August Praise and Prayer

Summer vacation is over and school is starting up again, requiring extra time and energy for Cherith as a homeschooling Mom.  Adrianna and Caleb began 10^th and 7^th grade on August 20 and Josiah begins 4^th grade in the public school on September 3.  How we all need God’s wisdom and strength as well as His guidance in this venture of seeking His glory in the area of education.

Once again the Lord has filled our weeks with opportunities to serve Him here in Saint Medard.  There were added responsibilities at church while our teammates were gone for two weeks of vacation.  On several occasions, we were able to help out one of our neighbors who fell last month. The R family came to town for a week of vacation and we were able to spend time with them over several days.  We rejoiced with them as they announced that a fourth child was on the way.  We watched the film “Joni” together with the family, and talked about her response to suffering.  We had no idea that they would face losing their own baby or that N would be undergoing serious surgery within a week’s time.  Now, this family of young Christians is walking through the Valley, thankfully with the help of their Shepherd.

This past week, a few of us from our church worked over several days to help a young lady (a pastor’s daughter from another region of France) who has just moved into the area for work and had already begun her new job.  She is visiting the churches in Bordeaux to determine where the Lord wants her to be involved.  We would love to see the Lord burden her heart to join the core group in this church plant.

Praise for

•  the opportunities of service God has given us over the past month.
• God’s protection of Mrs. R’s life with the complications with her pregnancy and medical care she has needed. Praise for God’s help in times of trial.
• the safe delivery of K, born to a young couple active in our church, the first grandchild for our teammates!
• God’s protection for one of our elderly members, Mrs. T. who recently fell in her home, and for the healing God has given her.

Pray for

• healing and comfort for the R family, especially for Mrs. R., and that their faith would be strengthened through this trial.
• the preparations for the three-day evangelistic conference September 27-29 with a guest speaker from Paris. Pray for the response of the people of Saint Medard.

J, front left

• J, who has been a faithful part of this work during her time in Bordeaux for schooling, as she pursues theological training in preparation for ministry among university students.
• good interaction and for opportunities to witness as we participate in the neighborhood picnic for our cul de sac on September 9.
• the planning and preparation for various ministries this fall, including Jonathan’s class at the Bible Institute October 8-12.
• the spiritual needs of our neighbor Mrs. S, who fell this summer and for us to have more opportunities to share with her.
• the pulmonologist who is working to find a treatment that works for Cherith and Caleb who continue to have respiratory/asthmatic issues.
• Cherith’s parents who will be visiting unsaved relatives in the Netherlands this month before coming to Bordeaux for a few days with us.