FFM Online Newsletter - March, 2007

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way." Psalm 37:23 The Lord has made this scripture real to us this month as we have followed His ways. We began the month in Linden, TX at Bear Creek Baptist Church with Pastor Hershal Williams. What a special time we had there with that sweet congregation! We then traveled home from Texas on Monday in time to be at Victory Baptist Church in Cullman, AL on Tuesday and Wednesday for their annual Missions Conference. They have such a special knack for making missionaries and their families feel honored! Pastor Keith Whitley is doing a wonderful job leading his church in a great zeal for missions. We enjoyed a Sunday morning at our home church, and then headed to Myrtle Baptist Church in Myrtle, MS and Camp Zion. The Lord blessed in a mighty way at Camp Zion as He always does. We then enjoyed the "March For the Family" services at Unity Baptist Church in Ripley, MS. Pastor Ronnie Barefield has such a heart for his church, and this family conference held every March is a great encouragement for his people. The next day we were supposed to head home for dental appointments when our dentist called and cancelled the appointment. Over the weekend, Nancy's tooth had abscessed, and she was in great pain. The Lord miraculously provided a wonderful Christian dentist there in Ripley who took her in and worked on her several times that week. That night, the family had to sing without Nancy at Beulah Baptist Church in Myrtle, MS.  The next day we all enjoyed a Pastor's Conference at Algoma Baptist Church in Algoma, MS with Pastor Don Smith. We then traveled home for Joseph's 13th Birthday and a special visit from Grandmommy and Grand-daddy. What fun! The next Sunday we traveled back to Pontotoc, MS to Harmony Baptist Church for the morning service. Pastor Lee Dillard has a sweet congregation there. The next week, we had been scheduled to be in a Missions Conference near Chicago, IL. That conference was canceled, and we wondered why the Lord was working in that way in our lives. Knowing that our steps are ordered by the Lord, we trusted Him to lead us in the right way. He was so merciful to allow us to be in MS where Nancy could visit the dentist that God provided and to spend several days there recuperating from the abscess, complicated root canal and other dental work! He always knows just what we need! We're so thankful that we can trust Him!

 We finished the month at home for a few days where we celebrated Joseph's "Entrance into Adulthood" Ceremony with our pastor, associate pastor and their families, as well as Rick's mom, sister, and her son. It was a special time of encouraging Joseph as he enters into adulthood and maturity. I don't think there was a dry eye in the house! David turned 21 on March 30th, but we didn't get to talk with him as we had hoped. We later found out that they had had a medical emergency there in Oaxaca as a well-digging tripod fell on one of the girls, split her head to the bone and gave her a concussion. God was good and enabled David and the other staff to stop the bleeding and get her to the doctor in time, and now she is recovering well at the mission base!

As we look back over this month, we can clearly see the hand of God leading us day by day, even when we didn't understand the why's and where's! Aren't you thankful that we can trust Him in all circumstances, and rest in the assurance that He knows what is best for us?