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We are considering whether I (Mary) should return to the states for a period of time to raise support. We need 59 supporters who can contribute $20 @ month (or 12 @$100 or any variant!). Jas 4:15 “ For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that.” |
Over the holidays, one of the Middle School students was “chatting” with a relative via the computer. The relative does not know Christ; the parents don’t attend church. During their conversation the relative asked “what makes a person a Christian?” The student used the four principles that Mary had taught him in one of the recent chapels. Please pray for the relative and praise the Lord for the student using what he had been taught. 2Ti 2:2 "And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” |
Please continue to pray for the chapel services this spring semester. Please pray that Mary will be sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit and will speak only and completely what God wants the students to hear. 1Ti 4:11 “These things command and teach.” |
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We are praising the Lord for a calm and peaceful holiday season. 2Th 3:16 “ Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all.” |
Please pray for a new translation team on our island. Under the current arrangement, they immediately went to their allocated area and began learning the national language. Almost immediately they became ill with malaria. The wife had to be hospitalized as she is pregnant with the couple’s first child. Please pray for them. A recent email asked for prayer that they would not suffer discouragement, loneliness and they would cope with the acute culture shock which is becoming more and more acute. Gal 6:2 “ Bear ye one another's burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.” |
Please pray for Mary. She has been placed on three rather important committees and found herself selected as the chairman of two. An important meeting is coming up on January 27. Please cover that meeting with prayer, for clarity of vision and unity of purpose. 1Co 14:40 “ Let all things be done decently and in order.” |
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We are rejoicing in the recently announced engagement of a fellow teacher. This teacher began at Hillcrest the same year we arrived. The wedding will take place back in the US. Pro 18:22 “Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD.” |
Mike begins the school year on January 18. Because the “regular” Bible teacher is returning to Papua next week, Mike won’t be teaching the Bible courses anymore. He will be teaching more students individually. Please pray for that so the students will learn more of Christ through interaction with Mike. Col 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” |
During the next two weeks, many of our colleagues will be flying back to Papua. This is a major travel time. Please ask for safety in their travels and smoothness as they transverse international borders. Job 34:21 “For his eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings.” |
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Please continue to pray for Tim, a colleague who recently has undergone cancer treatments. He appears to be cancer-free but will be closely monitored for another three months. The family is tentatively planning to return to Papua in August. Psa 42:11 “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.” |
Please pray for our oldest daughter. Two major things happened to her the week before Christmas. The first was that her job was down-sized and she is now looking for work. The second is that she loaned her car to her sister and there was an accident. We are waiting for an estimate and insurance paper-work, but we expect it to be “totalled.” The bottom-line, Beth has no transportation. Please pray for Beth as she deals with these two calamities. Job 34:23 “For he will not lay upon man more than right; that he should enter into judgment with God.” |
We are praising God for some wonderful news from our youngest daughter. We had been expecting her to undergo maxilo-facial surgery to correct a jaw problem. However, she has had braces correcting her problem. The orthodontist has been seeing significant improvement and has decided that she will not need the corrective surgery after all. Mat 6:34 “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” |
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Please pray for Wes, a former teacher here, who became quite ill right after Thanksgiving Day. He was hospitalized for a number of weeks and then received IV antibiotics while at home. He is making a recovery now. There is more improvement needed before returning to work. 3Jn 1:2 “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” |
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We are praising God that our youngest daughter was spared in her recent collision with a semi-tractor trailer truck. She hit a patch of ice and slid into the truck and then into the median. No person was hurt in that accident. The truck had minimal damage but our oldest daughter’s car (and therefore the oldest daughter) was significantly damaged. Psa 5:12 “ For thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass him as with a shield.” |