Opportunities to Serve
Serving families around the globe is an exciting and growing experience. There are a number of ways to participate with us in the ministry of Lifework Forum.

“There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.” Galatians 3:28,29

God ignores national boundaries as He draws His people to Himself. The Gospel is relevant and effective cross-culturally and across time. The great diversity of people around the world is a living testament to His creative power, immeasurable love, and eternal mercy.

Recent Trips

Reports of the last 12 months are given below followed by an archive for previous years.
  You can also access reports on Domestic travels.

Remember!

You can also learn about the Lovelace’s Domestic and Upcoming trips.

INTERNATIONAL REPORTS

Goal
Our desire is for this website to reach out to people as effectively as possible. Please contact us with encouragement to meet that goal.

The Netherlands / April 2010    (the first of four destinations)

The spring outreach for Lifework Forum began at what might be called the entry port of Europe. Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam is a major transfer point for flights all over the world. Sandra made a brief but ministry-packed stopover there on her way to three other destinations. She counted it all joy as she met with families, spoke to gatherings of ladies, consulted with parents, and enjoyed their children.

The journey began at Logan Airport in Boston when Curt and Sandra excitedly met up with Russell and Laurie Warren. Laurie was God’s provision to assist Sandra with academic testing in Budapest. Her husband was her chauffeur and the point person for her family good-byes. He was also a great help in muscling the ladies’ baggage through the check-in process and up to the security line. (Thank you, Russell.)

After Sandra and Laurie bid farewell to their husbands and passed through security, it was time to get to work. The ladies went over the testing materials, sorted out the grade levels and considered groupings, and even set a tentative schedule. Even the delay of over an hour for takeoff due to a volcanic ash cloud spreading from Iceland toward Europe didn’t dampen their excitement.

Thankfully the Air France flight attendant didn’t turn Sandra in for the extra heavy carry-on bag that he helped put into the overhead compartment. Sandra enjoyed the brief conversations she was able to have with various members of the flight crew. She was happy to discover she could understand some of the announcements that came over the speakers.

All flights in and out of Paris were delayed, nevertheless the ladies still missed their connecting flight. They immediately turned to the Lord to find a way to get to Amsterdam in the midst of a chaotic setting. It took stops at two different counters, a very determined airline assistant, and about an hour’s time to make new arrangements. Then the ladies were whisked down the concourse to get on the plane at the last call before closing. God certainly knows how to keep things interesting and then pull the perfect solution out of the hat.

A dead cell phone battery wouldn’t allow us to notify anyone about our arrival being almost two hours late. Nevertheless Hosper Mulder, our Dutch host, was right outside the door when we came through Customs. Hallelujah! God is good. Amen Hosper and Mirjam and their delightful children opened their lovely home to us with a warm welcome and a delicious snack.

Sandra learned that she was invited to dinner with a family in Haarlem. Laurie stayed behind to settle in a bit and begin adjusting to the time change. Sandra had a delightful evening renewing relationships, sharing concerns, and learning about the pending Queen’s Day festivities. It was a wonderful way to get back into the European world.

The next day’s schedule was jumbled up as Leah’s flight from Washington, DC was delayed several hours. Mirjam dashed me to the airport when we learned she had landed and God had us find each other in the almost endless halls of Schiphol - yet another divine rendez-vous. The poor girl had barely enough time to catch her breath and re-pack a small bag before the ladies were shuttled to a village an hour or so away. Another precious Dutch family welcomed us into their home. Joan, Gerdine and their son provided warm fellowship around the dinner table followed by a prayer session with the parents.

Then the ladies were off with yet another driver to another location. The Schouw home was a perfect setting for a ladies meeting - warm, welcoming and with plenty of healthy and delicious snacks. It was not surprising to learn that Yvonne, the lady of the house, enjoys hospitality. The gathering was well attended with married and single ladies, young and old, with a couple of babies to boot.

Sandra shared on the topic of God’s design for women. The title of her talk was “God, Creation and Gender”. A lovely discussion followed, and time for a few individual conversations was wrapped in. After the other ladies departed and her assistants went to bed, Sandra spent time some heart-felt ministry time with some translation assistance of a mutual friend. The Lord has a gracious way of weaving lives together for His infinite and intimate purposes.

