February 4, 2004

Dear Friends ,

Praise Items

• Praise for an interesting, refreshing time in Thailand with Sara, David, and Joshua Treece (born January 12). Teaching him to nurse was a struggle at first but he learned quickly and slept well both day and night. The Treeces are attending a conference in early February for those working in the same Central Asian country. They plan to take home leave in the United States March to July while they wait for their business visas to be processed. Pray that visas will be granted by June so they can proceed with development work when they return.
• Praise that Paul, Pat and their four children were able to join us in Thailand the last half of January.

• Praise that the ARP Mission Board has approved in essence to lease the New Life Center to the Pakistan Christian Outreach Ministries in Faisalabad (an umbrella organization run by Pakistani Christians with a deep commitment to evangelism). This is with the understanding that McBanes will be free to administer the program there. This is a wonderful answer to prayer! At present we do not have sufficient funds to run the New Life Center, and there are some provisions in the lease that still need negotiating. Pray for wisdom in making these arrangements and for the needed funds. Praise that McBanes have been promised enough funds for their personal support. What is needed now is funds to run the NLC program. Gifts from individuals can be sent to Central Receiving Service, Section 300, Louisville, KY 40289. Write the title “Spreading Good News Among Meghwals in Pakistan” and ECO #040075 on the check and put it on your cover letter too. Send a copy of the cover letter to the Office of International Evangelism at 100 Witherspoon St., Louisville, KY 40202-1396. Or click here. For churches who wish to contribute, the instructions are the same with one important exception: address the envelope to Section 590 instead of Section 300.
• Praise that in spite of almost constant rain and cold weather, over 50 inquirers and new believers attended Group 1 in January. Bedding had to be rented from the bazaar. The sibling rivalry between Esau and Jacob, favoritism and deception among family members, are well understood from everyday experience. We rejoice that Paru, a disgruntled village leader, attended and apologized for his estrangement. Several who attended taught the story in their villages. They also were shown “The Ten Commandments” film which they shared with enthusiasm . It pictures the Exodus from Egypt very dramatically.
• Praise that Heeri’s husband, Pehled, is nearly recovered from TB and restored to good health.
• Praise for Shabbu who entered fifth grade after two years of our adult literacy course. In an exam given a week later, he was second in his class. The teacher is open to taking more of our students.
• Praise that our car is getting a thorough overhaul and will be brought back to us in tip-top shape by the middle of February. We are very grateful to all who have contributed so generously to this.

Prayer Items

• We were informed February 1 that our home would be put on auction February 6. Our Christian landlord has not been faithful in making payments on the house, though he did pay an installment in January. The courts are closed until the sixth because of the Muslim Feast of Sacrifice. We can only register a protest that morning and attempt to stop it. Pray that he will not lose his house and that we will not have to move at this time.
• Pray for a satisfactory home for George and Gail McBane. They are hoping to return later this month and need a home in a quiet, safe, neighborhood at reasonable rent. The house previously chosen is tied up in a court case. Pray this will be resolved quickly or another house become available.
• Pray for evangelists Daud and Martha with son Rattan who have to vacate their home before the end of February and find another. Pray for Rattan’s wife Momal who takes great interest in sewing, cooking and housework but not in learning to read or in anything spiritual. Praise that they are expecting a baby.

Pray for the following programs planned for February:

• February 6 - All night prayer meeting for reaching new tribal groups in Pakistan.
• February 16 - 18: - Group 1 for inquirers and new believers. We will study the life of Joseph (Forgiveness).
• February 19 - ? - Another trip with Resham to the Institute of Cardiology in Lahore to meet with the council of heart surgeons and make a decision as to whether an operation is feasible and desirable. Pray for wisdom!
• March 1 – 3 - Workers’ meeting for fellowship, teaching and to plan for March programs.

We are very conscious of your prayer support and see fruit because of them.

In Him,

Fred and Margie Stock

The 2004 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 198