“May God, our True Father, release upon your lives the riches of His kind favour and heavenly peace through the Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.  Our hearts overflow with thanksgiving to Father-God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, every time we pray for you. For we have heard of your devoted lives of faith and the tender love you have for all His holy believers.” Col 1:1-4

I feel that these verses truly reflect how God is using You all as friends and people that care about us and have done throughout this time for us. I will go into hospital on Thursday and have surgery probably in the afternoon. I’ll also need to stay in overnight.

My blood pressure has been a bit higher than normal. I think it has been the stress of staying in the Isle of Wight waiting for the sale to be completed and also the leaking roof and pending surgery.  Unfortunately, our friends that normally accommodate us haven’t been able to of late which has made things a little more difficult in terms of timing and distance from all my appointments and surgery, as their house is a lot nearer the hospital than the Isle of Wight.

But, then God whispered to me about a Christian resource website. We were able to find a lovely single lady who has herself been a missionary, so understands the difficulties of being back in the home country without the usual support groups etc. She lives in Southampton, an hour and a half away from the hospital. But we have been blessed to stay in her home. I also found a car that has proved to be a lot cheaper on another website. It’s a Christian man who has three cars that he rents out to returning missionaries. 

Shirley

On our journey to Southampton, we stopped for a coffee before finding the house where we were to stay and to do some shopping. A lady sat 6ft away from us on the next table and we got into a conversation with her about the situation we all find ourselves in today.  She said she felt depressed and fearful. We told her that there is One who reigns above all governments, epidemiologists, virioligists and viruses. She told us that we were bright like a light and that we were such lovely people.

I noticed that her hands were swollen and asked her if she had arthritis. She said she did. I asked her if I could pray for her and hold her hands. She was so soft hearted and in faith came to the ‘Healer’ Jesus. As we prayed she welled up and said she wanted to cry. I told her to invite Jesus into her life and ask for forgiveness. It was such a sweet time.

Jane

Jane was waiting for her pre-op blood test in the line with me. We struck up a conversation. She looked fearful and told me that they had found a lump in her breast. I asked her if I could pray and put my hand on her shoulder. She was very open and allowed me to pray. She told me that her father had been an elder in the Presbyterian church. I asked her if she was a believer in Jesus. She told me she had had a bad experience as a teenager at a Christian camp. She asked her leader what happens to those that worship other gods? He replied; “Oh, they just all go to hell”. I managed to explain to her that hell is really a place where the beauty of creator God does not exist. I told her that God is the creator of all life an beauty and goodness and that none of those exist in the place that the bible calls hell. She agreed that this gave her a better understanding. I also told her that everyone that has invited Jesus to be their Saviour will go to be with him and those that deny that Jesus is the Saviour of all mankind will not.

Jane is also booked for surgery on Thursday at the same time and same ward as me. Please pray that I will be able to share more deeply with her.

Please also pray for me that my blood pressure will be normal on that day and that the peace of God will rest upon me. It’s funny, we know we only need to trust in Him, but we find ourselves feeling stressed at the pressures of life. Please also pray for Chris as he drives on these multiple journeys for stamina and rest.

Please share with us your own prayer needs. This is not meant to be just about us. We are so thankful for the ways in which you care and pray and support us. 

With our love and thanks,

Linda and Chris