May 2022
Every January, I choose a word to focus on for the coming year, in the past selecting words such as Patience, Trust, Others, and Surrender (which probably give you some insight into my personal struggles!) This year, I chose Celebrate, in the hopes of recognizing and focusing on God’s blessings, His provision, and important milestones.
And what a bunch of Celebrations there have been, returning safely to the States amidst airline delays, meeting up with dear friends and supporters in Dallas after two years of enforced separation, observing milestone birthdays (we’re now officially counting backward!) an unexpected and wonderful vacation opportunity, spending time with our beloved children again, and attending (Parental Brag Alert!) an Assumption of Command ceremony for Lizzy. It’s ironic that after being in so many countries and traveling so much, we managed to contract COVID at home! However, there is much cause for celebration of God’s protection and provision, as we had mild cases, we were able to quarantine comfortably, got a monoclonal infusion treatment, and were plied with soup, prayers, and effective alternative remedies from our home church members! We're also quite pleased to have a little natural immunity added to our arsenals!
So what has been going on while we’ve been celebrating God’s blessings?
In the Dominican, Jaime, Emily, and Jackie have begun a new, six-week Discipleship training with a Haitian church. They report attendance is good, enthusiasm high, and practical application excellent…and I bet they’re thrilled they’re not having to translate every word! We've heard today that the young Haitian adults who attended our last training have started their own teaching program and are incorporating active evangelism. Yahoo!!!!
Again in the Dominican, work on the Haitian congregation’s chapel and pastor’s home is continuing furiously despite rain delays, in a frantic effort to get all ready and prepared for hard-working mission teams arriving momentarily from the States to tackle/continue/complete the project. Meanwhile, Emily and Jackie are preparing living arrangements for the team.
In that country-that-must-not-be-named, our Rescue Home pastors (I know you understand why it’s not safe to mention them by name or by location) continue to confound us with their dedication, resourcefulness, and ingenuity in providing for their charges, not only physically with food and lodging, but spiritually with their Christian training, and academically with their school instruction. (Remember, all schools in the country are closed, as each side claims the other is propagandizing. As a result, another generation will grow up ignorant and easily manipulated except for where these pastors stand in the breach.) Imagine being responsible for 43 children ranging in ages from 4 to 15, given a war-torn country, hostility to Christianity, COVID restrictions, distance from towns, and limited support? They continue to expand their gardens, raise their fish, build roosts for their chickens, and multiply their pigs as they depend on God for daily protection and provision.
On the Thailand border, in the discipleship ministry that has exploded to provide schooling for 70+ Burmese children caught on this side of the border, the missionaries are experiencing visa issues (a more and more common concern as authorities, influenced by a neighboring communist Superpower, work hard to stamp out Christian influences). Please pray for a solution that will continue to let them train, minister, educate, and love these children. It’s an incredible ministry that reaches the refugee parents as well for the Gospel.
Our Dominican and Haitian pastors participating in the microloan project to generate income are universally repaying their loans on time. Within a few short months, the initial loans will be recouped and available for seeding back into the community to other motivated and industrious leaders.
The Good LORD willin’ and the creek don’t rise, Peter and I will head to South Africa for a combination ministry and family visit (we spent a year working with an NGO in and around the informal settlement, Khayelitsha, when we first retired). If you don’t hear from us, don’t panic; the internet is sporadic and unreliable. We ask for journey mercies for this portion of our trip, after which we hope to go to Thailand, as, praise the Lord, that visa is sorted. Hurrah!
So, once again, we thank you sincerely for your care, your concern, your prayers, your emails, and yes…your soup! May your days be full of Celebrations!
“They shall eagerly utter the memory of Your abundant goodness and will shout joyfully of Your righteousness.” Psalm 145:7