Praise and Prayer for February 26, 2010

A special treat this week was the visit of some dear friends of ours, Dr. Jim and Carol Prodan. Although they were only here for two nights, we had a wonderful time together and they were a great encouragement to us. Jonathan was able to show them our church and various sites here in Reims. The children were so excited to have friends to read to them and play together. Carol taught Adrianna some simple songs on the piano and Jim read stories to the kids. Adrianna enjoyed reading Dr. Seuss to them. We praise the Lord for the blessings this visit was to our family.

This weekend promises to be especially busy for the Evangelical Baptist Church of Reims. Tomorrow there will be over 20 pastors and missionaries and over 25 church folk, gathering at the church to assist in the ordination of the church’s new pastor, Emmanuel Fischer. Cherith is busy getting food prepared for the luncheon the ladies will be serving. Sunday morning there is a special Consecration service planned for Emmanuel in which the main speaker will be the president of the Algrange Bible Institute. We are preparing some of the special music, so this week we have had several people in our home to practice with us. There will be a carry–in dinner after the service to give opportunities to fellowship and celebrate together God’s faithfulness.

Praise for:
- healing and good health for our family this week.
- safety for our good friends and ministry partners, the Prodans in their travels and for the time of blessing as they visited us this past weekend.
- good progress in plans for the ordination/consecration this weekend.
- the safe arrival Wednesday of Elva Farrell’s father, Dan Maguire.

Pray for:
- the ordination counsel and installation of Emmanuel as the new pastor this weekend.
- Jessica Leslie, who will be arriving this week from Springville Baptist Church, PA, to help us for two months.
- more church members to commit to serving the Lord in various aspects of church life and ministries.
- God’s direction to be clear to us for our future ministry (after home ministry in 2011).

Praise and Prayer for February 20, 2010

We are ever thankful for your prayers for us, especially concerning our health. The Lord knows how much we have needed them these past two weeks since our last update. Since that time, we have continued to struggle with health issues. Jonathan is recovering from a second bout with stomach pain, both of which put him in bed for several days. The second bout was more serious, sending him to see our doctor on Wednesday evening. He started on prescription anti-acid medications immediately and after a very painful Thursday, began last night to feel better. The pain is nearly gone at present, but he is left weak with little appetite. We are ending the second week of the children’s winter vacation today, and they return to school Monday. Cherith has had her hands full with caring for the children, including our now four-month old Josiah, as well as a sick hubby. We are so thankful for the strength that God has given her during this time.

Praise for:
- the relief that the Lord is giving Jonathan from his stomach pain.
- good health for the rest of the family this week.
- the visit this weekend from our good friends and ministry partners, the Prodans.
- good progress in plans for the ordination/consecration weekend coming up Feb. 27,28.

Pray for:
- Jonathan’s health to be fully restored and that there wouldn’t be a relapse.
- the preparations this week for the ordination counsel and installation of Emmanuel as the new pastor.
- safety and good health for the Prodans in their travels and for a time of blessing as they visit this weekend.
- God’s direction to be clear to us for our future ministry (after home ministry in 2011).

Praise and Prayer for February 7, 2010

Although it seems like each week since the year began, someone in the family has been ill, this past week topped them all thus far. On top of the sinus infection and laryngitis that Cherith already had, she caught pink eye from the kids, and while their cases went away quickly, hers developed into a full blown case. Last Sunday, she kept the kids home while I went alone to church. On Monday, Adrianna still wasn’t up to par and missed school, which for her is very rare. She was back up and running on Tuesday and Wednesday, but by Thursday morning began to not feel well again. By now, Cherith was doing much better. Adrianna stayed home from school Thursday afternoon with classic symptoms of the stomach flu. That night, Caleb came down with it too and we were up various times that night with mad dashes for the basin and for the toilet. Both kids stayed home Friday, and Caleb’s teacher told me that 9 of his class were out sick that day. Saturday gave a little more time for recovery, and today every one seems to be feeling better, just in time to be able to attend church as a family again. We were glad that we were able to fulfill our roles at the keyboard, as the nursery worker and teaching a SS class. The kids are still quite tired. We are so thankful that Josiah hasn’t caught the stomach flu or the sinus cold.

Praise for:
- the Lord helping our family through times of sickness.
- healing for Cherith, Adrianna and Caleb and for keeping Josiah and Papa well.
- Cherith being able to complete some important paper work this week, despite the illness.
- a “chance” meeting in town with one of the former members of our church, and an opportunity to encourage this person to come back.
- good progress for Elva Farrell in her recovery from hip replacement surgery.

Pray for:
- wisdom for the Fischers as they begin their ministry as Pastor and Pastor’s wife.
- the planning for the ordination counsel and installation of Emmanuel as the new pastor.
- “J” and the need to return to the Lord and attending church.
- good health for each one of our family this week.
- God’s direction to be clear to us for our future ministry (after home ministry in 2011).