Early Februrary
We would like to talk about our great kids if you don’t mind. Well, even if you do…. First, there’s our daughter Susan. She is very special. She is such a spiritual conductor of God’s love and power. She has, as some of you already know, a great ministry as one of the Principals at The F’burg Christian School in F’burg. Her teachers are led by her incredible strength as a spiritual leader. Her FCS children are blessed because of her love and devotion. Believe me, she’s no pushover! She’s tough - but very loving. She has the gift of helping them to see what they did wrong and how it affects their relationship with God. She’s really a wonderful person and we’re so thankful for her. Susan is married to Russ (he’s great) as you know and he has the gift of service. He is one of the Mount’s terrific sound people. He’s very appreciated by the Creative Ministry and we are very proud of him. Susan has given us two wonderful grandchildren - Russell and Christina. Russell is married to Sara (an Aussie) and lives in Miami. Christina lives in Farmington, New Mexico and doing quite well on her own. We send her SCONE MIXES to keep her going! She loves it. So far away!
Susan and Russ will be coming over to see us - just not sure exactly when yet. They love it here - - who wouldn’t, I ask you!
Then there’s our son, Rich. He has been a delight to us. A bright student, gifted athlete, great husband and father, sought after architect, and our favorite son (our only one by the way). He has accepted a leadership role in his church in California. He led a mission trip to Nigeria, Africa and now has been asked to serve as an Elder Advisor. For several years he has been involved in a Friday morning Bible study with a few other men in his church and led by one of the Pastors. I would encourage you to pray for him in his new leadership role. Rich is married to Lisa (a great mom). They have given us two wonderful granddaughters (Aislinn (10) and Sydney (5). They live in Sunnyvale, CA (right adjacent to Silicon Valley). Pray that he will continue to use his business to bring God glory. Pray that he continues to grow as a husband and father. Pray that God wll continue to bless him. He is planning to bring his family to see us this summer. It will be good to see him and to show him the England that we have come to love.
Please keep them all in your prayers. They are a source of joy to us, a great comfort and encouragement to us as we follow God’s leading.
We also ask, in behalf of our church here, to pray for the following:
SALVATION: John Hammond, Stan & Joyce Adams, John Dahlman
ILLNESS: Joyce Dunscomb, Barbara Paine, Joan Brown, Broj Barua, Ron Chisolm, Ivy Ingram, Beryl James, and
Pat Williams
CHURCH MEMBERSHIP: Brian Davis
The Christian community of Great Britain will be involved in an outreach program called HOPE ‘08′. Our church has decided to participate and to undertake some mission activities in order to share our faith. Pray that we will take every opportunity to reach our community for Christ. Henley Baptist is a caring, loving fellowship. They love to meet and eat and sing and eat and fellowship and eat. The church needs to see how important it is to reach this community with the gospel. Many people in this town feel that if they are a member of a church then they are going to heaven. We are praying for a God sent revival that will spread to other churches and communities. Join us in this prayer.
Nadine and I visited a couple of cities earlier this month. We went to Cheltenham and Gloucester. We visited the Gloucester Cathedral. Construction began in 1089. Even before that there has been a place of worship on the site since 740 AD. We also walked around the historic docks and marvelled at the new construction of businesses and apartments, all dockside. We even walked to the town center of Cheltenham. Coming back from Gloucester toward our hotel, I got so confused and turned around that it took us about 45 minutes to find our hotel. Ususally, I am pretty good with directions and finding my own way around places. But this time, I was lost - big time. Sort of reminds me of Isaiah who described humanity as lost sheep who cannot find their way. Here in the UK so many people are lost like sheep and have little hope of finding their way out of the maze of sin’s blindness. This country needs your prayers. The evil one has truly blinded the minds of those who cannot find their way.
Please keep Nadine and me in your prayers. We want to glorify God. We want people to see Jesus through our lives and love. We want to make a great impact for Christ in this community - and - with your love and your prayers, there is no limit to what God can do here! Thanks to all of you for your love and prayers, emails and cards…..
Until next time,
Dick
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NADINE’S CORNER
Hello everyone,
Sorry that it has taken so long to get this blog out to you. We’ve both been struggling with terrible allergies since we’ve been back. Also, the Doctor gave Dick some pills to help him sleep, however, he said that Dick could not lay down during the day, not even for a 30-minute nap and believe me…..IT’S BEEN TOUGH! Us old people need our naps every day don’t you know??? Dick reminds me of a big, sad, red-eyed basset hound most days! I have to keep us moving!! And that’s no small task! Of course he says that everytime we go out to get fresh air, etc., it costs him money!!! Can you believe that? We also have started going to bed at the same time every night and that is really making a difference. We are able to sleep much better since we’ve begun the regimen. We try to be in bed by 10:00 every night. Boy - sure puts a cramp in our style - know what I mean?? No more midnight rendezvous - no more burning the midnight oil - no more partying until midnight. Bummer. (Believe me, it hasn’t been hard to give it up - mainly because we are never able to stay up that long anyway!) We’re just getting old, I guess. But hey!!! God is using us in spite of all this nonsense - so I guess we’ll just be thankful that He’s found a use for us and be jolly glad that we are still able to serve Him. What do you think??
It’s so awesome - knowing that we are “unofficially” serving Him as Missionaries in this wonderful place. Everyone should have it so hard!
Two nights ago, England had an earthquake and people in Henley felt the tremors about 1:00AM (it was 5.2 on the scale) and that was the main topic during our Coffee/Tea time on Wed. morning. I didn’t even know that England had them - and sure enough, it seems that they actually have over 200 every year! Sheesh! Well, I gotta tell ya’, it did NOT wake us up! We were really snoozin’. And most people said that their beds shook! Hmmm - good thing the house wasn’t falling down around us! We thought we got away from that sort of thing when we left Calif.
I will be speaking several times this year at Ladies fellowships, both in our church and a neighboring church. Dick also speaks at them occasionally. I love studying for them. I get the biggest blessing of all just from doing all the research reading and scripture searching. I’m so thrilled that the Lord feels I’m worthy to be His ambassador.
Again, we’re sorry that this particular blog is so late, but wanted to get it out to you anyway. We love you all and thank you for your prayerful support. We’re always thrilled to hear from you. Our special thanks to Kim for her little love note. The women here still talk about the team that came over for the conference!
Will give you a few more village/town names for your enjoyment:
Pucklechurch
Goose Green
Minchinhampton
Bury St. Edmunds
Ipswich
Abergavenny
Upper & Lower Piddle
Wooten-Wawen
Lane Ends
Tutbury
Froghall
Will send more next time. Aren’t they great?
Love you all,
Nadine