The next day began with a hearty and healthy family-sized breakfast. The Schouw daughters were a lovely addition to the adults as we learned about their activities and interests, including their pet rabbit. The ladies had miles to go before they slept so they bid a fond farewell and headed out to yet another village. This time the event was a support group meeting for Dutch and expat homeschool families.

Barry and Myra Wells’ home was packed to the roof with parents and children of all ages. It was a delight to be invited to join them. Children enjoyed a bible-based science lesson that included a walking field trip. Moms received sound teaching and encouragement through a Bible study. A joyous lunch time was followed by rehearsal for a multi-age musical. Leah was given some time to share about the ministry of HSLDA and its benefits to international families. The parents were appreciative of her input and happily received the various materials she distributed.

Sandra, Laurie and Leah were shuttled back to Badhoevedorp where they settled into a B&B for the night. It was a thoughtful provision and quiet respite arranged by the Mulders. The Lord used the setting to grant Leah an opportunity to go for a run, one of her favorite passtimes, and for the ladies to hold a meeting about their upcoming time in Hungary. This blessed unifying time was followed by a much-needed good night’s rest.

The last day in Amsterdam was another ladies event. Over morning tea and coffee Sandra offered a presentation titled “Guidance in Titus 2”. Her talk received a warm reception and the ladies responded with meaningful questions and a valuable discussion. The lunch break provided an opportunity to get to know each other better. Laurie and Leah took the opportunity to go for a walk to a canal nearby with a windmill and to do a bit of shopping in the village.

The afternoon session was titled “Insights from Ephesians 5”. The topics of authority, submission, and respect opened up another round of important discussions. One of the single ladies brought out several important points by which every lady was challenged. She remarked that she would be making changes in her life as a result of our time together. God is amazing the way He blesses His people through His Word.

The waning conversations were the clue that it was time to close in prayer and prepare to leave. A change of clothes, a bit of repacking, some hearty good-byes signaled the ladies’ departure. They offered their heartfelt thanks, their joyful blessings, and their ongoing prayers to Hosper, Mirjam, Michelle, Josephine, and Julian. The ladies’ baggage reorganization and check-in at Schiphol went smoothly. They enjoyed a slow-paced dinner in the airport before heading to their gate. By God’s grace their flight to Budapest left on time.

The first stop in Lifework Forum’s month-long ministry adventure began with much joy and peace, activity and ministry. God solidified His team for Budapest and granted Please pray for each contact that was made and ask the Lord to care for each heart in His perfect, sovereign and loving providence. Thank you.

Budapest, Hungary / April-May 2010

The primary goal of the second stop on the Lifework Forum spring marathon trip was to provide standardized testing for Hungarian families. The children of these families are enrolled in the Homeschool Umbrella Program (HUP) of GGIS, a Christian school in Budapest. God provided numerous blessings to everyone involved in the midst of a demanding schedule.

The first major blessing came in the form of a specious apartment donated for our use by Andy and Phyllis Anderson. They are the couple who has launched the Books for Reading Centers ministry we’ve told you about in the past. They’ve launched a couple of new Reading Centers in some interesting locations. Feel free to contact them for further information. There was plenty of room for the ladies to enjoy their stay and to welcome the children for testing. The building is conveniently located in a secure neighborhood near a grocery store and public transportation. When God answers prayer He does it in a big way. Thank you, Andy and Phyllis.

The next big blessing was the gift of a day to settle in and see the sights. Sandra served as tour guide for Laurie and Leah. Public transportation passes for the week allowed the ladies to make their way around the entire city. They visited Heroes Square, Vajdahunyad Castle, Gundel’s famous restaurant for tea, Parliament, Castle Hill, Old Town, Fisherman’s Bastion, a Jewish memorial, the Rock Church, the Open Market, and the walking street of Vaci utca as they made their way around both sides of the Danube by foot and subway. God provided the perfect weather for this delightful day.

Before going to bed the ladies set up the various testing areas and had all the materials arranged. A well thought out schedule was in place with specific responsibilities in place. The physical activity of the day was the perfect preparation for a good night’s rest. Thank you, Jesus.

Three days of testing unfolded with lots of interesting twists. Two children were not feeling well and joined the group a day late. Parents were gracious about meeting the drop off and pick up routines. Lunch times were wonderful opportunities to interact with the children in a more informal way. Late afternoons were taken up with shorter visits to downtown destinations to see a few more sights and do a bit of shopping. By God’s grace the testing was all accomplished within the time available and the children seemed to have weathered the stretching with aplomb if not delight. Appointments were held with mothers to discuss their children’s performance and provide encouragement in the homeschool journey. The parents’ expressions of appreciation were the cheerful bow on the top of the package. Thank you one and all.

