Well, we're down to a few moments before it's time to leave the US. The past few days of sorting and packing have been uncomfortable, to say the least. You'd think I had enough practice <g> Your praying has been felt in these difficult times, and we remain ever so grateful. I'm afraid of *what* life would be like apart from your faithful intercession, so please continue. Let me tell you the difference you've made, and then let me give you some specifics for this week. I'll be offline soon and hope to be back online within a week.

Last week...

* Well, it was time to pack up the house and put things in storage for some time. You asked God to give us wisdom and discernment on how to do this. Ask Him, too, to prevent us from getting on each other's nerves... Jasmine was going to spend half the day with her maternal grandmother for her birthday but would up spending the whole day with her, which gave me *lots* of time to sort and pack. Thank you : -) Also, there were several times this past week when I didn't know how it would all fit or if I'd even make it through the ordeal of packing. Each time I was reminded that 'there are people praying for you' and I was okay : -)

* Jasmine's birthday was last week, and she celebrated it several times and in different ways. You prayed that she have a pleasant experience and that those around her would experience a second birth... we had a celebration the day before her birthday, but no one made a commitment to follow Jesus; she spent her birthday with her maternal grandmother, who chose not to follow Him; we spent the day after her birthday with fellow believers and enjoyed sweet togetherness.

* My mother-in-law's birthday was last week, and we were in the US especially for that event. She is as lost as a white goose in a snowstorm wearing tennis shoes, so pray that she would be drawn to Jesus as we share Him with her this week. She has resisted our words ever since her daughter (my wife) gave her life to Jesus in 1984, but we realize that Mom is *powerless* against your intercession. There aren't a lot of folks beating down the door to share the gospel with her anyway, so I don't know if she'll get to hear it again. "Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God," Romans 10:17... continue praying, especially for someone else to water the seeds that have been planted.

* We met with prospective volunteers and asked you to join us in asking God that we would give them what they needed from us... we believe He did that, and we thank you for such specific intercession.

This week...

* Our plane departs this week, and we sure could use your intercession *now* for connected flights and luggage to arrive the same time/place we do : -)

* Pray that we adjust quickly to the change in time (and place).

* Ask God to prepare our hearts for what we'll see, knowing we won't be staying long.

* Pray that our preparation for our next assignment will go well, especially in the area of housing. We thought we would have a few months to pack up, bring closure to relationships, and find housing and then learned that the place where we had just moved is being sold. Does 'stress' have one 's' or two <g>? Things would be different if we were moving to a similar location; however, we're talking about moving household belongings (maybe even in wooden crates) across borders where neither side trusts the other. What a time to trust God, eh?

"Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests..."

Love and grace,

Scott

PS - You may have received your first postal newsletter from us, so we hope it's finding its way either on your refrigerator or with your Quiet Time materials. be sure to email me with new/changed addresses and/or send a note to the Ramoth address on the newsletter. {Thanks again, Doris Ann!}

PPS - I don't remember if I ever mentioned the answer to "America's Favorite Bible Verse" as discovered by one of George Barna's surveys. Most of us would think John 3:16 or something along those lines until we realize how unchurched 'Christian' America has become. Anyway, America's favorite verse is "God helps those who help themselves." (sigh)