Saturday Post -- 17/11/12

First up, thanks for your prayers this week for The Land Situation. Having popped by the land registry earlier this week, it looks like the time estimate we were initially given was a little optimistic, and so we wait another few days. However, from what they could tell us, the signs appear to be encouraging.

This week, the second and final batch of formal English classes for the year – the Basic group – came to an end, with six more students ‘graduating’ from an FT English course. However, we’re hoping to maintain the contact through the English conversation group, an informal, drop-in style class I have been running for about a month. Initially it was put together for the benefit of those Intermediate students from earlier in the year who wished to keep up their English, but the Basic students are now looking to start coming and keep their English ticking over until the next Intermediate class in 2013.

When the conversation group began, the main stimuli for discussion were simple news articles in English. But I soon realised the students were looking for something a little more specific. During the Intermediate course, they’d worked through a book in easy-to-read English on the Christian faith – I posted here at the time regarding some of the terrific conversations we’d had at these classes. Well, to my surprise, the students (none of whom, to my knowledge, are believers) began asking when they’d be able to study another book just like it!

Fortunately, that book was one of a range of similar titles known as the ‘ESL Bible Study Series’ published in the US, and I was able to order a few more such volumes in the last few weeks. We begin the new book, a Bible study in Mark, on Tuesday. Prayers appreciated.

That I was able to get my hands on the texts so quickly (mailing times here ranging from two weeks to two years) is entirely due to the visit of our old friend Rachel Peebles, who kindly found space for them in her luggage on her latest visit from the old country. As ever, Rachel has been busy dropping in on families she’s previously worked with and encouraging the missionary team – in this particular case, with Cadbury’s Boosts and Raisin & Biscuit Yorkies. Verily, my cup runneth over.

Prayer

• Again, for a positive outcome for our land application.
• For Craig, teaching on Ruth 2 at the youth group tonight.
• For energy and focus for Amanda, who continues to man the good ship Audiology single-handedly during her partner’s month-long absence, particularly as she simultaneously spins her church plates (such as tomorrow evening’s young women’s Bible study).
• For the English conversation group, as they begin to get their teeth into Mark this week.

Praise

• For an encouraging answer to prayer this week; we saw God’s hand at work in a particular situation in a very powerful way.
•  For the encouragement of Rachel’s visit.

¡Que Dios les bendiga!

Craig & Amanda