{"id":140,"date":"2003-10-29T16:40:10","date_gmt":"2003-10-29T15:40:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/greetings.gillespiesonline.com\/?p=140"},"modified":"2003-10-29T16:40:10","modified_gmt":"2003-10-29T15:40:10","slug":"new-friends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bobgillespie.org\/?p=140","title":{"rendered":"New Friends"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greetings from Quebec. Although we have no snow yet, we are continually warned that it’s on the way. We’re very content to wait!<\/font><\/p>\n

When last we wrote, we were happy to have found a church home for this year. We continue to enjoy this church and have had some opportunities to fellowship with some of the french-speakers. This has definitely been an added blessing and helps with our learning. On a Sunday night a few weeks ago, all of us who are learning french (There are five missionary couples at this church.) gave a very short presentation – in French. During a cookie fellowship after the service, we all gathered around our displays and fielded questions – again in French. There are several families from West Africa at this church; Bob finds it very interesting that he can better understand their French – after all, that’s where he has learned most all of the French that he knows.<\/font><\/p>\n

God is giving us opportunities to reach out to others who are learning French as well. All of us are away from home and some are very lonely and open to friendship. Many are drawn to us missionary couples possibly because we are families like the ones they miss, and possibly because of the light that we bear. We try to include them in our get-togethers and invite them to church with us. Even though witnessing is sometimes difficult because often we don’t share a common language, we have had opportunities to share our faith. Reaching out to these new friends involves ‘teamwork’; one of our missionary friends has shared the gospel with Antonio who has gone to church with us and is interested in coming again as well as attending a Bible study. Sarah, a Muslim, has asked Bob what the difference between protestants and catholics is – the same question Bob’s tutor in Dakar asked of him. Juan, whose mother is a Jehovah’s Witness and whose father will have nothing to do with religion, likes to hang around our EBM co-workers, giving them the opportunity to witness. Please pray for these new friends and others who will cross our paths in the days ahead.<\/font><\/p>\n

We received very welcome news this week of some increased support. Since we believe that God will provide for us, hearing news like this just reaffirms in our hearts what we already know. We trust that in the new year ahead, we will once again see God fully meet our support needs.<\/font><\/p>\n

Please continue to pray for the missionaries who will soon be making decisions about their future ministries and for the ICA school board who will need to make a decision about re-opening in 2004. Some missionaries have already made the decision for their kids to continue at Dakar Academy because of the continuing instability in Cote d’Ivoire. As we read the news from Abidjan each day, we can understand their decision even though we are saddened by it. <\/font><\/p>\n

Please pray for:<\/font> <\/p>\n