Sometimes it’s hard to believe another month has passed since we last wrote to you. But this just gives us another opportunity to say “Thank you” for enabling us to continue to hold on and watch for the Lord’s deliverance. We appreciate so much the prayers and many thoughtful acts of all of God’s people. What a blessing the Body of Christ is to us. God continues to surprise us by sending help from many unexpected sources.

About a week ago this fact became very real to Cora and me as we were watching a Bill Gaither video on a Sunday evening. Cora has been going through a pretty rough time physically and it often becomes quite hard to be thankful and joyful in the midst of everything. But as a song was being sung about the blessings of being in God’s family, all of a sudden Cora and I looked at each other and, with tears in our eyes, talked about how unbearable these last few years would have been without God’s people ministering to us.

Of course we already knew this, yet this was just a special moment when we really KNEW it! We thought about our special partners who have faithfully prayed and supported us for almost twenty years while we served with Wycliffe Bible Translators. We thought of the many brothers and sisters the Lord has sent to believe with us for Cora’s healing over the last fifteen years. And we thought of the countless cards, notes, gifts and special provisions we have received from the Lord through His people as they became as Christ to us by bringing encouragement and help during this long time of endurance. And these provisions often come from sources we never imagined. It is such a privilege and blessing to be a part of the family of a God who is so great and resourceful and caring.

One of the most difficult aspects of Cora’s situation is being unable to ever leave her bedroom for the last six years. We have set up her room so she can see flowers and watch the birds throughout the day. Still the time can pass very slowly. One of God’s special provisions has been the Gaither Homecoming videos with titles such as “Revival”, “Holy Ground”, “Rivers of Joy” or “Something Beautiful”. Watching these videos provides much more than entertainment– it is like a time of fellowship with other believers. We worship the Lord with those that are singing and have our hearts refreshed and renewed. It’s so wonderful to have the TV truly be a blessing to us.

We often wonder how people live through times like this without the Body of Christ. They have no hope of heaven, no concept of trials preparing them for eternity, no family of God to bless and encourage them. We long for the time when God allows us to go and be as Christ to others – to minister to our brothers and sisters in the family of God and to show those outside the family God’s way of adoption into His family through Jesus Christ.

Please continue to pray for the Lord to extend His Hand in mercy to bring healing and relief from the seemingly endless suffering for Cora. But also thank Him for the many wonderful provisions He has made for us through His special people – like you! As the Gaither’s wrote in one of their songs, “We’re so glad we’re a part of the family of God!” Thank you for being such a blessing to us.