Our bags are packed...

We have suitcases filling up our entryway. Our flight for Quito leaves around 2:00 this afternoon.

The pastor's wives retreat this past week-end went really well. Thank you for your prayers. We had 31 ladies attend. Because of all the rains and flooding we have had here on the coast, the roads between here and Santo Domingo were really a mess. At the last minute it was decided that Chris Tignor would take Lois and I in his truck instead of Tony driving our car. It was a good decision as we came to a few places that the car would have never been able to get through.

Our services yesterday went really well. We had 70 in Sunday School and 90 in the church service. Please pray for the congregation here in Manta, as they step up and take responsibility for the work, in our absence. Pray for Celcila, as she keeps the Children's classes running smoothly. She as committed to making sure everyone has the copies and any other supplies they need. Also to make sure there is a snack for the children each week. Pray for the ladies that have committed to work with the children for this semester. Celcila and Maria Jose are teaching the younger children, Aday and Janneth are teaching our older children's class. We have several teams that are rotating each month for our Children's church time.

Also pray for Zonia, Melenea, Wilda, Lupe and Consuelo as they take turns teaching the Ladies Sunday School class. Pray for Wilda as she organizes activities for the Ladies. Pray also for the men in the church as they lead the Men's class, the morning service, preach, and just take care of the day to day things. There is such an opportunity for growth on the part of the people here in the church during these months, but as you know there is also an opportunity for Satan to sow discord. So many of the people in our church are new believers.

Please pray for us as we travel today and tomorrow. Our first Mission's Conference starts this Wednesday night at our Home Church in Flint, Michigan. Pray too, that the Lord would go before us and prepare the hearts to be ready to participate in our building project. When we look at the amount of money we need to raise for construction, it just seems like an impossibility, but we know that with God nothing is impossible! What a blessing it has been to see Him work these past months and supply exactly what has been needed each step of the way.

Thank you for your prayers for our family and the work here in Manta!
God Bless,
Joy