God is so good!

A lot has been going on here since we've returned back to the Big City!  One of the highlights has been our recent baptisms.  It is always encouraging to hear the testimonies of new believers.  One in particular is very close to our hearts and to our family.  You never know how and where God choses to work.  This in and of itself causes urgency when telling others of the gospel.  Reaching out to our neighbors has been a priority of ours through the years.  It has become a family burden as well as a family endeavor.  Our kids have been involved in sharing the good news with our neighbors throughout the years.  Our son Nathaniel had a huge impact on a neighbor boy named Carlos.  Carlos and his family did a fantastic job of reaching out to us when we moved here nearly 15 years ago.  Carlos and Nathaniel did a lot of playing together when they were younger.  The boys went separate paths  through the years but touched base again in 2010.  Nathaniel had graduated from Purdue and came and spent time with us here before beginning Seminary.  Carlos, his girlfriend, and her family began attending our church. ( Carlos had attended through the years nearly all the English classes we offered in the summers when groups came.)  Carlos had heard the gospel before but he didn't see his need for a Savior.  God began working on his heart.

To make a long story short, Carlos, now nearly 24, got saved and this past month he was baptized.  Our two older children in the States would have loved to have been here to hear in person Carlos' testimony.  Now Carlos is leading up the youth program at our church.  Carlos' girlfriend and her parents also received Christ and were baptized before we left for our furlough.  The groups that have come over the years have impacted so many folks in our church.  We have had folks come to Christ and get saved as a result of having attended an English class in the summer.  They saw the impact of the Love of Christ on others and wanted the peace that they have seen in our visitors.  We are strong believers in groups going to Mission Fields.  Carlos rubbed shoulders with two groups right before he got saved.  We had a group from Faith Christian School that came and served and then a Men's group from our supporting church in Livonia, Michigan. Both of these groups came when we as a family had a crisis.  Sam's mother was admitted into the hospital when Faith Christian was here and she went home to glory before the other group arrived.  Our church folk had to help in a big way in hosting and entertaining these groups.  Our son Nathaniel flew in for the funeral for his grandmother and Carlos got to tell him in person that he was now a follower of Christ!  You can imagine the joy that our son experienced.

Mothers, you never know how arranged play dates will turn out.  We still believe that the most effect tool to bringing folks to Christ is friendship.  Pray with us that we will continue to reach our neighbors for Christ.  May we continue to work hard at reaching out and being friendly.

Mari, Norma, Sam, Eric, Laura and Carlos

Carlos sharing his testimony