Dear friends,
In the past months the Lord has been reminding me that, no matter how young or old we are, our time on earth is very short compared with eternity. In Psalms 90:10 we are told we have 70 or 80 years and then “we fly away.”
Genesis tells us, “….Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” And then in Hebrews we are told that God took Enoch, “for he pleased Him.” What a beautiful word picture, to think of Enoch walking along and one day just walking into the presence of God.
In Colossians 3:2 we are instructed to “Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth….” It is my desire to conduct my life in a way that is well pleasing to God prepared for the day when I walk through eternity’s door.
This July we began the seventeenth year of the Bible school in the Philippines. We continue to be blessed as God brings young men and women with a desire to serve Him with all of their life. We have the privilege to see them mature and become useful vessels in His kingdom.
Though it is exciting to see what God is doing in far away places, it is just as important to realize we are all part of God’s team. You are praying and giving of your resources so that others can go. In June, As one example, Larry and Annie Colp again hosted the annual Reap garage sale at their house in Fairbanks, Alaska. Together with others, they spent countless hours collecting, setting up, selling, and taking down items that people generously gave.
On a personal note, Lorrie and I were very blessed to go to Ireland this month and see our first grandchild!!!! Our daughter Heather and her husband Noel are serving there as missionaries. We were honored to pray and dedicate Jewel Rose and then to speak the Sunday message at their multicultural church. As an added blessing, Noel and Heather took us to many of the beautiful sites, including some castles dating back to the twelve century.
Our youngest son, Jeremy flew from his YWAM base in Sweden to Ireland to see the new baby and to visit with us. After Sweden, he is planning to travel to Spain and Morocco as part of his outreach. Please pray that God would give him the contacts and protection in his travels.
Thank you for praying for Pastor Homer’s health. He is doing much better. Thank you for praying for the work in the Philippines and for praying for us personally.
Your friends,
Nels and Lorrie