with my four daughters and was a delight to have as a house guest. Although I loved her like my own, I had a few quiet moments to give her my motherly wisdom and offered that she would think about going home to her mother, my theme was that “she is her mother,” like no other. I didn’t want her to regret her decision to stay with us.

Time went on and she reconciled with her mom and did go home. Then she disappeared from our lives, disappointment number one. She later reappeared for a quick visit with a baby boy, who we never knew the father. But as time went on, she seemed to be on track for a normal life, with a new husband and two children by him.

Disappointment reared its ugly head when we heard she was taking drugs, losing her family and then, sadly, her life. Her decisions, however they came about, seemed to lead to a horrible end. One bright spot, she was a Christian and her children have grown up successful and happy despite their tragic loss.

This story is just one way disappointment can come into our life, and depending on your involvement in the situation, this could lead to disillusionment and despair.

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