Traveling

What a blessing to meet with so many special people as we have been traveling. In Tampa, Florida, we visited the church where Hubert got saved back in 1967. The pastor who led him to the Lord continued to faithfully minister in that church until he was called home to heaven one year ago. Some of the same people are still in the church and there are new folks also. They read our prayer letters and faithfully pray for us.

After a great time in Houston, Texas, we drove to Shreveport, Louisiana, and had a too brief but very special time with my aunt and uncle and cousins. It has been many years since I had seen those cousins. We exchanged stories of seeing God work and we prayed together.

Throughout this trip God encouraged us through many wonderful people in churches and homes, through sermons we heard, through our recalling and reporting what God has done in Cambodia, through questions people asked about future goals, through music, and as always through His Word. Please pray that God will use our words and lives, working in hearts as His people seek to follow His will for their lives. Some people we talked to are considering what God wants for them in missions.

In Cambodia, it is the time of a big fall holiday, lasting several days. Please pray for the Christians at this time as they take a stand for Christ and refuse to participate in Buddhist ceremonies. May God use them as lights in the darkness.

“…That ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”  1 Peter 2:9

People and Places

As we drove through the wooded mountains of West Virginia and Virginia I kept praising God for His gorgeous handiwork. September is a beautiful time to gaze on the green forests rising up steeply all around with touches of color here and there. The valleys with brooks and towns nestled below were beautiful also. God has been blessing as we visit friends and churches this week in West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. We appreciate meeting with so many Christians who are praying specifically for people and needs in Cambodia and watching God answer. Please pray for safety and God’s blessings as we continue this trip south. We plan to arrive back home in Michigan on September 27. 
 

Please keep praying for the Christians in Koh Kong, Cambodia. Tuen the deacon in our church, and his family need the Lord’s blessing on their farm and on their ministries in the church. Lalin needs God’s guidance as he preaches and teaches.  Nat is presently in the capital for studies and needs to get involved in a good church there. Lekana is working on getting into university in Phnom Penh. Her father just lost his job in Koh Kong and her sister has health problems. They need salvation. Thank you for praying and watching God work.

“…Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.”  Zech. 4:6

Further Schedule

Some time ago we shared with you our speaking schedule through September. The following is our schedule from October 2011 through March 2012. We plan to return to Cambodia in April 2012.

Oct. 2  Holt Baptist Church, Lansing, MI
Oct. 15-17  First Baptist Church, Alto, MI missionary conference
Oct. 23  Napier Parkview Baptist Church, Benton Harbor, MI
Nov. 4-6  First Baptist Church, Rochester Hills, MI, missionary Christmas
Nov. 8  Wealthy Park Baptist Church Women's Missionary Fellowship (Mary)
Nov. 13  Calvary Baptist Church, Wabash, IN
Nov. 20  Maranatha Baptist Church, Flint, MI
Nov. 27  Colonial Hills Baptist Church, Indianapolis, IN
Dec. 4    Freeport Baptist Church, Freeport, MI
Dec. 11  Faith Baptist Church, Muskegon, MI
Jan. 8    Liberty Baptist, Reed City, MI
Feb. 5  Bailey Road Baptist,
Feb. 19  Chippewa Hills Baptist, Remus, MI
Feb. 26  First Baptist Church, Kiel, WI
March 26-30  Faith Baptist Bible College missions conference - workshop

Thank you for praying and watching God answer.

 "Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Psalm 141:2

Prayer and Praise

It was great to talk by phone to some of the Christians in Cambodia again this week. Praise God for L. and N. now in Phnom Penh, the capital, to continue their studies. However the church in Koh Kong really misses them and their service to the Lord in the ministries at Koh Kong. Pray for the Cambodian believers to keep growing in the Lord. Pray for God to save others through their witness. Pray for their protection as the bird flu is again popping up in Cambodia.

God continues to bless in our meetings in our churches here in the States, as we share what God has been doing in Cambodia during the past term. September 8-27 we are planning a trip south as far as Florida and then over to Texas to speak in churches in five states and meet several friends who pray for us. Please pray for the preparations for the trip and God’s blessings in the meetings. Pray for safety in travel and God’s guidance. We appreciate your laboring together with us by prayer. We have a great God.

“Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name” Ps. 96:8

Furlough Ministries

God was blessing in the Vacation Bible School at our home church, Grand Valley Baptist Church, this past week. It was fun working together with our church family. Praise God that five little neighbor girls who live by us went. Pray that my neighbor, C., mother of three of the girls, will study the Bible with me and will accept Christ. Pray that God will help me in teaching her.

God is working in our meetings in our churches as well as our visits with individuals who pray for us. We see God answering prayer and helping us encourage others in the work of the Lord, particularly in missions. It is great to hear how God is working in others’ lives.

Hubert has begun a big project to replace the front windows and front siding on our duplex. Please pray that the timing and that the work will go smoothly. We are not sure if the main work will happen before or after our three week trip to churches down south in September.

One morning last week my time with my mother at the assisted living home where she lives was a special joy. We looked at my scrapbook of Cambodia ministry photos, sang together, and prayed together. This week there are several family gatherings scheduled when my sister Joan and her husband arrive from California for a few days.

Thank you for praying and watching God work.

“Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.”  Psalm 96:3

Connecting

We are being blessed by the fellowship in our churches here in the States and encouraged by God’s Word and God’s people. God truly is good to us. It is great to connect with people who are praying and watching God’s working in Koh Kong.

 News from the field is that Mr. L. is continuing to preach and teach in the church (Koh Kong Baptist Church). Shut-ins are being visited by God’s people from the church, and children’s Bible classes are ongoing. Please pray for N., who accepted the Lord in May in Koh Kong, that she would study the Word of God. It is hard for her to come to church with her 10 month old baby since there is no nursery. Pray for Miss L. as she seeks God’s will concerning which university to attend and what course of study to pursue. It may be influenced by where she can find a scholarship. We know God has a special plan for her.

Recently we were having trouble with our cell phone here in Michigan. Today God answered prayer to help us get phone service again, but with a different server. This means we have a new phone number—different than on our prayer letter which went out last week. You can reach us by email or by commenting on this blog.

We had a good time with our children and grandchildren vacationing last week. The weather and waves were just right. God was with us and blessing. Thank you for praying for us.

“It will also come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear.”  Is 65:24

Family

Grandchildren are wonderful. Their laughter delights us. They pick wild flowers for us. They notice the mushrooms and butterflies when we walk. They are learning to know more about God and His Word and how to walk with Him just as we also continue to learn. These days of caring for Adrianna, Caleb, and Josiah has been a treasured time. Their parents, Jonathan and Cherith Teachout, plan to return from their quick trip back to France tomorrow with the paperwork they needed. Thank you for praying.

Next week we are anticipating Kevin and Hannah and family, Jonathan and Cherith and family, and Hans and Thuy and family joining Hubert and I in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula for a few days family vacation. We desire to be an encouragement to each other and bring glory to God in all. Davar and Shauntelle and girls, in Alberta, Canada, will not be able to join us because Davar recently began a new job in the oil industry. We hope we can Skype Hadessah studying language in Asia.

We appreciate the faithful prayers of many for our family through the years. God has been so gracious to us.