Sharing and Serving with Family and Friends

"I will show you my faith by my works. . . James 2:18"

While caring for my mother this spring, we have had many opportunities to serve others and have also been served by others.  Several widows joined us for an evening of  food and fellowship.  Some of these ladies have known me almost 50 years.  What an example to the grace of God they are to us!

Being in our hometown has afforded us many firsts.  We were able to visit our niece in the hospital after the birth of her third child, Kage.  We missed being around for the births of their first two children, so this is a special pleasure to us.  In July, while Tony is in Africa, I will get to care for him a couple times a week when his mom returns to work.

June and I met in Mrs. Foster's second grade class!! But our paths took us both far from this little NC town we grew up in.  Recently, June visited her parents in town,  so we had several hours of sweet fellowship together.  After not having seen one another since 1982, two hours were NOT enough time to catch up.  Hopefully, we will be sharing more time together during this furlough!  It was wonderful to hear how God has been growing her faith. 

 

Beginning on May 28, GFA Missions held their annual week long Family Conference at The WILDS in Brevard, NC.  We thank the Lord that Mama was able to travel with us so that we could be a part of this week full of spiritual blessing, challenge and encouragement to care for our souls in the midst of the busy-ness of service for Christ.  After each day's messages, there were informal times of fellowship and snacks.

On June 3, we attended our sending church, Mt. Calvary Baptist Church, in Greenville, SC.  Before traveling back to NC, we dined at a Mexican restaurant with two of our daughters and their husbands and our three grandchildren.

My mother enjoys visits to Greenville and is getting to know our daughter's youngest child.  The Lord brought Isaiah through a pregnancy that was wrought with a number of health issues.  He is our living reminder of prayer-hearing God!  May we trust in the Holy One of Israel for He alone is salvation!

Recently, we feasted on NC barbecue with supporting pastor, David Luethy and his wife, Ellie.  They were passing through town on their way home from a well-deserved week of vacation with their family. We thank the Lord for the Luethys and their ministry in South Africa on two separate visits.

Tony continues to preach regularly at a Central Baptist Church and I am still teaching the book of James for the ladies' Sunday school class at Victory Baptist Church.  It is just about time for Tony to start packing to return to South Africa to teach  in the winter block course at Oostenberg Bybel Instituut. Lord willing, there will be photos to share from that trip in an upcoming post. May the Lord enable us to serve Him with joy wherever we are!  James says we demonstrate our faith by our works!