"Happy Easter" seems very inadequate. Hallelujah—what a Savior! Risen and alive today; the ultimate proof that Jesus was who He said He was: God in the flesh. Wow! I have been enjoying worshiping God here in our own culture. The San Pedro and surrounding churches got together for a four-day Easter conference with a parade, lots of music, and great preaching—in the heat. Praise God for them and Nathan Schrock preaching and helping to lead the church.
March: The church school continues to limp a little. The week we were leaving, I went to teach my class and saw that the classrooms were extra full. Why? One of our teachers was in jail!! Crazy for sure—a scammer in action. He had stolen the identity papers of a real teacher and had physically assumed the other’s role as a teacher. This had happened at least five years ago. (We hired him in good faith—misplaced as it was.) And now, the law had finally caught up with him. Keep praying for us to have discernment in this world and not to grow hardhearted. I once heard a quote, "The day you get hardhearted is the time to leave the ministry."
We left the extreme heat of San Pedro on March 18 to Abidjan. Our flight was on March 19 to Kenya (we have now kissed the heat goodbye—I did need a break), and we were able to spend time with the Rains family and visit the Bible college where they minister. It was fun to pet the giraffes and get back to the airport for our flight at 11:30 p.m. to NYC and then to Charlotte on the 21st. Thank God that all the luggage also came through in fine shape.
We have been in America for five weeks and are accomplishing what we are here to do: Be still and KNOW that I am God. At noon on the 22nd, Lydia, Esther, and I attended a beautiful baby shower for Isaiah and Alyssa’s baby at Grace Baptist Church.
That evening was a birthday party for Joseph turning 21. Part of our purpose in these first months is to be helpful to our college boys as they finish the semester. Josiah is graduating in May.
We spent March 28–31 in Pennsylvania, visiting some of Dan’s family for our nephew’s wedding. The trip was absolutely worth it!
Back in NC, we welcomed Jason Roy into the world on Saturday, April 5. Seriously, praise the Lord and thank you for all the prayers; this was indeed the easiest, smoothest delivery of a first baby that I have EVER done. All praise to Jesus. Just to say, this was a two-hour labor and delivery from start to finish; I almost did not make it—glory to God for this new life.
Witnessing in America is a new kind of challenge. I’ve been thinking through some ideas—like canvassing a parking lot with tracts, visiting Dollar General down the street, or reaching out in the neighborhood around our “home” church here. And now a new thought has been stirring in my heart: What makes a street preacher? Is it witnessing to strangers on a street corner? Or using the computer to preach Jesus in love? Jesus had compassion—He saw the multitudes as sheep without a shepherd. That same compassion is what we want to guide us.
Thank you for your prayers! Please continue to pray for us as we continue to travel across America and for the work that continues in Côte d’Ivoire.
In His grip,
Dan and Joan, Lydia, Esther and Gideon
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