Howdy, 

Feels like this month went by really fast and yet there is still so much to catch you up on! My baptism, Graduation, The Carolinas, The staff retreat, and more! If only I could make an audiobook instead so y’all wouldn’t have to read so much. Nonetheless, here we are. 

Baptism 

In my last newsletter I had mentioned my choice to get baptized and on May 16th ( The day after my last newsletter) I was baptized. I got the chance to share part of my testimony in front of friends and family at a Bible study run by Justin Darnell. It still feels surreal to have had that opportunity with so many of my closest friends and family. Getting to do it with 2 of 3 former Equip roommates, the guys that really saw the change in my life as well as so many of the staff who poured into me to encourage the change was a blessing. Topping it all off, being baptized by my current boss and close friend is an amazing experience and dynamic to have in the weeks following! All in all praise, God for my walk and how far it has led me. I am dead to sin. 

Graduation 

A lot of close friends of mine have graduated this month, but obviously one of the most life changing was the Equip students. Adjusting to the culture (and quietness) around the mission without the people who were very much my building blocks to getting to where I am is odd, but good. I am happy to have been there for graduation, and to see what God has for each one of them next. 

The Carolinas

Saturday May 24th I drove down to North Carolina to see my grandmother for a few days. While I was in the area, I also met with some other family from South Carolina in order to bring reconciliation and to show Christ through my life. This trip was not necessarily refreshing, but I knew it was where God wanted me and I did enjoy my time with family. Praise God for family, and trust Him in who He put into your bloodline, and remember that we all belong to the royal bloodline of the Most High. 

Staff Retreat

Tuesday, June 10th, to Friday, June 13th, most of our staff went to a ministry called Three Springs for a staff retreat. This time was designed for community, worship, and rest. Especially now, it is important with the transition of no longer having the students around and going into summer. During this time, while I did not rest much between the gym, swimming, volleyball, pickleball, and community time, I did grow closer with the community and with God. I am grateful for this time and for where I work! I also got another taste of dorm life rooming with Kai and the 4 Smith boys which was really fun!

Finances

I really do not enjoy talking about finances but this is as much of a praise as it is a prayer request. I am provided for; I’m not hitting the goal I had hoped for yet, but I am provided for. However, I do have some larger expenses coming up that I am giving to God, and I feel part of that means mentioning it here so I am not just asking God “Hey send me all this money without me being willing to ask,” or “Do this through some miraculous donation from someone I have never even met”. I believe that is possible, but I will also be proactive in the meantime. 

• My car will need inspection by the end of July, and before that I need to replace the tires and brakes.
• In the fall there are two missions trips I am looking into and hoping to be a part of at least one of them
• March of 2026 there is an FCM (Foundational Counseling Ministries) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) that I feel called to pursue. 

All of these things are expensive, and mostly out of my budget, but they are not out of God’s budget. I believe He is working in people right now, through this letter, through the church, through testimony, His word, whatever it may be, to give. Romans 12 mentions the different gifts that we have been given and verse 8 says “He who gives, with liberality”. I do not know who has the gift of giving, God knows the gift He gave you and I trust His word that the body will function to lift each other up!

Work 

We always have so many projects going on in the warehouse, and sub projects… but one of the new ones I have picked up is pallets. We have an excess of pallets but not all of them are usable, so I have started going through and sorting the good from the needs fixing. So far I have barely made a dent but I am excited to see it turn out. Thursday, May 22nd, Justin, Kai, and I went to Berryville, Virginia, with a boxtruck load of supplies going to Africa. I always enjoy being able to see the full process, from loading to unloading. It is a blessing to bless others!

Personal Life & Prayer Requests

For those of you who are still here and are invested in my personal life, first off I commend you and secondly this is what it looks like. I am working on knowing and accepting the truth of my biblical identity. God has been speaking into this area of my life for a while and most of the time I try to talk over Him. Some of my prayer requests :

• Finances
• Discernment 
• Revelation 
• Accepting Truth
• Peace 

Thank you all for your prayers, your time, and your donations. I am excited to see what God does in this next month in all of us

Until next time, 

Donny