We are very thankful to our heavenly Father for His involvement in our lives and ministry. He has blessed our summer months with much activity and many rewards. We are excited to share some of the highlights with you.
Vacation Bible School
On the first week of August, we had our annual VBS. A team of 6 adults and 5 teens came from Virginia to help us with it. The first day, we started with 26 children, and by the end of the week, there were 64. We were very encouraged, as 12 of them trusted Christ as Saviour!
A young couple, that recently started attending church, volunteered to help with VBS. Though they have been coming to church, they have struggled with some doctrinal issues. On the last day of VBS, my wife and I had the opportunity to share the Gospel with both of them, and they also trusted Christ as their personal Saviour!
Marriage Officer’s License
In Jamaica, the government has control over marriages. Any minister who presides over weddings must be approved by the government and must get a “marriage officer’s license.” The process begins with training in the marriage laws. These past weeks were busy, with several trips across the island for training and exams. There are three phases. Praise the Lord—the first phase has been successfully completed!
Our First Wedding
In the last week of the August, we hosted our first wedding. A few months ago, after another couple in our church got married (the wedding was done elsewhere), Eric and Sheka, who have been living together for 13 years, decided that they, too, needed to be married. The date was set for August 26. It was a blessing to see them make the decision and have God’s blessing upon their lives. It was also a great blessing to see the many church members who volunteered to help with the wedding!
Sunday School Facility Expansion Project
A few months ago, we realized the need for more facilities for our Sunday School Department. We had four classes but housing for only one. We combined two of the classes in the 40-foot x 30-foot auditorium, and then the other two met outside. We covered an area in the yard with marlstone and erected two 10×10 tents to meet the needs. Those worked for a while . . . until the rainy season started. Needless to say, we realized that we needed a better solution.
We started the construction of a 40-foot x 15-foot pavilion to house the classes and also serve for other multiple purposes. The project started well; however, there have been some roadblocks that have slowed the progress. Please pray for us to get it done quickly.
Thank you for your faithful prayers, encouragement, and support.
Missionary #6703