December 30, 2019

Ezekiel and Caleb...In Jail

               A couple of weeks ago we were doing family Bible time at night and we read a story about someone who repented.  The kids’ lesson that night was about what it means to repent.  Ezekiel looked frustrated and said, “I tried repenting and it doesn’t work.  I repented, asked Jesus to forgive me and help me not sin, but I JUST KEEP SINNING!”  We had a good talk that night about what it means to repent: Be sorry for sin, confess sin and leave sin.  When we turn from our sin, it doesn’t mean we stop sinning, it means that when we see our sin we hate it and depend on the Holy Spirit to help us change.  Christians are not inherently better than anybody else, the difference between us and the rest of the world is that we are trusting in the shed blood of Jesus Christ to cover our sin.  When God looks at us in judgment He doesn’t see our failures and shortcomings, He sees the perfect obedience and righteousness of Jesus Christ that has been credited to our account.

               We’ve had a busy month!  Some good friends visited us for a couple of days before Thanksgiving, Amy’s parents came for about a week over Thanksgiving, Amy and the kids got to visit a local police station, the car we were borrowing from a friend was stolen out of the driveway, we drove to Georgia for Christmas and had to get a tow on the way because of a tensioner pulley in the van, and now we’re in Columbus, GA to visit Amy’s parents before we go back.  After a week and a half stay in Georgia, we will go to Tampa to have some meetings for a couple of weeks, and then drive back to Kansas City where we will start to pack up.  Our plane tickets are for mid-February, and we’re praying about the right way to go back.  We have an enemy that does not want us to succeed, and who wants the Lopit to stay in darkness and uncertainty.  We love you and appreciate you keeping up with and praying for us, please keep praying that God will give us what we need by way of community, medical wellness and unity as we decide how to go back in the best way possible! 

               Our fundraising is coming along nicely.  We are about $400 short of our monthly goal, and have a few more one-time gifts promised.  Our German friends are working on their house and getting their family settled in Lohutok, keep praying that this will go well and fast for them!

Thanks!

Justin, Amy, Ezekiel and Caleb

Caleb is a little bit obsessed with helicopters...