CHUCK & BOB fighting the weeds
We usually update this blog monthly, but there's a new semester starting up and the race begins tomorrow, so I thought I'd send this on out ahead of schedule. We've got some exciting news: Jackie is pregnant! Got you...she isn't. She still loves our kids and grand kids, and she loves her student kids (32 in her class the last couple of weeks because of camp days) and she even loves me (Bob, by the way). So, what's the exciting news?
BUM & GLEN Scurbbing away
A couple of years ago we started going to Baan Athiitaan, which was a Baptist church plant. We've been cruising along there and stay involved as much as we can. I preach every few weeks and Jackie dances or teaches dancing or teaches kids. The pastor, Michael Johnson and his wife, Hope, are good friends and we enjoy being a part of this exciting work. Their daughter, Elizabeth, is Jackie's #1 dance student.
We started out in a small room of a house 2 years ago and then moved to a bigger room in another house about one year ago. Well, we are moving again into a bigger house and we don't expect to have to move from this one for quite some time: We can put 600 + in one of the rooms. It was a restaurant and club and had set empty for 7 years until we came along and rented it. There's only about 60 in the church so this is a huge step of faith. The rent is almost $1000 a month! But when God is in something you just kind of have to leap off the cliff and trust He's there to catch you.
LEK & GAE at play
There's been some drama involved too. A couple of months ago, the Baptist International Mission's Board--IMB-- told Michael he had to stop what he was doing and do something else. Well, he's been here about 6 years or so and the relationships go way too deep to just walk away and start something new 5 hours away. The wisdom didn't seem to be evident in what they were saying. We all prayed and Michael decided to resign instead of moving. That was quite a step of faith and God was there to catch him. Although the IMB doesn't like what we are doing too much, a bunch of other Baptists churches in Mississippi do and they are going to pay the rent for the building for 2 years and help us with renovations. God has brought teams in to help too.
Michael and Hope need to support themselves and their 4 kids living here, so I talked to my boss here at the university and it didn't take 2 beats of a heart for him to be hired. Michael taught my classes while I was away in August so they knew him quite well. Plus, he's a really good teacher and they know that. So now there's three of us from the church working here and one more joining us November 7th. It's so cool what God is doing. We have good relationships with the students already and the new church is only 10 minutes from this campus and 5 minutes from the other university campus. So there's 16,000 students within 10 minutes of our church property. We can't wait to see what God might do.
WEED EATING isn't all it's cracked up to be!
As a bit of encouragement to us, actually a big encouragement to us has been 2 new Thai young people coming to the Lord. In Bum's cell group a high schooler came to the Lord and Ja led her cousin to the Lord 2 days ago. In Ja's family, which wasn't happy about her conversion about 5 years ago, there's Ja, her sister, Jip, and her cousin Mic walking with the Lord. We are praying for her mom and dad to convert as a Christmas gift. Please join us in praying. We are praying the same thing for Bum's parents, who are still pretty upset with her.
You want to help? Here's what you can do. READ THIS: 1 Timothy 2: 1-4 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. As you make your requests, plead for God's mercy upon them, and give thanks...this is good and pleases God our Savior, for he wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. AND THIS: Romans 9:16 So receiving God's promise is not up to us. We can't get it by choosing it or working hard for it. God will show mercy to anyone He chooses. When you put those 2 verses together you get this: If we want people to get saved, we need to be praying for God to extend His mercy to the lost. Which ones? I don't know. I've decided to start praying for everyone in my universe because Timothy tells me that God wants everyone to be saved. Well, if everyone includes the people you are around, pray for them. And, you can support our church plant by praying for us too. We desperately want to see these Thai people that we are in contact with come to know Jesus.
The other day, 4 of my students came over to visit with Jackie and I (and to get help with homework!) and as we were talking I was overwhelmed by the thought that all four of them, which are quite close to us, are on their way to hell. We've shared with them, given them Thai Bibles and loved on them. Pray God's mercy to be extended to them. I don't want to see any of God's kids lost.
So, that's what's going on with us. We greatly appreciate your prayers and support. If there's stuff in your lives that you'd like us to pray about, email us and we'll be happy to join in with you.
Bob and Jackie
PRAYER REMINDERS
How about an outpouring of God's mercy and grace on the two university campuses near our church? That would be awesome. Karen Fleming, whose husband, Danny, died last month still needs our prayers. Our friends, the ones with the daughter who's been put in a hospital for 90 days of psychological evaluation, need your continuing prayers. Us? We finally have Internet at our house, but our computer won't work. (UPDATE: The computer wouldn't go, so we had to buy a new one. It's a cheapo but at least we can get Internet at our house! Yea.) Jackie has had a migraine for about 10 days in October. It comes for a couple of days, leaves for a day or two, comes back. 31 years it's been this way so we'd love to see God heal her.
Money? It goes to YWAM Montana. Checks payable to YWAM/MT and sent to 501 Blacktail Road, Lakeside, MT 59922. Don't put our name on the check but do put a note saying it's for the Robinsons in Thailand. Thank you.
YWAM: To know God and to make Him known
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