UPDATE: Friesens – February 2012

February 15, 2012

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

“As each one has received a special gift employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, let him speak as it were the utterances of God; whoever serves let him do so as by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:10-11. It is God who gives us our spiritual gifts and it is He who supplies what we need in the time that we need it. Therefore remember, it is God who should receive all the honor and glory through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Praise: We both passed our written tests and now we have our licenses to drive the small boat. Thank-you for praying for us! Please pray that we would be safe on the river as we drive back and forth to Manaus and to other places.

UPDATE: Friesens January 2012

January 15, 2012

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

Happy New Year! “For I am not ashamed of the gospel for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16. In this verse, Paul is eager to share how he is not ashamed of the gospel. He knows that the gospel is the power of God for salvation to those who believe that Jesus died for their sins. As we start this new year, may we as Christians share the gospel of Christ with those we meet.

Praise: Dawn’s father is getting stronger with each passing day! He is still in the Nursing Home but he is now walking to and from the dining room with the help of a walker. It has been nothing less than a miracle to see dad’s progress. Recently, he was been taken off comfort care and now he is working hard at regaining his strength so he can return home. Thanks for praying for dad and his health. Please continue to pray for him as he makes important decisions about his health and future.

UPDATE: Friesens – December 2011

December 20, 2011

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas! “But thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are perishing.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-15. Thanks be to God for sending His one and only Son Jesus Christ to die on a cross for our sins. This is the true reason for Christmas! It is because of God’s love for us that we can be the sweet aroma of Him to others in every tribe and culture. The Christmas season is a great time to be sharing the story of Christ with those who don’t know Him.

[Disclosure statement: For security purposes/reasons, some names of cities and our people group will be in the form of an acronym or be abbreviated.]

Praise: We are in the States right now because Dawn’s father is not doing well. We arrived in Texas on November 26, 2011 and we traveled to New Mexico to see dad. He stayed in the hospital for a week and then they moved him to a nursing home. We were able to be with him for two weeks; we prayed with him, laughed with him, talked with him and even cried with him. It was such a blessing for us to have had this precious time with him! Dad was taken to the hospital by ambulance because he was complaining about his back hurting and he was weak. When they examined him, they found out that one of his kidneys had completely shut down and his other one was only functioning about ¼ percent. The doctors took him into surgery to try and put a stint in it but when they opened dad up, they found a cancerous tumor and they could not put the stint in. After doing some ex-rays, they also discovered that dad had another cancerous mass in his back that had wrapped around his spine and had caused a fracture. Dad has also suffered with Prostate Cancer for the past five years. In the past few weeks, dad has been having good days and bad days.

UPDATE: Friesens – August 2011

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

“O give us help against the adversary for deliverance by man is in vain. Through God we shall do valiantly and it is He who will tread down our adversaries.” Psalm 60:11-12. These verses were written by King David. Just as he was asking God to help him in battle, we are asking God to help us as we get ready to do battle in the ministry God has called us to on the river. Please pray that God would give us help against the adversary and that only He would be triumphant.

We are blessed by your prayers and support. We are one step closer to being done with the construction of the floating house. This past month we have been working on enclosing the overhangs of the roof with PVC (See photo at bottom of this paragraph). This next month, we will work on finishing the patio/porch and we will paint the outside walk around. Our plan is to move the floating house for the first time in the first two weeks of September.

UPDATE: The Friesens – 15 July 2011

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

“With God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26b. This Bible verse is up on our hallway wall of the floating house. It has been a blessing and a comfort to us as we saw God work throughout the construction of the house. There were obstacles that stood in our way but we stood firm because we knew that God would make the house a reality. Furthermore, We stand firm in our calling to work with Brazilians who live along the rivers here. It was God who made it possible!!!

Thank you for praying for our family. This has been a busy month for our family. Annie and Jay spent two weeks with us. During their stay, we ate piranha, we fished almost every day, Jay and Don went alligator hunting, we spent time in two different villages and we went to the zoo. They also helped us sand and varnish the outside of the floating house. We had a great time together and we were very blessed to have them in Manaus with us!!

MINISTRY: Joplin – Team Two – May 30-June 3

Here are some pictures and video from our second team of our church family who went to Joplin to be involved in the disaster relief ministry there.  Included in the photos are BJ Condley and Ashley Wayne.  They spent five days working with our Clay-Platte Baptist Association DR Team helping cut down and clear out trees and debris from various homes in Joplin.  When they reported to our church family a few weeks ago, both BJ and Ashley shared of the blessing of helping people in need, even others who are a part of our MBC DR Team who live in Joplin.  Their ministry work also helped to further our Gospel witness as Baptist believers there.  BJ, and especially Ashley, also served as great encouragers to fellow team members with whom they worked.

The minstry…and the need…in Joplin continues.  In an upcoming post, we will share the opportunities our third team had while working, helping the people of Joplin.

UPDATE: The Friesens – June 2011

June 12, 2011

Dear Praying Family and Friends,

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped; therefore my heart exults and with my song I shall thank Him.” Psalm 28:7. The Lord has been our source of strength and our shield in these past five months of the construction of the floating house. We give Him all honor, glory and thanks for His faithfulness.

Thank you for lifting us up to the Lord in prayer. Finally, we achieved our goal! We moved on to the floating house on May 26, 2011. As of this letter, we have slept in our new home for 8 nights. We praise the Lord for His goodness and for His provisions!! The floating house is already a huge blessing and we are enjoying the fruits of so many answered prayers!!