short news going fast

Dear Friends, and it has been great getting reacquainted with and meeting new friends,

I had better write fast before the wonderful news is past and the kids have returned. Short version; Ruth, Hannah, and Seth are in Jerusalem, Israel right now. They are having a super time learning more about Israel and being where Jesus walked. They are witnessing and being a shining light for Christ to many people who do not know their own King.
How did this trip come about? Spur of the moment --within about 2 weeks, the kids heard about and were accepted for a trip to Israel! Ruth, Hannah, and Seth--left at night for NYC. Dan got them a bus --great trip, $30 each. They arrived safely to my brother Nate in NYC, and left for Israel Tuesday, June 16th. They got lots of tracts in Hebrew to pass out --that is weight in the luggage. God takes care of us all the time. We DO love to travel, we HAVE had some great trips, and we DO get tired at times. Mat Staver with Liberty Counsel made this trip possible for college kids --only $500 each for everything ---flight, tour, food, hotels, ALL. Our kids had wanted to go to Israel "someday." Well, "Someday" has arrived. How wonderful is that??
Our big prayer request ---PRAY, we really want to buy a house around the college for the kids to live off campus ---It is always better to buy than to rent. Anyway, we are praying for the right house, timing, and location. It would save us in room and board for sure.

Bye for now.
Love,
Joan and Dan

PS. Some have asked how they can help. These are DESIRES that would be very appreciated:
1. Costume jewelry that you are tired of that I could use as gifts for ladies' groups, women seminars, etc.
2. Keyboards to give to the churches we are starting and working with.
2. Guitars or accordions that you no longer use, or even if you want to buy one - smile. We are needing these for our own children who are progressing in music and moving off to life on their own.

May 2015

May 2015

       So, what has been happening to the big family on the road? There are so many stories of God leading us and taking care of us—how could we ever doubt Him? We look to past victories to have faith to keep all our confidence in Jesus Christ and His power and wisdom for the future. Walking by faith is a steady movement forward.

      After New York City, we had a nice time in Michigan with Dan's mom and family. We enjoyed meeting with friends at the BWM board meeting.  It is just great to travel and get reacquainted with old friends and make new ones.  I really cannot name each group or church and how much we enjoyed being with them.  I don't know who is blessing whom more—the church or us? I guess it would be God blessing us all. 

      From Michigan to North Carolina, the water pump on the van completely broke down. Yes, we had prayed for a safe, uneventful trip, and yet God showed His hand mighty once again.  We saw all the water on the ground while we were getting gasoline; it did not break down on the highway.  So, we went to a garage at 5:30 p.m. and found out that it would be a three-hour job, they could do it the next day, and it would cost almost $300.  They figured they would have to order the pump and called the car parts store, but there was one in stock. We drove over there to buy it, and Dan also bought the necessary tools to do the job himself. He turned his shirt inside out and Isaiah, Stephen, and he worked in the cold and did the job in three hours.  Meanwhile, I was praying in the van that all would go well.  We were parked in the car parts parking lot and a Holiday Inn was right next to us.  A little way into the job, Dan realized that he needed a channel lock wrench for the job. By now, the car parts store was closed. I went to the hotel to see if I could call anyone who could bring us that wrench.  Even while I was calling, the fashionable lady behind the desk said that she thought the hotel maintenance room had one.  I hung up on the answering machine, the lady brought the wrench, and Dan was able to finish the job. On we went at 9:30 p.m., praising God that we hadn't had to spend the night at that exit.

      Ruth graduated on May 8. The commencement messages were challenging.  We again realized why we wanted our kids to go to Ambassador Baptist College—to hear great preaching.  Pray for Ruth as she is discerning the next step for her life. 

      God brought us through a small, difficult situation and plopped us down (spur of the moment—meaning, unplanned) at the Whitestone Country Inn resort in Tennessee. We had beautiful weather for our three-night stay (swimming in the Tennessee River, canoeing, and loving all our time together outdoors).

      I can give stories of God taking care of us all the time. We pray that we are examples of Godliness—follow my example as I follow the example of Christ. Am I an example that others would want to follow? Are you?

      After Tennessee, we went through Arkansas, Texas, and spent a day down in Mexico, then back to Texas and on to Arizona. We had a great time in Mexico (we parked the car and walked over). One funny thing that happened on returning was that we had forgotten that you can't come into America with fresh fruits with seeds. We had bought lots of oranges, peaches, and avocado. The customs people were going to throw it all away, and that would have about killed us.  Anyway, they let us go back out and around, eat all our fruit and come across the border again. I'm sure it was a funny site—a group of Americans having a fruit picnic on the bridge.

