Look What God is Doing

Showing our visiting missionary friends some of what God is doing in Koh Kong and introducing them to some of the Christians this week was delightful. They have traveled on now and we continue to pray for God’s leading in their lives. Thank you for praying.

Next week Tuesday afternoon (we are twelve hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time), Hubert is scheduled to have surgery on his toe. It will be done in Bangkok. Please pray for the medical staff, for our accommodations near the hospital, for our travels, for strength and healing from the Lord, for God to use us throughout the days we are there, and for God to be glorified in all.  

Praise God for cooler weather today. It was down to 72 outside this morning. I even put on a sweater to ride the motorcycle to the hospital. Miss L. joined me there for the day to serve the Lord. In a couple days more she will return to her medical studies in Phnom Penh. This truly is a beautiful place to live and work. We pray God would continue to build His church here.

“But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord…” Psalm 141:8

 

 

Opportunities

Praise God for a small group of new students that have asked Hubert to teach an evening English class for them. They plan to begin on Wednesday this week. The main one is a neighbor who lives a few houses down from us. Please continue to pray that these new students would be receptive to the gospel and follow Christ. Please pray that we would see more neighbors turn to Christ.

We thank God for the many opportunities He is giving to witness and to teach Bible lessons. It is amazing to watch God work. Pray for people to see their need of salvation and to accept the Lord.

This Friday we anticipate the arrival of a missionary couple doing a field survey. Pray for God’s leading and blessing in our time together with them. We are eager to show them the many avenues for serving the Lord here.

The church plans to vote on calling Mr. L. as their pastor soon. Pray for God to be glorified in His church here in Koh Kong and that the church would grow in the Lord. Pray that God would guard and guide Mr. L. Thank you for your faithfulness in intercession.

“…We recount your wondrous deeds” Psalm 75:1

 

 

 

Precious

After months of waiting and praying, we now have the renewed church permit! Praise God we were able to pick it up in the Religious Affairs Office in Phnom Penh last Friday. It is good for two years. Then the church will go through the renewal process again.

My mother was taken home to heaven on December 28, 2015. God was her faithful sustainer throughout her life. She was a great children’s Bible teacher and her love for people all around her was evident. She was 91 years old. God gave me a smooth trip to Michigan to be with my nine siblings for the events surrounding the funeral. I had time with so many precious people there, as well as interacted with many interesting travelers during my flights. Thank you for praying.

Please continue to pray for more students for Hubert’s English classes, and for God to guide as Hubert teaches. We desire that through these contacts, people would come to know Christ.

“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints.” Psalm 116:15

Mother

Thank you for praying for our health. God answered and we are fully recovered from the flu and colds.  

Last week we were in Bangkok, Thailand, and had a good time with our daughter who is visiting. We thank God for  Christmas here at home in Koh Kong. Praise to God for the Savior coming into the world to save sinners. The Christmas program on the 20th went well.

Sunday the 27th was a good day in worship, in the Word and in fellowship. Mrs. T was feeling better and back in church. After the worship service and Sunday School we went by motorcycles to the estuary and held a baptismal service. One young man was baptized. Praise God for this step in his life. Pray that he would continue to grow in the Lord.

We have been informed that the church permit renewal has been issued at the office in Phnom Penh. Hubert plans to go pick it up near the end of this week. Please pray that it will go smoothly and truly get completed. It has taken many months.

Tomorrow I plan to fly to the USA for a week to be with family. My mother is soon to enter her heavenly home. What a privilege to have a godly mother and give glory to God for what He has done through her life.

“A woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”  Proverb 31:30

 

Needing God's Strength

We are excited to have one of our daughters coming for Christmas, but right now Hubert has the flu and I have a head cold with a cough affecting my voice. Please pray that God would heal us quickly. Wednesday we are scheduled to go to Phnom Penh to pick up our daughter at the airport. Then next week we hope to travel with her to Bangkok. God has a purpose in all.

Please pray for Mrs. T. in our church. She is having health problems. She missed church last Sunday which is rare for her.

December 20 is the Christmas program at our church. Please pray for a good attendance and that God would work in hearts through it.

We are grateful to God for the advent programs you are having that exult the Lord.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  Isaiah 9:6

Christmastime

Celebrating the birth of Christ is a joyful time. We thank God for the three youth who came and decorated the house last Saturday.  They had fun and did a great job. They also decorated Christmas cookies that my noon English class students had cut out the day before. We had a full cast here for Christmas play practice on Sunday afternoon. Praise the Lord for that. Pray that the play and program on December 20 will go smoothly.

There is an American man living in Koh Kong that enjoys discussing religions with Hubert. Pray for God to work in his heart to see the truth of God. Please keep praying that we will be good instruments in God’s hands as He works in lives here in Koh Kong.

“For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods.” Psalm 95:3

 

Fellowship

Thanksgiving week was a great time of fellowship with many of God’s servants. Our guests early in the week enjoyed seeing a bit of Koh Kong and swimming in the Gulf of Thailand. On Wednesday our eleven hour bus trip from Koh Kong to Phnom Penh and on to the SE corner of Cambodia went smoothly. After the bountiful Thanksgiving Day meal we sang together and spoke of God’s blessings. About the same time the dark world around us burned candles in front of their houses in fear of spirits on the second night of the Cambodian water festival. Such a contrast.

Please continue to pray for Miss L. studying in medical school in Phnom Penh. God is using her to encourage other Christians from Koh Kong who are pursuing studies in the capital. She just moved to a different rented room. She will also become involved in a different church since the church plant closed that she was helping before.

This Saturday some of the youth from church plan to come decorate our house/church for Christmas. Please pray for good fellowship. Pray for God to use the church as a light to draw people to Himself.

“If we walk in the light…we have fellowship with one another…” 1 John 1:7