Praise and Prayer for August 30, 2010

It feels like fall is already in the air. I don’t know if we’re ready for that just yet! We are thankful for God’s grace this week through His answers to prayer. We’re thankful for you, too, taking time to read these updates and to pray for us. The Lord gave us the opportunity this past week to discuss ministry and doctrine for several hours with an individual who had some rather strange ideas concerning the Bible. We came away fatigued emotionally but confidant that we had presented this person with the truth from God’s Word in a loving manner.

We praise the Lord that yesterday there were quite a few visitors in the morning service, including several students that have arrived for the school year. There was also a young family from out of town that is looking for a church. We hope each one found a warm and caring church family eager to welcome them. We were glad to see several people back from traveling too, though there were still several people out. A., who moved to Canada in June for further education, was back Sunday to welcome his sister who arrives this week from Africa. He returned for a couple weeks to help get her installed in Reims where she will pursue her studies. Sunday afternoon a few of the men from church (including Jonathan) helped move one of our families to their new apartment. Although it was a big job, it was obvious that there was a great job yet to be done after we left them in their new apartment.

Praise for:
- the Lord’s help in sharing truths from His Word at length with an individual.
- very good progress with reports and correspondence this week.
- healing for Caleb’s perforated ear drum, confirmed by his doctor on Friday. Also, we praise the Lord that Caleb and Josiah are both breathing much better.

Pray for:
- guidance as we pray about and seek God’s will regarding our future ministry.
- wisdom and ability to communicate clearly as we talk with people both in and outside the church about their questions concerning the Bible.
- Jonathan as he gives the Bible Study Tuesday evening at church and as he prepares to preach a week from Sunday.
- us this Friday evening as we have the Sunday School teachers over for a meal and planning session. We may have 14 besides our family.
- us to be a blessing to one of the Central Africans in our church and his Mom who is visiting, as they come for lunch tomorrow.
- C. and her family, as they go through a time of grieving following the recent death of C.’s mother.

Praise and Prayer for August 23, 2010

After weeks of sunshine and near drought conditions, God is blessing our area with refreshing rain showers. Sometimes looking out through our window and seeing the clouds and the pouring rain can dampen the spirits a bit, but how thankful we are for precious rain and the water needed to sustain life! As children of God, we need daily refreshment from “the fountain of living waters” through His Word!

We arrived home last Thursday afternoon thankful for all that the Lord did for us during our 8 day trip of more than 2500 kilometers (1553 mi.). He gave us safety through various conditions, including highway traffic jams and hard rain. The main objective of our trip was to visit two other couples working in different areas and learn of their burden and the great need for help in these areas. Our eyes were certainly opened much more to the particular needs in these areas. Jonathan had the privilege of preaching in BMM’s first church plant in Bordeaux last Sunday. As we traveled, we were also able to have either a meal or an overnight with friends in Poitiers, Terrasson and Rieux.

This past Wednesday, we were particularly in need of help when we were awakened at 3 a.m. by Josiah’s noisy, quick breathing and loud barking cough while we were staying with our friends south of Toulouse. We ended up taking him in to Emergency an hour’s drive away from where we were staying. He was treated for bronchiolitis and laryngitis and we were able to get home by 8:30 a.m. We were told that it was best we had come when we did as the condition can worsen quickly, especially in babies, and they were able to treat him right away. He and Caleb continue to struggle with coughing and congestion. Caleb seems to have caught what Josiah had, and is having his first asthma attack since March! For the long time since his last attack we are very thankful.

Praise for:
- a good trip to southern France to visit two couples and learn about two possibilities for future ministry.
- God’s help for Jonathan as he prepared and preached Aug. 15 in Bordeaux and Aug. 22 back here in Reims.
- the blessing of having some of our family from Nancy come visit us this weekend.
- the healing that God has given to Caleb’s perforated ear drum, and the protection of his hearing.
- God’s help in getting Josiah good treatment in the middle of our trip and far from home and familiar territory!
- Jonathan’s Mom and Aunt’s safe return to Grand Rapids this past week.

Pray for:
- guidance as we pray about and seek God’s will regarding our future ministry.
- good progress in work with correspondence and reports this week.
- plans and preparations for fall ministries (Sunday School, Sango outreach, English outreach, etc.).
- continued healing for Caleb’s ear and for Caleb and Josiah to get over this bout with coughing and asthmatic systems.

Praise and Prayer for August 7, 2010

On Sunday morning, we met our neighbor in the parking lot and were able to show her the way to the church. She was welcomed warmly and we were pleased that she seemed to enjoy her time with us Sunday morning. After the service she was given a tour of the church and we were able to tell her about some of the church’s ministries, including the children’s work. She complimented the level of organization as well as the number of people that were involved, happily serving the Lord, and was surprised to learn that the people serve on a volunteer basis! What a great testimony. We were more than a little bit proud of the reception she received by the church family. To top it off, she said that she would like to come back, though said it wouldn’t be every week. We would love to see her tomorrow.

We invited two of Adrianna’s school friends and their sisters over for a special tea party on Thursday. They all came (five besides Adrianna) and seemed to enjoy themselves very much. Cherith did each of the girls’ hair up fancy before they sat down to “tea” with a couple special goodies we’d made up for them to eat along with their Moroccan tea. We had some good opportunities to visit with parents when they came to pick up the kids.

We have been planning a survey trip to Bordeaux (in southwestern France) next week to learn more about a possible ministry opportunity for us in the future. On Thursday, we received a call from another couple that is serving in the Basque region of France who is also looking for help, inviting us to come and see the work they are involved in too. Lord willing, we will be visiting their work first, then traveling north to Bordeaux where we will be through next weekend. We are really looking forward to these opportunities to learn more about our hosts and the work they are/will be involved in. We also want to stop and see two families that used to be in Reims at the church here until they moved to different areas in the south.

Praise for:
- for M. coming to church and for the warmness she sensed from the people there!
- good Sunday school lesson Sunday with the six kids present, and for some good questions from one of the preteens.
- more good contacts with neighbors, and with other parents from the school after the girls tea party.
- the opportunity to make a trip next week to check out two possibilities for future ministry.
- Jonathan’s Mom and Aunt’s safe arrival in PA, and for the opportunity they had this week to travel to Lancaster to see the story of Joseph presented at Sight and Sounds.

Pray for:
- M. to return to church, and to want to know more about the Good News.
- Jonathan as he prepares and will be speaking at next Tuesday prayer meeting and on Sunday, August 22.
- our trip to Ustaritz and Bordeaux next week and for the Lord to give us wisdom and guidance as we look at these possibilities for ministry.
- guidance as to our future ministry.