FFM Online Newsletter - April, 2009

April was a month full of joy for us as we spent the first few days preparing for David and Lina's wedding! On Friday, April 3rd, we finished up decorating, greeted Nancy's mom and dad who drove down from Louisville, KY, enjoyed the wedding rehearsal, and then had a fantastic time at the rehearsal dinner at our favorite restaurant, JW Steakhouse! There we enjoyed the fellowship, food, and sharing our special memories of David and Lina and expressing our thanks to God for the unique way He brought them together! April 4th dawned sunny and beautiful...a perfect day for a wedding!! Five o'clock found us ready and waiting! The wedding was so beautiful and SO special! Rick performed the ceremony and David's Pastor interpreted. Jonathan (who turned 18 on this special day!) played the prelude music, Leah and Jonathan played Canon in D by Pachalbel on their violins, accompanied by Rebekah. Rebekah sang "How Beautiful", Jonathan sang "I Will Be Here", Joseph and Benjamin ushered, Joshua lit the candles, and Leah was the official photographer! Only Mom got to sit and relax! Lina's uncle gave her away, as her parents were unable to come from Columbia, South America. The reception was a beautiful sit down dinner catered by a local Mexican Restaurant...delicious!! The happy couple left for their honeymoon and our family began the massive clean-up effort! Fortunately, David's church members stayed to help, and we were through by midnight!! Rebekah then had to come home and pack, as her flight back to Taiwan left at 6:30 am from Birmingham. Rebekah, Leah, Jonathan, and Joseph stayed up until time to leave for the airport at 3 am. After getting Rebekah safely on the plane, Rick and the kids drove home and got in bed around 7:30 am, and there they stayed for most of the day! Originally we were supposed to begin a meeting on that Sunday, but God in His omniscience knew that we would be unable to do that, and had the pastor call a few weeks before to reschedule!

We enjoyed a few days of R & R before leaving on Thursday for Fieldale, VA. There we led a revival at Valley Drive Baptist Church with Pastor Bobby Rakes that ended on Easter Sunday. On Monday we headed to Monroe, NC for the Annual Fellowship Meeting at Bible Baptist Tabernacle with Pastor Bobby Leonard. As usual, that was a great time of fellowship in the Lord, made even more special for us with friends from Wilmington attending!

The next Sunday we worshipped at Harvest Baptist Tabernacle with Pastor Joe Arthur. This is a great church with a marvelous love for the Lord and an enthusiastic spirit! They were such a blessing to us! The next day we began a Camp Meeting at Central Baptist Church in Carrollton, GA with Pastor Doug Bearden. We were so blessed by the great preaching of Jimbo Seaton, Steve Daggenhart and others. After that week long meeting we headed to Tuscaloosa, AL for the Homecoming services at Little Sandy Baptist Church. Pastor Ronnie Blake and his sweet church were such an encouragement to our family. We greatly enjoyed the service, homecoming meal and afternoon concert there in Tuscaloosa. God blessed in a special way by saving a sweet little girl named Angelica!!

We are so thankful for the way that God continually arranges our schedule, even when we wonder what He is doing!! He is so faithful to guide us and use us, and we praise His name!