Hello friends of the ministry,
Spending time in solitude can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, it can be incredibly lonely and lead to feelings of desperation. On the other hand, it can serve as a precious and valuable opportunity to sit before the Lord.
I have always been a very active person, but the past many months have been a real challenge for me. From mid-September to November, I was frequently bedridden due to a series of illnesses that led from one infirmity to another. This lack of activity resulted in sciatic pain in November and December. Then on January 5th of this year, I awoke with relentless pain. My mobility was severely limited and I quickly worsened into a constant tormenting pain. Most of the month of January, I lay on the floors of my apartment for hours each day, experiencing intense pain like someone was repeatedly stabbing my lower lumbar and legs. Furthermore, my hips and leg muscles consistently felt like they were being torn apart too.
I felt so distant from God and would beg God for relief, and it seemed as though my prayers were going unanswered. However, in one moment of immense pain, God reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, and I realized that my prayers were not aligned with God's will. Instead of asking for my own relief, I started asking, "Lord, what do You have in mind?" This became a turning point for me; though my body and mind were in torment, yet I can testify that God has enveloped me with an abundant grace, for which I am truly grateful and undeserving.
On January 19th I flew to Ohio for a quick trip to visit my doctor and do some medical exams, including an MRI, to hopefully find out what is ailing me. My mother did something awesome! She flew back home to El Salvador with me. For ten days we had a wonderful and very memorable time together. We did some resting on the beaches, as well as she got to meet and spend time with various dear friends. One evening at my apartment, a bunch of friends came over. My friend Kathy (who is the realtor that got saved last fall) brought two of her sons. The greatest miracle happened that night - one of her sons sat down on my balcony with a friend to listen to the gospel, and he made the decision to accept Christ!
At times in life, the darkness surrounding us can obstruct our view to see that God is always near and working on something amazing. One night, as I lay in bed suffering from intense pain, the idea of writing a children's book suddenly came to me. I knew from experience that once the words are in my mind, I have to act right then and there or risk losing them forever. Despite the miserable discomfort, I mustered the strength to grab my laptop, and that evening an adorable children's book was birthed, entitled "Pants the Squirrel." The book is inspired by a real squirrel in my parents' neighborhood that earned its name due to its appearance, and I am blessed to have a talented illustrator working on the pictures. I am hoping to publish the book this summer, which can be purchased at www.WaymakerPublishing.com as well as other retailers. With 9+ books under my belt, I have always created books with the aim to make an impact on my readers' lives. You can also visit my ministry's website www.MissionFrontier.info, and there you can purchase some good books.
Do you listen to podcasts? God recently gave me the opportunity to start hosting a podcast each weeknight, titled "Dinner With Lawrence." My aim is to maintain a level of authenticity, openness, and sincerity when discussing significant topics that impact our daily lives. I see the podcast as an opportunity to be a friend to my listeners, offering support and encouragement to those who tune in. Currently, "Dinner With Lawrence" is available on both Spotify and Google Podcasts platforms, and I hope that you will tune in and listen.
Lastly, I have fantastic news! Once again, I have a Facebook account for those who want to stay better updated on my life and know how to best pray for me. Please feel free to look me up on Facebook.
Thank you,
Lawrence Bowman
Spending time in solitude can be a mixed blessing. On one hand, it can be incredibly lonely and lead to feelings of desperation. On the other hand, it can serve as a precious and valuable opportunity to sit before the Lord.
I have always been a very active person, but the past many months have been a real challenge for me. From mid-September to November, I was frequently bedridden due to a series of illnesses that led from one infirmity to another. This lack of activity resulted in sciatic pain in November and December. Then on January 5th of this year, I awoke with relentless pain. My mobility was severely limited and I quickly worsened into a constant tormenting pain. Most of the month of January, I lay on the floors of my apartment for hours each day, experiencing intense pain like someone was repeatedly stabbing my lower lumbar and legs. Furthermore, my hips and leg muscles consistently felt like they were being torn apart too.
I felt so distant from God and would beg God for relief, and it seemed as though my prayers were going unanswered. However, in one moment of immense pain, God reminded me of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, and I realized that my prayers were not aligned with God's will. Instead of asking for my own relief, I started asking, "Lord, what do You have in mind?" This became a turning point for me; though my body and mind were in torment, yet I can testify that God has enveloped me with an abundant grace, for which I am truly grateful and undeserving.
On January 19th I flew to Ohio for a quick trip to visit my doctor and do some medical exams, including an MRI, to hopefully find out what is ailing me. My mother did something awesome! She flew back home to El Salvador with me. For ten days we had a wonderful and very memorable time together. We did some resting on the beaches, as well as she got to meet and spend time with various dear friends. One evening at my apartment, a bunch of friends came over. My friend Kathy (who is the realtor that got saved last fall) brought two of her sons. The greatest miracle happened that night - one of her sons sat down on my balcony with a friend to listen to the gospel, and he made the decision to accept Christ!
At times in life, the darkness surrounding us can obstruct our view to see that God is always near and working on something amazing. One night, as I lay in bed suffering from intense pain, the idea of writing a children's book suddenly came to me. I knew from experience that once the words are in my mind, I have to act right then and there or risk losing them forever. Despite the miserable discomfort, I mustered the strength to grab my laptop, and that evening an adorable children's book was birthed, entitled "Pants the Squirrel." The book is inspired by a real squirrel in my parents' neighborhood that earned its name due to its appearance, and I am blessed to have a talented illustrator working on the pictures. I am hoping to publish the book this summer, which can be purchased at www.WaymakerPublishing.com as well as other retailers. With 9+ books under my belt, I have always created books with the aim to make an impact on my readers' lives. You can also visit my ministry's website www.MissionFrontier.info, and there you can purchase some good books.
Do you listen to podcasts? God recently gave me the opportunity to start hosting a podcast each weeknight, titled "Dinner With Lawrence." My aim is to maintain a level of authenticity, openness, and sincerity when discussing significant topics that impact our daily lives. I see the podcast as an opportunity to be a friend to my listeners, offering support and encouragement to those who tune in. Currently, "Dinner With Lawrence" is available on both Spotify and Google Podcasts platforms, and I hope that you will tune in and listen.
Lastly, I have fantastic news! Once again, I have a Facebook account for those who want to stay better updated on my life and know how to best pray for me. Please feel free to look me up on Facebook.
Thank you,
Lawrence Bowman
