It's time to get used to writing 2019! Wouldn't it be wonderful if THIS is the year our Lord Jesus will come and take us all Home to be with him!
We were blessed to have Jodi and Jason and their four kids here in this area for Christmas and New Years. (I guess we can't call their oldest, Jaalah, a "kid" anymore! She had her 21st birthday recently!) It was hard to not be able to have David and his sons join us, nor could we get over to Florida to see them. We hope to visit them in February. Please keep praying for them.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Lexie (19) flies back to Michigan for her second semester at EBI (Ethnos Bible Inst.) The following day Jason, Jodi, Maya (16) and Dylan (9) leave for Indonesia. Then on Tuesday (15th) Jaalah flies back to Alabama to continue her third year at Samford University. Please pray for safety for everyone traveling. (I guess I'm the only one not going anywhere!) Here are some pictures taken over the last three weeks:
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L - R: Jaalah, Lexie, Jodi, Jason, Dylan, Maya, and us!
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Some of us about to enjoy Christmas dinner. (Thankful my parents could come even though Dad wasn't feeling well at all.)
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Dylan giving Papa Bill a big hug!
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And Grandma Jeanne, too!
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Barrie also leaves tomorrow --- for a ten day trip to Malaysia. He says, "We (as a leadership team) are exploring ways to develop a centrally located missionary training center for nationals from countries in S. E. Asia in order to equip them to serve in places we could not enter. At the same time we are purposefully impacting where we are finding open doors by means of “gateway” peoples. Pray for us as many of us meet together in Malaysia to discuss, strategize and seek God's wisdom and direction in these endeavors."
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Very recently we were blessed to learn about continued growth and expansion among our dear Lauje believers in Indonesia. You will be thrilled to hear that the Lauje church has grown to over 4,000, made up of five main churches and 35 outreach groups meeting together. Ninety Lauje were baptized over the Christmas period. All praise to the Lord for His marvels! Wow! When I think back to those most difficult early days, and the day when the very first ever Lauje man understood and believed the Gospel, we stand amazed at all the Lord has done! Continue to pray for the Lauje church. Hopefully this year the literacy program will be revised and new literacy campaigns implemented.
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A group of Lauje believers in a remote area meeting together to celebrate the Lord's birth. (The man wearing glasses is the very first Lauje believer.)
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We appreciate your prayers for my (Cherri's) dad. We THANK God that the result of his recent test shows no stomach or colon cancer! Please pray that the cause of his continued nausea and weight loss will come to light and be able to be treated. His aortic valve is worsening, causing much short of breath. Dad meets with the cardiologist on Tuesday to discuss the timing and method of his aortic valve replacement. Pray that will be successful.
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Thank you so much for your prayers! As each of us well know, life on this earth has its stresses, trials and challenges. Without the Lord, we know we couldn't handle it all. Christ alone is our strength for each day. Let's remember this in this new year: "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is Your faithfulness!" Lam. 3:22, 23 (ESV)
Love,
Barrie and Cherri
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USA: Ethnos360; 312 W. First St.; Sanford, FL 32771
CANADA: Ethnos Canada; 313363 Hwy 6S; Durham ON, N0G 1R0
UK: NTM UK; North Cotes, Lincolnshire; DN36 5XU
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