Let me begin by saying we're sorry to have missed a month writing to you. The sorrow comes because we never want to be neglectful in thanking you for your prayerful support of us during this time. And we also want to keep you informed about what is happening with us since we do depend on your prayers to help us get through this time. I would hate to think where we would be right now without your prayers.

These past few months have grown increasingly difficult for Cora. She can only get out of bed very briefly three or four times a day and must lie still to keep the pain level down. Visiting is not possible since it causes her toes to throb which, as you can imagine, is very difficult for her. Basically her life has been reduced to just surviving, and that is what she is bravely doing. Not because she is afraid of death she would welcome it if that were the Lord's will. But He has told her that He has a further purpose for her life when this time of perseverance is over and that is what we are waiting for. It has not been easy, but it will be worth it all!

Yesterday morning I read to Cora the following from Streams In The Desert. "The reason so many fail in the experience of divine healing is because they expect to have it all without a struggle, and when the conflict comes and the battle wages long, they become discouraged and surrender. God has nothing worth having that is easy. There are no cheap goods in the heavenly market. Our redemption cost all that God had to give, and everything worth having is expensive. Hard places are the very school of faith and character, and if we are to rise over mere human strength and prove the power of life divine in these mortal bodies, it must be through a process of conflict that may well be called the birth travail of a new life. It is the old figure of the bush that burned, but was not consumed, or of the Vision in the house of the Interpreter of the flame that would not expire, not withstanding the fact that the demon ceaselessly poured water on it, because in the background stood an angel ever pouring oil and keeping the flame aglow. No, dear suffering child of God, you cannot fail if only you dare to believe, to stand fast and refuse to be overcome."

Often we can sense how Noah must have felt when he did what he heard God tell him to do even though circumstances seemed to mock him. We are learning first hand how great Abraham's faith was. We're amazed when it says in Romans 4 that "against all hope Abraham believed" and "without weakening in his faith he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead" and "he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what He has promised." Pray that we can be faithful like Abraham was. And we feel some of what David must have gone through from the time he was anointed as King of Israel until the time it actually happened. I'm sure he never thought he would have to wait those many years, just as we thought this would all be over long ago. Our desire remains to trust God, obey Him in everything and not be afraid.

And through it all the Lord continues to help and strengthen us in special ways. One of those times was on June 18th. Our family was in the bedroom with Cora when all of a sudden Jenny saw a pure white dove land on our patio. Cora was so excited but we weren't sure the bird would come back because it was so nervous. But Sunday morning there it was again and we saw it at various times throughout
the day. On Monday morning when I went in to get Cora going, the first thing she asked me was to give her a Bible with a concordance. When she found what she was looking for she became very excited (as excited as she dares to get!) Then she told me what happened.

The night before she had been very discouraged and asked the Lord why He had forsaken her but got no answer. When she woke up in the morning she asked the Lord, "Did you send the white dove?" He told her He had. She then asked Him, "Lord, what is his name?" As she quietly lay there she heard Him say, "Her name is Hephzibah!" She couldn't imagine making up a name like that so she assumed it must have been the Lord. She found the name in Isaiah 62:4. It reads, "You shall no more be termed Forsaken, nor shall your land be called Desolate any more, but you shall be called Hephzibah [my delight is in her], and your land be called Beulah [that is, married]; for the Lord delights in you, and your land shall be married [owned and protected by the Lord.]"

This came at such a good time because Cora had been feeling forsaken and useless since she could no longer write this letter, talk much with us or even pray without causing her toes to bleed. But the Lord was telling her that He was delighted with her obedience in just being willing to live until His purposes are accomplished.

Again, thank you for praying and please continue! May His purposes and will be worked out in your lives to His honor and glory.