Where Richard, Wendy, and their daughter live in Southeast Asia the long rainy season is over, and they are starting to enjoy drier and cooler weather. There are not many rice fields around them, but those who do have fields are busy with harvest.
Looking back, they had a very special summer, making a trip back to the USA for their son’s wedding and visiting with many other family members.
After returning to their home in the village in Southeast Asia Richard resumed teaching an older man through the Bible for the second time and it is going smoother and faster as Richard is usually able to teach twice a week. Pray that the man would clearly understand the Gospel and trust in Jesus as his Saviour. The prevalent worldview in their location is that all religions are good and teach you to be a good person. Pray that the teaching would go beyond a curious interest in religion and that he would understand that he is a sinner separated from God and that no religion can save him. Salvation only comes through faith in Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection. Richard will soon teach the life of Christ.
Travelling to teach a couple in a more remote location has been a challenge with the bad roads caused by the rainy season. After one particularly rough trip with the motorcycle Richard wrenched his back and was bedridden for a few days. Another time Richard and Wendy hiked in by foot on a rough trail. Now that the rainy season is over, the roads will be repaired, and it will be easier to get in and out and have weekly Bible studies with this couple.
Over the years Richard and Wendy have been involved with teaching English once or twice a week to children who are interested. Some groups have attended regularly for months, and at other times months pass with no one wanting classes. Currently there are two or three boys that attend twice a week. Richard visited the family of one of the boys who are refugees from the neighbouring country. The father used to read the Bible (in a related language) when he was a teenager. He is interested in studying the Bible with Richard after the rice harvest. He may be able to help with Bible translation.
Finding translation helpers is continuing to prove difficult. The one family that has shown willingness to help lives across the border in the neighbouring country and are dealing with health issues and family problems. The husband is struggling with poor health. Pray for his health and that he would seek the medical help that he needs. Pray that they would have a desire to know God and would visit with Richard and Wendy for Bible teaching and fellowship. Pray also that they would long to have the God’s Word in their language and be willing to help with that important work.
Pray for the needed helpers for the translation work to move forward.
Two of their co-workers continue to persevere in language and culture study. Their co-workers who live two hours away, are teaching and discipling the youth in the community there. Praise the Lord for the team He has put together and the fellowship they can have together.
Thank you for your prayers.