God is faithful

Thank you for praying for my mother. She is much improved and was able to take a drive with my sisters and I yesterday. God answered prayer.

Thank you for praying as Hubert traveled back to Cambodia. Everyone there is happy to see him back.  He met with several people his first days back and began work on the house. God blessed with a great service on Sunday. It is a joy to see God’s faithful ones, including one lady who was saved just before we left for furlough. Hubert is in the capital, Phnom Penh, for a few days now. He has many errands, including checking on getting more commentaries on Matthew printed. Pray for God to guide and protect in His work.

Sue and I will begin our travels tomorrow, the 25^th. Pray for God to work through us and make us a blessing as we meet with many people during our two week trip before arriving in Cambodia. Then we will need a couple days in Phnom Penh to meet Christians from Koh Kong who are presently studying there, and buy medicines and supplies for the medical team. Let’s watch how God will work.

“Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens; let thy glory be above all the earth! Ps 57:5

Flying

God was showing His strong and loving care again for us. Hubert got off smoothly this morning, even though we had not been notified that the flight left one hour ahead of the original schedule. It was great to have family with me at the airport to see him off. He should arrive in Koh Kong, Cambodia on Thursday. Please pray for God to do great things in the days and years ahead, that the Lord’s name may be glorified.

Please pray for my mother, Fran Hovingh, as she has been in the hospital for the past five days. She is being treated for infection and possibly a TIA (mini-stroke). Perhaps tomorrow she will be discharged to return to her assisted living home in Coopersville, Michigan. Pray for renewed strength for her. Pray for wisdom for those caring for her. I am very happy to be able to be near her at this time. She loves the Lord and His Word. God used her life teaching the Bible to children for many years at church and in Bible clubs. She is 87 years old.

 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

Packing

Praise God with us for two new individual supporters! That brings us to about 97%. Thank you for praying for this and watching God provide.

Fellowship with God’s people has been great as we have met with many different people this week. I have one more speaking engagement, on the 17^th right after Hubert flies out. God has clearly been helping us as we have presented His work. We thank God for people who are faithfully praying.

Please pray for our packing now. We thank God for family to help as we clear out our duplex and store furlough things. Suitcases are laid open in our basement half packed. Pray for the details to go smoothly with checking in at airports, handling the baggage, Hubert’s getting the bus from Bangkok to Cambodia next week, and his encouragement during the time he is painting and setting up the house. May God be glorified in all things.

“And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.” Psalm 107:22

Answers to Prayer

Celebrating the resurrection of Christ is a great joy this week! God demonstrated His great power! And He exercises that power in our lives for the glory of His name.

Praise God for answers to prayer:

n  God was working in the missions conference at Faith Baptist Bible College & Seminary. We were so aware of His help as we presented workshops. There were great interactions with students considering missions. Pray for God to guide each of them.

n  Sue and I have our visas. While at the missions conference in Iowa, we got an email with tracking information that they had been sent to Hubert and my home, instead of Sue’s house. Since we were not home to receive the FedEx delivery, we prayed extra for God to get them to us. What a neat opportunity to commit all things to the Lord and see Him care for us.

n  Permission was granted in Koh Kong for the May mobile medical clinics. The email just arrived this past week. Now we pray God will guide as to which towns we can minister in.

We love to see God respond to the requests of His children.

 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” Matt. 7:7

Baby Layettes

Before ministering in SE Asia, Hubert and I worked several years in Central African Republic (CAR) at Baptist Mid-Missions’ Ippy Hospital. The hospital was turned over to national medical evangelists who had received their training at the hospital. There is also a medical clinic in Bangassou, CAR, continuing the medical ministry.  These Central African Christians continue to care for patients, assist in delivering babies, do emergency surgery, and give forth the gospel. One thing which is helpful in encouraging women to come to the hospital for deliveries is giving them a layette for their new babies. The medical works in CAR are in need of more layettes. If you know of ladies’ groups in American churches who are interested in making layettes to send to CAR, please contact Dr. Rhodes at (269) 849-3255. They can also use rolled bandages. Pray for God to give wisdom and fruit in the harvest field of CAR.

Also please pray for Hubert and I at Faith Baptist Bible College missions’ conference this week in Ankeny, Iowa, presenting God’s work through medical missions. Pray for the Spirit of God to work in hearts in a great way. Thank you for your faithfulness in prayer with us.

“Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done…” Psalm 40:5

Preparations

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all ye lands!” Psalm 100:1

Praise God for using His people in just the right places and times. It is amazing to see. God used one of our church ladies’ groups to provide a complete set of Kids Play hand bells and accompanying materials for us to use with the youth and children in Cambodia. It will be exciting to work with the Cambodians to make a joyful noise unto the Lord. God also provided, through other friends, more medical supplies and instruments that I needed to take with me for the work in Cambodia.

Visa applications for my sister Sue and I to visit our youngest daughter are being processed in Chicago right now. Please keep praying for that to be completed smoothly. We look forward to having a few days with her on our way to Cambodia. We also plan to visit with our son Davar and family in Alberta for a couple days. Pray that God will make us a blessing each place He takes us.

Hubert and Thom are working on fixing up our duplex next to us here in Allendale. They are preparing it for new renters.

Please continue to pray that God would prepare us for the work He has for us in the coming term.

Schedule

Please be in prayer for God to prepare us and use us in the next two months.

Our schedule:

March 9  First Baptist Church Ladies’ Night Out, Alto, MI

March 12  Bible Club at the elementary School, Allendale, MI

March 16-24  Trip to Colorado Springs, CO, with Kevin and Hannah & family

March 26-30  Faith Baptist Bible College Missions Conference, Akney IA

April 10   Women’s Missionary Union, Good News Baptist Church, Grand Rapids, MI

April 17  Faith Baptist Church Ladies’ Tea, Muskegon, MI

April 17  Hubert flies back to Cambodia

April 25  Sue and I fly out

 “The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace.”  Psalm 29:11