      We travel with fresh food and a rice cooker. With the rice cooker and microwaves that are available everywhere, we can cook almost anything we want to eat. It is very fun being creative and flexible.

      Praise the Lord for health and safety and a whole lot of fun. Serve God and have fun doing it. Walking by faith is not always easy, but God promises that it will be well worth it all. 

      Thanks for all your prayers. Please pray for the tract ministry as we distribute tracts everywhere we go, even Spanish tracts down in Mexico.  "The Bridge" booklet is very nice.  We pray that they will be read and that God will convict and save some.  Who knows who we might meet someday in heaven?  His Word does not return void. That is a promise to help us act by faith and distribute them.  Just pray that the Holy Spirit will work in their lives.

Keep us in your prayers. Thanks.

Servants of the most High God,

Dan and Joan and Twelve

short note - new news going fast

Dear Friends, and it has been great getting reacquainted with and meeting new friends,
I had better write fast before the wonderful news is past and the kids have returned. Short version; Ruth, Hannah, and Seth are in Jerusalem, Israel right now. They are having a super time learning more about Israel and being where Jesus walked. They are witnessing and being a shining light for Christ to many people who do not know their own King.
How did this trip come about? Spur of the moment --within about 2 weeks, the kids heard about and were accepted for a trip to Israel! Ruth, Hannah, and Seth--left at night for NYC. Dan got them a bus --great trip, $30 each. They arrived safely to my brother Nate in NYC, and left for Israel Tuesday, June 16th. They got lots of tracts in Hebrew to pass out --that is weight in the luggage. God takes care of us all the time. We DO love to travel, we HAVE had some great trips, and we DO get tired at times. Mat Staver with Liberty Counsel made this trip possible for college kids --only $500 each for everything ---flight, tour, food, hotels, ALL. Our kids had wanted to go to Israel "someday." Well, "Someday" has arrived. How wonderful is that??
Our big prayer request ---PRAY, we really want to buy a house around the college for the kids to live off campus ---It is always better to buy than to rent. Anyway, we are praying for the right house, timing, and location. It would save us in room and board for sure.
We have been listening to a great marriage seminar by Pastor Camp ---also reading great books, and have another family conference to listen to. We can use all the help we can get ---and still have a ways to go. But, we still have lots of little ones to raise and many more years to benefit from good teaching. With God there is hope and joy.
Bye for now.
Love,
Joan and Dan
www.cuthbertsons.org. Now you can look there for the latest letter ---and hopefully the presentation. Dan is figuring out how to put our 9 min. DVD on the blog. I hope people can go watch. He also put our old one there. People can pray, give, and be part of what is happening in Cote d'Ivoire. Like "Why would I want to volunteer for the VBS here in the states?" (in July) Because I want to be a part of God's team and share in the fruits!!! Kids are the easiest fruit to pick. Enough already.

PS. Some have asked how they can help. These are DESIRES that would be very appreciated:
1. Costume jewelry that you are tired of that I could use as gifts for ladies' groups, women seminars, etc.
2. Keyboards to give to the churches we are starting and working with.
2. Guitars or accordions that you no longer use, or even if you want to buy one - smile. We are needing these for our own children who are progressing in music and moving off to life on their own.

letter

Time waits for no one. What did I do today that counts? Sometimes maintenance, children, and busyness take over, and I do not have time on the computer. I was planning to write last month to say, Happy Thanksgiving! I know you enjoyed a day of thankfulness to God for all His blessings.

So, what has been occupying our time? First, I had three deliveries that were fairly unexpected. The first lady was a stranger, who came to church to see if I would do the delivery. She had no pre-natal visits—just popped in. About two weeks later, she delivered a healthy baby boy on a rice sack on the dirt floor. This was probably the poorest place I have delivered a baby. Most times the women come to my house to deliver, but with the roads this bad, they sometimes have a hard time finding a taxi to bring them. Also, coming to my house throws the whole family out of order (mom is occupied, school is in chaos, doors are closed for privacy, etc.). The other lady came to my house and had a healthy baby girl. Praise the Lord, the water was ON. The lady in the picture just delivered on the 12th at my house. That little sentence cannot cover the night without sleep; the patience, stress and prayer during the delivery; and the next morning gone getting a birth certificate. Praise the Lord for His continual blessing in each of these deliveries.

