Praise and Prayer July 31, 2018

We returned home Saturday evening from a whirlwind trip to northern France that began on Wednesday.  God gave many blessings, including His protection over nearly 1000 miles of driving, sometimes on roads jammed with vacationers from France, Great Britain, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany and Holland.  One of the purposes for the trip was to renew Adrianna’s US passport which expires this September.  This will be her fourth passport, and the last one that Mom and Dad have to apply for, as the kind lady at the Embassy reminded us.  While it gives us a twinge of sadness to see the years with our children evaporating before us, we are so thankful for God’s working in Adrianna’s life and for the growth in her love for the Lord and her desire to serve Him and others.  The Embassy appointment went like clockwork and we were on our way just 10 minutes after the appointed time! 

Another purpose for this trip was to visit a number of people, most already saved but some who have yet to see their need for the Lord.  We had a precious visit with our former teammates from Reims, Mike and Elva Farrell and their daughter Emily near Rouen.  In Paris we stayed with Mr. and Mrs. R. and were delighted with the good fellowship in the Lord.  Our hearts were encouraged to see every room in their apartment decorated with Scripture verses!  Our day in Paris included visits with a brother in Christ who had been a student in Reims during our time there and with family friends that serve as missionaries in the greater Paris area. 

On our return home we stopped for a visit with A., another one of Jonathan’s former language study classmates from 22 years ago when he was first studying French in Nancy, France.  Our last contact with A. and her family in person had been 15 years ago when Adrianna was only 4 months old.  Within the last year and a half, we had reconnected through Facebook, but hadn’t yet been able to connect face to face.  We are grateful to renew this friendship and pray that God will use it to bring this family to Himself.  Spiritually, A. is a practicing Catholic who is evidently lacking a saving relationship with Christ.

A. with Cherith and our newborns in 2003

Praise for

• ·      God’s blessing and protection of the four young ladies on the FOF team this year and for their safe return home.
• ·      God’s help for Cherith and for the good turnout for the ladies meeting and Bible study.

• ·      the visitors that we have had in church these past few weeks, at least one in response to a flyer in her mailbox.
• ·      God’s blessing and protection of Adrianna on her two-week trip to Spain for immersion in the Spanish language.  Praise for all of the opportunities the Lord gave her to serve Him, including being asked to share her testimony in church on Sunday morning.

• ·      the arrival of home-school materials for Adrianna and Caleb for the new year, for which a donor generously covered the cost for international shipping.
• ·      a good trip to Paris with many good opportunities to connect with people.

Pastor Goumba with Jonathan (Bambari, CAR 2004) 

Pray for

• ·      our future contact with A. and her family and that God will draw them to Himself. 
• ·      God’s help as we prepare church documents and apply to the local government for recognition.  Pray for God’s leading and provision of a building. Pray for visitors to come and to keep coming.
• ·      preparation and planning for fall church and outreach ministries.  Pray for wisdom in planning for our English outreach to children and beginning a weekly English outreach to adults. Pray that we will be able to build bridges to help us reach the people of Saint Medard with the Gospel.
• ·      Jonathan as he prepares to teach again at the Bible Institute in Algrange in October.
• ·      our two homeschoolers (and their Mother!) as they go back to school on August 20.
• ·      both Cherith and Caleb who are both being treated for asthma to be able to get more relief to their coughing/wheezing.

Mrs. Goumba and Sephora with Cherith and Adrianna (Bambari 2004)

• ·      God’s comfort for Pastor and Mrs. Pierre Goumba in Bambari, CAR who lost two children (including Sephora) in a road accident this month.  Their burden was already great with the responsibility of the Bambari center church, the Bambari Bible school and the great number of refugees that have camped on the mission station.