MAY 19, 2000

Greetings from Chad. As the sun set the last few days the sky has been ablaze with many vivid hues of orange, red and violet created by many dark clouds that until now have only promised rain. Unfortunately as yet another hot and humid day draws to a close the ground remains parched rock hard, baked by the daily 40+ temperatures. As I write a lazy ceiling fan, kept going by our batteries that we are very thankful for, makes this 34C night much more bearable.

The beautiful colours in the evening remind us of God's handy work and care for us. As the sun sets on our first term we have many things to be thankful for… your prayers for us daily and in difficult times; regular financial support and also for special help in times of need; health in a country where minor things can become almost life threatening over night and good care is hard to find.

The parched ground reminds us of the land we are working in and the need for the everlasting water to quench the thirst of the many spiritually parched peoples. Please pray for outreach into new areas like the Salamat region where they are still untouched by the Gospel. Please pray as well for renewing and maturity in a very under nourished church. We are experiencing very difficult times as some key people in the church have been overcome by sin which has led to greed and corruption. In an effort to preserve cultural identity many confuse culture and the Christian walk, many of them consulting witch doctors and cultural leaders while refusing the guidance of the missionaries and God's word. This has brought tension to many areas of the work here in Chad and even the closing of one of our vital outreach areas. It has been very difficult helping friends and co-workers pack up and move from the ministries God called them to and is dear to their hearts. Pray for leaders that will stand on God's word bringing a cleansing rain to the church causing new growth in fertile hearts.

As the sun sets on the day one also anticipates the next day and makes plans accordingly. We too as our first term comes to an end look to the next step, "Home Assignment." This next step in our ministry will also be new ground for us. "Our Assignment should we accept it" (and we have) is to pass all medical and psychological testing thrown at us, renew old friendships, build new support relationships, rediscover old family ties and any new ones that might have developed, report to and maintain current team members, fit into a new/old culture, recruit new field players, upgrade our qualifications for more effective service, encourage the church in its involvement in the great commission and recharge our spiritual batteries. This is to be done in the space of one year.... oh yes and if there is some time left we may take some physical R&R as well. What does this mean... we hit the ground running ... our arrival date in Toronto is booked for Aug. 7th. In the ensuing 3 weeks, we must visit TEAM headquarters in Wheaton IL for debriefing and outlining of our home assignment, as well as visit most family members, our supporting churches, move back into 380 Louisa St, register the kids and Mom for school, and find out what happened in the 2 years that we have not listened to the news. Jessica will be in grade 3, Daniel in grade 5, Stephen in grade 7 and Kathryn will be enrolling at Heritage for the Christian Day School course in order to complete her teaching requirements. We are trusting the Lord to supply the financial needs required for this course. Paul may take some courses that would be helpful to the work in Chad as well as taking on the task of presenting the work in Chad and building new relationships, trusting the Lord to supply the $2000/mo that will be needed to return to Chad in summer 2001. Though we stay active with TEAM and your support continues to enable us, Paul may need a part time job until some new partners join with us. We look to the Lord as we seek to reimburse our vehicle account as it is still in the red due partially to repairs needed as a result of the survey trip to the Salamat and is normally covered by mileage costs but as it has not been running for some time this has not happened.

As one looks to the new day one often looks beyond as well. Thus we to look to our next term of service back here in Chad. We will be met with new challenges as the work here moves into new areas. Kathryn may be responsible for teaching a potential 15 children in 6 grades. Stephen will be moving into high school which will have its own set of challenges and some very difficult decisions.

We thank you once again for your faithful support and count on your continued support as we look forward to seeing many of you soon. Your prayers and sacrifices have made a difference here in Chad. The harvest is great and the workers are few so we continue to covet your prayers for strength to finish the task. Pray and rejoice with us as the Lord supplies our needs daily.