Leah was able to take a run along the Danube on her last afternoon in Hungary. Sandra and Laurie enjoyed soup in a café as they waited for her return. The next morning they joined Leah on the curb at 4am to wave farewell as she headed to the airport. Laurie spent her last day tying up her shopping and packing her suitcases. The gifts and materials she distributed left just enough space to tuck in her souvenirs. God is good ... all the time.

The next morning Sandra escorted Laurie to the same curb for her trip to the airport. She was ready to tackle the challenge armed with a detailed list of hints for her return trip through Amsterdam. Sandra bid her good-bye with confidence that the Lord would accompany on her solo journey. Praise His Name for granting her a safe and smooth return home.

Sandra spent the next day and a half recovering from the extended activities of the previous two weeks. While the time in Amsterdam had been quite intense in terms of relationships, the time in Budapest was demanding in terms of physical and mental energy. The Lord graciously provided the rest and refreshment she needed. There was also time to give to the cross stitch project she wanted to deliver to a dear friend. God always takes care of His own.

Please ask the Lord to bless GGIS and continue to oversee the HUP. The families it serves are relieved from major struggles through this precious ministry. Please also petition Him for provision for Sandra’s return trip in August/September when she will review the test results with parents and offer workshops to encourage them for the coming academic year.

BHC’10 Tirana, Albania / May 2010

On May 2 Sandra flew from Budapest to Tirana. Curt left Boston for Italy that evening. He spent 14+ hours in the Rome airport before continuing on to Albania. They were happy to be reunited late on May 3. The Lord arranged for a warm and hospitable welcome from the Benussi family that gave the Lovelaces hearts full of peace. He put them to work immediately and kept them busy right up until their departure.

Sandra had begun the standardized testing sessions the morning of Curt’s arrival. It was a small group of children and most of them are part of the Homeschool Umbrella Program (HUP) that Sandra coordinates for GGIS, a Christian school in Budapest. She was well into the process when Curt joined her the next day. It was hard to decide who enjoyed his participation more, Sandra or the students. The Lovelaces always report that it’s a treat to be able to interact with the children on their travels. They explain that they are delightful representatives of the love, growth and joy that God expresses in the diversity of culture.

As soon as the testing was completed BHC’10 began. The first evening meeting was quite well attended with one couple traveling over an hour. The Lovelaces introduced themselves and their ministry to the interested nationals and expatriates. A meaningful discussion followed which contributed to building a relational base for the conference itself. Everyone was encouraged to return for the actual conference meetings and to invite others to join them.

The mini-conference began in earnest the following evening with another good-sized group. The Lovelaces laid a solid foundation for the material they would be presenting. As is their habit, Curt explained the biblical foundation and Sandra communicated the application process. Their presentation was well-received and another in-depth discussion ensued. The Lovelaces have come to realize that the Spirit creates a sense of security in these meetings which causes people to raise issues that are often unspoken. He also opens hearts to take in the conversations and ponder the ideas presented. They have become divine appointments for everyone involved.

Attendance was a bit low on Saturday, but that didn’t diminish the excellent opportunity to open the Word, share ideas, distribute literature, answer questions, address concerns, encourage hearts, offer support, and speak of the goodness of our God. Many materials, donated as samples, were displayed and described. They then became gifts to those in attendance. Several resources were given to the new library growing out of the efforts of the “Books for Reading Centers” ministry. The relaxed time over lunch provided precious times of fellowship. New friendships were developed and families were encouraged in their desire to raise the next generation “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Sunday is the day our Father calls us to a Sabbath rest. It is a blessed time to purposefully release the reins of our lives to His loving lordship. Believers around the globe make a powerful statement before the seen and unseen world when they gather before God’s throne in corporate worship, offering their bodies as living sacrifices. Romans 12:1 The Lord stretched the Lovelaces physically on this Sabbath day, but He refreshed them through a day of service in His Name.

An early morning bus ride with Ildiko Benussi and two of her children brought Curt and Sandra to Durres, a coastal town. They were welcomed into the church at the Albanian Life Centre by Pastor David Pennoyer and his family. The congregation was warm and worship was lively. Curt was the guest preacher for both morning services. Everyone listened to the message he brought about the biblical view of church life. Afterward many came by to personally express their appreciation for his ministry.

