Beginning furlough

We thank God for a good trip back to the States and for family happily greeting us in Chicago and then in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They had lovingly prepared our duplex for us in Allendale, Michigan and we were able to move right in. God has abundantly provided all we need.  For cooler weather here, God has provided sweaters and slippers. It is taking some adjustment to life in America, especially the time change. We are enjoying the beauty of this land and the fellowship with God’s people here.

Last Sunday, the 19^th, Hubert baptized R. in Koh Kong. This Sunday, the 26^th, he had the privilege of baptizing four of his grandchildren, Gage, Kayla, David, and Katie Sherd, at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana. They gave clear testimonies of their salvation. In Reims, France, on the 19^th, our granddaughter Adrianna Teachout was baptized. We praise God for His grace to our children and grandchildren.

This week we will be working on sorting photos for telling the story of God’s working during the past four years. Hubert will be phoning churches to continue setting up our schedule. At the present our Sundays are nearly full through November. There are many other details involved with settling in. Thank you for praying. We desire to see God work and use us for His glory during our furlough ministry time.

“Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits”  Psalm 103:2

Travel

This is the week for traveling from Cambodia back to the USA for furlough. Please pray for safety, sleep on the plane, a smooth trip, and quick adjustment to the 11 hour time difference when we reach Michigan.

Our itinerary:

Monday morning June 20 leave Koh Kong via the hospital pick-up truck to the border.

Enter Thailand and take a van to Trat.

Catch a bus from Trat to Bangkok.

Spend Monday night and Tuesday with our Baptist Mid-Missions coworkers the Scotts.

Tuesday evening fly out of Bangkok, Thailand to Seoul, Korea.

Wednesday morning fly from Seoul to Chicago arriving about 15 hours later but still Wednesday morning the 22^nd.

Meet Hannah and Kevin and their six children in Chicago. This will be Hubert’s first time to meet three of these grandchildren, and it’s been four years since he saw the other three.            

Wednesday evening fly from Chicago to Grand Rapids, MI. It will be the first time for us to meet Joshua Broeckert, our grandson who is 11 months old.  

Begin visiting the rest of our family and churches, reporting what God has done.

Thank you God

As this four year term of service draws to a completion this week, we thank you God for the ways you have worked here in Koh Kong. Thank you for the people you have saved. Thank you for the growth of your church. Thank you for the joy of studying and teaching God’s Word with new believers and with some who have been saints for a longer time. Thank you for answering prayer for safety over rough roads and water. Thank you for the many who heard the gospel even if they have not yet yielded to Christ. Thank you for the radio programs that were aired teaching Your Word. Thank you for the Bible study books in Khmer that were made and used to teach Your people. Thank you for the people who came and worked with us during these four years. Thank you for the opportunities to serve people with their educational and medical needs. Thank you for L’s training to preach the Word. As he starts Sunday the 19^th to preach regularly at Koh Kong Baptist Church, please guide him, give him wisdom, and give him Your protection as he serves You.  Thank you for the plans that you have for Your people here in Koh Kong province for the days ahead. Please glorify Your name.  Amen.

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  Heb 13:15

God Answers Prayer

God delights to answer prayer. He has helped R. and she is now very excited about getting baptized. She asked if she could do it now. She doesn’t want to wait. But Sunday June 12 the church has planned a fellowship and farewell dinner after the morning service, so the baptismal service is scheduled for the 19^th. Usually we have gone in a boat out in the estuary. We tried having the service right at the edge of the estuary once but the drop off there is too dangerous and the tides are not always right for late morning. One other time we went to a stream with rapids about twenty minutes away but the slippery uneven rocky bottom was not safe. This time R. told us about a little lake about five minutes away where kids love to swim. I went with her to see it. In spite of the muddy road to reach it, the mountains beyond it and the big sky make a gorgeous setting. R. has told her family that she is following the Lord and they do not object. She is thanking God for that. She is praying for their salvation and is witnessing to them.

Thank you for praying for the new believer N. This past Sunday she made three trips on her motorcycle bringing people to church with her.  She is witnessing to others and rejoicing in her new life in Christ.

Please pray as our family in Michigan prepares our home for us. Pray for the individuals we will meet during furlough and for our meetings as we report to our churches what God has been doing here in Cambodia during the past four years.

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”  Matt 28:19, 20