Dan baptized four last month. We have a property in Petit Pedro, and they have started building a new church building. The plan is to have a mud-brick building plastered over with cement. This keeps the cost down and is something they can work on themselves.

Dan's Bible school class on Sunday afternoons is going well. He has about 25 men in that class. They are now reaching out to their own villages with the Gospel and correct Bible doctrine. Animism, superstition, speaking in tongues, and casting out demons are all strong and alive in this culture. Dan just got back from a three-day trip to a village seven hours from here. He preached salvation messages, taught a seminar on the end times (thank you Pastor Elwart), and finished by attending the baptism of the believers from the two church-plant works. The people call this the "frontier." Some of these villages are still on the pavement, but seem to be at the end of civilization. Many of these are even still afraid of white people. The goal is to have solid churches in each of these villages.

The trip went well. Dan was given a traditional robe. Pastor Konan, the faithful man Dan has been working closely with, attends Dan's Sunday afternoon classes. Pastor Konan has stated many times how much he appreciates the solid Bible teaching that cuts through their superstitious and traditional beliefs. Pastor Konan baptized the 28 believers. The work of the missionary is to equip the nationals to carry on the ministry—to commit these things to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Do not be weary; you shall reap in due season if you faint not. You SHALL reap. You shall reap MORE than you planted. You shall reap in a DIFFERENT season than when you planted. Growth takes time. I really use that verse for our family (growing kids God's way). Just don't give up; keep doing right, and wait on the Lord for the fruit.

This week I taught an "English" class in the high school here. It was Claudia's class of over 80 kids from 14-years-old to seniors. What an opportunity to share the Gospel! The teacher is a Moslem, who was very nice. He just gave me the whole hour, and of course, I took it. I did speak more French than English; I would speak slowly in English and then translate what I had said into French to make sure they understood. All the prophets prophesy of Who? Of course, Jesus. I said, "Pick a prophet, and I will tell you about him and the one he is presenting." The Moslems picked Abraham, and what a wonderful time it was to show them Jesus as the sacrificial Lamb of God, the only begotten of the Father, slain for you. They want me to come back, and we will do that after the vacation.

Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year! I am not much in a "Christmas spirit," just sort of "doing the day," but I do have some great books I am giving to some of our Moslem friends we have been witnessing to. I am trying to finish highlighting them and taking notes on them before I give them away. I know, you might think that is strange. The older I get, or the wiser I get, the more intentional I am in my child rearing. Leaders are readers. I want our kids to read and read—the Bible and great books.

Thank you for your faithful financial support. And thanks for praying for us and helping us in so many ways.

Servants of the Most High God,

Dan and Joan, Ruth, Hannah, Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther, and Gideon

Blog: www.cuthbertsons.org email: cuthbertsons@gmail.com

Sent from:
Evangel Baptist Church
16994 Telegraph Rd.
Taylor, MI 48180-5108
734-946-5680

Serving with:
Baptist World Mission
P.O. Box 2149
Decatur, AL 35602-2149
256-353-2221

Serving in:
01 BP 125, San Pédro 01
Côte d'Ivoire, West Africa
225-0783-8090
336-608-6833 (US #)

(Note: For those of you who might use our mailing address, please note that it has changed. Please update your records.)

Horse/Victoria Rescue - Praise the Lord

Excitement that we could do without.

First we didn't have water, therefore could not have our baptism on Sunday --no water to fill the baptistry.  That is reprogrammed for this coming Sunday.

Since Susanna already wrote the news, I'll let her tell it. It is a bit long - skim and delete. Pictures will come separately.

 We had a lot of.. well, it wasn't exactly excitement, it was more like adrenalin, on Tuesday. I had tied the horses not far from our house. I generally tie them with a long rope where there is good grass so that they can graze and get out of the yard. So I did that like normal Tuesday morning. My dad had gone into town around noon and drove past them. On his return trip, he didn't see Victoria. He looked around and saw her ROPE running along the ground. He followed it.. and then it disappeared down a HOLE like a well! Victoria had fallen into a 15ft hole! Dad rushed home and called me. 

I took off running while Mom, Dad, and the rest who might be of some help piled into the car and followed. I arrived first and it was horrible ...just to look over the field and see.. nothing. I ran over to where her rope disappeared below and looked in. Right when Victoria saw me she neighed joyfully! She was stuck in a bit of an upright position, sitting on her rump. She kept struggling to get her legs under her but to no avail.  She was so sweaty and dirty. Her mane was thick with mud. She was bleeding on her knees, had a gash on her forehead, and was breathing heavily. Her rope was still attached to her halter.. if her rope had been just two feet shorter... She wouldn't be alive. God is so good in His mercy. Wow, I am still amazed and so thankful. 

