While Dan and the rest of the family were celebrating the new year with a film, message, and prayer (that service went through midnight), Joseph and I were on a jet flying to North Carolina so that Joseph could start school at Ambassador Baptist College. We left 90-degree weather to hit the end of that cold spell in America. We were freezing and tired to be sure. Joseph is now a freshman in college and is doing very well. I returned home on January 20.
Oriel O'Gorman and his daughter Ruth came from Ireland for about three weeks in February. We enjoyed getting to know our new missionary friends. They left freezing temperatures in Ireland to arrive here during our hottest season! They suffered through like on a real safari trip. Oriel started right in teaching an evangelistic seminar in Sassandra, where Seth and Paige are, and preached that first Sunday.
Then on Monday, Dan, Matthew, and Oriel went on a 12-hour African road trip to our village works in the north. These trips are for preaching, evangelism, training, settling problems, and to “see more of the country.” They even saw a “sacred monkey” reserve; monkeys free in the wild and not hunted because they are believed to be someone’s ancestor. It was because of this trip that Matthew and Susanna might be feeling called to start a ministry there. This country remains wide open to the Gospel; the laborers are few. People are still in bondage to superstitions and falsehoods.
Oriel has great video equipment and came prepared to make videos of this ministry; their trip, preaching seminars, the school, and the church. We will soon be making those available to you. He also helped Matthew get some video for their presentation.
Meanwhile, Ruth, who was the main one wanting this trip, was able to practice her French and help teach the kids in our Saturday morning class, at church, and at the school. We even did an English tutorage class. Ruth and Esther made a great team, able to take care of classes by themselves.
Now we are into March. We have had our first two rains which have cut the heat and turned the dust into mud. We already had to use the 4WD going to church. I sometimes wonder if we need a small dirt-moving tractor for all of these new construction projects and road work that Dan does (and soon to be Seth, Nathan, and Matthew).
Our newest baby animal is another civet. We had just let our other one go in the jungle.
Nathan and Hannah Schrock arrive on April 3rd. We need preachers and teachers, and are so excited that they will soon be here to help.
Thank you for your continued prayers.
In His grip,
Dan and Joan,
With us now: Lydia, Esther, and Gideon; Matthew, Susanna, and Selah
