Dear praying friends and family, we trust each one of you is doing well, and growing in grace and in the knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ.
Ministry
In the past month I (Luke) finished the Wednesday Bible teaching of Ezra & Nehemia. Then I had to prepare to teach a course on Eschatology for 2 weeks at a Bible College in the village of Sunuka. This College, called Grace Bible College, was started this year by the initiative of a local elder in that village. He has seen the need for village church leaders and pastors to receive nearly free Bible training as most cannot afford to attend Bible institutes in the big cities. There is no cell phone communication in that village but I was able to return on Friday and spend the weekend with my family before returning on Monday morning to teach. Unfortunately a big rain, a flat tire, and a long delay at the ferry crossing caused me to be late for classes on Monday. We made up for part of the first day and the students were still able to complete their exams on Friday, on schedule.
Family
Upon returning my first time I found out that Esther had had malaria and had gotten medicine right away and had recovered fairly quickly. Also, baby Aaron had learned how to sit up by himself! During my 2nd week of teaching Aaron got an ear infection resulting in a ruptured ear drum. He is still taking antibiotics for that. Gina managed the household like a champ and didn't even miss a day of school with Esther! We are very happy now to be back together again as a family. These village teaching endeavors are somewhat difficult for us but through your prayers and by God's strength we were enabled.
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| Aaron sitting up. |
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| Aaron and Esther at the beach. |
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| Emily bobbin' for apples. |
Upcoming
Now we would like to begin concentrating on preparing to start some sort of discipleship program, with the youth first, and then possibly with others in the town church and beyond. We don't know what God will do but please pray that as we begin making plans that God would guide and provide in everything, and that it would first and foremost be according to His will and plan. There are also various Christmas celebrations and preparations.
Another upcoming event is our tentative plans for a furlough in the U.S. from end of May through the end of August of next year. We are looking for tickets. Pray that we would be able to get "cheap" ones. Also please pray for the scheduling of our time there and whom we should visit, that we would have wisdom to balance ministry and the need for rest.
As always we thank you for your prayers and we remember you as well with thanksgiving before our God.
Blessings,
Luke, Gina, Esther, Emily and Aaron Johnson