After the morning services, the Lovelaces enjoyed lunch with the Pennoyer family and their two young ministry partners, David and Lauren. The menu included the standard Albanian lunchtime staple made up of pita type bread wrapped around meat, french fries, tomatoes, onions, etc. This friendly and delicious lunch was followed by a trip to the seaside. God granted the most beautiful weather to introduce Sandra to the brilliant blue of the Adriatic Sea. The Bennussi and Pennoyer children enjoyed some of the waterfront activities while the grownups soaked in the ocean views and sunshine.

On the walk back to the ministry center young David treated everyone to Albanian ice cream. Sandra was blessed with an in-depth conversation with Lauren about her experiences with the Mission Nannies organization. The Lord was doing amazing things in and through His children wherever He calls them. Amen

The Sunday afternoon service took place in a suburb of Durres. The meeting was held in a small warehouse type area with two rooms connected by a small hallway. A metal roll-up door opened the space to those already waiting in the street to attend. Children gathered in the smaller back room as the main worship area and hallway filled up to the brim. With the door as the only opening, the air was stifling by the time things got underway. Pastor Pennoyer opened the service and the singing was enthusiastic. Curt brought the message to the enduring worshippers. Once again there was much love, joy and appreciation expressed for his faithful preaching of the word.

The Lovelaces’ time of ministry in Durres was a special arrangement from the Lord. Sandra was able to offer some specific encouragement to the pastor’s wife, Valbona, and deliver some gifts to their children. Curt was blessed by the opportunity to share the Word with brothers and sisters in a faraway place. In addition, Pastor Pennoyer was granted some much needed rest as he was struggling with some health issues. The Lovelaces were unaware of the physical trial and were thankful they were able to bless the Pennoyers and the believers in Durres in these ways.

Sunday’s bus rides were followed by Monday’s bus rides to and from Sauk, a suburb of Tirana. During a Science Fair the Lovelaces attended earlier in the week at GDQ, a small school in Tirana, Curt and Sandra were invited to visit the orphanage work  Bethany Christian Services has undertaken under the auspices of the Albanian government. Their friend Ildiko was their guide as they made their way on the first visit of its kind they’ve ever made. It was an exciting reunion of sorts as Curt was a member of the board that piloted Bethany through their early days in New England. Another contribution the Lovelace family made was to host a young mother-to-be in the late 1980s. They were impressed with the loving and valuable outreach.

Bob and Cathy Watanabe are the American connection to the orphanage. They make their home in the main building with their four teenage children. Their welcome was wonderful and began with a tour of the facility with introductions to the life-giving programs they offer to the little ones they serve. There was also time for tea and a delicious snack for which some other mothers arrived. Once again Curt and Sandra shared their experience and expertise in the area of international education.

The Lovelaces were able to share resources of specific benefit to the older children of the ladies who gathered. The discussion of homeschooling on a family level moved into the area of international homeschooling. The conversation included both encouraging support and heartfelt caveats as mothers opened their lives to each other. Serious offers of energy were enthusiastically provided to support national families who wish to homeschool. It was a great day of building valuable bridges in the shadow of the Almighty’s wings.

The last full day in Tirana was spent ministering through family conferences. Curt and Sandra were treated to tea and treats at a downtown restaurant by Cesco and Sarah, parents of two lovely young daughters. Their interest in the testing sessions and results were driven by their desire to provide the best education possible for their children. Plans and prayers for future contact were shared in the sunny setting before needing to return to work. Throughout the Lovelaces’ stay, Cesco served as their personal chef since most of their meals were enjoyed at the café where meetings were held. They’re not sure they’ve ever eaten so well nor enjoyed it so much.

The next day the Lovelaces headed to the airport at 4am. Thankfully their flights were departing on time. With help from Marin Bennussi they made their way through the check-in process and then through security. They met for a brief farewell near the gates as Sandra headed on to Oslo through Vienna and Curt repeated his return to Boston through Rome. The Lord was especially gracious to grant the Lovelaces time together in the midst of such a long spring outreach.

Please ask the Lord to bless what the Lovelaces pray will be the inaugural trip to Albania by deepening the faith of those He allowed them to serve there. They were introduced to many interesting aspects of the culture as well as new found brothers and sisters in Christ.