Great Commission Encouragement

We had a great weekend at Calvary Baptist, Ruth’s sending church in Claremont, New Hampshire.  It started with the youth and ended with youth which encouraged us “seniors.”  We first connected with two classes of High Schoolers at Claremont Christian Academy.  A few of the students we knew but most were new friends.  Amazing how several had connections with Asia, others with Africa.  Friday night we recalled God’s faithfulness during a Ladies Night-Out.  Sunday School was a great time of thanking those who had partnered with us over the years and to share “don’t stop now,” as God’s work goes on and needs much prayer.  Sunday Worship began with a victorious march of children carrying huge flags of the nations the church is investing in through their missionaries.  The Ugandan flag moved us to tears.  One of the highlights for us was to meet a young couple just beginning their journey into cross-cultural missions heading to Africa.  

On our way back to Canada, we overnight-ed with Ruth’s niece, who along with her brother and his wife are teaching in a Christian School, actively and creatively sharing God’s truth with the next generation. We praise God there are others to “pass the baton” to as we trust God for more people to pray, give, and go.  

Just to make sure we are not finished yet, as we dropped our suitcases down at our home base in Sussex, NB, Ruth’s phone rang and we enjoyed a brief live greeting and update from our colleague Beth in Uganda. 

Closed Doors Are Still Penetrable by God

Skype and emails make Africa closer and recently helped me realize that indeed I left part of my heart in Uganda.  The past couple of weeks we’ve been able to chat and email with, know their daily schedule, and pray for two of our VOICE colleagues who spent more than two weeks in an East African island where over 99% of the people follow Islam.  God gave safety as they oversaw the finishing of an office building (thanks to a gift from a foundation) that will provide a ministry base for Scripture Union plus some income from the renting of several business kiosks. 

Picture sent to us of former slave market

We were fascinated to learn that the Anglican Church headquarters is located at the former slave market—who but God could do that? 

Even more encouraging was to hear that our colleagues connected with the Scripture Union volunteer from there who joined a VOICE training we helped conduct a couple of years ago. The volunteer remains optimistic that the growing volunteer base, once trained, can carefully and prayerfully roll out Biblical Values program in schools. That stretches our faith but we know nothing is impossible with God. Join us in prayer that indeed the light of Jesus may shine and accomplish God’s purpose and bring glory to the Savior.

Family Blessings

One of my (Ruth) sisters married a Canadian and God blessed them with five precious children. In past years, Laura and I have so enjoyed visiting them with their parents and were always amazed at how fast they grow up and how smart and capable each one was as they honed the gifts God gave to each.

As the years passed, all of them have married and now my sister and her husband have 21 precious grandchildren. As only God could do it, we were able to see all except one grand-nephew over the past five days and to be in the homes of four of them who live in Nova Scotia. Oh my, the hugs, kisses, squeezes, laughter, chatting, praying, and sheer enjoyment has been a blessing which cannot be measured…especially since I hadn’t seem some of them during the past six years. I was humbled to be prayed for by some of my nephews in law as well as by some of the children, to see our prayer cards on their fridges/bulletin boards, and have globes quickly brought out to find the Philippines and Uganda. Yes, cross-cultural overseas missions requires one to make the sacrifice of being far from family…but God knows how to more than make up for what one might feel was lost! We simply cannot out give Him! What a gracious God we serve.

The Rainbow of Affirmation

One of the projects on my (Ruth’s) “to do” list while I spent time in New Hampshire during the month of August was to purchase a car—I haven’t truly owned a car for several decades! I had done some searching on line while still in Canada and had narrowed the choices down to a Toyota Camry. One dealer who was almost right on our way back to Claremont, New Hampshire, seemed to have several choices, so Laura and I decided to stop on our way home. I told Laura that we would only look—we wouldn’t make any decisions!...famous last words! The 3^rd car we looked at really took my eye…not only did it have one owner and low mileage, it was also a bright blue color—my favorite! The price was slightly higher than I had decided upon, but, you guessed it—I ended up putting a down payment on it.

As we left there to cover the final hour and a half of driving to arrive in Claremont, I began to have second thoughts…did I rush too fast?, should I have waited for another one within my original budget? did the color overpower my common sense? As we drove into rain but still with sun around us, I casually looked for a rainbow. YES, in the rear-view mirror a huge and very clear bow was stretched from one end to the other! After finding a place to pull over, I snapped a picture! As I did, I sensed God telling me that with this rainbow of promise, He was affirming that He had chosen that car for me! A couple days later we returned with the needed documents, etc. and soon I was driving a beautiful blue Toyota off the lot still trying to truly comprehend that it belonged to me! What a wonderful God we serve!

It was too large for me to fit it into one picture!