Prayer and Praise Update April 4, 2020

Greetings in our Lord, fellow quarantiners!  While the world seems almost at a standstill with COVID-19, singing birds and blooming flowers remind us of a Heavenly Father continuing to hold this broken world in His powerful hands as He reaches out again to those lost in sin.  Our hearts are heavy for those who are entering eternity every day because of this virus, who are unprepared to meet God.

We are grateful for God’s blessings and care as we go through this unusual time.  Now into our third week of complete lockdown in France, we are grateful for the goodness and mercies of our Lord.  With all activities outside the home cancelled, we do have more time with our children, though much of it is taken up with school.  We can still enjoy a lovely yard and the beautiful Spring weather.  Our family continues to be protected from the virus, with me going out alone about once a week for groceries.

Our church family is connecting through social media as most of them have either WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger.  We are grateful for the  edification, the fellowship and gathering together that is made possible through technology.  Today is the 90th Birthday of Mrs. T. who is off social media but able to be reached by telephone.  We thank the Lord for His care for this dear servant now even more isolated than before.

Next week, I am to teach a course to the first year students at the Bible Institute in Algrange.  I had to cancel my travel arrangements (train and air)  and have been working these past couple weeks to adapt the material to distance teaching/learning and get set up with an online classroom.  

Praise for

• God’s protection of our family and church family’s health thus far. Praise for healing for our teammates and for God’s help for several other friends in ministry that have been suffering with COVID-19.
• The technology available to us that has enabled us to continue to connect with and nurture our folks here. This has also made it possible for us to connect with family and friends in the US and should, Lord willing, make it possible for me to teach my class next week. It is also making it possible for Adrianna to continue violin lessons with her teacher via Skype.
• God’s help for Mrs. T. who is 90 today, and for His helping our other members too during this difficult time. 

Pray for

• Jonathan as he teaches his class to the Bible Institute students this week from a distance (with all the challenges that involves!).  His class is on the World of the Bible (Geography, History and Culture). Pray that we will receive a refund for the airline ticket that was cancelled.
• God’s continued protection for our family and church family, and for continued healing for those suffering with COVID-19.  At least one person in our neighborhood has been diagnosed with it.  
• for the Central African Republic with 8 confirmed cases of COVID-19, where this pandemic could cause great devastation on many levels, if it spreads.
• God’s provision for our transportation and housing needs during our 6 months in the USA, providing our trip does not get postponed due to this virus.