Grace Fellowship Update

 

This is Stukeley Calling:

 Up to May 11^th (US Mother’s Day and Pentecost) we had been working hard painting, cleaning, and organizing materials.  That was the last Sunday that Serena, David’s 86 year old mother attended services.  Her health had been failing for several years but after May 11^th it went down quite rapidly.  On July 2^nd she went to be with the Lord.  The last month of her life, Pete and Penny stayed with her at night so that David could get some rest so he could be with her in the day time.  Jepye and I prepared meals for them.  Needless to say all painting at the church ceased.

 On July the 3^rd we left to attend the IBC Summer Assembly in Interlaken, Switzerland.  It was a great week of lovely weather, great preaching, bible study, conferences, and meeting up with old friends.  It was a great time celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the convention.  Bob and Debbie Murff had scheduled to go but only Debbie made it.  Bob was pick pocketed on the underground going to the airport and lost his pass port and wallet and had to return home, poor guy.

 The Monday after we returned was the funeral for Serena at the Crematorium in Cambridge.  Then on Friday the internment of her ashes was at the village church.  Paul had both services.   On September the 7^th there will be a Thanksgiving Service at Grace Fellowship so that several elderly relatives who were unable to attend the other services, David wants to do this so that they can attend. 

 The last week of July we did VBS with a team from Emmanuel in Crestview, Florida and Alconbury Independent Baptist Church.  It was a great VBS but we were disappointed at the low number of children this year (32).  The great news is that two of them accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour.   We will be praying about what God wants us to do next year.

 Jepye’s ladies class is growing.  She now has 4 in attendance.  We have started a men’s class with David teaching and we have 3 in attendance.  In September we hope to start our “Knitters and Natters” group.

 We are still getting some visitors and several of them come almost every Sunday.

We hope to get back to the painting soon.  Our next project will be to do the sanctuary.

We held a joint Men’s Fellowship breakfast in August with 4 churches represented and 10 men in attendance.

Please pray:

·         For continued growth of the bible study classes on Sunday morning.

·         For the start of the “Knitters and Natters” group.

·         For the Men’s Fellowship Breakfasts.

·         For more people to visit and join the fellowship.

·         For two or three dedicated couples to come and join us to help with the ministry.

·         For someone to come along side and work with the children.

Serving together,

Paul and Jepye of the Stukeleys

 

News from Niamey

Abubacar:  The door bell rang; my student came to visit because he had missed class for a week. He and I had prayed together for the Lord to give him a job. He was so excited and said God answered our prayers. I have a good job but it starts at 7 at night and I can’t come to class. He was so happy when I told him to come in the mornings. This has changed the dynamics of my class for the better. This student was at a higher English level than his class mates and now he can go forward at a faster pace. God knows what is best and He is faithful.

 

Hands On and ESL:  Eighteen young adults from America , in the Hands On program came to our ESL class to share their testimonies with my students. They all sat on mats and my students introduced themselves. Then they listened while the others shared what Jesus had done in their lives. There were times of laughter, times of just listening. When it was over I could see that my students had questions. Some of them understood more of what was shared than others. One of my students laughed and said “they just kept saying, Jesus this and Jesus that, Jesus did everything.” My prayer is that one day these students will know our Jesus, the only Name by which man can be saved. (Acts 4:12)

 

Rainy Season:  Yes, it is the rainy season. Keep praying for the needed rain in Niger . The crops are not good this year due to lack of rain. I have seen the Lord give us rain each time we have prayed for Him to do this. We are still praying and need you to continue to join with us.

 

Conversations: While mentioning to one student that I only have a year left before I return to the States, he asked me if I would come back. The Lord used this to openly share my heart’s desire with him. I stated that I followed where the Lord told me to go to serve Him. He brought me to Niger for a season and He will show me where I am to go next. But I also said that when I die I know I will go to heaven because I believe in Jesus. I told him that my prayer is my students will know and believe in Jesus as well. Then if we never see each other here we will meet again in heaven.  This student, while he reads his French Bible, is still not a believer. Please pray that when the Lord opens up such conversations they will have the affect upon the person that God intends them to have. I could see in his expression he was very thoughtful.

 

Phone lines: For what ever reason, we have been without a phone line at my house for about a month off and on. When this happens we can not use our internet to reach out to all of you. Nor can I receive information and communication from home. It is such a source of frustration to me and the rest of our mission community. Our office internet is not working well either. We need you to pray it will all get fixed soon. 

 

God’s blessing upon all, Bonnie

Philippians 1:3-11 

Last Night of VBS

The last night of VBS was awesome.  It was probably the best night yet.  Both the kids and adults were really into the songs, scripture, and learning about Telling about Jesus.  Several children mentioned they did not want it to end.  I think the total kids for the week were 22 – 24.    We give thanks to God for sending them all to VBS.  Friday night will be the Family nite so Pray that all the family and friends will attend.

Our team flys back Saturday 2 Aug.  We leave Gatwick at 10:40 and get into P-Cola just after 6pm.  Pray for good weather and a safe flight for us.

Wish you all could have been here but know you were praying from home.  Thank you!

God Bless

Diane