Friends came to visit

This is what happens when Ben gets left alone with the syrup bottle.

This is the son of my friend in Vridi that has Down's Syndrome.  He is Ben's age.

Parkwood team visiting with Bamba's group

We've been very blessed this week to have a visit from a team from Gastonia, NC.  Parkwood is a church that is very special to us and they have been faithful to send a volunteer team once a year since we arrived on the field.  They always bring us stuff we need from home and a real joy to have serving here with us for a week.  They inspire our nationals to work hard for the gospel.  They encourage us in a job that can get lonely.  We'll be taking them with us to Seidou's house for lunch tomorrow.  Many of you have been praying that Seidou's family will accept this gospel message.  Hopefully tomorrow will be another great time of sharing and Jesus being revealed by His work in our lives to our friends.

I've been visiting in a new neighborhood the last couple of weeks.  After the pastors' wives retreat, one of the ladies contacted me and asked me to come show her how I reach out to those of other faiths.  We've been visiting her friends, so that she can see what I do when I talk to people.  She is already faithful to share her faith, but she's been reticent to talk to those from certain faith backgrounds.  She is already becoming a dear friend.  If we lived closer, we'd probably be fast friends by now.  It takes me around an hour to get to her house, though, so right now I can only go once a week.

Things seem to be heating up more as the summer comes our way and I don't mean the temperatures.  Because of the prayers many of you pray on our behalf, God is bringing open doors to His message.  All of a sudden, Mike has more opportunities for speaking engagements than he knows what to do with.  Our team has been finding key people we are looking forward to a continued relationship and chances to further share the gospel.  We hope that we can keep up the momentum and began to see the results of God's work in our city. 

Our Caleb is about to head off on his summer schedule of spending time with other MK's.  He is so excited to reunite with old friends and have a chance to make new ones.  Throughout June and July he'll be spending time in three other countries.  He'll get to go to a couple of retreats while traveling around.

Karis has a ballet recital in a couple of weeks, so she's getting ready for that!  Ben is into everything all of the time, so no change there.


With love,
Heather