As I look back over my past updates, I realize with embarrassment and apologies that it has been almost 2 months since I last wrote. We thank all of you who prayed for us during this busy time of meetings. We\’ve made lots of new friends and reconnected with many other friends. It\’s been so rewarding to share what God is doing in West Africa; we hope always to be a reminder of His faithfulness, both here and there. We trust that God will use these special times together in directing us all as to who will become partners in our new ministry in Niger.
Causes for Praise: Some fun things are happening in our family:
1. Our daughter and her husband will present us with our first grandbaby in November;
2. Our son graduated from law school last week; and
3. We will close on our very own, very small, bank foreclosure, fix-me-up house this Friday. Finally, a place of our own even though we have lots of work to do to make it liveable for us for the next 6 months, and then for renters as we return to Niger.
Concerns for Prayer:
1. Support Needs – we want to return to Niger in January, but need about 40% more of our support. Remember that our previous school ministry subsidized our support; our new ministry will not.
2. Health of Lois\’ mom – Mrs. Matheny underwent an emergency appendectomy this past Saturday. Lois and her sister are in West Virginia helping out as they can. They had hoped to bring \’mommy\’ home from the hospital today, but now doctors are saying \’maybe tomorrow\’.