July-August 2002

Dear Friends,

Praise Items

Praise for the de-escalation of hostilities between Pakistan and India. First extreme heat and then the early arrival of monsoon rains have helped to make conventional fighting on the border difficult. The fact that both possess nuclear weapons is a strong deterrent as well. Praise for the

many international leaders who have worked hard to bring reconciliation. Pray for a just solution to the Kashmir issue, as tensions will continue to run high between these two nations until this underlying problem is addressed.

Praise for the safe arrival of Haema and Maryam’s little daughter, Elishba (Elizabeth) on June 13. She weighed over 7 lbs. and had no breathing problems. All are rejoicing in this wonderful answer to prayer.

Praise for the granting of a two-year extension (with two entries a year) to our visas. This came through a letter of recommendation from the chief Interior Minister in Islamabad in answer to your prayers.

Praise for the successful and relatively painless removal of Margie’s gall bladder on June 5. She had three "sleeping gall stones" that suddenly began to wake up the last few days in Rahim Yar Khan. When she was checked at an excellent hospital in Islamabad and they saw all the tests done in April at her annual physical, they scheduled surgery the same afternoon. Twenty-four hours later we were able to go back to Murree where Fred, and Dale’s wife, Nicky, a competent nurse, helped her to a speedy recovery.

Praise for a record attendance of over 100 at Group 1 this month in our absence. In spite of crowded conditions and hot weather, there was an enthusiastic response. We are disappointed that Bani Ram, who accepted Christ so joyfully in April, has been unable to attend for two months. He did come to visit once and assured us his faith was still strong.

Praise for Lazar, a former literacy teacher who felt called to be an evangelist. Fearing he might be motivated by the fact that evangelists are less supervised than literacy teachers, George McBane tested his sincerity for some months. First he received no salary, then he was given about one third and asked to work two days a week. Because of our evacuation in September, this testing period lasted over a year. Finally he was put on full time in May. During those difficult months he promised the Lord to wash all the workers’ feet as a symbol of his feeling of unworthiness and gratitude in being made an evangelist. During the May workers’ meeting he recounted how faithful God
had been to him through his time of testing. When he revealed his intention to wash the feet of all, a few loudly protested: "Our Church doesn’t do this! We are cleansed by the blood of Jesus and don’t need our feet washed!" Lazar quietly continued to wash feet. The protesters quieted down and reluctantly allowed him to serve them too. His humility and sincerety were a blessing to many.

Praise for a family who were brought to faith through an operation on their 4-year-old son who had been in agony for months with a huge bladder stone. Dharmu had attended only one worship service in his village. The lesson was the lost sheep and the memory verse, "Jesus came to seek and to save the lost." The night before his son’s operation Dharmu couldn’t sleep. The unfamiliar hospital setting compounded his fears for his son. "But" he said, "I just kept quoting that verse to myself over and over: ‘Jesus came to seek and to save the lost.’ It gave me such peace! And I prayed like this: ‘Lord Jesus, save my boy’s life.’ Is that the right way to pray?" It is always fun to see people take their first steps toward faith! Before leaving the hospital he was sharing his new beliefs with others. The family returned to attend Group 1, and were full of praise for their son’s health.

Prayer Items

• Pray for George and Gail McBane who have not received permission to return in the foreseeable future. Praise God that to Him that time is "foreseeable" and He is in charge. Pray they will be "strengthened with all might … for endurance, patience and joyfu thanksgiving" (Col. 1:11).
• Pray also for complete healing of George’s painful back. He is having physical therapy for it now, but may have to have surgery.
  
• Pray with praise for our travel plans. July we plan to be in Albania for our fourth visit with our daughter Ruth and Mark Stoscher who are involved in an eight-week series of Christian youth camps. We love Albania and both will have opportunities to share several times while there. August we plan to be in Central Asia with another daughter, Sara, and David Treece, to get acquainted with their situation and their country for the first time. Pray that in our travels we will have opportunities to share informally. We are excited about both planned visits.
  
• Pray for the following programs planned for July and August at the New Life Center in Rahim:
  
• July 18-20: Group 1 for new believers and inquirers. Pray God will speak through the life of Noah His desire that many be saved and the importance of making a clear decision while there is time.
  
• July 24-27: Timothy Group will be doing three different courses: one group will complete the course on prayer; a class of new students will study "abundant life," and the third will do a Bible survey course. Pray for Mohib James who will be organizing the teaching these groups. Pray for these promising young men who are new believers, that they will become strong in their faith.
  
• July 29-31: Workers’ Meeting for evangelists and literacy teachers. The Workers will run all the meetings themselves. Pray they will be blessed by one another’s leadership and fellowship.
  
• August 15-17: Group 1 will be studying the healing of Naaman, sparked by the witness of a slave girl, realized through faith and humility, and the spiritual effect dimmed by the greed of Gehazi. Pray for responsiveness.
  
• Timothy Group follow-up meeting to complete the courses above will be held at some time in August, to be agreed upon later.
  
• August 29-31: Workers’ Meeting. We plan to return in time for this meeting. Pray it will be a time of spiritual refreshment and preparation for ministry in the autumn.

Many thanks for praying!

Margie and Fred