This week we had a special treat…. a visit from long-time friends. The timing was perfect as the boys were on school vacation so there was no need to rush, do the school pick-ups, work through homework, etc. There was just a lot of fun & games as well as some great conversations.

But before they arrived on Monday, let me quickly tell you about Sunday.

God Cares

Last Sunday was rather unique. Just about everyone in the church family was sick and/or hospitalized so we found ourselves alone for service. We took advantage of the opportunity to do something more in a Sunday School format and be a blessing to our absentees!

We looked at several verses that talk about prayer and the power of God to heal the sick. We get the privilege, as Christians, of upholding the sick in prayer… presenting them to a prayer hearing and a prayer answering God. We then made a craft for each individual: These hanging ornaments told them, on one side, that we were praying for them and on the other, had one of the verses that we’d discussed.

Jeanne is a good friend of one of the ladies at church. She has not been well for some time and we pray for her weekly at the request of her friend. Even though she’s never been to our church yet, she got one as well.

Another couple, who is not typically available outside of service times has, since receiving theirs, asked that we come pray with them. We’ll do that later today.

Fudge’s Fun & Games

As I mentioned above… the kids were on vacation this week. It was so nice to not have to work our heads around train strikes and how to get Dominic to Poitiers. This week they start week 2 of their Easter break.

Randy & Carolyne Fudge were host parents to Liz back in the early 1990’s when she was an exchange student in the USA for a year. They always kept in touch and when we married, Carolyne was Liz’s matron of honor. They’ve been missionaries in various African countries and, most recently, working with inner city kids in Dublin Ireland (Liz & Timo went to see them back in July). Given their extensive experience working with kids… they’re as much fun as a barrel of monkeys!

The kids enjoyed lots of games (Sorry, Uno Attack, Spot it and Switch) and we got to have some great conversations about ministry as well.

They are on the end of their foreign ministry service and will retire this summer. This lends itself to a natural tendency to look back and try to evaluate what you’ve accomplished. We do it as well, but here’s the thing about ministry… the results aren’t always as visible as we’d like them to be.

Ministry is about planting seed, watering and sometimes pulling weeds… trusting God for the growth. So we do what is in our power to do and leave to God that which is in only his power to accomplish.

1 Corinthians 15.58 applies to each of us, as believers, but I’ve often used it to encourage those in a missions’ context….

“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”

Since we became involved in missions first hand, we too have leaned on this verse for assurance and re-assurance.

The time and effort that you and I invest in the kingdom of God has eternal value…. it will outlive us. We can invest time & talent into many things…. but not all will have the same value… let us invest ourselves in those areas that will outlive us.

Thank you…

… for once again lending me your eyes and your attention. Thank you for your prayers and support… it makes a world of difference! Let all that you read, inform your prayers for us and for France.