Saturday, July 9, 2005

Anthony and Maureen Parker

We're thankful for low international telephone rates that have allowed our family to stay in close contact this week, with Anthony in the States and Maureen and the boys in Singapore. We have all enjoyed good times with our extended families and friends this week. Jeremy and Jonathan have especially enjoyed a trip to the Singapore Science Center and bowling! Anthony travelled with his parents to Franklin, Tennessee. They celebrated his mother's birthday with an overnight stay at Namaste Acres Ranch, and also visited with the offices of World Christian Broadcasting. Anthony has been doing some writing of scripts for this organization over the past few months. Through their shortwave station in Anchor Point, Alaska, they broadcast God's word in English, Russian, and Chinese. A new station Madagascar, to be completed in 2007, will enable them to reach Africa and the Arabic/Islamic world. One exciting aspect of their approach is that all programming is oriented toward non-believers.

Next week, Anthony will be heading to the Chicago area to take a course, and will then have a few days in the Birmingham area before returning to Africa. We're all looking forward to our "family reunion" in Accra, Ghana on July 22.

Jeff and Brenda Holland

We are still getting into the swing of being back in Togo. We have been working on getting new visas for the girls. Brenda had a follow-up visit to the doctor and had Rebecca’s ears pierced (It is the custom here to have the girls’ ears pierced in the first few days after birth.). Doctors and the visa offices are 90 minutes away, and visiting each is tedious. We have gone through 2 months of mail. As many as 50 visitors have stopped by to greet us upon our return and share with us what has happened in their lives, the country, and the churches since our furlough began. Jeff has been out to see the leaders in the churches where we work to get back on schedule with leadership meetings and leadership training. Brenda has arranged the girls’ room, worked through the return to cotton diapers, and started Josiah on home-schooling so he can complete the work he missed during our furlough. Transitioning back from furlough is laborious. However, we are glad to be back. It is always nice to be in your own bed, fix your own meals, and set your own schedule.

Murphy and Jeff had a good meeting with the Zio regional leaders. That region has mature leaders with a real desire to move forward. Pray for all four regions to live up to their callings as Christians, leaders, and evangelists. Pray for the upcoming all-church meeting planned for August. There is still a lot of work to be done. It is all being done by the nationals and this is a real test of their development as the leaders of the movement. On a personal note, please pray that Jeff can keep his voice as his speaking times in churches and among leaders increases.

Murphy and Christine Crowson

We worshiped with the Adangbe church cluster last Sunday. Every month the churches from each cluster get together for a combined worship service. This was such a Sunday. This month the cluster worship was in the village of Kpotonou which is on the other side of the river from the other three churches in their cluster. For two of the churches, it’s a six to eight mile walk which includes crossing a stream which is waist deep. We knew the water was high when members from all of these churches were soaking wet from the waist down to their ankles. In spite of this, a large number of Christians gathered together to worship the Lord. We praise God for this cluster of churches and ask that you join us in prayer as we seek His blessings in their life and service to the King.

On Wednesday, Jeff and I met with the leaders of this cluster to help them select their regional committee as well as their representatives for the central committee. This was an exciting and very important step as the leaders take on more and more responsibility for the growth and oversight of the Watchi movement. It was exciting to sit down with mature elders and leaders from these four churches and to see God's Spirit displayed in their lives, attitude, and vision for the future.

I also ask your prayers for me and my family over the next few weeks. On Wednesday I'll travel north to Kara, Togo to join the Kabiye team as they take their Harding interns on a survey trip to Burkina Faso and then on to Mali. We will be looking at the Dogon people group as a possible mission point for future church planting teams. I'll be gone 14 days. Please ask the Lord to protect us as we travel several thousand miles in the next few weeks and to watch over our families at home while we're apart. Thank you for your prayers, God is listening and he is answering!

Marty and Louise Koonce

What an All-American week we the Koonces have had in Warrenton, VA. Thank you all for your prayers for our travel. It has been good. We are so thankful to now be with our sponsoring church in Warrenton. It has been very uplifting already and the renewed friendships have provided the shots in the arm we were looking for. This was our first July the fourth stateside in eight years. The boys as well as mom and dad were thrilled by the pyrotechnics of the Great Meadows show here in Warrenton that we got to watch with our church family. Then on Tuesday the family got treated to Major League Baseball Washington style at RFK stadium where the Nationals took on the Mets. Marty and the boys sat right on third base in the second row. The action was almost too much for the boys to handle as the Nationals held on to win in the 9th inning 3-2. Then on Wednesday and Thursday Marty and Louise got to celebrate their 14th wedding anniversary. It was their first anniversary getaway in eight years. So, in short it has been a very wonderful week of sampling the best of Americana, and still we miss our African home and friends. Please pray for those who are back in Togo doing the work. Please pray for us as we continue to travel. In fact, this weekend Marty will be in Herrin, Illinois preaching and then returning on Monday. Thank you for your prayers and if we haven't seen you on furlough yet, then we hope to see you soon. The Koonces