He has provided...Again!

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from River City! In our most recent update we asked you to pray that the LORD would provide for us "just the right place" to live. To those of you who have prayed for this - thank you! Our incredibly kind Father has heard and answered your prayers (and ours), in providing for us a wonderful place to live.

For both of us this seemed like a nearly impossible task. We were looking for something that we weren't at all sure even existed. We wanted to be back in the same neighborhood Ch@d lived in, but felt we would need more space than he had, and were committed to finding a place that (unlike Ch@d's old place) had a bathroom inside the flat (and on the same floor). God has led us to a place that we trust will not only be a place of refuge for us, but also a place where our local Weaver friends will feel welcome.

Recently, the two of us read Psalm 103 together, in which David exhorts his own soul to "forget not all his (the LORD's) benefits." It is a sad but true reality, that our hearts are easily distracted by the cares of this life. More often than we would like, we fail to be mindful of all the LORD's benefits to us. Part of the problem is that we simply fail to see things from God's perspective. We fail to see everything we have as something we have received as an undeserved gift from our generous God. Our Father's provision of this flat (apartment), in the same area Ch@d lived has been a good reminder for us not to forget all the LORD's benefits to us. We have been given so much more than we deserve!

We have been busy since arriving here in River City three weeks ago. We thank and praise God for good health, and safety as we have traveled around the city. Since arriving we have spent a good chunk of time out in the Hood together looking for a place to live. This provided not only opportunities for Ch@rity to meet some of Ch@d's old friends, but also for us to make some new friends as well. As we met with people we were able to tell some Bible stories and talk of our Savior. We are thankful for these opportunities the Lord provided for us.

The place we found is still being built. This means we will not be able to move in to it until sometime in December. We will continue to live with Steve & Ellen (for whose kind hospitality we are very grateful) until our place is ready for us. You can pray that the work would continue, and that we would be able to begin moving in within a month. You can pray also that God would cause our new place to be a place that we can retreat to as a refuge, that we would have sweet times of meeting with our Father there, and that God would cause it to be a place of light in a dark place.

You can pray that our Weaver friends would feel welcome in our home, and would sense the peace of Christ as they visit us. Pray also for our landlord who "just happens to be" the man who made all the vests for the groomsmen at our wedding!! He is a savvy business man but also seems to have a happy home and a well educated daughter who is in high school and has a little English. Ch@rity connected well with his wife when we met them in their home.

Ch@rity started language study a week after we arrived. She is enjoying meeting with her language helper, Shabana. Shabana used to meet with another worker in town. Together they read through a book of the New Test.. (Obviously that worker's language was much more advanced.) Shabana does not speak English, however Shabana and Ch@rity are getting along great together. Shabana is a junior high teacher in the morning and has a great sense of humor.

Ch@rity asked her to be more strict with pronunciation, the very next lesson she arrived to find a paddle on the table ready to go! Shabana's name means dew of heaven and she is an M. but her most priced possession is the book of Matthew (which was given to her by this other worker - who has since returned to Germany). Pray with us as Ch@rity prays for her and even has been able to talk with her about the power of Jesus which gives rest to the weary.

Today we head back to "Capital City" where Ch@rity will be attending "Stage 1 Language Camp," and both of us will be attending area team leader meetings. You can pray that Ch@rity would benefit much from Language Camp. Please also pray that God would grant to Ch@rity all the grace she needs to absorb this language quickly.

We are humbled by the privilege that is ours in living here among the Weaver People. We thank you for your partnership with us that makes it possible.

Mindful of his benefits to us,

Ch@d & Ch@rity