We called Ali, a Lebanese man who owns some horses in this town, and who has lots of connections. He came right away and after looking into the hole, called a truck with one of those hooks and cables on the back (an engine mount). As the truck arrived, I was lowered into the hole with a rope with a girth attached, to try to get it around Victoria's girth. It was not easy. It was hot down there and within minutes I had sweat running down my face. The walls were slick and moist; the only real footholds were where niches were carved into one side to form a ladder. So being careful not to get in the way of Victoria's hooves when she struggled, I managed to get it around her. I came up out of the hole, and we attached the rope to the hook on the truck and tried to raise her out. The rope slipped over her neck and head and came off. I went down to try again. After the second failed attempt a guy went down. We tried six or seven times; each time the result was the same. The rope just slipped over her head and neck. By this time Victoria was exhausted. She let her head lay limply to one side. She was covered in sweat.. it didn't look good. The men (there were quite a few of them around by now) were all discussing how we were going to do it now. Finally something clicked in my brain. I think God was trying to tell me before but I wasn't hearing Him. I told them to put the rope around her girth like we were doing, but instead of bringing it out the back, bring the rope through her front legs that way it couldn't slip over her neck. it would catch on her elbows. They did it and we again tied the strap (we had switched over to car straps by now) around the hook. The truck started lifting.... and Victoria started coming out! It was working! Victoria's neck sagged to one side so we yelled a halt! The man was again lowered, he reattached the rope to Victoria's halter (we had unattached it during all of our maneuvers), came back out of the hole, then held the rope to keep Victoria's head steady and in line. The truck raised the hook.. and then she was out!

 The truck man moved her slowly around then laid her on the ground. She was so hot!  I called Joseph to bring me our mug of lukewarm water and dumped in on Victoria's shoulder to relieve the heat. Then we dumped more water from a jug of water from a neighbor's house. Victoria sat up a bit when she saw the water. She was so thirsty. We gave her some water, but not too much, then continued to dump it on her.  She tried to get up a couple of times but couldn't get her legs under her. Finally, she tried to get up again, and I jumped behind her to help support and steady her hind legs.. then she was up! Nothing seemed broken. 

 I took Victoria home, gave her a bath, gave her all the water she wanted, massaged her muscles, then let her and Koda loose in the yard.  Later that night, we decided that we would super glue the gash on her head shut. It needed stitches, but super glue is our preferred way. However, Victoria wouldn't hold still for it. So once she was lying down in her pen that night, I pinned her head and pushed the gash together, Isaiah and my mom held the flashlights, it was about 10PM, and my dad glued. We also attached a piece of tape over it to help protect it and further hold it together. It is working well.

 Wednesday morning, Victoria couldn't get up. Her muscles were way too stiff. My dad, my mom, Stephen, and I went out there, and after much sweat and strain got her to her feet. She was again unsteady, but she was up. She continued to drink a lot of water but didn't really eat anything. She would mostly just stand in one place, her body being to painful to move. I was only down in the hole for 15-20 minutes and it seems every muscle in my body aches. How much more severe for her. So that was yesterday. 

Today she is doing better; still sore and not walking or eating much, but doing both to some extent. Poor baby. She is so cute. It hurts thinking of her pinned, panicked, in that hole. Awful. Well, we are praising God. :) He really is the God of Miracles. I don't want to forget what He did and continues to do for us. He is so great.. I can't even express it. I want to learn a lesson. I want to stop being so concerned with little things that don't really matter, and start remembering the things that do. Life. It's not about material things or possessions. So we are so thankful for the miracle of having Victoria back. :) So thankful. 

Well, I probably wrote more than I needed to. I probably should have just given a quick summery... Oh, well. Please keep praying for us. Prayers on earth can move angels in heaven. :) 

I am reading one of the Brock and Bodie Theone books. It really challenges what we deem important in life. The people that lived during those wars.. they lost everything... literally, even down to their lives... And here we are with plenty, demanding more.. It makes my heart sore. I wish our land would return to the faith of our forefathers; and indeed, that is what I pray for. It's hard, but our nation -the world- needs revival. 

