Valentine's Day 1996

Dear Friends,

GREETINGS FROM BRAZZAVILLE, CONGO!

Where there is only one runway. Your plane lands, turns around at the end, and comes back up the runway, while you hope whoever's landing next is paying attention. Green Toyota Corolla Taxis and overloaded trucks with bald tires swerve & sway to hit the smaller potholes. Women in colorful clothing carry water on their heads, and babies on their backs. Barefoot kids play soccer everywhere on the dirt streets. The train to Pointe Noire rattles by with people sitting & singing on top of the boxcars. Chickens meander through the yard scratching for bugs. Avocados & safu wake you up by falling on the tin roof at night. We have arrived safely at our new home! We are enjoying setting up house here as our formal language studies begin. The past few weeks have brought us through the Blizzard of '96 to a temperature of 96 (oh OK, actually 87, but that was another blizzard). Incredible changes, but we've enjoyed seeing God provide again & again!

WE HAVE MANY REASONS TO PRAISE GOD!

We are very thankful for the small army of friends in Erie who helped us get out the door (only 1 day late), and stayed afterwards to clean up the mess and plan a garage sale.
Our home in Erie sold the day before we were to leave town.
Our thrice delayed airline tickets came the day before we left Erie.
When we went to leave Erie, our car wouldn't start, which enabled us make the trip to Long Island together in our Congo Coach.
Several people came up to us after our commisioning at Grace Baptist Church and indicated that they were interested in full-time missions. Around 35 people came forward during an invitation to dedicate their lives to Christ during our commissioning service at Northport Baptist Church.
We got Becky's new passport and visa the second to last day before leaving New York.
Our pledged support went over 100% our last day in the US.
We made it to JFK airport on time, and when we drove up, there were 4 parking spots in front of the terminal, and 4 ticket agents ready to serve us with no lines (in NYC)!
All 40 pieces of luggage including suitcases, boxes, and medical supplies arrived and cleared customs duty free, without any major damage.
Sarah Speer, missionary nurse also with Global, was able to stay with us in Brazzaville during our first two weeks here, making the transition a lot easier for us by cooking, cleaning, and helping.

WE HAVE SEEN MANY ANSWERS TO PRAYER!

We are all healthy again, and well-rested. We've survived deputation, and enjoyed it! Plus, by God's Grace, we've made it to the Congo just 6 months and 18 days after completing residency!
We were warmly (pun intended) received at the Brazzaville airport by several missionary families who helped get us and our stuff through customs and home to bed!
We are getting along well with our helpers, Achille & Armand, who especially enjoy Olivia & Claire. They made sure that the house we're renting was clean, beds made, and not a thing stolen.
The 5-day strike of the government electricity workers scheduled to begin the day after we arrived ended after only one-half day without power.
Brother David was able to get our car to it's new owner in tip top shape.

WE DO HAVE SOME PRAYER REQUESTS...

That God will soften our hearts and show us how we can and should respond to the needs we are confronted with each day on the streets & at our door.

For a smooth transition into full-time language study.

That we all (especially Claire) will get into a healthy schedule with enough rest, time to study, adequate nutrition, family time, devotions and recreation.

That God will help us communicate adequately as we learn French & Lingala.

For wisdom in dividing daily roles and tasks.

For opportunities to present the Gospel & see people come to Christ.

For a continuous supply of running water.

AND A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT...

We believe that one of the reasons God brought us here to Brazzaville for language training, rather than France or Quebec, is so that we can minister to the missionaries and internationals who live & work here. These people are often under attack. They live without the security of medical care that they trust. When you feel you have no one you can call about your child's fever, or that pain in your side, minor problems can quickly become major actors in the theatre of the mind. The familiar thought of going back to that place you understand and where you are understood becomes even more appealing. As a result, assigments are cut short in search of medical care which we could provide while we're here (with your help and God's strength). These evacuations leave important jobs undone and ministry opportunities unfulfilled, as workers leave the field prematurely.

By working a few hours a week, as we study French full-time, we can help these people stay healthy, work efficiently, and feel more secure about living here. We can also offer counsel and comfort on those rare occassions when evacuation is neccessary. God's workers need to be encouraged! We praise God that He has sent us here for that purpose! We are excited about this real need that we can meet now, until we know Fren

Would you please pray for us as we establish rapport with the medical community, missionaries, internationals, and our Congolese brothers, sisters, and neighbors? Pray that we will be able to offer an excellent standard of care as we practice our skills. Pray that we will have the supplies when they're needed. Pray that God will use us to bring healing and revival to the missionaries, church leaders, and internationals in the Congo. Pray for the safe delivery of several infants this year (including ours).

In addition to prayer, perhaps you work in a medical field, and can provide us with some practical assitance. We are in the midst of setting up a combination exam/procedure/lab/LDRP/nursery/patient/ guest room in our new home where we hope to do checkups, sick visits, minor surgery, and low-risk deliveries. The enclosed list contains items we thought would be useful to send at this time. Used but still useable; and opened, but not used, is fine! If you intend to send us something, please contact us ahead of time to confirm shipping arrangements, or email Dr. Robert Wilson.

THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR PARTNERS IN THIS MINISTRY!

Remember, You may be God's answer to your own prayers!

Love,

Joe & Becky, Olivia, Claire & XY?

"Then He said to His [twelve] disciples, 'The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Pray the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field...'" (Matthew 9:37-8)

"...These twelve Jesus sent forth..." (Matthew 10:5a)

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