letter

July 2012

 

      The longer it takes me to get to the computer, the more you have been on my mind -- does that make sense? I am thinking about you and praying for you.  So many times, I have said that, and not done it. "I'll pray for you." Work on the habit and discipline of prayer. But now I am very careful -- Pray.  Pray and wait.  God will answer. It might not be in this lifetime, but He will. A day with the Lord is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day. Pray and pray - it changes you, and it changes me. 

      Pray for your pastors, missionaries and leaders. So many are falling and have fallen. If there is a serious war situation, a hot spot, a special task force will be sent in especially equipped to do the job. They are on the front line where the battle is the hottest. They are the most likely to die. The devil is after us. He is after all the Christians, but mainly those who are active in the battle. It is a scary thought. The devil has planned an evil day for me -- and for you. Pray and pray some more. 

      I am back from the Philippines. The church has a good spirit of unity.  A girl named Kalah Stout traveled back from New York with me. We have been working hard to finish up some school (While the cat's away, the mice will play -- and they did), and she has been a GREAT help. She wants to see a delivery while she is here.  I did not have anyone "lined up," so I had been praying about that.

      Three people got saved this month - each of those was so exciting. A lady contacted me who wants me to deliver her baby. She is due any day. Anyway, she and her older sister prayed to repent and receive Christ at the last baby check up. "Out of the blue" she called me, wanting me to do her delivery. So, either God wants Kalah to see a delivery, or He just wanted those ladies to get saved. Now we have a little new believer's handbook to use in discipleship, so we are working on getting those available to our people and meeting with them for mentoring. That is where true involvement takes place.  Kalah is using this booklet to help Claudia, the girl in the picture, to grow. This will also help Claudia with her English.

      Also this month, we are focusing more on Bible memory -- for ourselves and for others. This is Seth's idea, and we are all working together. In our Bible time, we went through again "How to Successfully Memorize and Review Scripture" by Ron Hood. That is a VERY good booklet. We are trying to do a mini Bible memorization competition, and it will take some work and planning for all of the churches. Everyone is a winner who memorizes God's Word. The Bible competition will go from August (we are making announcements now) until the first week of November.  Please pray so much for this that people will learn God's Word and change. We do not change God's Word; God's Word changes us. May God have all the honor. 

      I guess this reads as a prayer request sheet. Our biggest concern to pray about is our kids. Ruth and Hannah are taking their huge NARM exams on September 27.  Then we are trying to figure out (it is great to know that God already knows it all), where Seth and they should go to college.  They are thinking about Ambassador Baptist College and also West Coast Baptist College. Pray that the Lord gives us all wisdom on the next step for them. 

      Since animals are a large part of our lives, Susanna really wants you to see a FEW of them -- smile. We have two monkeys that stay in diapers when in the house. How would you like a horse roaming around your somewhat-small yard? At least, she keeps the grass cut. Dan and Susanna roped off a space for her, so she doesn't have free reign unless we want her to. Susanna is enjoying the horse. The hope is to later breed her and sell both before we leave -- help with money for college. Pet care here is cheap -- no vet bills, and food is cheap and easy to be had. They are great for teaching kids responsibility, care, and love.  What a great replacement for TV and electronic gadgets.

 

Thanks for all your prayers and financial support! God is All Powerful!! Praise Him.

 

Love in Christ,

Dan and Joan, Ruth, Hannah, Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther and Gideon

 

PS. Seth's leg is healed nicely. He is applying anti-scarring oil, and we are praying that the "centipede" look of it will fade.