Dear Family and Friends,
Seeing our lives through eyes of faith, we survey our loving Father’s constant watch care. He loved on us through a supporting church in Buffalo, NY, and we left NY Tues. morning, Aug. 14. Since then we visited faithful friends in Bernville, PA, McLean, VA, Greenville, SC, St. Simon’s Island, and Ashburn, GA, Cocoa Beach, and Orlando. Mike has given a Sunday message each Sunday since our US arrival, with blessed fellowship and mutual encouragement for all.
Our Father gifted us with more guardian angels Sat. as we drove to Florida. As we left St. Simon’s Island and drove south on I-95, we smelled strong gas fumes inside our newly donated car, and Mike took Exit #3 just north of the FL border. We prayed for God’s protection as we looked for a place to help us with what was obviously a serious fuel leak. The mechanic, at a local auto repair shop, put our car on the rack and quickly pointed to a fuel hose burned through on a hot exhaust pipe spewing fuel. During the wait for a new hose to be delivered and during the repairs, Mike and Donnie (the mechanic) had a great time reminiscing about their Navy years and Mike gawked over Donnie’s 1969 truck restoration project. We also shared with the staff our work in Siberia. When the repairs were complete, we asked for the bill: he said, “No charge and God bless you.” Again our Lord watched over us with His marvelous grace!
We arrived in Cocoa Beach Saturday evening and had dinner with my mom. Tuesday we rested up and hosted some friends for dinner, then Wednesday morning, I went to my dentist’s appointment in Melbourne, FL. He removed decay on one of the teeth that held the bridge and told me that he was going to have to put in a new bridge. The decay was very close to the nerve of the tooth. I have another 2 ½ hour appointment Tuesday, August 28, to put in a new bridge. It really was a blessing that the bridge did come out because decay had started in the tooth. We are so grateful for Dr. Stockton’s ministry to us. We were so disappointed to have to leave Siberia after only five months, but now we see that God was protecting me!
We are currently in Orlando till Friday, and visit with two of our children, and our four grandchildren in Cocoa Beach on Saturday. We’ll attend church with good friends at 1st Baptist, Merritt Island this Sunday and have lunch with them after the service. Mike will spend time on Thurs. with friend and former professor/academic advisor from Reformed Theological Seminary, Dr. Steve Brown (KeyLife Network), have lunch with a former RTS classmate, and then we’ll spend the night with Mike’s mom. On our journey back to Evansville, we’ll enjoy time with friends and churches in Mississippi and Tennessee. We look very much forward to reuniting with our beloved home-church family at New Bethel SBC the 1st week of September.
Mike as begun the daunting task of gathering the many supplies we must take back to Siberia in November. We’re giving partial lists of these supplies to those who have offered to help gather them. We are so grateful to those who are sharing this load with us. In the next week or so, we’ll post a new Siberian Mission budget to the website. This budget will reflect our anticipated needs through April 2008.
We ask that you continue to lift us in prayer for wisdom, direction, and provision. Pray too, as we prepare our full report of activities in Russia this year and go through the hundreds of pictures and many hours of digital video to make a concise presentation of the activities and ministry that the LORD has allowed us to experience. Many blessings to all of you as you continue We are available 24/7 to chat and our receive messages at: we2cold@yahoo.com
Diane’s cell: 240 315-3319…Mike’s cell: 240 876-7573
With our deepest gratitude and love in Christ,
Diane & Michael |
