Prayer Partners & Men and Women of God

Week four of our orientation training is almost complete and to say that we are not the same people we were when this all began a few short weeks ago would be an understatement. However, God is truly preparing us for the task that lies ahead of us. Which reminds me. We don't say this often enough, but it is always good to remind people of what that task is: to be a witness to the people of the nations in the hopes that they will put their saving faith in Jesus Christ. I just didn't want people to think that we were on a great world-wide adventure with no purpose. On the contrary, our focus is very laser-precise and any other work that we may do while we are in Russia is secondary to this. If you have never turned away from your sin and put your faith in Jesus and want to know more, please email Kellye or myself so that we, or someone we know, can talk with you about something that will change your life forever.

PRAYER PARTNERS

We have been having some trouble with our email distribution and newsletter lists, so we need the regular readers of our blogs to do us a favor. We need you to email your name, address and email address to Kellye so you can be included in our regular online and non-electronic newsletters. If you know of other people that should be (or that you want to be) included on that list, please send that information as well. Her email is: kellye@thehooksworld.com

I will be updating our prayer blog tomorrow with some issues that are coming to light. I think you will find it obvious that Satan does not particularly want 250+ missionaries to hit the field at full strength. However, our God is bigger than that and He hears the prayers of His people. So, please, if you do nothing else...pray, pray, pray! God hears and answers. Speaking of which, let me give a small testimony to the power of prayer. During our Korean cross-cultural worship time on Sunday night we prayed for a group of Korean missionaries (not IMB) that had been taken hostage by the Taliban several months ago. This week Taliban officials announced they would be releasing the prisoners and the first eight have already been set free. I don't think you can know how excited we were to get this news Tuesday morning.

MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD

It is getting late, so I won't spend much time on the topic, though I wish I could. However, let me tell you again what wonderful men and women of God serve the IMB...especially at the upper levels. Tonight we spent several hours with the three top-most leaders of the IMB and their wives in a small-group reception at one of their homes. Again, I could spend many minutes writing about this wonderful experience. Especially since we were tired and didn't really want to go in the first place. However, to hear these men and women share their hearts for missions and missionaries is uplifting and heartwarming to say the least. During our time there we were able to share things about our families and how we were feeling about the adjustments and changes to our lives thus far and about the apprehensions that we have about the remainder of our training and what lies beyond. As the evening was drawing to a close we had a time of prayer. (Gee, Marc, that is not uncommon or unexpected...) But what was unexpected was that one of the wives prayed specifically for Sarah Beth. I cannot tell you how this made Kellye and I feel, but know that we were overwhelmed. Isn't it nice to know that there are people beyond our family and our church who care enough about our little family to pray for them specifically?


THE REST OF THE WEEK

Tomorrow is an exciting day for us. One of our Moscow brothers flew in to town this evening (and boy are his arms tired!) for a presentation tomorrow. Please pray for "B" as he shares what his team in Moscow is doing and how they are reaching the city for Christ. The people who serve in the former Soviet Union are excited about the emphasis the IMB has placed on our region this year and like to wave our flag every chance we get.

Friday is another immunization day. I think we may be scheduled to get as many as four shots plus a TB test.

On Saturday the people from our region (Central and Eastern Europe) will partner with one of the local churches for a ministry project and then will gather at a local park for a picnic supper and time of fellowship. We love the folks who are going to serve in our region, so it will be a great day. And...

SATURDAY IS THE START OF OU FOOTBALL SEASON!!!!! Need I say more?

Thank you for your prayers and for your sweet cards and emails. They brighten every day. We love you all.

Blessings,
Marc