Eric Murphy Update April 2014

ARTICLES:

--LIFE Costa Rica … A New Opportunity!

--Back to Europe

--Wave of Grief 

LIFE COSTA RICA … A NEW OPPORTUNITY!

Thinking back to January when I spoke at a youth camp in Costa Rica where every single camper came to Christ other things were happening during that time. A dear friend from way back, Eddy Vidaechea along with his wife Silvia, and I were talking … dreaming … planning … praying. Lynne and I had the privilege of having this couple in our home when they were first starting their ministry as they traveled in the States raising their support. We had a great time of fellowship back then … around 28 years ago. There was a little boy with them, Cristian, who was about seven years old.

Eddy and I have kept in contact for years and Cristian came into the picture after he finished his education joining his father in the work in Costa Rica. About six years ago Eddy began to focus on the real passion in his life which is church planting. You need to know that Eddy has been doing this while he battles Lou Gehrig’s disease.  Yes, it’s quite a story. God has kept him alive and also helped Silvia who has had serious problems with her eyes.

For some time I wanted to go there to connect with them and help them. There was a plan to do this in January, 2013, but, I did not have peace to do this at that time as Lynne was struggling so much with MS. But, we made a plan for me to go there in January, 2014. Somehow, some way, I felt peace to put this into my schedule. Seems that God had this planned all along because He called Lynne to Heaven in December … about five weeks before my trip to Costa Rica. Talk about timing … it was of God … His plan, His timing.

Cristian and I have been talking about working together for a year, maybe longer. Because of Lynne’s situation I delayed this partnership because I did not think that I had the time to devote to this. He was very patient … waiting to serve together when the timing was right. The conversations in January included Cristian. He was ready to go anywhere I that I would advise him to go. Much to his surprise I told him to stay in Costa Rica because God put this on my heart. It has been on my mind to develop a ministry where we can do youth camps in January. That’s the month that Costa Ricans use to have such youth programs because school is not in session at that time of the year.

Furthermore, I love to see churches started … God put a pioneering spirit inside of me. We will start new churches in Costa Rica. We will start the first LIFE Costa Rica youth camp on January 5, 2015, God willing. In fact, on March 15, 2014, our Board of Directors approved the Costa Rica as a new field … a new opportunity. Cristian Vidaechea will direct the work there and I will mentor him. Pray for God’s blessing and direction.

BACK TO EUROPE

This Sunday, March 30, I will be with our music group, The Hungarian Brass, in Vac, Hungary for a concert and evangelism. Back to Europe! Back to Hungary! The plan is to return to my former ministry to speak in chapel at the Word of Life Bible Institute and connect with students and staff. Then, to Montenegro with Iulian, our director at LIFE Romania, and one of his team members, to organize for Camp Monty, speak in two churches and hang out with campers.

Next, we go to Targoviste, Romania where I will speak at the Camp Counselor Training. We have some new counselors and I can hardly wait to meet them. Staff meetings are planned after this before I travel to Israel to be with Jimmy DeYoung Sr. and Jimmy Jr. on a Holy Land Tour. I’ve wanted to do this for years but could not because of Lynne’s struggles with MS. Rick DeYoung, our Camp Monty Director and son of the DeYoungs, will be on this trip as well. I am quite excited about the teaching as well as seeing many Biblical sites. Jimmy DeYoung Sr. is the premier expert in the world on the Holy Land and Biblical prophecy. And, Jimmy Jr. is close on his father’s heels as a highly qualified prophecy teacher.

Flying to Dallas, Texas after this where I will help our Romania Director as he will be stateside to promote his summer ministry, Camp MIA, will conclude my whirlwind trip through Europe, Israel and Texas. I will be organizing some teams to come to our camps in Romania and Montenegro before I return to Europe for the summer camps on June 23. Pray for safety in travel, good health and clarity as I will be speaking in many meetings.

WAVE OF GRIEF

Dear friends who have experienced the loss of loved ones warned me that I will have a “wave of grief” every so often. It’s hard to explain what this is like if you have never had this happen to you. Stunning, it’s emotional, yet, it’s spiritual. Sort of like a moment of darkness … hits you like a stepping from behind a shelter into a gale of wind … it stops you in your tracks like you just felt a blast of something … whoa! The first thought is either “What just happened to me?” or “Where did THAT come from?”

It’s part of the grieving process. Within a couple of seconds my right hand is in the air as I praise God for taking Lynne home to Heaven. I thank Him that she is not suffering … that is happy beyond measure. Then, a smile is on my face as I am so happy for Lynne. It’s amazing how God helps me. Hundreds are praying, no, thousands are praying for me. For example, more than 300 people at one church have committed to pray for me on a daily basis. This helps me so, so much. I just wanted you to know that the first 120 days or so that God has sustained me and helped me. I am grateful for God’s help. Thank YOU for praying … thank you so much!

Lynne’s name as well as her important role in our mission is being remembered through the Lynne Murphy Memorial Fund for Needy Campers. Make a difference in an underprivileged young person’s life by providing a camp scholarship. If you would like to honor Lynne and help a needy camper please send your contribution to the address listed below or you can go to our website and give through PayPal. Thank you for kindly considering this. God bless you.

Eric Murphy

Executive Director

www.lifeimpactforeternity.org

[email protected] or [email protected] or [email protected]

Address for Donations: Life Impact For Eternity, 3984 Manatee Avenue East, Bradenton FL 34208

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