letter

     When too much has happened, and you do not know what to write, where do you begin?

      December was a lot of evangelism with Jesus' birth — evangelistic films and distributing plates of cookies with John and Romans booklets. God's Word does not return void. The people here are so open; we just smile and give them a tract.  How much time do you have? 

      Dan also had a Christmas Bible study at the public high school where there are about 6,000 students. One of our church members is a student there, and we are helping him reach some of his fellow students. We went back and distributed boxes of John and Romans (they have the Roman's Road printed on the backs). With Isaiah and Stephen helping, we were able to distribute 800 booklets in two locations in 40 minutes. Crowds of students and others mill around to receive whatever you are handing out.  We have done that twice, and Dan is getting permission to show an evangelistic film in their largest room. 

      Over the break in school, Dan got another schoolroom built at the church.  Our church has an elementary school with 120 students. Thanks to a church that wanted to help with this project, we were able to get that almost finished. I teach Bible on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays and have to move all the benches into my classroom, still putting kids on a mat on the floor.  Sometimes I get tired and discouraged and think, "What is the use?" But then, I see the children learning verses, and I KNOW God's Word does not return void!   

     Friday evenings at the village continue with Dan preaching and Lydia and me teaching the kids outside on mats. Dan is planning to start building a larger building there as well before the rainy season starts again.  Building is a great need to have.

      Sundays continue to be very full with Sunday school, church, and village Bible school in the afternoons. People are growing; it just takes time to prepare spiritual food (study), feed the flock (teach the lesson), and clean up all the happy mess (correct all the papers and listen to verses to see that some learning has taken place).  Praise the Lord for health and strength.

      My sister Laurel accompanied my mom and came out for a visit. Ruth arrived at the same time. It was great to spend time with Laurel and show her the ministry here.  Ruth will be staying until August – more about her ministry in the next letter.

      I was able to perform another delivery. Actually, I assisted Ruth, who did the delivery. We are always happy to save someone from the system here.

      The baby animals abound as well. The horse safely delivered its foal (a huge prayer answered), the cat had kittens, and the dog had puppies. Praise the Lord for all the little babies around here.

      Thank you for your prayers and financial help, which make all these projects, buildings and helping people possible. My latest challenging questions are "Who is in control of your soul?" and "Who are you listening to and obeying?"  Those are the big questions to keep in mind throughout the day.

      May God bless you.

 

Love in Christ,

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