Thursday, September 29

     First, I apologize for missing a couple of updates recently. My family all got down with a respiratory virus and I managed to keep going without getting down - UNTIL the week of the 19th. Whoa. It was like someone took out the batteries. I was able to get up, do a little work and then crash again, all day long. I preached last week and survived, but I was soaked down to the waist line. This week I have begun to pick up speed and have done well. Last Sunday I preached on Genesis 1, to prepare them for this week's presentation. More about that later.

     We are trying to restore order and peace within the church since so many deaf left after being battered by the ex-deacon. He came and made what appeared to be a sincere plea of guilt and begged for forgiveness. I mentioned he wanted time off to clear his head and he has not shown up again. Another problem to delve into and seek to find an answer.

     Last week, Lance begged us to get off of the bus early and eat at Burger King. That is usually a twice a year thing with us, not an everyday occurrence. To get off the bus, eat and return would cost an extra $2+ to re-enter the bus, so we pleaded with him to wait for another day. Cheyenne called earlier this week when she found out that yesterday he would only have two hours of class, so we could shop, go with him to class and then pick him up later and still have time for Burger King. So, we rode the bus to a shopping center near Cheyenne, met Lance (who was surprised), walked around through the shopping center and then took him to BK. Why all of this in this blog? Cheyenne often walks him to/from school (read on, he is 6 years old but usually keeps right up with anyone walking). We left Mom to shop and Cheyenne, Lance and I walked to school - three and three quarters of a mile. Cheyenne and I left him at school and we walked another mile + to a home store, shopped and then returned (mile +) to pick up Lance. When school let out, we walked another mile and a half to the bus stop. When we got on the bus, the seat was wet because they left the windows down during a storm, but who cares by this time (7 and a half miles of walking). We finally arrived back at the shopping center to pick up Ann, found a cab to take us home and got almost all the way here, when we ran into a total stoppage on the four lane. An LP gas truck, double trailer, had turned over about a mile from our house. All the traffic was forced over into the on-coming lane. One hour later we arrived at the house, tired but happy to be home. All of that for a hamburger! (and a little boy).

     The most important part of this blog is a prayer request. This Sunday we are showing the story of Noah, a two hour movie that is very dramatic and clear with a Gospel presentation. I (Gary) will need to interpret the entire movie. 1. Pray for strength. 2. Pray for some of the wayward deaf to come to this presentation. 3. Pray that many will invite their unsaved deaf friends for a tremendous presentation concerning the Gospel. 4. Pray that deaf will receive Christ as Savior. This is probably the biggest effort we have ever made to get the Gospel out because of the length of it. However, many of our young people promised that the deaf would sit through the whole thing if it is interpreted. Please pray for this endeavor. I will try to get a response out to you as soon as possible after the services to let you know (if I am still alive). We are looking for great things because of the quality of this presentation. 

     Vicki and her brother are both visually impaired. He is super sensitive to light, but she is almost 100% blind and both are deaf. We have known them for more than 20 years, but they are interested in coming now. Praise the Lord. Please pray also for a 13 year old deaf orphan with whom the Lord is opening the door to be able to reach him. He has never gone to school, has no apparent communication but seems eager to learn. He is one for whom Christ died.

     Thank you so much for caring and praying. "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16. Thank you for letting us represent you here. Pray for souls.

Gary & Ann

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