Seeing that we started this blog near the end of our furlough, I wanted to take a few blog posts to mention some of the highlights from our time back in the States.
Shortly after returning to the States we were at one of our amazing supporting churches in Keystone Heights, FL for a Sunday morning service. This is a church that I first visited when working at the Trinity Youth Camp almost thirteen years ago. The people have always been so sweet to us, and the pastor and his wife are some of the most encouraging people God ever put on the earth.
The children of the church had just finished their VBS the week before we arrived, and they were singing that morning in the service. Those cute little kids had adopted us as their missionary of the week for VBS and wanted to present us a check of $500 for the ministry in Togo! When the pastor handed me that very generous check from the kids, he also gave me a church love offering. It was another $500!
The people listened attentively as I spoke about the many ways that the Lord is working in Togo, specifically our first village church plant where many have turned from practicing voodoo to the One and True God. They were so easy to preach to as I explained to them about the necessity of taking the gospel to those that have never heard before.
When I finished, we went to the lobby and waited to greet the members as they left. Before ending the service, the pastor encouraged his people to contribute personally that morning to the ministry in Togo and contribute they did. So many kind people would come by with $20 handshakes that it makes you feel embarrassed to be on the receiving end of so much generosity. One couple gave me a check that I quietly put into my pocket and thanked them for their kindness. When I looked at the check later I was amazed; it was for $1000! Wow!
When we were packing up our stuff to leave, a man in the church said that he wanted to go to his house to get me something before I leave. I told him no problem, we had lunch plans with the pastor, but we had enough time to wait around for him to go home and come back. Well, we were out in the parking lot, with the kids buckled up in our van and the AC on when he returned with his wife.
It was at this point that he handed me a wad of cash that looked like his life’s savings. I was more than hesitant to take such a large sum of cash, knowing that sometimes people can decide to do something in the spur of the moment that they might question later. He told me to take it and assured me that he believed whole-heartedly that this is what the Lord wanted him to do. That one generous couple gave $8,400 for the ministry in Togo! Wow! How amazing is our great God?
AMAZING!!! I am so happy for you guys with how The Lord is blessing the ministry in Togo. He is using you in a mighty way. Keep a servant’s heart.
Praise the Lord! He takes care of His own…
WOW, GOD is so good.
I agree, WOW! We are having a wonderful time in Ca. And the weather has been in the low to mid 50′s during the day.
We have made a few day trips and I even dipped my feet in the Pacific Ocean.
Tomorrow is Jana’s surgery date.
Live to you both, Judy
So glad you’re enjoying your time in CA! I’m sure the weather is a nice change
We’ll be in prayer for Jana’s surgery tomorrow; keep in touch! Love, Heidi
Wow! I love hearing these stories and I am so proud of all that you guys have accomplished over there and how God has been using you and His people to make things happen. Love you all.
I was so excited to hear of God’s extreme goodness to you…praise The Lord.
Well we have been in California for 2 full weeks today and are enjoying the spring-like weather and constant sunshine…I am soaking up all the sun I can!
Jana’s hand surgery went well but the surgeon found too much damage inside of her hand when he went in and was disappointed he could not do the repair he wanted to do. One of the 5 bones across the back of her hand was fractured and the articulation was cut off and the bone died. It has caused the other 4 bones to shift so all he was able to do was put the 4 bones back in place and shorten up the wrist. As a result she will have less movement with her dominant hand…don’t know what that will mean for her nursing profession, but I know God does and will show her what to do.
We go back to the surgeon on Thurs. for him to remove the big splint and put on a smaller splint. She had a lot of pain the first 2 days but today is a better day even though her hand is swollen and black and blue.
John’s sister and her hubby from Arizona are coming in on Friday for a visit and it will be fun to see them again.
Two trials since being here: I dropped John’ very expensive camera on the cement driveway getting out of the car and shattered the lens. Then yesterday I set my U.S. cellphone on a shelf in a Barnes and Noble bookstore and did not notice it was missing until I got home in the p.m. I called the store and, yes, someone found it and brought it up to the counter right away…today John went to pick it up and guess what…can’t find my cellphone so someone on the staff must have stolen it. I am beginning to think I am too old to be out of the house,ha!
We have 2 more weeks to go and hope I won’t have more adventures to tell you about!
Love, Judy
Today is Friday and I hope you are both enjoying your hubby’s sister and husband in for a visit!
Sorry to hear about Jan’s hand surgery not going as well as hoped. I pray she’ll be able to continue in her nursing profession if the Lord wills. I am sure that you both are such an encouragement and help to her right now and imagine she’s forever grateful.
How disheartening for you to have had the two trials with the camera dropping and then cell phone stolen – as if one wasn’t enough
I’m hoping the camera “showed back up” at Barnes and Noble.
I hope the weather is just beautiful for you for the remaining couple weeks you have in CA! Enjoy this time together and away from cold Québec
Love,
Heidi