Nearing the Georgia border on our way back to Siberia via Florida, we passed some small peach groves, marveling at how seemingly insignificant and ugly the small and crooked trees were in contrast to the beautiful stately ones bordering the groves. We noted that all the tips of the branches without leaves or fruit were aimed toward the sky. These groves have a very wise “husbandman”. The purpose of these trees is not to look good but to BEAR ABUNDANT FRUIT. God has used our last 2 years in Evansville to do heavy pruning and fertilizing in our lives, that as we return to our beloved Sakha; all the branches of our hearts are pointing upward toward heaven, asking God to fill our branches with His fruit in due season.
A number have commented that the journey we are on is filled with much peril. May we suggest that while virtually every aspect of our journey and life in the “Black Hole” is perilous, we believe that there is only one perilous place on the planet: any time, place, or circumstance when out of fear; we place ourselves outside of the will of our Father. When we totally surrender to His will: ready and willing to go anywhere, any time, under any circumstance, God covers us in a divine protective shield of supernatural love, peace, strength, courage, and faith in and for the work. He ALONE is the Sovereign One, and no one touches His servants unescorted.
Family, please rest knowing we gladly return to the Black Hole not fearing mans’ or nature’s threats. Our Father continues to “set a table before us in the presence of our enemies” (Ps. 23:5). Trusting God’s faithfulness to meet our many physical and financial needs; we do have a specific prayer concern. We bring the precious gospel treasure as weak, broken, and unworthy vessels (2 Cor. 4:7). Please pray that the words of our mouths, meditations of our hearts, daily countenance of our faces, and fruit of our hands would accurately reflect Jesus to our Sakha tribe (Phil 1:20). We go now as your hands and feet to minister as emissaries of New Bethel. We are deeply honored to be your missionaries. We desire to live worthy of this high calling.
Though alone there, we know your hearts and prayers are with us. For that we are so grateful. We go with the new church directory photos on disk, and will print them as a collage, laminate it, and put it on the wall by our bed to pray for you, and to remind us that we represent more than Jesus. We represent you, our home church, and many across America, whose faithfulness makes Siberian Mission possible.
We express our deepest gratitude for how you as a corporate body and as many individuals have continued to love on us in so many practical ways. In a dark and trying time, you have been a refreshing oasis of love. We pray that in some small way we have reciprocated and been a blessing to you all. Whether soon or in the distant future, God returns us to Indiana or takes us to His glorious home from Siberia, our relationship with you will continue to grow and a blessed reunion is inevitable.
With sincere gratitude from your branch office in Siberia,
Dr. Mike and Diane Meagher
1 John 3:16 |
