|
Dear Friends, This comes to you all the way from LA, California, where I am hanging out right now, waiting for my daughter Lycia to complete this nursing assignment, so that I can help her to drive back to Atlanta next week. I am so thankful for the privilege of having this time with her - last week Brendon was with us too, before beginning his summer job as a counselor at Camp All America with Perimeter Church in Atlanta. Lionel and Stephanie saw us just after I returned to the States, so these past few weeks have been a good time of reconnecting with the kids (while Johan still remains in Chile). The past few months were hectic in Osorno, and when I left the house was 95% packed up, meals were in the freezer for Johan, and we had even found a nice home for our cat, Pepper on a farm, where she is adapting to the wide open spaces. Farewells are always tough, especially dealing with both sadness and joy - sad to say goodbye and joy at what lies ahead as far as family is concerned. Celebration: These weeks have been ones of blessing for Johan - last Saturday was the graduation of the CEPA students with whom he has been directly involved since moving to Osorno. Several more will still graduate in the near future - Johan has been involved with all of them to some degree or other these past 4 and a half years, first in Santiago, and now down in the south. Pray for Alex as he takes over the responsibility of the mission when Johan leaves for HMA. Alex will be examined to be licensed to preach in August. He has been well accepted by the mission church, but has a challenge to help the folks deal with their past and to reach out to the future. He will sit examination for ordination at the en of this year. He has already been very involved in the ministry with Johan over the last 18 months. The church has also had a surfeit of baptisms this past month, and his final Sunday will see two more, as well as several candidates being presented for their first communion - each family represented have seen these events as evangelistic opportunities, and we have had many visitors recently hearing the gospel for the first time. Pray for this coming Sunday's event - this situation has been a source of great pain and testimony to the family concerned as they have encountered much opposition from the wife's family. HMA (Home Ministry Assignment) begins for us soon, and we will be in the US after we return from Belgium for training, for a year. We are in need of purchasing a car, and want to ask you if you are planning to sell or trade in a car in the near future to consider giving us an option to buy. We need something reliable as HMA always means many miles on the road... :-) We can be contacted via the following email address for the next year: jvdw@mtwla.org Thank you for your prayers and support that have helped to make these past 4-1/2 years easier. We are grateful for the team back home who stand with us. Blessings in His Name, Stephanie (for us both) - June 3, 2004 |