Update May 7, 2015

Thank you for taking the time to read our update!  We do praise the Lord for you who pray for us faithfully.  This week we were reminded of our dependence on the Lord in every area, including for our protection and that of the things the Lord has entrusted to us.  Tuesday morning we discovered that my (Jonathan’s) bicycle had been stolen from the shed in our yard, though the gates had been locked.  We had been absent last week for our annual French team Bible conference in the Grenoble area.  Although we were sad about the loss of the bike, we were more concerned that a thief had been in our shed.  We are thankful that we have not noticed anything else missing and pray that the thief will not return!  Your prayers are needed and very appreciated!

I mentioned the conference last week.  The Lord helped us to be ready for conference this year, with all of the reports that we were responsible for, the conference program and some of the other organizational details that we took on since our teammates, the Bixbys, were unable to attend this year due to Bonnie’s cancer surgery and follow-up appointments.  They had planned the conference and have often been responsible for much of the organization.  We praise the Lord that Bonnie’s surgery was successful and that the cancer had not spread.  Therefore she will not be needing chemotherapy, but will be having radiation for six weeks beginning later this month.

This month we will be having our final two English Encounters of the school year.  Pray that there will be good attendance, and that the Lord will help us as we teach the Bible stories and answer questions.  Pray that the younger children will behave well. 

Lord willing, we will be leaving for a two month “furlough” of home ministry on June 20.  At this writing, we have yet to begin to prepare for our home ministry this summer and there is much to do before we are ready for that day to arrive!  Much to do, and little time, since all of our regular ministries continue as normal. 

Praise for:

- for several visitors in church recently, and for two mothers that attended a recent English Connection with their sons.

- for a good annual conference, for God’s help with all of our responsibilities and for safety for all of the travelling. 

- the successful surgery for Bonnie Bixby’s cancer, and that the cancer had not spread.

- the house that our teammates the Christys have found in Saint Medard, and for the acceptance of their offer.

- for the arrival of Kéran, a young man who is a strong Christian from Paris doing a six month internship here in Saint Medard.

- for God’s provision of a vehicle for our family to use during our two month trip for home ministry in the USA this summer.

Pray for:

- guidance to manage our heavy responsibilities this month with time dwindling before our trip this summer.  Pray for the Lord’s help in preparing our materials for home ministry.  Pray for us to be able to accomplish a few projects on the house before we leave it with the Gadbois family that will be coming from the USA to be here while we are gone!

- Stephen Field, who came last year on the Focus on France program, as he arrives the middle of this month for an 8 week summer missions internship. 

- Mr. and Mrs. C as Mr. C grows weaker and waits for God’s call.  Pray for God’s grace for Mrs. C, who will be left alone.

- us as we take Adrianna to see the education inspector in Bordeaux to review her school year and answer questions.  This can be a scary time for an 11 year old!