Well, I'll be off. Sorry for the essay. I'll try to keep it shorter next time. :) 

Love,

Susanna

August 2014

    First, the bad news: anything you hear in the world, the world seems to be falling apart. Jesus is coming so soon—any day now. The GREAT news: God is in control. He is winning this war, and we are on His team!!!  By the way, Ebola has not reached Ivory Coast. Please pray for our health and safety.

    One of the many highlights of the summer was that Seth and Hannah organized and carried out a Bible memory competition. (Stephen won.)  It was great to see Stephen and Isaiah reciting Bible passages (58 passages memorized in all, including the other young men who participated).  I love putting money in the Bank of Heaven, helping kids learn verses, getting them to camp, etc.

    Again, we had lots of rain and mud, and a part of our retaining wall fell down.  I did not tell you about the process—same story, second verse—but it was discouraging to see money going out to rebuild a wall.  It was necessary, but I just had to keep thinking of Nehemiah, who worked night and day until it was finished.

    Everyone participated in a basketball camp that was organized by our co-workers, the Kings, and two coaches from Bob Jones University.  It was fun and profitable, and the Gospel went out daily, loud and clear to youths from all over San Pedro.

    We had a great time with Ruth, Hannah, Seth and Kenny. In the first week of August, they went back to Ambassador Baptist College and were joined by Lydia (five adults—leaving this place quiet). Were they the ones making all the work, noise and mess around here? 

    That same week, Susanna, Isaiah and Stephen went to camp.  This is African camp, with mosquito nets, African food all week, no fruits or vegetables. lots of oil, getting up at 4:30 a.m. and getting to bed at 11:30 p.m., basketball, singing, and lots of preaching.  They had fun, enjoyed the preaching, and were VERY happy to get home. Isaiah was given the "Camper of the Week" award.  Pray that God keeps His hand on our kids!!!  Four are in college, but our work at home is not finished; there are still eight here to teach and disciple.  Back to camp, though...Isaiah was so great doing dishes that someone said to him, "You must have a very spoiled mother." Ha!

    So, we were finally ready to relax. Everyone was home and doing fine, when I heard that Esther had fallen down.  This was 7:30 on a Saturday night.  One look at the arm, and I knew this was out of my realm (broken arm).  "Dan, the bad news is that we have to go to the doctor right now." (Just that thought is not a good one here in San Pedro, let alone on a Saturday night when there is no staff.) The X-ray showed both bones in the arm were broken. It was interesting to watch him, an orthopedic nurse, set the arm and put on a cast. Of course, Dan had to first go buy all the materials needed.  Another X-ray showed that the bones were indeed straight.  Her fingers started swelling, so we went back so they could cut some of the cast back. Then, we went back again, so they could cut the cast lengthwise to loosen it up a bit.  She is in no pain and is now just carrying around a cast.  We pray it all heals well.  Thanks for praying for the kids, even in their simple play. She had just tripped over something and landed wrong (on her left arm, since she is a lefty).  This has put a crimp in doing schoolwork.

    I almost forgot that we did another delivery. Susanna delivered the baby this time.  I guess she might as well get some practice and know how.  It was a long labor and delivery, but praise God, all went well.

    Being faithful in the trenches—that is what the Christian life is all about.  Just do right no matter what...persevering is godliness under pressure.  Don't quit. Besides continuing the church and the village works, starting school again (that is saying a lot), Dan and I were able to do a seminar on the book of Daniel at an all-day Saturday preaching time in the village.  (Thank you, Linda Helm for letting us use your booklet.)  Dan taught the men, and I taught the ladies.  We had a good turnout, with about 45 in each group.  We started at 8:30 a.m. and went until 5 p.m.  It was fun.  At least with all the teaching we do, God is always working on US, growing us and bringing us closer to Himself. 

    We do get tired.  Thanks for praying for us.  Our water (ten days) AND electricity (four days) were just off. Stinky toilets are the worst, and there was no cold water to drink.  Try complaining to the people in the village, where that is a way of life. You won't get much sympathy.  Everything is back on, and laundry is caught up now.  (The water went back off, but at least we got all the reservoirs filled up.)

    While we were all together, we were able to have a family picture. That took some work, especially on the part of Ruth.  Ruth and Hannah are also putting together our ministry presentation. It is great to have big kids who are so talented.  We are planning, Lord willing, to come to the States in March 2015 and will be calling to find a good time to visit you.

    Thanks for your prayers! We do so appreciate you. 

Servants of the Most High God—what could be better than that?

Dan and Joan, Ruth, Hannah, Seth, Lydia, Susanna, Isaiah, Stephen, Rebekah, Josiah, Joseph, Esther, and Gideon