13 September 2007

Transitional State

Greetings from Luanshya.


As I write this note I am preparing to go to South Africa for a medical check-up from my cancer surgery in 2005. There is no problem that I know, but this routine check-up every six months is to make sure there are no “surprises” on the horizon. I appreciate your prayers. Sherry will be staying here with work on her calendar. My trip is a quick down and back. I leave this afternoon and return Thursday afternoon.


Sunday was a marvellous day! After the service Kunda, a young lady who has just finished high school and is waiting for a place in university (another story) came to Sherry and said she was convicted by the message. I had preached about loving the world enough to sacrificially give to present the message of the Lord Jesus Christ to them. She said she had sat “long enough” and now wanted to serve in the church. Sherry had tears in her eyes as Kunda repeated her words. Please pray for Kunda as she begins her service to the Lord.


Often we talk about the “transitional state” of our town. People come to church, hear about Jesus Christ’s love for them, receive Him as their Lord and Saviour, then move away because there is no work to be found in Luanshya. Such is the case with two of the men in the English congregation. Both are highly qualified and educated. Neither can find decent work anywhere near Luanshya. They have asked us to pray for them. They either need work close or they will be forced to relocate to areas where work has been offered. Please join me in praying for them.


The film series continues in the subject of the end times. The group is getting larger and more questions are being asked about being “Left Behind.” One pressing question is “will people have a chance to repent if they are left behind?” My comment is – and has always been – why would you want to wait and take that chance? The seed is being planted. Please pray that fruit may abound!


We are often asked about our lives and are their “special requests” that we have. Sometimes things “pop up” without notice and we just have to deal with them. Yesterday, for example, the water stopped at the house. The overhead tank went dry. No warning… the water just stopped. In some parts of the world you can just call the water company and tell them to send their work crew over and fix the problem. When the water you get comes from a well there is less of a chance of “fixing it” quickly. We called the technician who said it might be one or more of several problems. He said he would come tomorrow (today) and see what he could see. Now comes the point of the story. We know that people are praying because (1) the crew DID come this morning, (2) the problem did not involve replacing a lot of expensive parts and (3) it was fixed in a matter of minutes instead of the expected matter of days. An underground hose had come disconnected and the technician simply put it back together!


As you can see, your prayers are deeply appreciated. Even before we can tell you about the problems they are sometimes solved. What greater evidence of your faithfulness in prayer is there? Thank you in advance for your continued prayers!


Together in His Service,
Patrick & Sherry