Answered Prayer

I can't tell who is reading these, but I do want to thank you if you read the note yesterday and said a prayer on behalf of Jean Season. When she got home from work, a Fed Ex envelope was at the door waiting to great her, with her necessary documents inside! We are now ready and will be going to apply for our passports today during her lunch break. Please continue to pray for Jean's nerves, she feared this small wrench in things as a possible sign that maybe she shouldn't be going on this mission trip. We encouraged her not to worry and remember that God is in control of even the small things. And who knows? Maybe there will be a dozen more "wrenches" between now and when we leave, that just means Satan knows we are on a mission to do whatever God asks of us in Hong Kong and he doesn't like it.

Prayer Request

We would like everyone to pray for a small situation. It is small to God, meaning He is completely capable in getting this done, but it is big to Jean. She has misplace her birth certificate, she is not even sure that it was an official one. Because of various complications, she is very concerned about finding and obtaining the documents she needs for her passport. I also talked with people at the office where we will be getting our passports and they said currently the State Dept. is taking 8 weeks to get the passports done if they are not expedited. So we just ask for your prayers that everything can get done easily and promptly.

Excited

We are getting more and more excited and doing what we can to get ready. Support is starting to come in & we want to thank everyone who is contributing to this mission opportunity for us. Even if you can't come along physically, your gifts are making it possible. Tj is excited as he is preparing what his sermons will be. He isn't sure what kind of audience he will have, and their background will be foreign to him as well... he is quite comfortable preaching to and relating to American bred people who have survived the 80's so this will be a change. Pray that God's Spirit speaks through him while we are there. We still have been unable to start the whole passport process, the papers are all filled out and ready. We are waiting for our IRS refund (smiles) then we'll be ready to do that. Just keep praying for everything, especially all of the unknowns we will have to deal with in the future. God Bless to you and yours.

What's going on in Hong Kong?

Well, we don't really have a whole lot to report at this point. Just waiting and praying. Ken and Linda's monthly newsletter came out this month. I will give you some highlights from it. If you are interested in reading the entire letter, I can email it to you. Just email us and let us know.

"February has been a month of harvesting, planting and watering. What a joy to report the birth of three new members in the family of God. As pictured below you can imagine our joy on February 12 as we saw Eddie, May and Chiu “pass out of death into life.” (John 5:24)
Chiu and May are a married couple, who were our next door neighbors when we lived in section D. May first became involved in Bible study and attending church through the encouragement of our daughter, Grace, who lived nearby at the time. Chiu is a pig farmer and May is a housewife. Eddie is an engineer friend of Chiu, who first came to the Bible study because of Chiu’s invitation. Eddie’s wife, Linda, and sons, Oscar and Dominick, live in Australia, while he maintains his business office here. So far Linda has not been receptive, but doesn’t oppose Eddie going to church. Eddie has also facilitated contacts with his parents, who live and work in Kowloon. They both attended the baptism service and seemed very moved by it. Though they do not believe in God, they see a major change in Eddie’s life and want to know more. Eddie and I meet with them for supper Thursday this week for some informal Bible sharing with them. Two other friends of Eddie have started attending the Friday night Chinese Bible study. They are Ah Gun and Eric Chow. Ah Gun’s girlfriend, Vanessa, also comes to the Bible study. Eddie, Chiu and Eric are all part of a bicycle riding group that used their Sundays for bicycle outings. The Chinese Bible study has grown from about 3 a year or so ago to 13 now, most of whom are non-Christians. On top of all of this, since Eddie, Chiu and May were baptized they have been coming to my house Monday through Thursday nights for devotional times to learn how to grow in their relationship with our Lord by using just the Bible itself."

Well sounds like good things happening in Hong Kong. Please continue to keep the Smith's and their ministry in your prayers.

First Response

Well, Jean is very excited. She called me last night after her small group and was so excited because she had received her first letter of response to the support letters she sent out on Monday. It made everything seem "for real." So things are in motion. We have our passports to conquer next we downloaded the pages and pages and pages and pages and pages of the application to fill out. Lucky me (Barbie) I get to fill out the application times 4 because I have the nicest handwriting in the family thus far. :)
To the Flints, I could not find your mailing address, so if you would like a copy of the support letter please email it to me. Also if you know of anybody at Harbor of Hope who might want one you could send theirs as well.
Lots of love,
Barbie