Blog-Fog

Ok, I'm not a blog pro...but you would think I could at least get the web address correct for those interested enough to come online to read the letter!

Well, by now you have it and you are reading this and all confusion (Blog-Fog) is cleared up! Praise the Lord!

As I sit here at this very late hour, rain falling gently on the roof, and softly against the windows....I should be sleeping soundly in my new warm comfy bed, but after work today and all that is going on, I found myself a "tad" hyper.

I'll try to begin back in July (like I can remember yesterday anymore!). Well, after our return from Florida in July we played the bounce back and forth game....what should we do now (with the next year or so, of our lives!)?

We decided to try to build a little home (buying is too expensive here for what you get), and Allan feels that he can do it just the way he did 20-30 years ago (pray for him, please!!). After weeks of getting prices together and looking for affordable property, we finally started the foundation about a week ago.

Maybe by Christmas (Lord willing), we can at least be close enough to move in. I'll be happy if it's far enough so that he can work inside and not out in 20 degree weather!

I was hired at the Ionia Memorial Hospital to work per diem. I'm in orientation and can stay there until I feel comfortable with the new paper work, equipment, etc.....I think that'll be a couple of months or five! Once I go off orientation, there is no guarantee of being called in to work ( from what I see, though, it is very likely that I will have as many shifts as I can handle).

Since I had been away from the hospital for about three years, I was a bit nervous, but it all came back (with much prayer, of course!). God is sooooo good, all the time, isn't He?

Ian (one of my twin grandsons) and I went prayer-walking around Portland. We walked for about half a day and had lunch together. He kept me in 'stitches' all through lunch. He could really be a comedian!! We had a wonderful time laughing, talking, and praying for the city.

I think most of you have heard about our friends in China who are being kept under scrutiny by the PSB. The prayer-walking and Bible study team we formed, The Joshua Team, are having to be very careful. One of my friends had told us that during a Bible study that Mr. W.W. (Chinese) had prepared some English lessons to pass out to the team "In case we need them". Please pray for them as often as you can, because the persecution and consequences for being a Christan there can be imprisonment, beating, death, children, family members disappearing without a trace, and loss of jobs, education opportunities cut off,etc.. People just disappear and often no one even questions it for fear of their own life.

We know of a situation during our time there, of a co-laborer and his wife, who had reached many in their city; only to have over one hundred people arrested and a little girl ( about three) taken from her parents. No one knew where they took her or anything about what happened to any of them. The couple who had been working there had their visa cancelled and could not go back into the country.

These are some of the things I could not tell you while we were there because the mail and phones are monitored and you just can't risk it. We know that God has it all, don't we?!

We usually get about fifty e-mails every day or two. We try to answer them as much as possible. If we are away from the computer (which is often), we may have 70 or 80 to sift through. Hopefully, if you write (and I hope you do!), I will answer as soon as possible, because your letters are truly important to both of us. We love hearing the news...all the way from Turkey, Taiwan, Thailand, China, Hong Kong, Florida, Texas, North Carolina, New Mexico, Virginia, Tenneessee, South America, and even Michigan! Thank You All!!!!!!!

When God promises a hundred-fold blessing...He delivers! We are so blessed to have so many brothers and sisters around the globe, and that God has allowed us to be part of their ministry in a personal way.

Speaking of ministry....I always loved WCIF radio in Melbourne and I knew I would miss it terribly, and I do, but God blesses us with such good gifts every day...I found 99.7 Family Life Radio, and what a station it is! I love it so much...and you know that I have six Christian stations locked in on my car radio!! Six at least. I am so thrilled with that. Even though I am not sure "Michigan is my cup of tea", there are many good things about it.

I have a lot of quiet time this next couple of days.....Allan, Jim, Ryan, Ian, and Zane, all went camping (and they happened to choose a week that will be very, very cold). I think in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan tonight it will be in the low fifties! I hope they went prepared!

I mentioned my new soft bed early in my letter....well, we left Lora and Jim's "cottage" and rented a small (very) house until we get the house finished. Well, for three nights I slept on the floor....we had an air mattress, but I kept rolling off onto the floor, so the second night I just stayed there. They delivered the bed after three days and when the alarm went off, I just did not want to get up at five a.m.! (but I did, of course).

Allan got us hooked up with DSL today before they went camping/bear hunting. See, now I can do my newsletter at home without going over to Lora's to use her service............so much better!

Sunday night at the First Baptist Church in Portland, we were blessed with the opportunity of opening the month-long missons conference with our presentation of our trip to East Asia. It was a real blessing to all of us. We are hoping to be able to get some short-term trips planned for some small groups...we don't know when or where yet, so please pray for us about that.


We will continue to keep you all in or prayers. Stay strong IN Him. Be strong. Be of good courage, the Lord is with you! We love you and pray for you.

Ok, now, it's 0130 and I am finally ready to try to sleep. The thunder is rolling out there and I love to lie in bed and listen to it and talk with my Father and worship Him in the early morning hours.

In His Love for His Glory!
sue and allan