Greetings from frigid Michigan... Yu stap gut? (How are you?)
(Picture to right of all current staff of MAPANG, can't wait to meet them)
A challenging month for me.... lots of health issues,
nothing too serious but enough to slow me down and make me appreciate feeling
good and having access to good medical facilities. Little concerned with a fall that has
resulted in strong shoulder pain, appointment with orthopedic doc this week
hoping it's nothing serious but sure does hurt:)
We have begun wrestling with the thought of leaving our
families, especially grandchildren. Mia,
who is six, was over a few weeks ago and our prayer cards had just
arrived. She was reading it and said
"what does serving in Papa New guinea (is that like pig) mean"? Found ourselves trying to explain to her what
God has asked us to do, she wanted to know how we knew, did God call or send us
a letter? Why do we have to go? Dayton, who is 2 1/2 cried the last time I left:( and our new grandson arrives in May. It's so hard to leave those you love so much
but when you know in your heart this is Gods' will, how can one disobey? We will continue to embrace all the time we
have until our departure, concentrating on the positives!
Have you ever found yourself thinking... "what
difference can one person make"? I
know I heard that from a number of volunteers who came over to Zambia, Haiti
and Sierra Leone. The poverty and health
struggles are so overwhelming, what difference could I make? I have a story for you...
During our last few months in Sierra Leone we hosted a few friends from
Michigan. Nick ,who has been our dearest
friend for years, and his friend Amy (we didn't really know Amy). Nick, who had been on a few mission trips
prior, kept talking about how much Amy
wanted to go on a mission trip so we said sure, her husband couldn't travel but
she and Nick decided to visit. Amy was a
joy to watch, everything so new, heartbreaking, touching and eye opening. David arranged for us to spend time at an
orphanage/foster home in Waterloo. We
met Frank, who had been following his dream to get kids off the streets, a few months
earlier. Like so many orphanages/foster
homes in third world countries they were struggling to feed and clothe the kids
on a daily basis. Amy and Nick literally
fell in love with these kids, during their five days visiting we spent time doing crafts, teaching knitting,
bible stories and plays. It was a great
time of playing with the kids, showering them with little gifts, helping obtain
food and just getting to know them and love them. But as we all know, trips end and when we
took them to the airport it was with heavy hearts.
But God didn't let Amy or Nick forget those kids, he kept
working on their hearts and they kept in contact with Frank. Within a few months they were gathering food
and clothing to ship to Sierra Leone in barrels. Since that point they have shared their love
with many others in their lives and soon... people they had spoke to raised money to send barrels of food and clothing, to provide
sponsorship to school for all the children and funds to build
a church for the people in that area which is mostly Muslim. To date... the church is almost finished but
services are happening and a number of locals have converted to
Christianity. The children are all in
school, have food each day, bedding and they know how much they are loved by
God and others. Amy talks to Frank
weekly and he sends updates and pictures of how all the kids are doing. Amy and Nick are praying they can return this
year to visit their new family.
Do you remember me talking about Janet and Thomas, the
children who lived in our backyard with their grandmother? Amy and Nick have become their sponsors and
they are now able to attend school and are taking English lessons. Frank travels from Waterloo to Newton and makes sure
they have food and clothing... our God is so mighty!! He works in so many different ways and we are
so blessed to watch his works unfold. God
knows the plans he has for us and what a delight to watch those unfold in our
lives and in others. Can you believe... what a difference one or
two people made?? How God places
people in just the right place to fulfill his perfect plan??? We all aren't called to help in the same
ways but we each can make a difference through prayers, giving or going!
It's been an interesting month as we have been reaching out
to begin our church and home to talk to those who may desire to partner with us
through prayer and finances. We have a
number of church visits set up the next few months, so hopefully we may see you
soon! Please feel free to give us a call or drop an email and let us know if
you would like us to come and visit your church. Thank you so much for your
continued prayers and for those who have reached out to us with encouragement
and financial support. We are so blessed
to have you all in our lives, without you this wouldn't be possible.
Love the devotional
"Jesus Calling", the
other day when I was feeling low about my health and leaving family the
following reading jumped out at me "My peace is the treasure of treasures: the
pearl of great price. It is an
exquisitely costly gift, both for the Giver and the receiver. I purchased this Peace for you with My
blood. You receive this gift by trusting
me in the midst of life's storms. If you
have the world's peace-everything going your way-you don't seek My unfathomable
Peace. Thank Me when things do not go
your way, because spiritual blessings come wrapped in trials. Adverse circumstances are normal in a fallen
world. Expect them each day. Rejoice in the face of hardship, for I have
overcome the world."
Tenkyu (thank you) and blessings,
David and Beth
To donate by
mail:
Donate On line:
Wycliffe
Associates
www.wycliffeassociates.org
PO Box
620143
Click Donate Now upper
right cornerOrlando, FL 32862 Enter our name in Search box on the left
Our ministry number # M10731 Follow instructions on screen
