John was told to expect taxes for release to be around $1200-1600. Pastor Frank stayed behind in Haiti to ensure the release after John returned to MS. He called the beginning of this week and said that they quoted him $6750 but Pastor was able to get the cost down to $2730 + some miscellaneous fees totaling about $3000 in all. This is twice what we expected but then half of what they initially stated so we are grateful!!!
We are happy to say that after the week of ups and downs with that, we got another call today & the truck was released and is now in Camp Coq!
Praise the LORD!!!
We would like to ask you to continue to pray with us about a couple of other things, as well.
The next pressing need is for a water well. John talked with several people about the possibility of hiring a crew to dig a well in Camp Coq for the Mission House so that there would be clean water and the last estimated quote he received was $10,012. We know that costs could, however, vary depending on drill conditions. We also know that this is a whole lot of money and we are continuing to pray that the money will be provided to make this possible so that we have safe water. If you feel led, please pray for this, as well.
The next pressing need is for a water well. John talked with several people about the possibility of hiring a crew to dig a well in Camp Coq for the Mission House so that there would be clean water and the last estimated quote he received was $10,012. We know that costs could, however, vary depending on drill conditions. We also know that this is a whole lot of money and we are continuing to pray that the money will be provided to make this possible so that we have safe water. If you feel led, please pray for this, as well.
Please also pray for our family as we are experiencing more and more attacks from the enemy the closer it gets to our departure time. We never expected our prep time to be easy but we continue be amazed (not in a good way) at how things around us appear to be getting worse as time goes on. We have become really guarded and are treading lightly to discern who is trustworthy and who proves to be otherwise. We've lost great respect for some and we've had to separate ourselves all together from others.
While our hearts are SCREAMING "enough already" we know who holds our future days, our future hours, our future minutes. We will keep our faith in the ONE who has already claimed the victory for His glory, not ours.
Oswald Chambers said this in My Utmost for His Highest:
"If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a number of experiences that are not meant for you personally at all. They are designed to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what takes place in the lives of others.
The sufferings of Christ were not those of ordinary people. He suffered "according to the will of God" (1 Peter 4:19), having a different point of view of suffering from ours. It is only through our relationship with Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. When it comes to suffering, it is part of our Christian culture to want to know God's purpose beforehand. People have sought to carry out God's orders through a shortcut of their own.
Are we prepared for God to stamp out our personal ambitions? Are we prepared for God to destroy our individual decisions by supernaturally transforming them? It will mean not knowing why God is taking us that way, because knowing would make us spiritually proud.
We never realize at the time what God is putting us through-we go through it more or less without understanding. Then suddenly we come to a place of enlightenment, and realize-"God has strengthened me and I didn't even know it!"
If the will of God means a hard and difficult time for you, go through it. God chose the test for Abraham, and Abraham neither delayed nor protested, but steadily obeyed.
...by going through the trial you learn to know God better. God is working in us to reach His highest goals until His purpose and our purpose become one."
Oh, how we want to be submissive to His plans. When we are tempted to pull back, we are learning to press in even harder. We do not consider your prayers a small gift but a HUGE gift and part of the very reason we are able to keep going every single day! PLEASE keep offering them up!!!
We trust that God is most definitely drawing us closer to Him with each passing day but we also admit that the human relationship betrayals and disappointments sure do hurt.
A sweet couple sent us a card this past week that was very encouraging in the midst of where we are right now. It was based on Psalm 40:3 that says, "He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord." In the card they referenced a devotional they read saying, "You are going to sing this song-the song of thanksgiving, comfort, glory and victory. As you sing it others will be caught up in it and they too will sing and you will be filling the world with song. May God bless you in this great and wonderful venture for Christ."
"WE ARE HARD PRESSED ON EVERY SIDE, BUT NOT CRUSHED; PERPLEXED BUT NOT IN DESPAIR; PERSECUTED, BUT NOT ABANDONED; STRUCK DOWN BUT NOT DESTROYED."
2 Corinthians 4:8-9
No comments:
Post a Comment