So, what has been occupying our time? First, I had three deliveries that were fairly unexpected. The first lady was a stranger, who came to church to see if I would do the delivery. She had no pre-natal visits—just popped in. About two weeks later, she delivered a healthy baby boy on a rice sack on the dirt floor. This was probably the poorest place I have delivered a baby. Most times the women come to my house to deliver, but with the roads this bad, they sometimes have a hard time finding a taxi to bring them. Also, coming to my house throws the whole family out of order (mom is occupied, school is in chaos, doors are closed for privacy, etc.). The other lady came to my house and had a healthy baby girl. Praise the Lord, the water was ON. The lady in the picture just delivered on the 12th at my house. That little sentence cannot cover the night without sleep; the patience, stress and prayer during the delivery; and the next morning gone getting a birth certificate. Praise the Lord for His continual blessing in each of these deliveries.
Dan baptized four last month. We have a property in Petit Pedro, and they have started building a new church building. The plan is to have a mud-brick building plastered over with cement. This keeps the cost down and is something they can work on themselves.
Dan's Bible school class on Sunday afternoons is going well. He has about 25 men in that class. They are now reaching out to their own villages with the Gospel and correct Bible doctrine. Animism, superstition, speaking in tongues, and casting out demons are all strong and alive in this culture. Dan just got back from a three-day trip to a village seven hours from here. He preached salvation messages, taught a seminar on the end times (thank you Pastor Elwart), and finished by attending the baptism of the believers from the two church-plant works. The people call this the "frontier." Some of these villages are still on the pavement, but seem to be at the end of civilization. Many of these are even still afraid of white people. The goal is to have solid churches in each of these villages.
The trip went well. Dan was given a traditional robe. Pastor Konan, the faithful man Dan has been working closely with, attends Dan's Sunday afternoon classes. Pastor Konan has stated many times how much he appreciates the solid Bible teaching that cuts through their superstitious and traditional beliefs. Pastor Konan baptized the 28 believers. The work of the missionary is to equip the nationals to carry on the ministry—to commit these things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Do not be weary; you shall reap in due season if you faint not. You SHALL reap. You shall reap MORE than you planted. You shall reap in a DIFFERENT season than when you planted. Growth takes time. I really use that verse for our family (growing kids God's way). Just don't give up; keep doing right, and wait on the Lord for the fruit.
This week I taught an "English" class in the high school here. It was Claudia's class of over 80 kids from 14-years-old to seniors. What an opportunity to share the Gospel! The teacher is a Moslem, who was very nice. He just gave me the whole hour, and of course, I took it. I did speak more French than English; I would speak slowly in English and then translate what I had said into French to make sure they understood. All the prophets prophesy of Who? Of course, Jesus. I said, "Pick a prophet, and I will tell you about him and the one he is presenting." The Moslems picked Abraham, and what a wonderful time it was to show them Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God, the only begotten of the Father, slain for you. They want me to come back, and we will do that after the vacation.
Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year! I am not much in a "Christmas spirit," just sort of "doing the day," but I do have some great books I am giving to some of our Moslem friends we have been witnessing to. I am trying to finish highlighting them and taking notes on them before I give them away. I know, you might think that is strange. The older I get, or the wiser I get, the more intentional I am in my child rearing. Leaders are readers. I want our kids to read and read—the Bible and great books.
Thank you for your faithful financial support. And thanks for praying for us and helping us in so many ways.
Servants of the Most High God,
Dan and Joan, Ruth, Hannah, Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther, and Gideon
Blog: www.cuthbertsons.org email: cuthbertsons@gmail.com
Sent from:
Evangel Baptist Church
16994 Telegraph Rd.
Taylor, MI 48180-5108
734-946-5680
Serving with:
Baptist World Mission
P.O. Box 2149
Decatur, AL 35602-2149
256-353-2221
Serving in:
01 BP 125, San Pédro 01
Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa
225-0783-8090
336-608-6833 (US #)
(Note: For those of you who might use our mailing address, please note that it has changed. Please update your records.)
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