I hope I am doing this right. That was my thought as I knelt to one knee on a cold January day at the gazebo to ask Stephanie to marry me. I had seen it done on TV many times, but being something I personally had never done before. I didn’t want to mess it up or make it look like I had no clue what I was doing. Right now, I am feeling about the same, thinking, “I hope I am doing this right.” Regardless, we believe God’s grace will lead us through these new territories.

I have never had to be a spiritual coach for one battling cancer with good days and other days seeming like they may be the last. “T,” the lady Jacob and I led to Christ last year, has continued to cycle in and out of the hospital. Her husband is very disabled from an accident 25 years ago. She used to be the one to take care of him. They have gone into debt with all the medical needs. She is diabetic and has high blood sugar as well, which have only complicated her treatment. I want to encourage her and lead her keep trusting the Lord through these trials. When I went to visit her in the hospital (over an hour away from where we live), I found a Baptist church in that city which is only about 20 minutes from where she lives, which is much closer than we are. The pastor and I met and then went together to go visit “T” in the hospital. Pray that this church will be a blessing to her. Please pray for her to have faith and peace. Pray for me to have wisdom in knowing how to coach her in her walk with the Lord.

Back in April, a man who had just moved to Soroca came to our Thursday evening Bible study. After someone had given him a Bible, he began reading through it, seeing firsthand that what he had been taught growing up did not correspond with what he was reading in Scripture. He told us that he is seeking for the truth so that he can teach his children the truth. “M” has been coming to every service when he can since then. His wife and children have even come to visit with him. We have never had an entire family trust Christ and join. Please pray for this dear family to trust Christ as Lord and Savior. Please pray for us as we seek to answer this man’s questions and seek to make the Gospel clearly understood.

We have never organized a new church plant. This has been our goal and work during

Fellowship meal in Soroca

our second term here in Moldova. We have the goal of having a charter membership at the beginning of August, Lord willing, on the 5th. Over the past year, I have taught on salvation, sanctification, the church, and am now currently going through the ten main doctrines. Please pray for us as we chart this new territory on organizing the group of believers here into a committed body of believers.

Easter meal with Bulboci gro

There is a manual for many things in life. However, we do not have a manual to plan and execute “Home Missionary Assignment” (a.k.a. “Furlough”). After having one home assignment back in 2013, we learned a lot and have somewhat of a system or manual of our own. Still, several aspects will be new for us. We have two more children than we had last time we visited supporting churches. This means we cannot legally stay in one hotel room in most places, and we’ll place a greater demand on families in churches willing to house us during our visits. This time on home assignment, we will not be between ministries but in the middle of a ministry phase. We will have a sudden pause in ministering to the people we have been serving and teaching. Jacob and Viola Hughes and Sarah Bodaly are here to keep the work going, for which we are thankful.

We know we will see God’s grace guide through these new aspects. We have already seen God’s provision in many furlough preparations. We have our schedule already booked with the supporting churches we are able to visit. We have a van reserved for us through Baptist Missionary Transportation Ministry. On Monday, we found out that we were approved for staying in a furnished missionary apartment during out time in the States. Please, thank the Lord with us on these provisions and pray for the Lord’s grace and wisdom in the remaining details.

Please also pray that the Lord would use and bless our Bible Conference and weeks of Vacation Bible School. The Bible Conference will be in place of our normal Thursday evening Bible study. The VBS weeks will be July 9-13 in Zastinca, 23-27 in Soroca, and every Tuesday in June at the children’s center in Cosăuți.

Thank you all for praying for us.