Howdy!

Somehow it is May 8th and I am only now writing April’s newsletter… Well, at least this is the only time I’ve ever been late on a newsletter. First time for everything I guess, anyway, April was super full for us and I am super excited to write about it. There were a few sneak peaks in the last newsletter so I’m gonna jump right into it instead of dragging out the opening paragraph any longer. 

Mexico Meetings

During the month of April we had two Mexico meetings, the 6th and the 28th. Every time the group gets together I am more and more excited to go on this trip. We have talked about potential flights, sermons, crafts, activities, churches, and tourism so far. Everybody gets a say in what we do so the events we plan will cater to all of us as we go where God calls us. I can already see God moving on this trip, and the community is growing so much through these discussions! Keep praying for this trip, and consider donating to the cost for myself or anyone on the team.

Evangelism Week

April 7th marked the beginning of our annual evangelism week. This week is catered towards the students but open to the staff to join, and it’s one of our favorite events we do. Tuesday and Wednesday we had classes based around why we do evangelism as well as the tactics that we have seen work before to start conversation. Thursday and Friday is when we actually go out, typically towards Reading, and spread the Gospel. Thursday, we went to the Berkshire mall where I was paired up with Hannah and Charles. It was a very cool experience to get to do evangelism with my wife, as well as cool to be able to teach someone the things I have had the privilege of doing and watching the fruit come from it. Several good conversations came out of being at the mall, and then we went to Penn St. in Reading with signs offering prayer. We got the chance to pray with an entire store of employees which was really cool. 

North Carolina

Friday around 5am my Uncle Jim and I left for North Carolina to move all of Nano’s stuff back up home. By around 2pm we had set up camp and got to work. There was a small shed, part of a camper, and part of an enclosed trailer to unload. We had gotten everything out onto the lawn where my dad and brother would meet us with the U-haul the next day by about 6pm. Went out to dinner with some family in the area, and I slept on a cot by the fire for the night. Saturday morning around 10 the U-haul showed up and we loaded everything up, including the shed, and left by 1. I followed behind the U-haul 90% of the way home and got back to the ministry around 10:30 – 11 Saturday night. After a good night’s sleep and sleeping in, Sunday morning we unloaded the U-haul into a storage unit and the escapade was finished. It was a long weekend but honestly I had expected it to be harder. I had a good time with all of my family and was still fairly rested for work on Monday.  

This Little Light Ministries

Saturday, April 18th, we had the privilege of going to an event for TLLM (This Little Light Ministries). We got to talk to a lot of people we hadn’t seen for a while, heard testimonies of missions trips over the years, and had some good Dominican Food. I was grateful to be a part of it, and it was held in the same venue Hannah and I got married in so that was really cool for me to come back and relive some of that! All in all it was very worthwhile and we look forward to any upcoming events with them. 

Righteous Rides

Righteous Rides is the car ministry we partner with, they have around 150 total vans and we are one of several hubs that they lend vehicles to in order to loan them out to missionaries. Since we also have a body shop and mechanic shop we do maintenance for the general tri state area as well. Thursday, April 23rd, we drove to St Louis for their Hub Summit. They had asked us if we’d be willing to swap out a van, so instead of flying we drove, stopped for the night halfway in Richmond, Indiana, walked around town, and got dinner with Joel and Danielle. Friday, we finished the rest of the drive down to Missouri and went to the volunteer dinner. We stayed with some of the board members and after dinner talked with them sharing testimonies until nearly midnight! Saturday morning was the Hub Summit where everyone gets to share about how things are going and future plans for the ministry. Then around 4:30pm we set out for Richmond, Indiana again. We stopped in Casey, Illinois, which is home to many of the “largest things in the world”, such as the largest seesaw, rocking chair, mailbox, pencil, wooden shoe, and many others. Sometime late Saturday night, we got to our hotel, slept for the night and finished the drive back to PA on Sunday morning. Most of the drive I binge watched Vinland Saga- pretty good show! This road trip was super enjoyable, good conversions within the van and at the Hub summit!

Ray & Debbie

April 29th, we had a going away dinner for two of our staff members Ray and Debbie. They are moving to a different ministry called SOWERS, Servants On Wheels Ever Ready. Anyway, we had some really good food, played games, prayed with them, and reminisced on some of the things they did while they were here over the last 7 years. Please read their newsletters and keep them in their prayers as they finish getting ready to travel across the country and keep serving as God calls them!

Camping Trip

Remember last year’s camping trip… We did it again! Just after Ray and Debbie’s party Aidan, Charles, and I went to the store and the Warehouse finishing packing for the trip. Thursday morning Justin, Nolan, Aidan, the students, and myself left for the trip. We hiked out to the same spot as last year on the Appalachian by the reservoir between 183 and 501. People asked if we were crazy doing this trip again when it was potentially gonna rain and drop below 50 at night, which I promptly answered, “I know I am, but it’s gonna be fun.” We set up a pretty solid camp, most of us were in hammocks with one tent set up, hardly any rain, had a good fire goin. Some of us made steaks over a fire, and most of us were warm at night too! Now that we’ve done it two years in a row I am hoping that we make it an annual trip. I would even lead it if I had to, the community and nature combination when you are with believers is a special thing. Pouring out and getting poured into while hiking or sitting around a fire is truly awesome. 

Praises & Prayers

Praise God for a busy month full of adventure, praise that we are still funded and working at a place we love, praise for Total City finding a building to start in, praise for safe travels on the trips of this month, and a big praise for all the Pete’s (Ray & Debbie) have done in their time here! 

Keep praying for the Mexico trip in July, the team, the country, the funds, and the travel, pray for our funds to keep working where God has us, Pray for the Pete’s as they move forward, Pray for continued health, Pray for the students as its their last month, and pray for next year’s students!

You guys know what I’m gonna say but that’s not gonna stop me from saying it. We are so grateful to those who pray and give to keep us here. We are both confident this is where God has us and we are only here because of the people that He uses. Thank you!

Until Next Time,

Donny & Hannah

If you would like to support Donny & Hannah, you can do so by sending checks with an attached note to CMTS Ministries, or by using this link: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/donovanhannahulrich/