G’day Praying Partners:
I need to start this update by apologizing for the fact that this is
our first one since December! I honestly don’t know how in the world we managed
to go this long without updating you. We often tell people that we need to know
HOW to pray if we’re going to pray effectively, and I know that’s true for you
as well! There wasn’t a lot to report, so I’m sure that’s why it somehow fell
through the cracks. As you know, our summer ends in February, so we do scale
things back – especially with school in recess. However, school was officially
back on as of the first week in February, so life has returned to some “normalcy”
for us!
Rob is back at the school as chaplain. He truly enjoys his time there
and feels honoured to be God’s hands and feet to the students, staff and
parents. Jackie will be resuming her “grandparenting” program next week with a
new girl – please be in prayer as we continue to minister at the school. We are
incredibly thankful for the wonderful relationship God has given us with the
school – it is an incredible blessing that helps us to minister in meaningful
ways, but also benefits the church as well since that is where we meet every
Sunday. One of the new ministries we are planning is to provide “welcome”
packages to refugees whose children attend the school. It will include
practical items as well as information about the church, tract and small Bible.
The principal is happy to give them to families and tell them it’s from a local
church. We’re praying this will give us open doors to new people arriving in
our community.
Prayer meeting has started back up – all of the people that come said
how much they missed getting together and sharing requests and praying for one
another. Rob is using the opportunity to delve deeper into the message that was
preached on Sunday as well, so it has been a great time of application of God’s
Word.
Jackie is meeting on Friday mornings with the wife of our newest
Brazilian family to teach her English. It has been an incredible blessing to
help her out in practical ways. One of the ways she teaches her is to go over
the lesson that was taught in children’s church (she has a four and one year
old so sits in children’s church and lends a hand since she can’t understand
the service). Jackie is laying a biblical foundation that will prayerfully lead
to the opportunity to discuss Christ.
Our niece is trying to obtain a visa to come to Australia to complete
her internship for college in graphic design. Please pray that Cassidy would be
able to get her visa. We would love to have her here for her summer – it would
be a blessing to us personally but also to the church as we could use her
knowledge to put together flyers, banners, etc.
Our Easter outreach is approaching quickly! It’s scheduled for the
first Sunday in April. Please pray as we put together plans. Our prayer is
always that God would be glorified by the sharing of the gospel to people who
don’t know Him.
Jackie is looking forward to a visit from a friend in the States. She
and Patti have been friends since they were 13! Patti will be arriving, with
her daughter, on March 5 and be staying with us for a week. We are looking
forward to showing her this beautiful country we call home! Please pray for
safety for their visit.
As I was having my quiet time in January, God brought this verse to my
attention: “And they glorified God in (because of) me.” Gal. 1:24. What an
incredible statement Paul was making! What a goal for each of us to have! My
prayer for 2017 is that people would glorify God because of my life. Never do I
want my life to be about me – but that it would always point people to Him. I
pray that you, too, would use your life to point others to Him!!
Shining the Light Down Under,
Rob and Jackie
